Unspoken Connection

Chapter Four: Deal with the Devil

The apartment was dead silent but for the soft humming of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I stood by the window, staring out at the city below; my mind was a muddle of confusion and pain. The lights twinkled far away, but they felt so very far-the part of a world that I didn't know anymore. It had all been a blur for the last few months, a life built with Daniel and now it felt like one big, cruel joke, a dream shattered.

Daniel. The name still echoed in my head, and every thought of him was accompanied by surges of betrayal, anger, and heartache. What was I thinking when I once thought that he was the one? What was I thinking, being so naive as to believe any person who could lie right to my face would ever love me?

I closed my eyes a second, and felt the sting in my chest. It was a wound that had never healed, just buried under the weight of everything I tried to ignore.

Divorce.

The word echoed in my head, day after day. I had to leave him, for good. I couldn't breathe under this stifling silence, acting like everything was fine. That marriage had died the moment he had betrayed me. There's nothing to fix, only to walk away.

My hand hovered over the phone on the counter, the cool, hard reality of it settling on my shoulders. I had been so careful, so cautious, with regards to Daniel when telling him anything about the things I wanted for myself. But this. this was different. This wasn't some great path in career or future; this was about reclaiming myself.

I took a deep breath and summoned all my courage as I dialed his number.

No, not yet.

I stopped, my thumb hovering over the call button, just inches from connecting. Speaking to him, hearing his voice, turned my stomach. It was all too much-the lies, the manipulation. I needed space and time, for once to make a decision not influenced by the chaos he had created in my life.

I stood there, lost in thought, when suddenly the phone on the counter rang. The sudden sound made me jump, and I looked down at the screen. The name flashing across it was not one I had expected to see.

Simeon.

I froze. It had only been a few days since I last saw him, but that moment felt like a lifetime ago. That was a night as fresh as if it happened just minutes ago, his eyes, his presence; all had sent shivers down me for reasons I couldn't explain. There had been a tension between us, which I would be lying to say did not exist, and despite everything, he crossed my thoughts more often than should.

His voice was smooth and commanding as it came through the line. "Emma. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

His calm demeanor did nothing to belie the weight of what he was about to say. "What is it?" I replied-trying to keep my voice steady.

"I wanted to talk to you. I've been thinking about our last conversation. You seemed upset when you left and I understand why. The situation you find yourself in, with Daniel. I know it's not easy for you."

I felt a sharp sting in my chest. He knows. Somehow he always seemed to know. "It's complicated," I said quietly. "It's not just about business anymore. It's personal."

"I know," he said. "But I have an offer which may lighten your burden a little."

I scrunched up my face, and the chill went down my spine. "An offer?"

Simeon's tone turned grave, solid as a piece of iron. "I know you're thinking about divorcing Daniel. And believe me, I understand why. But what if I told you there's another way to make him pay for what he's done to you?"

My heart thrilled, and I exclaimed, repressing feelings, "What do you mean?.

"I'm in a. situation with Daniel," Simeon continued, his voice dropping lower as though the conversation were too important for anyone else to overhear. "We're rivals in business and things are only going to get worse between us. But here's the thing-there is something I can offer you. An opportunity to turn the tables on Daniel and Veronica. You see, I'm in a contract marriage with him."

I blinked, trying to work out what he said. A contract marriage? With Daniel? How was that possible? "What. what are you talking about?"

Simeon exhaled, his voice softening a bit. "I've been in business with Daniel for years. We've made deals, traded assets, and worked together on so many projects. But that partnership is about to end. There are, of course, personal reasons for that, reasons that involve you, Emma."

"Me?" I whispered, and suddenly a cold shiver ran down my spine. "How?"

"Daniel has done more than betray you. He has been playing both sides, using people like chess pawns. And you, Emma, are his most valuable pawn. He used you to secure his business empire, and in turn, you have lived with his lies and deceit. I know you are not the type of woman to sit around and take this kind of thing forever. That is why I'm offering you a way out-a way to make him regret ever crossing you."

I couldn't breathe. "What are you saying?" I said, trying to get the words out of my mouth, while my heart raced in my chest.

Simeon's voice was laced with conviction. "I'm saying we could marry. A contract marriage. I can help you get the revenge you deserve. You would be playing the game by your own rules, and Daniel would be left with nothing."

What was I supposed to say to this? A contract marriage, preposterous. Simeon and I hardly knew each other, and he was already proposing such an outlandish, twisted thing. Yet, there was that part of me that could not totally refute such a pull because the idea of seeing Daniel pay for all he did was a dream-a really majestic fantasy that I had always wished for. But could I do it?

"I don't know," I muttered, not so much to him, but to myself. "This feels wrong. I don't know if I could do that to myself."

Simeon was quiet for a second, as if weighing my words. Then he spoke again and his voice was an unexpectedly soft murmur. "You're already living a lie, Emma. You are, because the truth is, Daniel has taken everything away from you. Your peace, your trust, your dignity. What I'm offering you is a chance to take it back. To make him feel what you've been feeling all this time."

I said nothing. My mind was racing. The temptation was there, clear as crystal. But was I ready to make such a hazardous decision? Was I really capable of doing this, knowing full well how everything would change?

Finally, I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?"

Simeon didn't look a hair out of place. "Nothing yet. But I believe we can help each other. You take back what's yours, and I'll make sure Daniel knows exactly who he's been messing with. You can be free, Emma. Really free."

I swallowed hard as my shaking hands brought the phone to my ear. To think that I could be marrying Simeon-even through a contract-seemed out of this world. But thinking about Daniel and Veronica, that prospect of getting revenge now felt like it was the only thing which could allow me to have some semblance of peace.

For the first time in years, a flutter of hope washed over me.