Chapter 5 Trapped Between Men

Mike Richard leaned back on his pouch leather couch in his penthouse, swirling a glass of whisky in his hand. Across from him was his friend Collins__his oldest friend and partner in more crimes than either of them cared to count.

"So..." Collins smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You've finally decided to put a leash on yourself?... Marriage, Mike? I never thought I'd see the day"

Mike chuckled darkly, taking a deep sip." Oh, don't get sentimental on me, Collins. It's business...strictly business".

He leaned forward, placing his drink on the table between them. "And believe me, she is as naive as the others. It was almost too easy".

Collins whistled low, shaking his head.

"Naive huh? What, she thinks you are her Prince charming coming to sweep her off her feet?".

Mike's lips curled in a wicked grin. "Something like that. You should have seen it, Liam. Sitting across me, all wide-eyed and trembling. I could practically smell the desperation in her voice."

He tapped the rim of his glass, smirking to himself. "She signed the contract without hesitation...Like a little lamb walking straight into the slaughter".

Collins burst out into laughter, his drink sloshing in his hand. "You're such a bastard".

"And you're just realizing it now?"

Mike shot back, grinning.

Collins leaned back and straightened his legs out in front of him. "So what's the deal? She gets to play your wife for 2 years and you cover up her losses and free her?"

Mike shrugged. "That's the plan...I will clean up her daddy's mess, and she will keep my father's hoard off my back...though she doesn't know this is the main reason I'm keeping her. They want me settled, married, make me look responsible...Like I give a damn about that" He scoffed.

Collins laughed. "Man, I don't know how you do it. You've got women wrapped around your finger".

Mike swirled his drink. "It's a gift".

Collins studied him for a moment before laughing again. "Man, you've got it all figured out. Tell Me, you've checked her socials...you know, to see what you are working with."

Mike's expression darkened slightly. " No need, she knows the rules. No social media, no public stunts. I don't need some sub-story about her pathetic life popping up and tarnishing my reputation any more than it has already."

Collins snorted. "Yeah because your reputation is squeaky clean...huh. Accept it, Mike, you are already the devil in every tabloid's wet dream."

Mike glanced at his phone as it buzzed against the bar top. When he saw the name on top of his phone icon, his smirk dropped.

He sighed, picking up his phone and staring at it like it personally offended him.

"Mum...why is she calling me now" he said in a clipped tone.

Collins raised his glass in a mockery salute. "Man, she's never going to stop meddling".

Mike rolled his shoulder, exhaling sharply. "I don't really need her approval"

__________________________________

"Tell me you're kidding", Ava hisses. "Cynthia, please for the love of everything sane, tell me you did not just sign your life away to that Mike freaking Richard"

Cynthia closed her eyes, letting out a shaky breath. "Ava, I__"

"Oh my God, you did." Ava groaned in disbelief via the phone call. "Cyn, do you even know what you've done? The man is ruthless. He chews women up and spits them out. You think you can survive a day with him?"

Cynthia's grip on the phone lightened, her knuckles turning white.

"I didn't have any other option. Ava! My dad's debt, the lawyer, the constant threats, what am I supposed to do?" Her voice cracked, tears burning at the edge of her eyes. "They were going to take everything".

Ava's tone softened slightly but remained firm. "I get that, but this...this isn't the answer, Cyn. We could have found another way."

"There was no other way", Cynthia whispered. "I tried everything, Ava. I begged the banks and ended with the creditors, but... Nothing.

"Mike Richard was the only one willing to help...for a price".

Ave sighed heavily. "And what does he want in return?"

Cynthia hesitated, her throat tightening. "He gave me rules". She wipes at a stray tear rolling down her cheek.

"No social media, no public appearances without his permission. No friends over unless he approves it" She swallowed hard. "Just me, him,, and his workers in his

penthouse, and this relationship as a whole "

Ava's breath hitched."Well...does that mean..."

"I have to break up with Collins". Cynthia cried out.

Ava exploded. "Cynthia, that's insane! He's controlling your life before marriage, and you're just letting him?"

Tears burned in Cynthia's eyes, "I don't have any choice...but it's difficult for me to let go of someone who disciplined me...but Mike said I'm supposed to be a perfect wife".

Ava's tone softened. "Cynthia, what are you not telling me?"

Silence stretched. Cynthia's throat felt tight, her heartbeat loud in herr her ars. "Collins and I had sex last night...he has gotten what he wanted now".

Ava inhaled sharply. "Cyn...why didn't you tell me?"

'I was ashamed," Cynthia admitted. "And now...I'm stuck in this nightmare with Mike".

Ava's voice was fierce. "You're not stuck. There's always a way out."

"No there isn't," Cynthia whispered, wiping out her tears. "I signed the contract. It's done."

Before Ava could respond, a loud knock echoed through Cynthia's apartment. She jolted, staring at the clock--9pm.

"Ava" she murmured, her body going rigid.

"What? What's it?"

"There is someone at the door"

Ava's tone sharpened. "At this hour? Who?"

Cynthia's pulse raced. "It could be...it could be Collins."

Another knock came, louder than the first one.

Ava's voice dropped into a whisper. "Cynthia, don't open that door"

Cynthia swallowed hard, staring at the door handle, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Cynthia...lock the door now" Ava whispered urgently before her network fluctuated, ending the call.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the lock, but before she could move further.

The door opened swiftly; the man was standing there confused, too.