Chapter 6 A marriage of manipulation

"I can't believe you signed the papers!" Tiffany exclaimed sharply, her voice echoing through the apartment.

She walked around tidying the room aggressively, a chore she only did when she was severely upset. As she dusted the pillows with force, Katherine turned her face to the window to receive the evening's breeze in a bid to clear her head.

"You told me about how your relationship turned messy with him in college," Tiffany continued, throwing the duster to the ground. "You know he hates you! I saw it in his eyes, yet you still agreed to marry him?"

Katherine ran her hands through her hair shakily. "Tiff, I didn't have a choice."

"There's always a choice, Kat" Tiffany retorted, moving closer to her, her arms crossed.

Katherine's jaw clenched as tears stung her eyelids, and she snapped. "What choice do i have then Tiffany? Refuse and beg him? Take out a loan I can't repay? You don't have that amount. Even if you did, haven't you done enough for me already?"

Tiffany stood silently.

"I live in your apartment," She continued, ticking off a list with her fingers.

"I eat the food you buy, and collect money from the little salary you get. How much more am I supposed to take from you?"

Katherine's voice cracked as the weight of everything she already lost hit again.

She swallowed hard before whispering, "Or do I just let the last piece of my father be destroyed?"

Tiffany's expression softened instantly.

Her vision blurred as she looked at her best friend. "I lost my mother before I could even walk, Tiff. My father was all I had for years... and now he's gone too. The museum is the only thing left that still connects me to him."

Tiffany's shoulders fell completely, and she pulled me to Katherine embrace, wrapping her in a tiggt hug, sobbing as well.

"I'm sorry Katherine," She whispered, her voice breaking. "I just.... I'm scared for you, Kat. Damien wants control. He hates you. What happens to you now?"

She inhaled deeply, trying to force a smile on her lips but it barely formed. "I survive, Tiff. That's the only way out."

Tiffany pulled back, wiping away her tears angrily. "I hate this. I hate him. I hope he rots."

Katherine wanted to agree, she should agree with her.

But at the memory of his touch, the way her body betrayed her in that single moment, made Katherine feel like she was losing herself already.

Tiffany exhaled, shaking her head. "So, what now?"

Her stomach twisted.

"Now, I move forward. I pretend today never happened and focus on the museum".

********************

The next morning, Katherine stepped into the museum, breathing it in as if for the first time. The familiar scent of aged wood and faint dust greeted her, wrapping around her like a long-lost friend. For the first time in days, the crushing anxiety in her chest loosened.

I did it, father. I didn't lose the museum...... And that it all that matters.

Running her fingers across the old reception desk, Katherine glanced at the historical paintings that still stood untouched.

It was a miracle, the museum was safe.

She mulled over what to do first in order to kick-start activities, and it occurred to her that clearing any news published about the demolition of the museum was important hence she decided to do that first. However, as katherine pulled out her phone to begin calling small news outlets to clear up the false reports about the demolition, a message popped up on her screen, and her heart dropped.

BANK TRANSACTION ALERT: Your business account has been temporarily frozen due to legal inquiries.

Then a second message followed.

NOTICE: The Anderson Museum's operation permits have been revoked pending further authorization from Turner Development.

Her blood ran cold.

"No..." she whispered, her hands trembling as she glared at the phone again.

She rushed to the main office, frantically opening her laptop. She clicked through the system, her breath coming in short gasps as she scanned the business account records.

On gaining access, she saw that the account numbers weren't just frozen, they were blocked entirely. No payroll. No funding. No transactions.

Meaning that the museum was practically paralyzed.

Katherine's vision blurred with rage as she grabbed her phone and dialed the one person responsible. And he picked on the first ring.

"Mrs. Sullivan," Damien's voice greeted smoothly, mocking in its familiarity.

Katherine's fists clenched. "Damien ,what the hell did you do?!"

A deep chuckle rumbled through the speaker. "I secured my investment."

Her heart hammered. "You froze my accounts and revoked the museum's permits?!"

"You didn't think I'd just let you do whatever you wanted, did you?" His tone was infuriatingly amused. "You're my wife now, Katherine. That means your little museum is also my concern."

Katherine gritted her teeth. "I kept my part of the deal, Damien. I signed the papers. The museum stays untouched."

"Untouched by me, yes." His voice was maddeningly calm. "But not uncontrolled."

Katherine slammed her laptop shut, rage bubbling in her stomach.

I should have known.

"Fix this." Katherine's voice trembled with fury. "Now."

"If you want it fixed, come to my office." He replied, ending the call.

Katherine let out a shaky breath, fury and panic warring inside her as she realized he was toying with her. She saw through his words, it is more than business interests to Damien, it is the power he has. He wanted to prove she belonged to him now.

But he seemed to forget who she was as well.

Grabbing her purse, Katherine stormed out of the museum, her heels clicking against the floor with purposeful rage.

"Damien wanted me to come to him? Fine."