5: Make Up

Valerie’s POV

My head feels like it would fall off from the protruding ache and nausea. My last memories slowly filter in, reminding me of the devil I’m with…

“Stay away!” I scream and jolt up from bed. 

Baron pauses, he has a damp napkin in his hand that he uses to stroke my forehead and skin. He looks pissed, nothing like I’ve seen before.

“Finally awake, huh?”

I adjust further into the bed, eyes scanning for something to defend myself. 

“What were you doing?” He groans, jaws clench. “Trying to get yourself killed?” 

Shocked, I choke on a laugh. “Don’t you think spilling the blood of her baby sister will be just fine?” My voice is flat. “Oh! Tired of getting your hands dirty?” 

“What’re you…”

“You fucking killed my sister, you piece of shit!” I bark, irritation in my tone. What pisses me off the most is his fake innocence.

“Jeez! No… I didn't…” He stutters. 

I toss the sheet off my body, charged to leave. 

He rushes forward. “What are you doing?” 

“Getting your ass jailed, what I should have done before.”

He crushes his tall frame against my petite one, trapping me in his firm grip. I thrash and slap, fighting to be free but my small size is at a disadvantage. His hand slips around my waist, smearing me to himself. My breasts smack against his hairy skin and I realize I’m naked. 

My hands slip between us to push him off, but he settles me in his arms, our faces barely an inch away, his breaths are warm strokes on my skin, and his eyes keep me in place. My heart races, I can't tell if it's because I’m scared. 

“I’m sorry,” he gulps dryly and loosens his grip.

I fall against the bed frame and consciously grab the sheet to my breasts. 

In silence, he walks to the small erected bar, roots out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, then returns to my bedside. He pours me a glass that I reluctantly accept, then walks over and sits on the couch at the foot of the bed. 

“I kept that diary to find her killer.” He sips from his glass. “Because after three years I still feel guilty for her death and worthless for not giving her justice.” 

He makes me scoff. “How badly do you want to pretend?”

“Please, hear me out.” He pushes to the edge of his seat. “There was an obsessed psycho in the picture.”

He pauses. 

“And you feel guilty because?”

“I introduced her to him.” He blinks and looks away to hide his hurt. “When her company was downsizing, I made her company get a multi-million dollar gig in place of mine, but she was required to partner with his company.” His voice breaks off. “He became closer than she wanted and dominant. When she didn't help in his plan to merge companies and push me off, he lost his mind.”

He gulps, almost downing the entire glass. 

“If you know he killed her, why did you wait for so long?” 

“Because Veronica’s house mysteriously burned down.” His body shudders as he tries not to cry. “The diary was one of the few things I could salvage.” 

Tears fall on his pants and splash. He brushes tears from his cheeks. I gulp my drink, finding good support. 

“So she proposed I marry you… She knew I had always loved her but wasn't bold enough to act on my feelings.” He’s crying at this point. “I wish I did.”

He finishes off what’s in his glass and stands up to leave the room. The break is much needed. Alone, I collapse back in bed, curling like a baby. 

Veronica was most secretive. She would say she was protecting me… But why didn't she say anything?

I palm my face and weep. 

The door opens and Baron strolls back in. He looks exhausted. 

“You… You never dated her?”

He shakes his head and sighs. “We were best friends. I didn't want to ruin what we had.” He rolls his tongue and continues his narration. “The plan wasn't so bad until I started making you look like her. It was unconscious at first, then I loved it… It lessened the guilt. Made it feel like she is alive.” 

Slowly, he jerks into tears. 

“I thought of letting you go but I was scared of also losing you to him.” 

I sniffle and pull the sheet around myself. It's suddenly becoming cold. “Who’s he?”

“My business rival. He disappeared…” He presses his lips firmly. “Now he’s back but as a doctor. Dr. Glynn.” 

My jaws drop. 

I blink nonstop, trying to make it make sense but my brain is frozen too. My lips quiver and I turn pale white. 

Rage fills me up to the brim, entirely shifting me from my shock. The murderer is walking freely like he owns New York City. 

“Gosh, she was bubbly. We laughed and had the fun of our lives. She wished for our favorite coffee while we were kids.” My words are flat. The more I thought about it, Veronica knew she was going to die. “I returned, happy to share my bubble of the gentle English man I met…” I hold back from breaking down. “But then I met her corpse.”

Baron reaches to comfort me but I pull away. He gets the cue and stops. 

“If it means shedding my blood to bring that killer to book, I would.” I try to take the last drop of liquor but my glass is empty. “He will pay with his tears and blood.” 

I climb out of bed and walk into the bathroom needing air. I'm suddenly suffocating. He lets me be. Alone, I collapse on the wall, letting the cold icy shower run down my body. It still doesn't wash off the pain. 

The door creaks open. 

I don't need to look to see it’s Baron. 

His gentle footsteps approach me. I hear his fabrics rustle as he strips naked and then joins me in the shower. As tender as ever, he guides me to himself, layering me gently on his broad hairy chest. 

I feel his coarse palm stroke my body as he runs the soap on me. “Come here.” He carefully turns me so I lean on him, my face on his chest, with the shower raining on my back. 

“I won’t let him hurt you, Valerie.” He murmurs in my ear and buries his face in my wet hair, inhaling the scent of my shampoo. 

“I want to hunt him down myself.” Hot tears burn my cheeks. 

“Shhh,” the fine edges of his lips brush against my skin in soft kisses. “And I don't intend to take away your revenge.” He chuckles lightly. “But I need to keep you close, I can't take chances…” He pauses all of a sudden. 

Something feels off about his swift emotions. I lean my chin on his chest to look at him. The look on his face is scary. Are there more secrets?

“Say it.”

“Valerie…” He stops on seeing how serious I am. “Resign as the co-CEO… Be my secretary.”