The persistent ringing of the phone sliced through the silence of the room, causing a loud his to escape her small plump lips, as she glanced at the caller with irritation written all over her face.
"Blaine? This had better be good," Mrs. Greta spewed angrily at the caller when she finally answered the phone.
"I hope so too," Blaine Declan responded after a brief silence. He hated her guts.
"Go on," She said flatly.
"The proposal has been submitted. Hopefully, we should get a response in two weeks," He explained.
"Why do we have to wait that long? Come on, can't you make it any faster?"
"You already know this is the very best I can do. He's not one to be pressured, you know this, don't you?" He suppressed his rage, trying his hardest not to yell at her.
Mrs. Greta is overly controlling. She wants every damn thing done her way. She doesn't give a damn about what anyone feels, as long as she gets what she wants, she's good to go. She had no iota of respect for anyone, not even her supposed soon-to-be son-in-law, and it pisses the hell out of Blaine.
"Can you arrange for a meeting with him? Perhaps, Laura might do a great job convincing him to make it faster, and even more, getting the assurance that the proposal would be granted, you know?" She suggested, and it sounded like a perfect plan already.
"Quit dreaming. It's almost impossible getting him to meet just anyone. He only meets people of his caliber, and only when he permits. I have work to attend to." He dropped the call immediately, his eyes turning red with anger.
"Such a greedy bitch! No wonder she never hesitated to hand over her loose daughter to me for marriage." He let out a smirk. "Let's see who turns out the best player." A devilish grin spread across his face.
***
Delaney snapped out of her sadness as she took a quick glance at the time. "Oh my God," she gasped, quickly rushing into the bathroom.
She had dozed off while wallowing in her pain. She was already running late. This was an opportunity she didn't want to miss.
She wasted no time in the bathroom today - there was no time for her normal bath routine. It was time she took the bull by the horn. She was done being a liability to anyone, not even Blaine nor Greta.
Delaney had always dreamed of the day she'd become an independent woman. A woman who could afford whatever kind of luxury and life she wanted, not having to live at the mercy of what others wanted. A lot had been taken away from her over the years, including a lot of her rights.
She hardly ever had the right to even her personal feelings. She lost the right to make choices, to be happy, to love and be loved, to dream, wish, feel or even ask! A lot of that was going to change soon.
She hurried to the closet, scanning through the few clothes she had. She picked the best out of the very few she had - a simple but beautiful red gown that hugged her body, outlining her perfect curves. It was slightly above knee length, a little bit provocative, but it was great.
Her man hated seeing her in such outfits, for reasons best known to him, but right now, she dared to displease him. She missed looking beautiful. She wanted to remember how it felt to look beautiful.
Blaine... She paused briefly at the thought of the man she loves with all of her heart. She loved him from the depths of her heart that it hurts.
Blaine is actually a good man... Sometimes he gets very angry and makes her life a little bit unbearable. But as long as he is happy without anything or anyone bothering or annoying him, she enjoys some moment of peace.
He was the only person she had, aside from her stepmother, Greta, and her daughters Velda and Laura who despised her so much and made sure they made her life unbearable at every opportunity they had, for reasons best known to them.
She always prayed for Blaine to stay happy always, so she could also stay at peace. And even though he doesn't show her affection, it's fine, as long as she had the peace she desires.
Delaney heaved a heavy sigh, staring at her reflection in the mirror, not knowing what to feel - ugly or beautiful. She felt she was losing her confidence as a woman. Blaine never admires her. She couldn’t recall the last time she got compliments.
She applied some makeup on her face, determined to restore her confidence by trying her best to look beautiful. And in a few minutes, she was done dressing up.
A smile of satisfaction played across her face as she stared at her reflection with more admiration this time around.
Her long curly chestnut brown hair was styled in a decent braided bun, allowing a few loose strands to dangle lazily on both sides of her face. The silky baby hairs behind her ears, down to the back of her neck gave her an irresistible look.
Putting on matching red heels and a little black clutch, she was good to go. And with one final glance at the mirror, she wished herself luck, as that was all she actually needed at that moment.
***
Seated in Adonis' office, Blaine Declan struggled to conceal the mounting fear that threatened to consume him. His heart raced with a frenzied beat, his forehead slick with beads of sweat, causing his hands to tremble.
His eyes reflected all the emotions he felt at that point, hinting at the fear that he desperately tried to conceal.
Adonis' piercing gaze was fixed upon him, unyielding and unwavering. When he looked at you, it was like he was seeing straight into your soul.
He issued his command in a voice that was devoid of emotion. "Blaine, I need those documents on this table immediately," he stated flatly, his tone brooking no argument or delay.
Blaine had been running late for work that morning, and in his haste, he had inadvertently left the crucial documents lying on his couch, completely unaware. He was thankful he didn't pull through with the plans he had earlier.
Blaine holds a very vital position in Adonis' company, giving him the privilege to handle a part of the company's finances, but of course, he couldn't help but take a Dollar or two sometimes... Who'd realize it anyway? He's a professional when it comes to carefully altering reports, and so far, so good, he has never been caught nor suspected to have been embezzling some money for the company.
When he found out he had very little time to alter the document he had taken home yesterday to enable him to steal a little more money, he abandoned the quest, knowing that if he had started the process, it would have taken him a minimum of two days to get it done. He decided to wait for another window of opportunity... The opportunities are always there. It's a very huge company.
He inwardly gave himself a smile of victory and appreciation to the heavens. He would have been caught red-handed today.
"I'll go get it immediately, sir. My apartment is just a 10 minutes drive from here," He hastily suggested, not wanting to stay in there any longer. He might not survive another minute under such an atmosphere.
"Make a call. Get someone to bring it over to you now. It's office hours, you are not permitted to leave the premises until you are done for the day." Adonis stated in a low but commanding tone, without sparing Blaine a glance. His attention had shifted to the picture he'd been looking at before he got interrupted by a call from his private investigator.
Without hesitation, Blaine brought out his phone and dialed Delaney's line. He waited impatiently for her to pick up the phone, but she didn't. He felt his anger rising. 'That bitch!' he cursed inwardly.
"Ma'am, just as I said earlier, you'll be called for an interview once you've scaled through the first stage. Do wait patiently, ma'am," the irritable voice of the woman on the other side of the desk explained to Delaney, her edginess evident in her voice. "Uhm... Alright. Thank you," Delaney gave a courteous smile as she made her way out of the grumpy lady's office. Anger washed over her as she wondered why the lady was so rude to her. It was almost as if the lady knew her from before. "How rude people can be to strangers." She increased her pace, opening her clutch to bring out her phone. For a minute while she was in there, she thought she heard it ring. "Oh, my God!" Delaney let out a loud gasp as she felt a pair of strong arms grip her by both shoulders just before she fell to the ground. She had just bumped into the hard frame of a masculine figure. Her large green eyes slowly traveled from his broad shoulders to the pair of arms which held her firmly in place, and finally, t
Delaney alighted in front of the very huge building where Blaine worked. She stood transfixed, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared at the towering building before her. As she took in the sleek design and the gleaming glass facade, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mingled with a touch of apprehension. She felt excited because the opportunity was finally here, and now, she gets to step foot into a place she could never step into, except in her dreams and wild imaginations. She's always admired this beautiful place for so long, wondering what it feels and looks like inside. And sometimes, when her imagination gets the best of her, she'd close her eyes and imagine herself working here and being like every other successful lady she sees and admires. But, she felt really nervous going in there because she already knew what caliber of people she'd come across, and she couldn't help but feel a little out of place. Delaney took in a deep breath as she made her way into t
Delaney held his cold gaze as the air around her suddenly became suffocating. Her hands trembled in fear, and she could hear her own heart pounding.Blaine stared in confusion, desperately trying to decipher what was happening. "Was his boss lusting after Delaney?" he asked himself, noticing that the look in Adonis' eyes was different from his usual unreadable expression. It held something more."You?" His baritone voice finally broke the long silence that hung in the air, his riveting stare penetrating her eyes.Delaney had a thousand questions racing through her mind. What had she done wrong? Was her attire inappropriate? Did she say something offensive? Perhaps he didn't like how she addressed him when she entered? Could she have put Blaine in trouble?"I'm sorry, sir, but have I done something wrong?" Delaney finally mustered up the courage to speak, confusion and concern evident on her face."You... You really don't..." Adonis stuttered, feeling a pang in his heart as realization
"Who are you? What have you done to me?" His voice was a desperate moan, riddled with bewildered pleasure. His body trembled like a leaf caught in a storm, a sign of an uncontrolled passion that seized his muscular frame.His skin was slick with sweat, bearing testament to the sheer intensity of his desire. "No one...no one has ever ignited such a fire in me," he confessed, his voice a hoarse whisper.His lips moved with practiced expertise, planting feather-soft kisses down her neck, tracing a blazing trail to her belly button before retracing the path back to her neck. His teeth grazed her earlobe teasingly, eliciting a soft gasp from her. His hands, like an artisan's tool, skillfully explored the rounded curves of her backside, setting her senses high with pleasure.She succumbed to the wave of pleasure, her body responding instinctively to his expert ministrations. Her moans were a sweet melody to his ears, an affirmation of the pleasure he was inducing within her. As he continued
"I'm sorry to bother you, but can I come in?" Adonis' deep voice snapped her out of her daze.Delaney was taken aback by the imposing figure standing before her. She felt like she was in a trance. What was he doing here? She wondered if he had come to see Blaine, and her mind raced with countless possibilities. The events from their encounter at his office earlier flooded her thoughts, and she panicked, fearing that the situation had gotten worse than she thought it was."Uh... Sure... Good evening… Mr. Langston," she stammered, breaking their brief eye contact.Adonis exuded an intimidating presence that made her shiver. She didn't even want to think about his attractive features at that moment because his deep ocean eyes already sent flutters through her stomach. Those eyes…"Please, Adonis will do just fine," he responded, still holding her gaze, his voice sounding almost like it was an order, carrying an air of authority."I'm sorry, sir…" she tittered nervously, nibbling on her l
Adonis stood under the shower, allowing the warmth of the water to run down his entire body from his head. He closed his eyes, immersing himself deeper into his thoughts.It's been days now, and he still hadn't gotten the perfect plan on how to get Delaney without getting her offended or angry at him. It's a card he needed to play with caution. He didn't want to lose her again.He was ruthless in his ways; he was cold and unfeeling. He could just abduct her and take her to a place no one would ever find her, and even the authorities wouldn't dare interfere. He could also easily get rid of Blaine, but that would only hurt Delaney. He needed a perfect plan for this.Adonis hasn't been able to look at Blaine the same way he had before. After discovering he was the so-called fiance of his dream woman, he'd grown such a dangerous hatred towards Blaine that he could kill him without blinking an eye. And to think that Delaney has been going through hell at the hands of the imbecile only enra
"I am not going to hand-feed you. Stand up and get your plate!" Greta's nagging voice filled the room."What are you talking about, Mom?" Didn't you tell me a few days ago that you already had a plan?" Laura retorted, already getting weary of her mother's constant nagging. "My plan didn't go as planned, but you also have to try on your own part," Greta spewed angrily, disgust written all over her face, as she grabbed the glass of whiskey beside her."Mum, I'm just 23, and marriage is the last thing on my mind at the moment. Why don't you make Delaney marry him instead? I am sure she wouldn't mind," Laura responded with an eye roll."Shut your trap! I never want to hear that from you again! How dare you mention that filthy tramp to my ears? Have you gone nuts?" Greta fumed; her anger and hatred toward Delaney were evident in her eyes."What would you have me do, Mom? Huh?""You are a beautiful damsel. Just find a way already. Work something out. Your sister, Velda, did it, and now she
"Delaney Duncan..." The calm voice recited the name for the fourth time, running his fingers around the edges of the file containing her credentials which sat on his exotic executive table at his mercy. How interesting.It was another typical 'office' day for him as he busied himself with his schedules for the day. But when he encountered a worthy distraction, he quickly paused to pay attention to it.He smiled at the file he held in hand, satisfaction easing through him. He hadn't lost her totally after all. In fact, he would see her more often than she'd ever imagined because she would get the job she'd applied for on a platter of gold.A wide smile played across his face one more time as he picked up the intercom. "Send an email to Delaney Duncan. She's the most qualified for the job. I'd like to have her interviewed personally. Schedule a meeting immediately." His monotone voice instructed his secretary before dropping the call without waiting for a response.'So, we meet again af