Entangled by the Rugged Billolliare

Chapter 1

I knew that my rent was due, the messages kept popping in since three days ago, but here I was standing in front of the mirror adorning my face with a little bit of pink blush delicately.

"A queen indeed." I said to myself as I gave myself a air kiss clearly obsessed with myself.

I opened my phone and went through all messages without opening one. Why would I when I wasn't so interested.

I was more interested in chatting my boyfriend up even though he hadn't reached out to me since two weeks ago and loved giving excuses as to why.

"Hello." I said into the phone as he picked up the call.

Silence...he didn't say a word.

"Hello." I called again.

"Why are you calling me by this time of the day?" He questioned before checking the time, it was five o'clock in the morning.

"Hey, don't talk like it's my fault I'm calling you this early, you never reached out to me. Since last week."

"So?"

I nearly gasped at his statement. "What do you mean so? You could have called and at least shown that you still care."

"There she goes again." I could see him smacking his head in disbelief.

"Ryan, for real, you could have called me or something. I'm your girlfriend not your side chick and we've been dating for eight years why can't you just try to act like a good boyfriend for once."

I heard him chuckle humorlessly. "I can see that who I am isn't enough for you. Not like you care anyway."

"That's not what I meant. I mean you've not been acting right. I need you too act right. You've not been taking my calls or calling me back, you've not texted me once in two weeks and gave me no reason as to why."

"I've been busy." He stated.

With what?"

"Work."

"Work?" I furrowed my brows

'Work?' I raised my eyebrows, looking puzzled. Ryan, you are a software engineer, you work from home mostly/often/ sometimes, what kind of work has been occupying most of your time that you cannot even text?

He hesitated for a few seconds before he was finally able to utter any words; it was clear that he was taking his time to weigh his options. "Listen Olivia, I think it is time for me to discuss something serious with you. "

I felt my heart sink listening to his voice. This was not going to be promising. "What is it?" I asked a little nervously.

I...I think we should not continue this relationship any further, we have been in a relationship for eight years now, yes I did love you but I don't feel that way anymore. I have changed; I am not the person you met eight years ago.

In my case, I felt like I had been punched, in the guts I should say. "Are...are you breaking up with me?"

"Yes," he stated flatly. "It shouldn't be like this, but I believe that we need to break up. "

I began crying; the implications of his statement dawned on me, "But...why? After all this time, why now? I honestly do not get it..."

"I have met another woman," he told me, his tone flat. "And I think it is beneficial to try things out with her instead. "

It felt like the room was spinning around me as I tried to comprehend what he just said.

How could my boyfriend, who I was in a relationship with for 8 years, suddenly break up with me like it meant absolutely nothing to him?

"I'm sorry you had to find out like this," he muttered, and he didn't seem the slightest apologetic. "But it's over between us. I have to go now. "

And without any further ado, he slammed the phone down on me, leaving me broken-hearted and crushed. I slumped down onto the floor by my desk, with mascara flowing down my cheeks as I sobbed horribly.

---

After a few hours, I somehow compromised myself to get up and go to the office still in utter shock that Ryan broke up with me. My immediate supervisor, Alexander Calloway was a man easily recognizable within the company due to his business formal dress sense and chiseled features.

Standing at 6'2 inches, with silver hair, which was neatly groomed and a well-defined jaw line, he was easily the epitome of a powerful man. Clothing Each pair of trousers, shirt, and jacket was neat, and tailored to fit the muscular body of the man. However, the most unique aspect of his appearance was his perceptive blue eyes that appeared to penetrate the depths of one's heart.

It is well known that Alexander prided himself on running an incredibly efficient and well-disciplined operation. He was very authoritarian in work organization and required high performance from his subordinates at any time. Any scholar who dared underperform regarding these expectations was fired or at least demoted.

He was the CEO and he ran this place, so his words were final.

This is why when I walked in after 45 minutes, my hair messy and my mascara running down my cheeks, I didn't think I had a chance. As expected, it did not take long for me to get a call from his assistant and be beckoned to his office.

With rising heartbeats, I prepared myself mentally before walking in. Alexander was sitting at the big mahogany desk, leaning forward with his arms crossed over his chest and a cold look in his eyes.

"Ms. Collins, may I know why you're an hour and a half late today?" The coldness of his tone was enough to chill me to the bone.

I was about to come up with the usual excuse of some kind of emergency that needed my attention but he interrupted me sternly. "Shove it. I don't want to hear any sorry story you want to tell me. All I expect is punctuality and you've been sorely lacking in that department today!"

He stood up and began pacing slowly behind his desk. "I pride myself on running a well-oiled machine here, Ms. Collins. Every cog has its role to play, and if any of them fail to function properly, it throws everything out of alignment."

His eyes bored into me as he stopped pacing. "You've been a disappointment lately, and this latest transgression is simply unacceptable. I was seriously considering terminating your employment here."

My heart plummeted at the prospect of losing my job. Between the breakup and potential firing, this was shaping up to be literally the worst day of my life.

But then, Alexander's expression softened slightly as he regarded me appraisingly. "However...I'm going to give you one final chance to redeem yourself."

He opened his desk drawer and retrieved a document which he placed in front of me. "This is a contract. If you sign it, your position here will be secure. In fact..." a sly grin played across his lips. "You'll find that it opens up some...intriguing opportunities for career advancement."

Desperate to save my job, I quickly scanned the document before picking up the pen to sign. It seemed straightforward enough - some kind of non-disclosure agreement about confidential company information. Anything to get back in Alexander's good graces.

I scribbled my signature at the bottom and looked up at him expectantly. "There, all signed. So what's this opportunity you were referring to?"

Alexander let out a deep chuckle as he took the contract and slipped it back into his desk. "Why, you've just agreed to marry me, Ms. Collins. Or should I say, future Mrs. Calloway?"

My jaw dropped in utter shock as the full reality of what I'd just signed hit me like a truck. In my haste and distressed state, I'd failed to read the fine print which made this a literal marriage contract between me and my boss!

"You...you tricked me!" I sputtered indignantly.

"On the contrary," he replied smoothly. "I gave you a wonderful opportunity, and you accepted of your own free will. I look forward to getting to know my new wife a lot more...intimately."

He flashed me a wolfish grin, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Just what had I gotten myself into?

Chapter 2

I sighed exasperatedly. One minute, it was me getting dumped my boyfriend if 8 years and the second minute was me signing a marriage contract with my boss of almost five years.

The urge to pull my hair out...

I sat there, mouth agape. I couldn't believe this was actually happening. My own boss just blackmailed me into becoming his wife...against my will.

"You...you can't be serious?" I stammered out finally. "This has to be some kind of sick joke, right?"

With a smirk on his face, Alexander rose from his seat before advancing towards me. I gulped as his masculine cologne wafted into my nostrils.

"I assure you, I'm quite serious, my dear. You signed a binding legal contract. We're as good as married now whether you like it or not."

He loomed over me, his tall frame emanating pure predatory menace. Reaching out, he traced a finger along my jawline and I shuddered involuntarily.

"Don't look so worried," he purred in that annoyingly smug tone of his. "I'm sure we can have a very...mutually beneficial arrangement. Your job is secure, and you'll want for nothing as my wife. Fancy cars, lavish homes, designer clothes - the world will be your oyster. All I ask in return is your undying loyalty and...well, we'll get to the other parts later."

He gave me a blatant onceover that made me feel like I needed a long shower. My skin was literally crawling just being near this scumbag. Unfortunately, he seemed to take my revolted silence as acceptance.

"Excellent. I will ask my lawyers to start drafting the appropriate paperwork right away. We can have a small and intimate wedding in the coming couple of weeks maybe. Suddenly, he took my left hand and forcing on it a massive and flashy diamond engagement ring, saying "This is just a teaser of what you'll get when you become Mrs. Calloway. " "

I jerked my hand back as if I had been scalded. There were so many feelings going through my head shock, rage, nausea and even a perverse sort of respect for how shamelessly scummy this guy was. Where had he got it into his head that he could just come over and seize me like this, like a piece of property?

"You really are a piece of work, you know that?" I aimed at him with the sharpest venom I could muster. 'Well, I have no idea what kind of crap you try to pull here,' I said, 'But there is no way in hell I am going to go through with this charade You are tearing up this contract!'

I began to hastily search through the papers on his desk for the document, but Alexander grabbed hold of my wrist hastily.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. " He said threateningly in a low tone. 'That is a very binding contract and no court can override it . And if you want to keep that position which seems to make you very happy, you will cooperate in this plan . ' 'Unless of course you would prefer to be fired here and now?'

The confident son of a gun had me backed into a wall and he made sure that I knew it. If I don't have a source of income, I would be so royally messed up in terms of paying for my rent as well as all my other bills. Moreover, to get another good-paying job in this economy was not an easy thing to come by.

My shoulders drooped in despair. It seemed that I was well and truly sunk. For now all I could do was play along with Alexander's insane plan-until I could escape this hellish situation.

"You're one twisted fuck, you know that?" I growled at him through gritted teeth. "But fine, you win...for now."

"That's what I like to hear," Alexander remarked with an insufferable grin. "Welcome to the family, darling wife. This is just the beginning of our blissful new life together."

All I could think was that this was gonna be one hellishly long con to get myself out of. I had no idea what other curveballs this prick had lined up, but one thing was for sure - I wouldn't be going down without a fight...

Over the next couple weeks, Alex - sorry, I mean my "husband" - steamrolled our fake marriage into becoming reality at terrifying speed.

Before I knew it, there were fancy caterers being brought in to arrange some intimate little wedding ceremony. Some high-priced lawyer stooge drafted up the official paperwork, complete with an iron-clad prenup that pretty much signed my life over to Alexander.

And apparently I had zero say in any of it. The few hesitant objections I did mumble out were met with icy death stares and not-so-subtle reminders that my job was on the line. I've never felt so powerless and backed into a corner.

So in one big sickening blur, I found myself being walked down the aisle of Alexander's tastefully decorated multi-million dollar mansion by his personal butler, watching numbly as the pompous prick recited his vows with his signature shark-like grin.

When it came to my turn, the words stuck in my throat like a lump. Part of me wanted to just turn and run, to hell with the consequences. But the bigger part of me, the one concerned with being financially stable and secure, realized I had no choice but to go through with this farce.

"I....I do. Take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband," I managed to choke out in a strangled tone, feeling like the words were clawing up my throat against my will. This only made Alexander's smile widen as the "officiant" - one of his tennis club buddies who got internet-ordained for the occasion - proclaimed us husband and wife.

Just like that, with a few muttered words, I was shackled to this soulless monster for the foreseeable future. No family or friends around, no rice throwing or well-wishes. Just me trapped in a gilded cage with a predator masquerading as my husband.

The reception that followed was just as awkward and uncomfortable as you'd expect. I kept my distance from Alexander, lingering in the corner of the dining hall and nursing a glass of something strong. The few caterers and staff kept shooting me these pitying looks like they were attending my freaking funeral or something.

Eventually, Alexander sidled up beside me, already a few drinks in and wearing that shit-eating grin that made my skin crawl.

"Having fun, my dear wife?" he husked out in that sleazy tone, reaching out to trail his fingers along the small of my back. I had to physically restrain myself from slapping his hand away.

"About as much fun as a case of genital herpes," I deadpanned, taking another hefty gulp of my drink.

Alexander merely chuckled at my surliness as he leaned in close, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. "Don't be like that. The newlywed bliss is just getting started. Why don't you come upstairs and let me unwrap my prezzie?"

My blood turned to ice at the implication of his words. Of course - this was why he'd done it all, hadn't it? To try and claim my body as his too, like some sort of sick ownership.

I took a measured step back, shaking my head adamantly. "Keep dreaming, asshole. The contract may say we're 'married' or whatever, but you're deluding yourself if you think you're getting anywhere near me like that."

Something dark flickered across Alexander's face for a brief moment before the mask of amusement slipped back into place. "We'll see how long that defiant attitude lasts, little wife. One way or another, you're going to submit to me completely. Both body..." he eyed me up and down in that creepy way of his, "and soul."

With that ominous declaration, he knocked back the rest of his scotch and sauntered off, leaving me unnerved and deeply unsettled about what fresh hell I'd just signed myself up for. One thing was for sure - I had a long, treacherous road ahead of me.

But Alexander had started a game he might live to regret. Because it was going to be my life's mission from now on to burn his twisted dream down to ashes if it was the last thing I did. Husband and wife my ass - this was a declaration of war, whether he knew it yet or not.

Chapter 3 - Olivia's Point of View

Ugh, what an emotionally draining nightmare my wedding day turned out to be. I should've known Ryan would somehow catch wind of my nuptials to Alexander and stick his nose in, because that's just what exes do best - kick you while you're down.

I was in the bedroom getting dolled up in my overpriced white gown, trying not to have a full-blown panic attack, when my phone pinged with a new text from that jackass. "Are you actually going through with marrying that creepy old boss of yours? Lol damn Olivia, even for you that's a new low."

I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my skull. Of course he'd try framing this as me being a desperate gold-digger, that pathetic little insecure man-child. Pot, meet kettle much?

"Shut the fuck up, Ryan," I shot back quickly. "You don't know the half of what's been going on, this marriage happened under...difficult circumstances, okay? Stay out of it."

But of course, he just had to keep pushing with his typical snide superiority complex. "Oh I think I get it plenty, babe. You're so thirsty for money and status that you're willing to let that gross old perv own your ass now. Bet he'll be trading you in for a newer model in a couple years anyway once you're all used up."

That smug, arrogant little prick! I could feel my blood pressure skyrocketing at his sheer gall and disrespect. Oh, I was going to put this bitch firmly back in his place...

"You've got a lot of nerve talking shit about relationships and respect, you dilapidated little man-child," I fired off in a heated rush. "As I recall, you were always the ultimate loser who could never hold down a job or committed to anything besides smoking weed and mooching off me."

"At least Alexander has his life and shit together, even if he's a manipulative predator. You're just a sad sack of failed potential drifting from one dead-end to the next. Have fun jerking off alone to anime porn in your mom's basement while I'm living in luxury, dickwad."

After unleashing that gloriously vicious clapback, I turned my phone on silent and flung it away, breathing heavily. Good, that'd be the last I heard from that insignificant little bitch for a while. Ryan always did hate having his plethora of inadequacies thrown back in his smug face like that.

With him firmly put in his place, it was time to brace myself for the main event: The farcical, gut-wrenching "ceremony" with Alexander goddamn Calloway himself.

Y-you're sure about this, dear?" Janet, the hollow, haunted shell of Alexander's former maid asked tentatively as she fidgeted nearby. The poor woman looked like she'd had the life completely beaten out of her soul, and it made my stomach turn wondering if I was headed for a similar fate.

"Like I have a choice," I muttered darkly, trying to ignore the clammy sweat beading on my neck. "That silver-tongued devil has me completely in a corner. Best to just get this nightmare over with so I can start plotting my next move."

Janet looked uncertain, but knew better than to voice further protest against her master's twisted wishes. We sat in painfully tense silence after that, the dread mounting inside me until it was finally time.

I had to admit, despite everything, Alexander certainly knew how to put on a pompous production. It felt like he'd spared no expense in turning his lavish back garden into the perfect picturesque backdrop for our bogus ceremony, complete with rows of white chairs and elegant archway.

The whole thing made me feel vaguely ill watching it unfold. Alexander played the part of doting, loving groom to perfection, grinning from ear-to-ear as the officiant droned on with their ceremonial words. He even had the audacity to throw in his own personalized vows, going on about how he'd "cherish and adore me forever" - as if he wasn't basically forcing me into this nightmare at gunpoint for his own ego.

I somehow kept my composure through it all, even when it was my turn to recite those damning words of "I do" and seal my fate. Though my brain was screaming in protest the whole time, I outwardly stayed stoic and unreadable, refusing to give Alexander the satisfaction of seeing me break down completely.

Of course, that infuriated the arrogant pig to no end. Once the obligatory vows wrapped up, he turned to me with a pointed look, clearing expecting the "you may now kiss the bride" portion to go off without a hitch. Ha, fat chance of that happening.

Try as he might to coax me into submission with those cold, intimidating eyes of his, I stayed rooted to the spot with my arms stubbornly crossed. Watching his face slowly turn an enraged shade of scarlet was almost worth the aggravation.

"I believe I gave you an instruction, my dear wife," Alexander sneered at me lowly, drawing in closer with clenched fists. "You're supposed to seal our holy union with a KISS for your husband now. Unless you'd like to re-think this defiance?"

"Yeah, no thanks," I shot back in a tone of pure dismissal, turning away from his approach. "I'm not putting on that Stepford Wife act for you or anyone, buddy. Let's just get this nightmare over with."

The few caterers and staff flunkies on-hand actually gasped aloud at my brazen disrespect. Even the paid-off "officiant" looked wildly uncomfortable at the growing tension. But I didn't cower, refused to back down - I could sense Alexander's fury reaching a boiling point.

"You insolent...INGRATE!" he sputtered out in a thick tone of rage. For a fleeting second, I actually thought he might slap me then and there. But the pretentious prick managed to regain his fragile composure, breathing heavily to steady himself before turning back to the crowd.

"It seems the new Mrs. Calloway is feeling a touch...feverish and delirious on her spell day," he sneered out smoothly, lying through his teeth. "If you'll all excuse us, I'd like a moment alone with my wife to tend to her needs. That will be all."

With that curt dismissal, the small crowd quickly dissipated, throwing me mocking looks and faint smiles as they hurried away. Once they were gone, Alexander was on me in a flash, grabbing me by the hair and yanking me to his face in one harsh motion.

"You just couldn't follow a simple instruction, could you?" he snarled lowly, his breath hot and fetid on my cheeks. "Had to go and disrespect and embarrass me in front of everyone like that, you petulant fucking CHILD!"

I gasped in pain, writhing against the cruel grip on my head, but gave him no other satisfaction. If he thought being openly cruel and domineering was going to cow me, he had another thing coming.

"What, you expected me to swoon and play the part of a lovestruck blushing bride?" I spat back with as much vehemence as I could muster. "Wake up and smell the reality, jackass - you forced me into this fucked up arrangement against my will! I'm not putting on a performance for your deluded fantasy."

The infuriated look of hatred that flickered across Alexander's face in that moment would've made the devil himself quiver. He shook slightly as he fought to regain his composure, eventually releasing his grip and stepping back.

"We'll see how defiant and self-righteous you act by the end of tonight, dearest wife," he snarled in a voice like poison. "One way or another, you're going to submit to our binding marital DUTIES in full. Or do you really want to find out what I'm capable of to a disobedient spouse?"

My heart caught in my throat at the ominous threat lingering behind those words. What fresh hell was in store for me now that Alexander had my name forcibly signed on the dotted line? That alone was almost more terrifying than the prospect of further abuse or assault...almost.

"Do your worst, asshole," I fired back weakly, squaring my shoulders in an act of meager defiance. "But I won't go down without a fight, I can promise you that."

Alexander's only response was a deep, rumbling chuckle of amusement. "Oh, I'm counting on that, little wife. It'll only make eventually breaking you all the more desirable."

I was doomed.