Chapter Five

Janelle

After I dropped Ashley at her apartment, I parked the car and hailed a cab down to my house. 

I glanced through the window.

My mom was sitting down, biting her fingers and tapping the tiles with her foot—nervous or worried? I couldn’t catch.

Dad was pacing around the living room, with his hands folded behind his back. 

I sighed, then walked in. My mom rushed and hugged me.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said, still hugging.

A faint smile tugged on my lips. I hugged her back.

We both stepped back. She placed her warm hands on my cheek, and said, “I’m sorry, Janelle, but we tried. Your father and I tried to source for the money but Damian kept blocking every option we had.”

Dad said, “Besides, even if we pay, it would be of no use. Your grandfather made that decision years back.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.

Dad walked closer, “I wanted to, but I didn’t know how,” he said.

“I was also angry at your grandfather back then. But it was too late, he had already signed the contract. He could have terminated it as he only had the right to, but he died shortly,” he added.

They weren’t trying to hide it.

They were scared they'd lose me too.

“I’ve decided to do it,” I said.

“What?” They chorused.

“I’ll marry Damian,” I said and shrugged. I paused, “it’s not like I have a choice.”

My mom’s eyes expressed fear. “Janelle…”

“Sign the contract, dad. Like you said, being with Damian means protection. Not just for me, but for my family,” I said and held my mom’s hand.

My father hesitated.

I gave him a reassuring smile and nodded. He went into his study room, came out holding the document and seal.

Mom tried to stop him but I held her back.

He signed it and stamped it.

“I’ll deliver the documents to him myself,” I said as I collected the documents from him and smiled.

“Janelle, no,” father snapped as he collected it back.

“His office is a dangerous dead zone,” he said.

I smiled, took it back, and said, “Alex will protect me.”

“Who’s Alex?” My mom said with furrowed brows.

I collected the documents and walked out. 

They probably thought I’d lost my mind.

Right outside Ranks Company, I glanced at the tall glass building—this was the kind of wealth I dreamt of…just not as a slave.

As I approached the door, someone grabbed me. I turned and it was—Alex. He didn’t allow me to speak. He just took me to the parking lot.

“Miss Janelle, what are you doing here?” He asked.

I smiled and brought out the documents from my bag, “this is the document. Well signed,” I said.

“Thank you,” he replied and collected it. “You may leave,” he added.

“I want to see Damian,” I said.

“You can’t,” he replied.

“Why?” 

“He’s not receiving guests at the moment,” Alex snapped, then bowed and walked away.

As he left, I followed. Keeping a few steps behind him.

Alex walked towards a mirror and stood for about one minute. The mirror parted ways, showing a door. Before the mirror closed, I walked faster and entered.

The sharp red led light pierced my eyes, almost making me blind.

Behind the mirror was another building.

The hallway was filled with so many doors. Alex showed up at a distance. 

I leaned against the wall and he turned towards my direction.

He then walked into the room by his right, and I sneaked up behind him. I leaned against the door and heard Alex say, “The Peters signed the document.”

Damian cleared his throat. “Very good. Send a mail. The wedding will happen in two weeks,” he said.

“Two weeks?” I muttered.

“But Sir, must it be Janelle?” Alex asked.

Damian didn’t respond. 

I leaned in closer, thinking he was whispering but the door suddenly opened, and I fell inside.

I looked up to Alex, who was still holding the door handle. 

“Alex, it shouldn’t be her but it has always been about her,” Damian said, with no warmth in his eyes—only a quiet, unsettling stillness that made my chest tightened

I looked at him. Our eyes locked on each other. 

“The wedding will happen in 4 days, not two weeks,” he said, his eyes still fixed on mine.

At that moment, I knew I wasn’t walking toward a marriage.

I was walking into a cage

And what was waiting for me…

was the devil himself—

with secrets I'm not ready to face.