The Devil
1107 Words
Jem
"Isn't that_"
My ex boss? My mother's soon-to-be husband? The man I had kissed at the gym? The man who I had released a trio of excited dogs on? "Yes."
"Holy shit." Aspen whispered at me, eyes saucer round, "What are the odds?"
Very low, but apparently, the universe had a dark sense of humor when it came to me.
"What the hell are you going to do?" She asked again.
I stared at her, "I'm not going to do anything. I'm going to congratulate the happy couple and then get out of New York before Mr. Montgomery can recite a list of my transgressions to Maeve."
The fact that Aspen wasn't laughing was the biggest indication that this had turned into a huge mess. My bestfriend laughed at almost everything.
"Do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife?" The priest asked.
Nero's gaze shifted and met mine. It was only for a split second but the effect of his dark eyes left me feeling out of breath.
"I do."
When their lips finally met in a brief kiss to seal their union, I couldn't help but feel smug when the taller man looked unaffected. The memory of him with half lidded, lust blown eyes, staring at me like he had wanted to consume me flashed in my head.
"We're done here," I tapped Aspen, "We're taking the first bus back to the city."
But my stepmother clearly had other plans, as she walked past me, arm in arm with Nero, her lips curled up in distaste, "We're having the reception at the Carlton Hotel, you'd better be there."
I had no choice but to head to the hotel, knowing that my stepmother just needed an excuse to get rid of Ginny. I wasn't surprised to see that the hall was well decorated, with glittering chandeliers, silver center pieces on each table, colourful flowers busting from every corner.
"I hate to say it, but Maeve has an eye for decoration," Aspen whispered at my side as we walked into the hall.
My stepmother caught my eye and signalled me to follow her. I couldn't see Nero anywhere in the hall, and I obediently followed her to a back room. She had taken off her veil and slicked on a bright red lipstick.
"You'll be moving in with Nero and I after the wedding," she stated.
I narrowed my eyes at her, "I thought you were so eager to get rid of me."
"It turns out that the board won't legalize the signing of the company to me unless they know that you weren't persuaded into it," she said bitterly, "Which means, you have to stay here and play happy family with me. And before you start arguing with me, I have only one thing to say, don't."
My mouth pressed into a thin line, my thoughts racing.
Ginny or my father's legacy. Those were the two options laid out before me. I shook with rage as I realised that I'd have no choice but to go ahead with my stepmother's plans.
"Do you have any objections?" She asked with a smirk.
"No," I spat.
She rolled her eyes, "How disappointing, Jemima. I thought that for once you'd actually grow a backbone and stop holding on to inconsequential things."
I gaped at her. Did she really want me to forfeit Ginny's life for money and property? What kind of sick, heartless Individual would do that?
Maeve waved a dismissive hand in the air, "You'll move into the house, and on your twenty first birthday, after you sign everything over to me, you can have that useless person back."
Without another glance at me, she walked out of the room. I stumbled down the hallway blindly, feeling defeated. I had been so close to having it all, and Maeve had played another trump card.
I had never hated anyone how I hated her. I wasn't an evil person, but at that moment, I knew I would have gladly put a bullet in her head if I had the chance.
"How many of the board members are on board for the takeover?" I heard a familiar voice asking.
I pressed my back against the wall and listened. It seemed like Nero was making a call. What could be so important to discuss on your own wedding day?
"Good," he replied the person on the phone, "I want you to get me information on the Jemima girl. The gym wasn't a coincidence after all."
My eyes widened. Did he think I had targeted him just to flash him my naked breasts and steal his clothes? What an asshole!
"And one more thing, I want you to find Jonah Thorne's autopsy records. The medical examiner declared it missing, and I think I know why. It seems my new wife is a murderer."
A gasp flew out of my mouth, and i froze, hoping that Nero hadn't heard it. But of course, fate hadn't suddenly decided to be nice to me.
I turned to escape, but I was suddenly grabbed by the elbow and slammed into the wall, a large, intimidating body trapping me in place.
His intense eyes fixed on mine and I trembled with fear, and something else.
"Eavesdropping, Jemima?"
"N-no," I stammered, "I was just looking for the bathroom."
"You're a long way from the bathroom," he said, eyes burning down at me, "You have a habit of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, don't you?"
I stared up at him, wondering what he was going to do to me, "I won't tell anybody what I heard. I promise."
His mouth curled up at one corner, "I'll have to keep a close eye on you to ensure you keep that promise."
"W-what?"
Ignoring me, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, "Tamara, fire my assistant. I'm getting a new one," he hung up then looked down at me, "Work starts on Monday."
"And if I say no?" I asked bravely.
"I'm not asking you, im telling you," his mouth curled up into a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "but in case you need more incentive, as of Monday, I'll be voted in as the stand in CEO of your father's company. It'll be so easy to reduce your father's legacy to tatters."
I stared at him, dumbfounded. Did Maeve knew about this? I had a feeling the answer was no, "You bastard."
"Eight am, don't be late."
I watched him walk away, and had the startling thought that my stepmother's simple "I do" had sealed our fate with the devil.
- Writer
