Chapter 04

AMELIA

“Good afternoon, Amy.” He greeted, as he stretched his palm out.

His brown hair glistened under the sun, and my eyes quickly flickered at his face. A gorgeous man, he was.

“Good afternoon, Mr Belmont.” I responded.

The sun before me had caused me to squint my eyes. My lips moved up in a curl, but immediately fell.

Well, there was no need in pretending to be in a good mood. It wasn’t working.

“Come in with me. I’ll only take a few minutes.”

Joan and I exchanged knowing glances before we walked with him.

As we moved to the elevator, I noticed the way heads spun, shoulders straightened, and workers held onto the papers in their hands as they passed.

Soon enough, we arrived at the top floor.

The white ran from the walls, and into the floors. Would the floor stain if I shed a tear?

“Please sit,” he ushered as he moved to the couch opposite us.

While he was a sight for sore eyes, I really wasn’t in the mood to converse with anyone. Talk more of anyone that would remind me of Darrel.

“Why am I here?”

“I noticed when you walked into the building earlier this morning,” he said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Want some?”

I shook my head.

“I want to ask you a question.”

Silence followed as he returned to the empty seat. “What do you know about Gregory Montario?”

“He–he–um.” I sucked on my teeth, as he watched me. The words wouldn’t just form. “He and Darrel are close.”

“Hm. Anything else?”

“Is there anything in particular you want to know?”

“Yes. I overheard your conversation with your fiancé.”

Oh, shit. Shit.

“Okay….”

“Do you have any intentions of staying with him?” He asked.

Why was he curious? He didn’t seem like the kind of man who would be interested in the personal lives of his workers. Was this some sort of test?

“I don’t think I am comfortable discussing my personal life with a stranger.”

“I am not a stranger. I am family, and that’s why I care.”

“How are you family?”

“Gregory is not only a Montario, but he is a Belmont. I don’t know if you were aware of that.”

I sure as hell wasn’t. I knew there was some strain between him, and his family, but I never cared enough to get the full details.

“Gregory is my half brother, and although he bears his mother’s maiden name, he has our blood.”

I didn’t know if I was supposed to say anything, but the room fell into silence again.

“My father is a sick man. For almost five years, he has been in and out of the hospital.”

“I am sorry about that,”

“We didn’t think he would make it out so many times, but the stubborn motherfucker always found a way to survive.”

“Is there a point you are trying to make?” Joan asked.

I could only be grateful to have her there.

“Yes, actually. I need a wife. In order to secure my father’s blessing, and meet the criteria to handle this company once he is dead, I need to have a family.”

I couldn’t understand why he was explaining his family’s lore to me.

“I don’t understand how this involves me.”

“I hate Gregory. He is a conniving, and deceitful motherfucker. He has worked so hard to paint me in a bad light to my father. From the moment we realized we had a half-brother five years ago, he has given me nothing but shitty problems. Moreover, I saw the way your fiancé spoke to you. My mother stayed in an abusive home, and I witnessed every moment of it. I hate that, and I am sure you do, as well.”

I grit my teeth. “You can say so.”

“This is why I am proposing a collaboration. You help me ruin Gregory’s life, and I ruin Darrel’s.”

Hm. I wasn’t opposed to the idea of creating problems for them… but at what cost?

“Does this involve murder?”

“No.”

“Is there anything illegal here?”

“For you, no.”

I turned to Joan, but her face bore the same confusion as me.

“What’s the plan?”

“I want you to marry me.”

Huh?

“Why?”

“Darrel’s hold over you is wealth, and position. He is posed as a man who has it all together. This is an opportunity for you to not only upgrade, but be directly above him.”

“What’s in it for you?” Joan immediately asked.

“As I said, I need a family. You are with child, and I am willing to give the child a life that’s worthwhile.”

I didn’t know what to think. “This is a heavy decision. Why don’t you want to go for someone else? I am sure you have a flock of women around you who would gladly have your child, and bear your name.”

“I don’t want a child of my own. I have no interest in such activities.”

I knew it was wiser not to ask why.

“Could you please give us a moment?” I asked,

He nodded, and left the room.

“I think you should take it.”

“Really? Why? I don’t know him.”

I can’t just marry a random man because we hate the same person.

“Think about it. You don’t have the money to sue him. You hate him. He has hurt you. He will continue to hurt you if you let him. I need you to remember that a poor person has no choice! This is an opportunity for you to change your life, and everything that surrounds you. I don’t understand how this can be a wrong decision.”

“What if he is abusive?”

What if he is an unknown serial killer?

“We will have it stated in your contract that if he ever touches you, he will be detained. Moreover, he has a shitload of things to lose by acting wrong, you don’t.”

She had a point. The only disadvantage of wealth was the risk of losing it all.

“Wouldn’t you like to torture Darrel? Make him pay for all he has done?”

“I would,” I admitted, as I bit into my lower lip. Nothing would be better than that feeling.

I would give anything to watch him beg for mercy.

“You see? You should take this. It’s an opportunity to change your life.”

I nodded.

“Mr Belmont?”

He appeared almost immediately.

“I, um, I still have some concerns, but I believe we can iron that as time goes on. In the meantime, I have come to a decision.”

“And your decision is?”

“I am open to the idea of a marriage with you.”