Forget About Taking My Money Ever Again, Father.

Eleanor Vance POV

I kept my eyes on the road, lost in my own thoughts. The silence was broken by the ping of a notification on my phone.

I pulled it out of my bag and stared at it for a second. I was shocked when I saw the sender. It was my father. He was the last person I expected to message me. My hands shook a little as I opened the chat. I looked at the screen with dread.

"Send me money."

I let out a bitter laugh. I couldn't believe it. I rolled my eyes and dug my nails into the car seat. I was so angry. I wasn't going to keep this inside anymore. I typed back with fire in my heart.

"I won't. Forget about taking my money ever again, Father."

A few seconds passed. Then came his annoying reply. It made my blood boil.

"Really??"

I bit my lip. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I opened the window next to me to find some fresh air. He had a way of sucking the life out of me.

"Heaven's curse on him."

I ignored him, but he messaged again.

"Fine then."

My face twisted in pain. I shut off my phone and took a deep breath. That old man is going to be the death of me. I swear it. All I could think about was what I did to deserve a father like him.

What did I do wrong? Why do Ivy and I have to have someone like him in charge of our lives? There was no answer.

I had been standing in front of The Savoy for a few minutes. I was scared to go inside and talk to all those rich people. The bright lights and the loud music were already making my head hurt.

I played with my fingers and took a soft breath. Then I stepped inside. The place was beautiful. The room was huge with crystal chandeliers everywhere. The lights were so bright they took my breath away.

The first thing that hit me was the loud music. I closed my eyes for a second. The noise made my headache even worse.

"I really hate this noise!"

This kind of party was not for me. I found an empty table and sat down. I rested my body and just watched the people around me.

The air was full of fake smiles and polite talk. It smelled like lies. There were so many important people there. Then there were the employees. They were pretending to be happy to be at such a fancy party, but they looked exhausted. They were dying from tiredness.

As I was lost in my thoughts, a waiter put a glass of wine on my table. I think he noticed I didn't have a drink yet. I thanked him with a small smile and took a sip. Then I went back to watching the crowd.

Suddenly, the lights went out. My heart skipped a beat. I wondered what was happening. Then a bright white light hit a certain spot. It was Alistair and Catherine Blackwood. And standing between them was the eldest son. Julian.

He was wearing a dark black suit. He looked as cold as his eyes. He had a white shirt underneath. The first three buttons were open. I could see his hard, tanned chest. His black hair was pushed back in a perfect style.

"So that is Mr. Julian Blackwood!"

I whispered to myself. I stared at him just like everyone else. The room became very quiet when he stepped forward. He took the microphone. He tapped it twice to make sure it worked. Then he spoke. His voice was deep and full of power.

"Hello everyone. I am Julian Blackwood. CEO of the Blackwood Group and a Major General in the British Army."

Everyone cheered. They clapped and smiled. I clapped my hands too, just following the crowd. A few seconds later, he spoke again with a strong voice.

"I have been busy with the army, and I still am. But I am officially taking over the company. I will make sure we expand and grow."

I saw a proud smile on Alistair Blackwood’s face. He clapped for his son. His mother, Catherine, had shining eyes. His sister, Margot, was smiling too.

Everyone was looking at Julian. They could feel his confidence. After he finished his speech, he gave a small, forced smile. He bowed a little. Then he started walking around the tables with his family. He was greeting the guests.

People knew Julian from politics. He was a man of great power and dominance in the military. He was famous for his control. He didn't smile much. His face stayed calm and serious.

As I watched them move from table to table, I saw Mrs. Adelaide coming toward me. She had a classy smile. I smiled back. When she reached me, I gave her a polite nod.

"How is the party?" she asked.

I stayed quiet for a moment. Then I answered her honestly.

"It’s okay. To be honest, I don't really like these kinds of parties. They give me a headache. I wish they were more fun."

I stopped myself. I realized I shouldn't have said that to my boss. I looked at her quickly. Before I could say anything else, she laughed. She actually seemed to enjoy my honesty.

"It’s okay, Eleanor. Just be yourself. I know these high-class parties are boring. To be honest with you... I hate them too."

She leaned in and whispered in my ear so no one else could hear. She acted like she was scared someone would catch her saying it. I laughed. I liked her even more. I took another sip of my wine. But before I could speak, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and groaned. It was my father.

I was so fed up with his calls. I decided to answer just to make him stop. I was so angry. I told Mrs. Adelaide I had to step out. I couldn't talk in the middle of all this noise.

I walked toward the back garden of the hotel. I took a deep breath. A cold wind hit my skin and made me shiver.

I was looking down at my phone as I walked. Suddenly, I slammed into something hard and strong. It felt like hitting a wall. I almost fell onto the floor. My things flew out of my hands. But then, a large hand grabbed my waist. He held me tight so I wouldn't fall.

I gasped. I was frozen. It happened so fast. I looked up at the man in front of me. I couldn't believe it.

It was Mr. Julian Blackwood!

"Mr. Blackwood?!"

His hot breath hit my skin. My whole body shook in his hands. I looked at how close we were. Why was he so close?!

He looked at me quietly for a moment. Then he let go of my waist. I quickly stepped back. I tried to hide how embarrassed I was. I felt his eyes on me. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, just watching me.

"I am sorry, Mr. Blackwood. I was looking at my phone and I wasn't watching where I was going."

I rubbed my hands together. This was our first time meeting, and I had crashed into him. He stayed silent. He was just as cold as I thought he would be. I sighed.

"I am sorry again, Mr. Blackwood. Excuse me."

I gave him a polite bow. I picked up my phone. It was still ringing. I grabbed my things from the floor and ran toward the hotel gate.

The Dark Side

"That bitch!!"

Arthur hissed with hate. He kicked the chair in front of him. He closed his eyes and imagined her dead. He looked through her wallet again. He was acting like a crazy man. He was looking for money, but there was nothing. He had already spent what little she had on the drink in his hand.

"So, Arthur Vance. Where is the money?"

The debt collector asked him. Arthur had borrowed a lot of money for a big bet. He had no way to pay it back. He had gambled everything on a win that never happened. He was blinded by greed. Now he had to pay up or he would be killed. These men don't show mercy. If you can't pay, they cut your throat.

Arthur stayed quiet. He was trying to find a way out. He had to find the money before they killed him.

"What are the ways to pay if I don't have cash?"

The other man laughed. He couldn't believe Arthur. "If you don't have the money, why did you start betting?"

Arthur got angry. "Just answer the damn question, Cleo!"

Cleo sighed. He was annoyed. "There are many ways. You can give up your property. You can sell anything expensive. You can sign checks. Or... you can bet the girls instead of the money."

Arthur stayed quiet for a few minutes. Then a sick smile grew on his face. He whispered to Cleo.

"Tell me that last one again, Cleo."