Chapter 4 Her Decision.

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

As soon as the words left Beverly's lips, The silence that followed was deafening, a vacuum that sucked up all sound and sense, leaving only the weight of Beverly's words hanging in the air. It was as if time itself had slowed to a crawl, leaving them in a state of suspended animation.

While the silence lasted, Beverly's heart kept pounding in her chest, so loud that Reece could hear it. And suddenly, he rested back in his chair, a smirk curling up on his face.

"Say it again" He whispered, his voice low and husky. His gaze locked onto hers, eyes burning with intensity.

And even though her heart was still raising hard, Beverly secretly rolled her eyes at him.

"I will marry you" She repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

And in a flash of movement, Reece was right in front of her, his face inches from hers. His warm breath danced across her skin, sending shivers down her spine. His eyes blazed with intensity, burning into hers with a fierce possessiveness.

Beverly felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes, suffocating under the weight of his gaze.

Reece's lips curled into a slow, mischievous smile, his breath caressing her skin as he whispered.

"Great choice, Beverly Bloomfield. I suppose we have a big wedding to plan, don't we?" He whispered, his lips almost touching Beverly's skin.

Beverly shut her eyes as she felt his hot breath on her neck.

What the hell had she just done?! Did she just make a deal with the devil?

•••••••••••••••

[ OUTSIDE ]

Beverly tossed her bag onto the passenger seat and slammed the car door shut behind her, her hands a bit shaky as she fumbled for her phone. She dialed Clarice's number, her eyes fixed on the Blackmore Company building as she waited for her friend to answer.

"Hey, girl! What's up?" Clarice's cheerful voice filled the line.

"Clarice, I need to talk to you" Beverly said, her voice low and urgent.

"What's going on?" Clarice's tone shifted to concern.

"I just agreed to marry Reece Blackmore" Beverly blurted out, her eyes scanning the rearview mirror as if she feared being watched.

"What? Reece Blackmore? Isn't he the owner of Blackmore Loan Company you got a loan from?" Clarice's voice rose in disbelief.

"The same one" Beverly confirmed, her throat constricting.

"Girl, what have you gotten yourself into?" Clarice exclaimed. "You know what they say about him, don't you? He's ruthless, Beverly. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants...."

"I know, I know" Beverly interrupted, her mind racing. "But I had no choice, Clarice. He f*cking gave me ten days to pay back his money or face devastation. Geez! Clarice, I couldn't even imagine that happening. You know how much I owe him, and he's willing to forgive the debt if I marry him" Beverly's spoke under her breaths.

"Oh, geez! This is dam crazy. Is he crazy or what! That's not all he'll want from you, trust me, Beverly. You're playing with fire here." Clarice warned.

"I know, I know" Beverly repeated, her voice laced with worry. "But what choice do I have? I'm in way over my head, Clarice. I can't pay him back in....ten days? Geez! The fact that he threatened my business and the lives of my family just drives me nuts. I didn't have any other choice, Clarice" Beverly shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

"That's not even all, Clarice. When I asked him what would happen if I chose to marry him, he told me something that made my blood run cold."

"What did he say?" Clarice prompted, her curiosity piqued.

"He said...he said that he would divorce me once he's secured what he wants" Beverly repeated, her words laced with disgust. "He called it a 'prison of loveless matrimony" Beverly explained further.

"That's disgusting. He's using you, Beverly. He's using you to get what he wants, and then he'll just discard you like trash" Clarice spat out.

"I know" Beverly said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I feel like I'm selling my soul to the devil himself. But what choice do I have, Clarice? I'm trapped" Beverly said, resting her head on the car seat in frustration.

"Don't say that, Beverly" Clarice said firmly. I think it's good, you know? You won't be trapped in a loveless marriage for long....forever" Clarice said, and Beverly's heart surprisingly stopped racing fast.

Clarice was right, she wasn't going to be stuck with him forever. She'll be free to go....free from her debt....free from Reece and can go her way once he got what he wanted.

But the thought of what he wanted or why he wanted to marry her for surged in, and she grunted in frustration.

"Well, whatever happens, I'm here for you, girl. You're not alone in this, okay?" Clarice spoke cheerfully, jolting her out of her dilemma.

"Thanks, Clarice. Just talking to you makes me feel a little better." Beverly's eyes welled up with tears at her friend's words.

"So, what about Kelly? Have you told him about this?" Clarice's question instantly snapped her out of her thought, and Beverly's eyes flickered.

Speaking of Kelly her boyfriend!

••••••••••••••••••••

"Beverly, I can't believe it" Kelly, Beverly's boyfriend said, his voice laced with disbelief.

Beverly had just told him what was on ground.

"Reece Blackmore gives you an ultimatum, and you just roll over and accept it without even thinking about it? Did you even consider me? Our relationship? Our future together?...."

"Oh, what would you have preferred I do?" Beverly cut in, her anger surging. "Allow him destroy everything I have worked for? Destroy my family? Or maybe pay the millions of dollars I owe him in just 9 days?" Beverly shook her head, gesticulating with her hands.

"That's not the point, Beverly" Kelly said, his frustration evident. "We could have figured out something else...together. But no, you just went ahead and made a decision that affects both of us without even consulting me." Kelly's tone was a bit high.

"Oh, yeah. We could have figured out something, alright? That's exactly what you have been doing for months now" Beverly's sarcasm was thick.

"What have you been able to assist me with, huh? No, tell me. You even take from me instead...you take my money, my resources, my energy...and what do you give me in return? Nothing! Just empty promises and useless advice!...."

"You're being annoying right now, Beverly!" Kelly yelled, anger evident in his voice.