Chapter 3 Big Mistake....

Hearing that, the lady was seen dashing out of the room in a haste as if she was being chased by a ghost.

Such a cruel man! How could he say that?!

"I will kîll you, Kevin" Reece mumbled, still rubbing his throbbing head.

While he was still trying to get himself together, his phone buzzed and he picked it up immediately.

~ We found him, sir" The message popped up, and he instantly let out a dark smile.

He got out of bed and walked to the bathroom to shower, his icy demeanor still intact.

••••••••••••••••

Beverly's hands moved mechanically, scooping ice cream into cones as her mind raced with the impossible choices Reece had given her.

The weight of her predicament crushed her, leaving her breathless and bewildered. She couldn't shake off the feeling of being trapped, with no escape.

As she handed a cone to a customer, her eyes glazed over, lost in thought.

"Mint chocolate chip, right?" She muttered, her voice barely audible.

The customer looked taken aback by her demeanor but nodded and took their ice cream.

Her employees exchanged worried glances, sensing something was off. The usual warmth and enthusiasm that Beverly brought to her work was absent, replaced by a gloomy expression.

~ Could it be because of the visitor she had yesterday? ~ Her employees thought.

Beverly's mind kept wandering back to Reece's demands: pay the debt in full, surrender to marriage, or face destruction. The thought of losing everything she had worked for, her business, her home, her family's security, was unbearable. The weight of her responsibilities as a single mother and business owner felt suffocating.

All she was thinking about last night was what Reece said. She couldn't get any good sleep at all.

As the day went on, Beverly's distraction led to mistakes and spills, further frustrating her. She knew she needed to snap out of it, but her heart and mind were heavy with uncertainty. The clock ticked away, reminding her that time was running out.

What was she going to do?!

•••••••••••••

[ RIVERVIEW ACADEMY ]

Alex walked into the classroom, his eyes scanning the room for a familiar face. But instead, he was met with a sneer from the one person he dreaded most - Blain, the school bully.

Blain, the son of the richest man in town and owner of Riverview Academy, sneered at Alex. He was a tall, muscular boy with an entitled air about him. His father, the richest man in town, owned Riverview Academy, and Blain never let anyone forget it. He makes sure to remind student of his status.

He was the quintessential spoiled brat - arrogant, selfish, and cruel. He delighted in making others suffer, especially those he considered beneath him, like Alex.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The scholarship boy" Blain sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "What's the matter, Alex? Can't afford a decent backpack?" He knowingly smirked as he eyed Alex's backpack.

Alex felt his face heat up as Blain's gang snickered and jeered. He tried to ignore them and make his way to his seat, but Blain blocked his path.

"Hey, Alex, you know what my father always says? He says people like you are only good for one thing - cleaning our shoes." Blain said and his friends burst out laughing.

Alex felt a surge of anger and humiliation, but he knew better than to react. Blain was sure looking for a reason to pounce, and Alex wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

"What do you want, Blain? Why can't you just let me be?" Alex asked and he laughed out, sardonically.

He suddenly stopped laughing and stared deep into Alex's eyes, a smirk on his face, knowing what he was about to say.

"You're so weak, Alex. Just like your family. Your sister got knocked up without even being married, and your mom is a drunk. Who knows what the scholarship kid would be someday? A carpenter? Maybe" Blain continued to mock Alex. His friends laughed out again, and Alex's anger grew, he felt really humiliated.

"Don't you ever mention my family again, Blain!!" Alex warned, his voice low and fierce.

He knew Blain was trying to get a rise out of him, but it was hard not to react.

"What's the matter, Alex? Can't handle the truth? Ooh! You wanna beat me?" Blain taunted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

They were still arguing when the door burst open and Samantha walked in, her friends trailing behind her.

"Blain, stop it! Leave him alone" She said, her voice firm but with a hint of sweetness.

"Ah, my sweetness. Didn't know you were in school already" Blain grinned.

"I am, alright? Here to stop you from harassing Alex, as per usual" Samantha rolled her eyes.

"Common, Sam, I'm just having a little fun" Blain replied.

"Fun? You call bullying fun? That's not fun, Blain. That's cruel!" Samantha walked up to him, her heels clicking on the floor, her voice firm and serious.

She's a beautiful, rich and popular student at Riverview Academy, dating the school bully, Blain. While she often seems to enjoy the perks of being his girlfriend, there are moments when her expression betrays a flicker of discomfort, a hint of distaste for the way Blain treats others, especially Alex.

She just hates to see him humiliate Alex that way and always tries to intervene.

"Do you have a crush on the scholarship kid or what?" Blain asked, narrowing his gaze at her.

"That's not the point, Blain. The point is you need to leave Alex alone" Samantha shook her head, arms folded.

"Fine, fine. I will leave him alone, but only because my woman said so" Blain turned to Alex and smirked. Samantha just smiled and shook her head as she watched Blain walk away.

"Hey, Alex. Are you okay?" Samantha then turned to Alex and asked, concern etched on her face.

"I'm fine." Alex's response was curt, with a big frown.

"Are you sure? You seem really upset." Samantha pressed on, her voice gentle.

"Shouldn't I be upset? Alex's anger and hurt boiled over. "I said I'm fine, just leave me the fuck alone!" He snatched up his backpack and stormed out of the classroom, leaving Samantha looking worried.

"Why do you suddenly care about him so much?" Zoella, one of her friends, raised an eyebrow.

"I care about everyone." Samantha's response was sharp, walking up to her desk to drop her items.

"But you seem to care more about the scholarship boy. Are you crushing on him?" Mandie chimed in, with a teasing glint in her eye.

"What? Are you crazy?" Samantha's denial was swift as she cut in immediately.

Her response made her friends burst out laughing.

"Hey, let's go grab some snacks!" Zoella then said and they all filed out of the classroom, leaving the tension behind.

••••••••••••••••

In a dark room, tall figure was seen walking in, his aura lingering in the air, screaming of danger.

His black, shiny shoes dangerously clicking on the floor as he walked towards the man that was tied to a chair.

It was none other than Reece Blackmore.

Without wasting time, because he of course never had time to talk too much, he went even closer to him, squatting before the man.

"So...." He paused and let out a dark, knowing chuckle. "So, you thought you could run away with my money, didn't you?" He asked the man who was about to pee on himself already.

He knew better than to annoy Reece, a man well known for his coldness and ruthlessness.

"I.....I'm sorry, Mr. President. I...." Reece gave him an upper cut before he could finish talking. Blood oozed out of his nose and mouth.

"When you play with fire, you get burned by it" He said and shut the man déad.

••••••••••••

Reece leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen in front of him. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed out a message. The sound of typing filled the room, the only indication of his intense focus.

A knock at the door broke the silence, and Reece's eyes flickered up.

"Come in" He called out, his voice curt.

The door opened, and Beverly stepped inside. Reece's eyes flickered up, his gaze narrowing slightly as he took in her determined expression.

Beverly's heart raced as she approached his desk, her eyes locked on his. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was palpable.

"Ah, Beverly" Reece said, his voice neutral with a knowing smile playing on his lips. "What brings you here?" He mischivously asked.

Beverly's eyes locked onto his, her jaw set in a firm line.

"I have....."

Suddenly, the door opened, and Reece's assistant, Michael, poked his head in.

"Sir, your meeting with the investors is scheduled for-"

"Reschedule, Michael. I'm...indisposed." Reece cut in, his gaze never leaving Beverly's face.

Michael's eyes widened slightly as he took in the scene before him.

"Yes...yes, sir. Right away." He replied and left immediately.

The door closed, and the room was silent once more. Reece's eyes gleamed with a knowing intensity, leaving Beverly's heart racing with anticipation.

"You were saying something, Ms. Beverly" Reece intentionally said that, secretly smirking.

"I have made my choice, Mr. Blackmore....."

"Which is?" Reece cut in immediately. He was too anxious to wait.

"I....." Beverly shut her eyes tight and took a deep breath before letting out the shock.

"I will marry you" She said and Reece's eyes flickered, the air hung and the temperature in the room rose to power 100.....