ZACHARY š
I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, staring down at the vibrant city lights glittering below , a glass of scotch in my hand. On any other night, I might have taken a moment to admire the restless city beneath but today was far from normal. I rubbed a hand over my chest but it did nothing to soothe the ache that was pressing down my chest ever since I said 'I do'. " I need to do this, for Anna," I muttered the mantra to my self. A sharp image of Valerie laughing at the wedding flashed through my mind and my hold on the glass tightened. In a blinding fit of rage, I hurled the glass against the wall. The glass shattered, and its contents trickled down the wall. A shard of glass spun off and grazed my wrist, leaving a thin red line. I barely flinched. The sting was nothing compared to the fire raging inside me. How dare she laugh after everything she's done. Anna wouldn't have died if not for her and she dared to laugh. "Laugh all you want, Valerie,ā I muttered, voice low and bitter. āLetās see if youāre still smiling when Iām done with you.ā The door creaked open and Ian stepped in, sporting a stupid smile on his face. " Who the hell spend their wedding night mulling over at the office? I ignored him and his smile dropped. He fell quiet for a while when he noticed my melancholic state. " What happened? He asked as his eyes went to the shattered mess. " Nothing". I brushed him off and walked over to my desk . I will rather be alone now but Ian didn't seem to get the message. " āDid you find anything?ā I turned to him. āOr are you just here to bother me?ā āWhoa, slow down.ā That stupid smile was back on his face. āI just came to congratulate my friend on his wedding,ā he said, grinning like a damn Cheshire cat. āBullshit.ā I slid into my chair. āYouāre here to mock me.ā āWhy would I dare?ā āYou think so little of me, Wellington.ā He placed a hand on his chest in mock offense, like my words hurt him but I knew better. He was here to remind me of the bet. " Since you have nothing to say to me, you can find your way out." I muttered picking up a folder from my desk. He was quiet for a while and I almost thought he left until his annoying voice cut through the silence. āWhatās got your pants in a twist? Or rather⦠who?ā. He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively and I groaned in frustration. I leaned back into my chair and exhaled slowly. He was really testing my patience. "Careful, Ian," I said, my voice frighteningly low. āYouāre not nearly as funny as you think you are⦠and Iām in no mood for your nonsense tonight." He pouted like a little kid. " Too bad, here I am, thinking I get to keep you company." " I guess I'm no longer needed." He shrugged, letting out a sigh. Ignoring him, I flipped through the papers on my desk. "Found anything suspicious on Valerie's father? I asked. " Changing the topic, I see." I gave him a death glare, daring him to say something stupid . Rolling his eyes,he huffed and continued. " I couldn't find anything on him." I slammed the folder shut and tugged at my hair in frustration. Who the hell was helping him clean his tracks that even Ian couldn't find anything on him. Valerie's father was a crook of a businessman and how he managed to amass great wealth was no wonder. I need to find his connection with my grandfather but there wasn't any lead. I had to blackmail Valerie into marriage because I knew she wasn't going to marry me to help me get my inheritance. She hates my gut and I wonder what she would do when she finds out I need her help more than she knows. " Wondering what Valerie would do when she finds out that the documents you blackmailed her into marrying you are all fake?" I froze. Slowly, I lifted my gaze from the desk. Ian stood in front of me, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face. āI should fire you,ā I muttered. āYou should,ā he said casually, slumping into the couch at the corner like he owned the place. āBut then who else is going to keep your dirty little secrets?ā āTheyāre not fake,ā I said tightly. Ian raised a brow. āArenāt they?ā I didnāt answer. Because yes...technically, they were forged. Fabricated. But I had to do what I did to get what I wanted. āShe doesnāt need to know,ā I said finally. Ian tilted his head. āFor now. But sheās not stupid, Zach. You think youāve got her under control, but Valerie Hampton isnāt a woman you can cage.ā āIām not trying to cage her,ā I snapped. He let out a low whistle. " Wow, talking about the Hamptons always put you in a foul mood." " I should do this more often," he said , throwing his legs over the couch. " It's fun." I glared at his dirty shoes on my couch but as always, Ian wasn't a bit bothered. " Lucky you, I have something that will cheer you up." My ears pecked up at that. Finally, something to salvage this ruined evening. He tossed a wrapped present at me and I caught it right before it hit my face. " What's this? I asked, staring at it suspiciously. " Open it." He urged, grinning. Hiding the slight tremor in my hands, I took a pen and tore the wrapper open. A groan escaped me when I saw what the present was. "You're really knocking at death's door ." " What the hell do I need this for? I asked holding up the box of condoms but the idiot was doubling over in laughter. "Youāre a married man now, Zach,ā he said between gasps of laughter. āGotta be prepared!ā " For what? I deadpanned. " To strangle her with it." He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and winked. I threw the box at him and he erupted in another fit of laughter. Just then, my phone buzzed. I swiped to answer and pressed it to my ear. " Speak! I ordered curtly. " I followed her as you requested, sir." Came the voice at the other end. " Good." I shot Ian a warning look when I noticed him trying to sneak out. " Anything else? " Sir...." The voice hesitated. " Go on." " She received an envelope right after you left but I couldn't see what was inside." My brows furrowed. āAn envelope?ā āYes, sir. A little boy...couldnāt be more than five...delivered it.ā My jaw tightened. āSomeone surely sent him. Did you find out who?ā āI questioned the kid. He said someone paid him to deliver it but didnāt know who.ā I glanced at Ian. His eyes were already locked on me, serious now. āAlright. Stay close and keep me updated on any suspicious activity.ā āYes, sir. And⦠thereās more. I noticed someone loitering nearby, a hooded figure. Definitely watching her.ā I shot to my feet, startling Ian. āWhat?ā My voice was sharp. āAnd youāre telling me this now?ā āI thought I could handle it.ā āCan you hear yourself?ā I dragged a hand through my hair, keeping my anger at bay. āJust stay close. Iām on my way.ā āYes, sir.ā I ended the call and stood still for a moment. "Ian! I bellowed and he sprang on his feet. " I need you to find someone for me."ZACHARY š WELLINGTON'S CORPORATION ."You two seem cozy." I watched as he pours himself a drink. Painfully slow, wearing my patience thin. "Isn't that what you wanted? I asked in a clipped tone, my gaze unwavering. He chuckled. "Give the poor girl a break." I raised my eyebrows at him."Since when did you liked the Hamptons?"" Oh, don't get me wrong", He began. "I despise her father, that old hag. I know he agreed to the marriage just to get the finance bank." His face hardened as he continued ."He has his eyes on it for a while , it's a shame she was fathered by that greedy fool but that girl....", He held my gaze, as if sending a silent warning. ".... She's innocent."I scoffed. " Innocent, my foot."He arched a brow, clearly amused by my bitterness. " Seeing as you are all riled up, I can say your grandfather chose the right woman for you. She's doing a good job keeping you on your toes."" Who would have thought that little girl would end up as your wife, Life's funny."
VALERIE š "Gareth Wellington... nice to meet you." He stepped closer still he was standing right in front of me, invading my space. He was so close that I could sniff his after shave. "My apologies, I couldn't make it in time for the wedding." He murmured, his face close to mine. I lifted my eyes to take a good look at him and a gasp escaped my lips. He has a striking resemblance with Zachary. Same sharp-jawed and symmetrical face . Same icy blue eyes rimmed with thick lashes, same arrogant aura. They could pass off as twins but this one has a dangerous gleam in his eyes. His hair was slicked back to perfection, no strand out of place. His skin was pale... too pale, like he avoided the sun on purpose. There was something wrong in the way he carried himself, too still and that alone made my skin crawl. My heart thundered behind my rib cage and I took a step back. His lips curled into a smirk at my action but that didn't stop him from hitching closer like a
VALERIE š The guy 's face turned as white as a sheet. His laughter died in his throat, replaced with an awkward chuckle as he raised his hands. āRelax, man. Just a joke.ā Zachary stepped forward and stopped in front of him.āDo I look like Iām laughing?ā " Your father spoke highly of you." He murmured , adjusting the guy's collar. " Might I say, I'm disappointed." Everyone went quiet. Even the air seemed to still. All eyes were on him. The men behind the executive suddenly remembered they had somewhere else to be and scurried off like cockroaches. The offender stood rooted in place, red creeping up his neck. His smugness gone and replaced with fear. Zachary didnāt touch him. He didnāt have to. The threat in his voice was enough. He looked like he would pee on his pants and I would have laughed if I wasn't already mad at Zachary. Zachary turned to me then, eyes sweeping over me, pausing at the papers in my hands. āYou alright?ā I stared at him blankly. āI was handling
VALERIE š Wellington's Corporation. ā We would love this alliance to mark a ......... The words were blurred out as I wasnāt paying attention , my attention was focused on a blue-eyed demon sitting in front of me. The conference room in Wellington industries was filled with powerful people in the business world, CEOs, investors and shareholders were all gathered for the grand announcement of the merger of both companies that no one seem happy about. Men in tailored suits shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with each other. It was so obvious that they werenāt in each otherās good books . I glared at the asshole sitting right across from me, calmly, composed. The bruise on my wrist throbbed, a cruel reminder of what he did last night. My skin burned with humiliation as the memory came flooding back. Heās going to pay for this, Iām going to make sure of it. My fist clenched around the crumpled piece of paper I was holding as I squeezed life out of it , hi
VALERIE š TRIGGER WARNING. Blood drained from my face, and my heart raced with a thousand thoughts. Oh God⦠Iām going to die. My chest rose and fell in quick, ragged breaths. Thenā āDonāt.ā A whisper, cold and close behind me. I froze. The sound sent a chill down my spine, and sweat broke out across my back. My hands trembled. Panic surged through me, and without thinking, I turned and bit the intruderās finger. āWhat theā!ā he yelled, recoiling with a pained hiss. That voice. It was familiar. I lunged for the light switch. The room flooded with brightness, and my eyes landed on him. āZachary?ā He scowled, nursing his finger. āAre you some kind of rabid dog?ā I folded my arms, still trembling. āGood for you. Why would you scare me like that?ā He shrugged as if nothing had happened. āBecause itās fun.ā My lips parted in disbelief. ā You are insane, who the hell scare the shit out of someone just because itās fun? ā I think you are asking the wrong per
VALERIE š Valerie's Apartment. A prank. It has to be a prank. Who would have gone through the trouble of sending a child to deliver a letter? No matter how I try to brush it off, the unsettling feeling still lingered. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand,I need to let someone know but who can I call? Brenda was still not back. Zachary? No way in hell. And my father? I was still mad at him. Agitated, I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I could hardly focus, my mind spinning with possibilities. Who would do this? Was it someone from my past? A rival? Or worse⦠Was this about Zachary? Was he somehow involved in all this? The thought itself made me sick. The sudden sound of the doorbell made me jump. I took a breath, trying to steady myself, before moving cautiously toward the door. Through the peephole, I saw nothing but the hallway. My pulse skipped a beat as I unlocked the door and swung it open. Nothing. I slammed the door shut, feeling a tightness in my