Chapter 2: Him

Belle's POV:

We are currently at our conference room waiting for our new business partner.

"Ruin this and I will ruin you." My father murmurs to me. I nod with closed eyes.

"Smile and be energetic for once. Don't act like a brat that you are, pretending to be hurt and sad to seek attention." He says with a harsh tune. I nod again.

"Use your fucking voice." He says.

"Yes sir." I reply not looking at him.

"Sir they are here." Our secretary says.

Pretend? So that's what I do? Funny. How he thinks I pretend. Attention seeker? Am I really an attention seeker? Was I doing it on purpose? I don't think so cause I don't usually think what others think but knowing that my father sees me like that it hurts a little bit. Wha...

"Bella." My father whisper yells.

I notice I was lost in my own thoughts that didn't notice they were here and waiting for me to introduce myself.

"Hi I am Bellona nice to meet you." I say. Looking at them. There was a young man looking like he is in his mid twenties. Tall, good looking, dark hair and sharp jaw he is handsome actually. He was staring at me.

The man next to him was his father for sure cause they look similar.

"Dante." The young man says as he offers his hand to me to shake. I shake his hand looking down.

I take a glance at my father and I was right he was glaring at me. Sure I will meet the consequences. Damn me why did I zoned out? Well done Bell.

The meeting was hour after an hour or two. They ere officially our partner and more. His son will have an office here. Guess why? Cause my adorable father sold some of my share to them. He said he needs the money for his mafia. He said he is planning something big and I should do as he tells.

Once again I lost something I love thanks to him. This company was all I cared for and now is tearing apart. I spent so much time here with love and care and now it's going to be for them, it's just the matter of the time.

Can't help but feel hatred toward our new partners. If they weren't so greedy so eager to buy my shares or if they didn't give an offer to my father wouldn't sell my share.

Soon they left I was about to leave when my father calls me. I shiver at his tune. I stay where I was. Closing my eyes hoping it will end soon. He grabbed a fist full of my hair and yanks me back and then slaps me across my face.

"I told you to behave but what did you do? You pretend to be sad and lost in your world all over again. How much attention do you need?" He punches me in my stomach and pushes me on the floor.

"Such a shame you are my daughter." He says with a disgusted feature and leaves. And believe me his words hurts more than his beatings. Makes me feel all alone and unwanted once again. My eyes were blurry. I seat, leaning against the wall. Thinking about my mistakes once again.

I finally stand and get out that hell called conference room. I stumble a little on my way to bathroom. They weren't many people here except my secretary that she is busy on her laptop and doesn't notice me.

There is a bruise on my stomach and cheek is red and the corner of my lip is bleeding. Not much of a damage. I washed my face and try to end the bleeding and it was successful.

I go back to my room. Last day of me being the only CEO thanks to my father.

"Ma'am your pictures with your father is ready, here." Lia knocks and enters with some pictures in her hand. I nod.

There was a photography from me and my father last week.

"You look happy." She says. Happy Wow guess the whole fake smile works.

Flashback

"You better show them how happy you are this is going to be on a magazine. Make a single mistake or pretend to be sad to face the consequences." He says. I nod. 

End of flashback...

"This one is going to be on the magazine. You look so pretty." She says.

"Thanks." I nod and give her another fake smile.

"Oh this is your mother?" She points to the picture on my desk. I nod.

A picture of me and her. I am glad that my father hasn't seen it yet. He doesn't come to my office much and when he does I hide it.

"She looks pretty and happy. Such a happy family. Look at her jewelries. Guess it's true when they say a jewelry can make a female happy." She says.

"Happy." I repeat. I haven't heard that word or even felt it for a long time. She used it in a second more than I did in my whole life. Jewelry makes females happy such a déjà-vu.

Flashback 

"Bella look at my necklace. I am so happy. Tell your father to buy you one so maybe you would be happy like us." Her thirteen years old classmate explained.

In her thirteen years old mind that was possible or maybe the best thing she heard maybe that was all she need to be like them (happy), she was so desperate to feel it that she did everything she could to make her father buy a jewelry for her.

There she was standing in front of the mirror with a huge diamond necklace. What's wrong what did she do wrong that she isn't happy. She was now a sad, broken girl with a jewelry. So much of jewelry can make females happy. In her young state she didn't realize she didn't need a jewelry or anything that could be bought she just needs a family.

And her mother, was she happy? No her red puffy eyes said otherwise. Who would've be happy if they got bitten every day. A wrong person, that was her mistake choosing the wrong person. Getting married without fully nothing him.

She used to pretend in front of her but failed miserably. Making breakfast for her, making snacks for her school, kissing her goodbye. But it was hard with a bitten body. When you are bleeding from all the beatings you can't get up, prepare a great breakfast and smile. It's hard to wish your daughter a great day when you are both in hell with satan.

When you know that your daughter is going to witness, you getting bitten it's hard to smile and pretend to be happy isn't it?

"Mom you should leave tonight." She said.

"I can't leave you here with him." She replied.

"No mom you can, you have to. Don't ruin your life because of me. You only live once don't waste it here. Go and find your happy place. Be happy." She said.

"How? It's impossible to leave." She said.

"It's not. I drugged all the bodyguards and dad won't come back till tomorrow. The cameras are also off. I even bought you a ticket. You will go to Spain then France and then buy another ticket to wherever you want. Don't tell me where I might mess it up in front of him. He can't track you. Here this is a fake Id and a fake passport. I made you a fake identity. Use it till you got there and then make your new life. Here take this. All my jewelries and savings. Go and make a happy life." She explained excited and sad. But she was a good actress. She was good at hiding her sadness.

"How did you do that?" Her mother asked.

"With some help from my friends, you know the movies that I watched finally helped." She said with a giggle. Friends she use to have some. But that didn't last because if her father. Getting bitten and being energetic and nice to others is hard. And harder than that is staying friends without being able to go out with them or invite them. Keeping secrets didn't help either.

"I can't leave you." She repeated.

"You can mom. If I come with you I will be just a burden and a trouble. He can come after you because of me. You will get identified sooner with me. Go he can't do anything with me." She said. Little did she know he was able to turn her life into a living hell. But she didn't regret it, even a bit.

"No you don't know him. He is dangerous. Come with m.." she was about to protest but she didn't let her.

"No mom I am his daughter. Mom you would be better without me. It's hard to have a new love life with a daughter, worse a daughter that looks like her father. You will see him in me." She said with a smile. It was true she tried to wake her mother up but she screamed when she saw her thinking it was her father she also had a panic attack. It was hard to forget her mothers condition and the reason behind it.

She hated her face but couldn't do anything about it. What could a fourteen years old do? She could just with that she would look like her mother after puberty. It happened but it was too late. Her mother was gone and her father hated her even more for looking like her. Her nose got smaller just like her mothers. Her hair got lighter just like hers. But it was too late.

"I am sorry Belle." She said.

"It's ok. Just remember that I am thankful for everything that you did till now." She kissed her cheek and embraced her.

"I love you Belle. Stay safe. Thanks." She said and sobbed. Bell controlled her tears. She should stay strong till she goes.

Her mother walked out and waved at her for the last time. With a hope. She hoped that his husband would act different toward their daughter. That he would at least love her. He would give the love that couldn't give to her to their daughter.

She thought everything was going as she planned but she didn't notice Andy the guard that was out for shopping and witnessed everything.

End of flashback...

"Yes happy." Lia replies.

"They weren't enough to make her happy she needed something more than that like freedom." I reply. Lia was staring at me with a confused expression.

"You know you are right it did made her happy in a way." I say. Yes they did become her capital when she ran away.

"See they are always useful." She replies happy that she was right and goes back to her work.

I go back home after my last day as the only CEO. Not bother to go to dining room, I go straight to my room getting ready to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.