Chapter 005 - Escaping a monster

Chapter 005

Celeste's POV

"What? No!" I blurted out before I could stop myself, he wasn't surprised.

"Okay let me revise what I said Celeste, let me help you leave your husband." He repeated it, just in finer words and I could tell he didn't understand what my marriage meant to me.

"I think I must've crossed my boundaries asking you for a private loan but my personal life is nothing for you to meddle in, I respectfully reject your offer." I dropped the file quietly and his face, he grinned like he knew I'd be back, he was confident and that confidence? I hated it.

Leaving the office felt like regret but he didn't understand.

Leaving Alan? It's not as easy as it looks.

He never used to be cold, at least not when I met him.

He was kind, he loved me but all of a sudden he started to notice something he called a problem, something that had always been there. My body, he hated it, he hated me. I couldn't tell what triggered it anymore but I kept hoping that one day

he'd change but he didn't and I was still hoping.

Maybe one day he'd wake up and apologize but i didn't think I could forgive him, not after the years of pain, not after seeing the way he treated other women.

Still, I couldn't leave him. I loved him, he helped me when I had nothing, this job, he gave it to me so how could I leave him because a CEO who saw a few bruises said so? It just didn't make sense.

I mustered my courage and texted Alan to meet me at a corner, he came looking like hell.

"How could you come to work without covering your face?" He barked the moment he saw me.

"Alan please help me, it's mum." I begged and showed him a picture of the bills but he laughed.

"Five hundred thousand? You must be kidding me Celeste." He smirked like it amused him.

"Alan please, can you at least borrow me? I'll pay you back..."

"How?" He cut me short and I bit my lips.

"How will you repay half a million Celeste? Listen even if you were the one lying in that bed?" He paused and made me look at him.

"I'll rather let you die than waste my money on keeping you alive so deal with it!" He walked away and the tears fell, Rolling down my face. hot, warm and salty on my lips.

He didn't say that, Troy Anderson never said the money was a waste, he never even asked for the amount, he said "I'll help you." Without thinking.

I had no other person to turn and the person who tried to help, I turned away his offer. I couldn't face him again.

"I don't think you realize how much that money is, you can't simply pay back that kind of money Celeste. I can't help you." The Manager's response was my last hope.

I promised myself I'd figure it out but every glance at the bill took me one step closer to him, Troy Anderson.

After work hours, Alan was waiting by the garage, he had his sleeves rolled up as he glared at me.

I stopped in my tracks, The CEO was behind him, it was the perfect time to ask him again since I rejected his offer coldly the last time.

Our eyes met and Troy stood like he was sure I would come to him, Alan glared at me and I knew for sure he was danger.

I choose safety, if leaving Alan meant saving my mother, I should at least try before saying it's impossible.

Alan smirked when I started walking, he was confident I was coming to him but the moment I walked past him, he turned.

I stopped next to Troy and exhaled slowly before speaking. "I accept your offer but I'd like to do it my way."

He didn't ask me anything, he just smiled and opened his car door.

"Celeste! What's going on?" Alan was coming towards us so I sat in Troy's car immediately, I was scared of my husband and I never really realized how safe I felt next to Troy.

Alan stopped next to the CEO but I refused to look up at him.

"Can I help you?" Troy spoke first, Alan. He was short of words, he could barely speak.

"I- that's my wife, I need to take her home." He finally spoke and I tightened my grip on my purse, changing my mind would mean stepping back into the horror I'm trying to escape.

Troy shut the door and I couldn't hear what he said but Alan stood like a broken man, Troy got into the car and drove. I could see from the mirror, the way he looked at me.

He looked ready to shatter me once I was back to him but little did he know, I already made my decision.