Chapter 15

Diane's POV

The moment I get into the house, I rest my back on the door, shutting my eyes as my heart pounds painfully in my chest.

How could I? How could I forget who Conrad Beaumont is and my place in his life? Not as a secretary, but as a... you already know what it is.

I forgot for a moment that he's a freak. Son of a cunt.

I hear his car driving off outside, and an exhausted sigh tears through my lips.

So this is really it? The life I signed for? I wouldn't say my life is pathetic, because I chose it myself.

My phone begins ringing in my purse, jolting me out of my thoughts. I lift myself from the door and open my purse.

The number isn't registered, and that makes me grip my purse tight before clicking the green icon, my heart racing.

"Diane!!" The sharp voice blares through the speaker, and I sigh.

That voice. I'd recognize it anywhere, even in my dreams. It's Jeremy, my brother.

"Please tell me you didn't abandon me here. Tell me you're going to get me out. You haven't visited and..."

Ahh! He's right. I haven't visited him, and even when I wanted to, I got that urgent call from Conrad and it skipped my mind again.

His voice is pleadingly desperate, as if he's holding onto the last drop of hope he has, which is me. As if he's caught between begging to be gotten out and begging me to believe he's innocent.

I throw my purse on the sofa, rubbing my forehead with my fingertips. "Calm down, Jeremy." I mutter softly, but I hear him groan.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Diane. This place is scary and..."

"I know it's scary, but I'm still trying to figure things out. You have to hang on till I get everything settled." I say, hoping he'll understand even though I don't give him much information.

Of course, I have a lot to handle, including clearing my outstanding debts. I know how scary it can be because I've been there, just that I was... fortunate to get out within 24 hours. Right now, I'm all he's got. If I don't exercise patience, things might really go berserk, and that's the last thing I want.

"When will you be done with whatever you're sorting, huh?" He asks, and even though I'm not with him, I can sense how tired he is from his voice.

I bite the corner of my lip, so hard, then sit down softly. "Just trust me, Jeremy. I'll figure everything out and I'll come get you." I assure him, and that's it; the call beeps twice and disconnects.

I throw my phone on the empty space beside me, shut my eyes for a brief moment, then open them.

I'll get him out, and that's a promise.

I stand from the sofa and bolt into my room, where I strip every piece of clothing off my body, then pause in front of the mirror to stare at myself.

I stare for too long, my mind a jumbled mess. It might look like my body still has some dignity left, but only I know how thin the thread is and how close it is to snapping.

I shake my head with a blink, then leave the room and enter the bathroom.

***

Taking a shower seems to ease my nerves, because now I'm in the kitchen, headphones on, preparing something mouth-watering for myself.

The aroma of pancakes swirls in the air as I sit on the counter, humming to the music, swinging my legs like I've got nothing to think about, or at least, not for now, while I patiently wait for the pancakes to be ready to devour.

But peace doesn't always last, especially for people like me, because the next second, the words rush in like a brutal wave.

This won't be the end, Diane.

You must have thought you scaled through, didn't you? Something bigger is coming and trust me, Conrad Beaumont, you won't see it coming.

With love from... Someone who wishes to see you crumble to ashes.

Those words rob me of my happiness instantly, and I'm forced to remove the headphones.

I'm not the only one who got the anonymous message. Conrad did too, and the fact that we were once involved in an intimate scandal and now this makes my heart clench and twist in pain.

I can't understand why he received a message from someone, and then I did too.

Who's doing this? Could it be the same person playing tricks on us? Or is it just a coincidence?

Yet again, I can't wrap my mind around everything happening around us and... and...

My eyes shoot wide when the smell of something burning fills my nostrils. I gasp, jumping down from the counter as I realize my pancakes are burning.

I only tranced out for a few moments. How did...

I'm coughing terribly as I turn off the gas. I'm forced to open the windows before rushing out of the kitchen.

Even as I sit in the living room, I can still smell everything that burned.

God.

I should have turned off the gas before anything, but I had no idea I'd drift back to the message. I truly want to push everything aside; my deal with Conrad, the anonymous messages, my brother, everything. I want to forget them, even if just for a moment.

I sigh.

Things don't always work out the way I plan, and that's just how I was created.

I walk back into the kitchen, grab a bowl, cornflakes and a can of milk from the refrigerator, then head back to my room.

I'll just have this and retire to bed.

Nice dinner ruined, so let's go with this.

I sit on the bed and start eating when my phone begins ringing again from the bedstand.

My brows squint as I turn to stare at it.

What happened? I mean, what changed? I've been receiving a lot of calls lately, and it's unusual.

My phone screen goes off after I don't pick up, but almost immediately, it starts ringing again.

I shoot my hand forward with a slight groan, then gasp when I see the caller ID.

I don't hesitate. I instantly click the green icon, my heart palpitating with excitement.

"Hazel!!"

"Diane!!"

We chorus once the call connects. I can feel the excitement bubbling in Hazel's voice, and so is mine.

It's been years. Freaking years!!

"Girl, it's been years! I thought you'd be excited to answer my call once you saw my name light up your phone screen." Hazel's voice comes from the other end, and even though I can't see her face, I know that girl is pouting.

A smile pulls at the corner of my lips. A real, genuine smile. "I had no idea you were the one calling and..."

"Wait, don't tell me you lost my contact?" She cuts in, her voice dripping with disappointment and tinged with disbelief.

"I wouldn't dare. I just wasn't with my phone." I explain with a smile.

Hazel and I talk over the phone for a few minutes, and I literally scream my lungs out when she informs me she'll be returning to the country tomorrow to resume her new work on Monday.

Finally, my lonely days are over. But just as we're talking about the job, my peace, hope and everything is crushed when she reveals the new company she'll be working with.

It turns out to be...