ANMELDENChapter 2 – The Devil Himself
His eyes went past mine. “Ashford,”
“Mr. Williams,” I heard my fathers voice tremble. I turned around to him. “My…my promise to you,”
Promise?
“Yes, I can see. I also see how my bride is not dressed yet.”
His bride?
“I’m really sorry Mr. Williams. She’ll see to it once,” my dad answered like a dog to his master.
My eyes squinted. Oh. I’ve been played.
I turned back to Mr. Williams and stepped closer to him. “My name is Vivienne and I am not your bride.”
I crossed him when he grabbed my upper arm and stopped me in my tracks. His eyes were dangerously settled on my dad. “Let go of me,” I gulped. His grip was soft but firm.
“Ashford, your cowardice is making me sick. You haven’t told your daughter the truth, have you?”
I knew it. He has been lying.
“Mr. Williams, I…please forgive me sir. I will tell her everything right now.”
I was staring at the man who assumed he had the right to hold me against my will. “I said, let. God. Of. Me.”
His eyes bore into mine. Gosh he was insanely handsome.
“Don’t be cute,” he let go of my arm and just then another pair grabbed me and dragged me to a room. The room seemed like a library filled with shelves of books. There was a cozy fireplace, a few comfy couches. There sat a table with a chess board on it. The whole place was screaming luxury. The furniture, the statues, the frames, the freaking paint. Who was this man?
“Dad, respectfully, what the fuck?”
“Watch your mouth with me. I didn’t lie to you. He will keep you safe and give you whatever you want. He is wealthy,”
“I don’t want to marry him,”
“I don’t think you have any say anymore,” he folded his arms.
Ugh. I wanted to push him away. I dreaded picking up his call. I hate this.
“Who is he?” he demanded.
“Your husband,” dad’s answers were starting to really trigger me. “I don’t think you quite understand the situation here. He is really powerful. If you marry him, you will be set for life, and my debt to him will be cleared.”
“Are you stupid?” I couldn’t hold it back anymore.
“Excuse me?” dad took an angry step forward.
“Do you really think you will be just free to go just because I’m marrying that devil? You really believe he’ll let go of his ten million that easily? Who am I to him?”
Dad watched me carefully trying to make sense of what I was saying.
“Exactly. I don’t mean anything to him. He doesn’t really seem the type to be desperate of a girl to marry. You, dad, have fucked your life and now you’ve fucked up mine.”
“You ungrateful piece of…” his eyes were shot with fury as he walked to me with his hand raised.
I was about to get slapped. Wow.
Again. The nerve.
He was almost there when he stopped dead in his tracks after hearing him.
“Tch, tch. I wouldn’t advise that Ashford,”
It was Mr. Williams. Did he stop dad to protect me?
“The ceremony is in thirty minutes. And I am a very impatient man. Get out. I need to have a word with my fiancé,”
I swear I noticed that smirk when he said fiancé. He’s deliberately wanting to get on my nerves. He’s playing me too. How dare he? Is he testing me?
“Very well,” dad gave me a final look as if to warn me not to do anything stupid before leaving.
“Vivienne,” his sultry voice echoed through the room. The way my name rolled of his lips seemed too natural.
“You know my name. I don’t know yours. Don’t you think that’s unfair?” I played strong and bold.
“Damon.”
“Who are you, Damon?”
He started walking towards me and I kept walking backwards because I wanted to maintain distance. He seemed too eager to close that. I stopped when I felt the wall against my back. The tension in the room shifted. My bold play, shattered. I felt like a sheep being stalked by a wolf.
“I am someone,” his hand went behind his coat and he pulled out a gun, “who loves to play.”
I gulped. “I am not a toy,” my voice came out weaker.
He smirked when he trapped me between his arms. His cologne hit me like a drug. I had never been cornered before. Especially not like this. My head couldn’t stop thrumming.
“You are mine.” He stated as his head lowered to my face.
He was too close. Too close. I didn’t know if I wanted to push him or not. Or if I was too scared too.
“Please, call this wedding off,” I locked my eyes with his dreamy ones.
“You are pretty and smart just like a Vixen.” He whispered.
I held my breath. “Please,” my voice was even quieter this time.
“I can’t. I don’t want to,” one of his hands found their way to my chin. He grabbed it lightly and held it firmly to lock my face towards him. “Go get dressed into your gown before I tear your clothes and put it on myself,”
I wanted to see myself right now to judge how I looked. If I seemed as scared as I was, or did I put enough act. His words were dangerous and vulgar but they still made me gulp.
“Am I clear, Vixen?” his eyes seemed emotionless when he stared at me. His face was so close I was having difficulty breathing.
Being the stupid stubborn girl I am, I answered with the most dangerous comeback I could come up with. “Fuck you,”
He got up, towering over me as he looked down upon me. He took a step forward and I took one backward.It was still a mystery why I kept testing him. Maybe it was the way he responded. I knew how aggravated I made him, how irritation simmered beneath his skin but he never hurt me. Not in the way a powerful man, like him, could.And maybe, just maybe, I want to see how far I could push him for him to push me back.Damon was used to people bending at his feet. Defiance was something that intrigued him but…I guess I over did it this time.“I have been far too patient with you. Perhaps, you mistake it for kindness,” his face expression was detached, jaw tightened and eyes deadly.“You’re not the only one being patient. I didn’t ask you to marry me, you brought this upon yourself, Damon,” I snapped, my voice stern. “I am your wife. Not some random chick you can order around,”A quiet smile appeared on his face.“You haven’t been performing your marital duties, wife,”“Not everything has to
Vivienne’s POV:Gripping the metal candle stick in my hand, I cautiously headed towards the stairs, careful not to make any sound. I was in my night suit, wearing pajamas and a t-shirt with white socks covering my feet. My eyes wandered down the railing, searching for the source of noise.Someone was downstairs and I knew it wasn’t Damon. He told me he won’t be coming tonight.Luis?No. I don’t think he would come up when I’m alone and if he did, Damon would have informed me.Sleep was about to hit me when I heard a glass shatter downstairs and someone cussed.My heart thrummed inside with each step I took, oblivious to what awaited me.There’s a chance of knocking the person unconscious if I get the angle right with the candle stick.But what if they caught me first and tied me up?“Pinching? That was your plan?”“Disappointing, Vixen”And suddenly I recalled his words from earlier reminding me that pinching wasn’t an option. I shook the thought off.I was downstairs now. The kitchen
Vivienne’s POV:“Estoy bien. Como esta?”“Estas. There is an s at the end,” Luis corrected me. “Say it again.”“Estoy bien. Como estas?” I said with a big smile.“Muy bueno,” he nodded with a small smile.“Gracias,” I turned to my pancakes and took a bite.Luis laughed lightly beside me. “You are a fast learner,”“I told you,” I spoke with pancake in my mouth. “These are way too good Ms. Emma. Esta muy delicioso” I added the Spanish version in the end after glancing at Luis.“Oh, you flatter me Mrs. Williams,” she beamed a bright smile at me. “I’ll be leaving in an hour. Do you require something else?”“Please, I told you before, call me Vivi. And no, I’m good, thank you,”It had been three days since I last talked to Damon. Properly. I kept my words short and to the point ever since we kissed.That kiss hadn’t left my mind, though, I tried but failed at keeping it suppressed. It had invaded my mind, always attacking me throughout the day in phases. It was a good kiss.During my high
I stood, breathless against the wall with the back of my hand covering my mouth. The moment he pulled away; I came back to my senses.What had I just done?Ignoring his remark, I collected myself. Let’s not make it look like it bothered me.That’s what I thought. That’s what I aimed to achieve.God knows how successful I was with it.“Luis will teach me Spanish,” I walked away hoping my out of the blue demand will avert this very awkward situation. Stopping right before the bathroom door, I turned around, “And no, I am not asking for your permission. Just tell him that yourself, it will be better,”Before going inside, I peeked at him and then swiftly closed the door behind me.My cheeks were hot. I stared at myself in the mirror, blushing like a crazy virgin girl. Why was he looking at me like that just now?Splashing my face from the cold water, I sighed. What am I doing? Why am I even here? I’ll just shower, hopefully, he’ll be asleep by then.So, after a long warm shower, I chang
Night poured in with heavy clouds above in the sky. They were here to mourn my future.I thought a lot about it; my conversation with Damon earlier.He laughed bitterly, smirking down at me. “You’re not going anywhere.” He leaned forward whispering in my ear, “The sooner you accept that, the better,”He was right. Partially.I wasn’t going anywhere…yet.I needed time to think and plan for my way out.So, the best thing for me right now, as much as I hate to admit, was to take Damon’s advice.Accept my fate.There were some things I decided to bring up tonight.For example, my university.My out-going life…even if I didn’t have any.My freedom to move around as I please.Him respecting me as his wife…meaning no women.Hmm.No women in front of me.And behind?No, I didn’t care. Fuck whoever. As long as it is not me. Huh.That brought me to a rather displeasing thought. Tonight was going to be the night, I’ll be aware of us sharing a bed. I knew, sleeping in the other room was no option
Damon’s POV:Biting my lip, I saw her leave the room and it pleased me.She pretended not to care.She did.I enjoyed that way too much.Cathy kept her fingers stroking my thigh occasionally. It was getting excessive…more performative. She was trying harder because she saw Vivienne. Predictable.She knew who she was…a temporary fuck. This competition gets tedious. Cathy knew what she signed up for by sleeping with me. I’ve always made it clear.In my world, there is no place for emotions to get involved. Any minor inconvenience…you’re dead. She was an excellent fuck…always knew what to do. I’m not that desperate of a man, control was never a problem. Never really needed to pay someone, they always kept coming at me. Women like her were not rare. They always came easy.This time was different. She was resisting rather than throwing herself at me.She didn’t chase, certainly didn’t submit.The woman surrounding me since the start have either always desired me or feared. It was mostly







