UNEXPECTED VOWS: Trapped In His Web

•••••••••••••••

[ BLACKMORE COMPANY ]

A black luxury car glided into the company's parking lot, its tinted windows reflecting the sun's rays like a mirror.

As a figure stepped out, his tall, broad frame exuded an aura of confidence and wealth. His chiseled features, chiseled jawline, and piercing blue eyes seemed chiseled from granite, radiating an air of authority. His tailored black suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, screaming riches.

It was non other than the well known ruthless billionaire, Reece Blackmore. His name alone sends shivers down people's bodies.

As he strode towards the building, journalists immediately swarmed around him, microphones and cameras at the ready.

"Mr. Blackmore! Mr. Blackmore! Can you comment on the rumors about your company's financial struggles?" One journalist asked, her voice shrill with excitement.

"I'm aware of the rumors. And I'm here to address them." Reece's gaze swept over them, his voice cold and detached.

"Is it true that your companies, especially the one here, are facing bankruptcy, Mr. Blackmore?" A male journalist pressed on. "Is this why you've come to the country, to salvage what's left?" He added.

Reece's eyes narrowed, his tone icy.

"We're facing challenges, yes. But we're taking measures to rectify the situation. I suggest you focus on facts rather than speculation." Yet again, he replied in an icy tone, seemingly uninterested in whatever information the journalist wanted to get from him.

He was used to this, anyway. Whenever he's back to the country, and once everyone hears that he's back, especially the journalists, that was what always happened.

"But what about the reports of financial mismanagement and debt accumulation?" Another journalist asked, her eyes skeptical.

"We're dealing with it. Next question." Reece's gaze turned glacial, walking away.

The journalists tried to keep up with the pace as they continued to pepper him with questions, but Reece's responses remained curt and frosty, his demeanor unwavering.

As the impromptu press conference drew to a close, he turned to enter the building, his entourage following closely behind, his presence seeming to leave a trail of frost in its wake.

As the journalists dispersed, Reece's guard, Max, turned to him.

"Sir, we need to get you to the meeting. The board is waiting." Reece's guard, Max, turned to him and said as the journalists dispersed.

"Let's get this over with." Reece nodded, his expression unyielding.

They walked through the building, with Reece's presence commanding attention from the employees they passed.

Many of them couldn't believe he was back to the country already. This must be a serious case, many of them thought.

Looking up, his office was a testament to his success, the view from the top floor overlooking the city. It was a beauty to behold.

The boardroom was tense, as Reece walked in, the directors' faces somber. Reece took his seat, his eyes scanning the room.

"Let's get to it," He said, his voice firm and serious.

The CEO, James, cleared his throat before he began.

"Mr. President, we need to discuss the financial situation. The debts are mounting, and....."

"I know the situation, James. What's the plan?" Reece raised a hand, cutting James off with his eyes cold.

James swallowed hard and hesitated before speaking again.

"We need to restructure, sell off some assets, and...."

"I don't pay you to tell me what I already know. I pay you to fix it!" Reece cut him off again, his gaze turning glacial.

The room fell silent, the directors exchanging nervous glances. Reece's reputation for ruthlessness was well-known, and they knew he wouldn't hesitate to make tough decisions.

•••••••••••••••

After the meeting with board, Reece strode through the lobby, heading to his office. His long strides eating up the distance. The receptionist, a poised young woman with a bright smile, looked up from her desk.

"Good morning, Mr. President" She said, her voice professional.

"Morning. Any messages?" Reece nodded curtly before asking.

"None, sir. But I have the latest financial reports ready for you, as requested." Ms

Shirley said.

"Good. Send them to my office, ASAP. And tell my assistant to get me the latest sales figures and market analysis. I want them on my desk within the hour." Reece spoke firmly.

"Right away, sir." The receptionist nodded efficiently.

Reece turned towards the elevators, his eyes already focused on the tasks ahead. As he stepped into the elevator, he checked his watch, his mind ticking with the demands of the day.

The doors slid open on the top floor, and he walked out into a sleek, modern reception area. His assistant, a sharp-eyed young man named Michael, looked up from his desk.

"Morning, sir. I have the files you requested ready and waiting." He announced.

"Good work" Reece nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "I want those sales figures and market analysis on my desk in the next 30 minutes. And get me a coffee, black, no sugar." He instructed before leaving.

Michael nodded, already moving to fulfill the requests. Reece turned towards his office, his mind focused on the challenges ahead.

He settled into his plush leather swivel chair as he got into his office, letting out a sigh of relief as he gazed out the window at the city skyline. He began to swivel gently, his eyes closed, savoring the moment of peace.

Just as he was getting comfortable, his phone rang, shrill in the silence. He opened his eyes, a hint of annoyance creeping into his expression. He answered, his voice firm.

"Hey, Mr. Grump fish! I didn't know you were in the country! How could you not tell me?" Kevin's voice boomed through the line, cheerful and oblivious to Reece's gruff demeanor.

"Kevin, what do you want? I'm busy." Reece raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips despite himself.

Kevin is his crazy friend, the only one that knows how to annoy Reece and drive him nuts.

But he's a very good friend of Reece. His best friend from childhood.

"Busy? You're always busy, Reece! That's why they call you the 'Ice King'! But seriously, when did you get back? We need to catch up, and I have some awesome jokes to share!" Kevin went on.

"Kevin, focus. What do you want?" Reece rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Okay, okay! So, I heard rumors about your company's financial troubles. Is it true? Do you need a loan or something?" Kevin asked.

"Kevin, I don't need your help. And even if I did, I wouldn't ask you. You'd probably loan me a participation trophy or something." Reece's expression darkened.

"Hey, watch it, Mr. Grump fish!" Kevin chuckled. "I'm a successful businessman, I'll have you know. And I can lend you a few bucks... or a few million... if you need it."

"Kevin, I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll pass. And if you keep annoying me, I'll make sure you lose a few balls and teeth. Capisce?" Reece sighed, his patience wearing thin.

"Ooh, the Ice King is getting testy! Alright, alright, I'll leave you alone... for now." Kevin guffawed.

As they continued to banter, Reece's assistant, Michael, entered with a tray carrying a steaming cup of coffee and a stack of files.

Reece nodded in appreciation, taking the cup and files while still on the call.

He began to juggle the files, sipping his coffee, and scanning the documents while Kevin continued to chat away. His ear pods were in, and he was multitasking like a pro.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.

"What the heck?!" He exclaimed, his voice low and dangerous.

"Dude, what's wrong?" Kevin's voice changed from jovial to concerned.

Reece's eyes scanned the file, his mind racing. "Beverly Bloomfield still hasn't paid back her loan? That's unacceptable." Reece grouched.

"Are you kidding? Thought she has paid up already? The date is due already, isn't it?" Kevin who couldn't believe it, asked.

"What exactly does she take me for?" Reece let out a dark chuckle instead. I'll talk to you later" He told Kevin and instantly ended the call.

After hanging up, his focus was now solely on the files in front of him, his mind already racing with strategies to tackle the issue.

•••••••••••••••

It was evening already, and Beverly was getting ready to lock up for the day.

She loves to close early, so she was always ready to lock up once it was evening.

She was still trying to round of everything, when an employee hurried into her small office, looking tense.

"Mike? What's the problem? Why.....do you look so tense?" She asked, and Mike breathed out.

"You have a visitor, Ms. Beverly" Mike announced, and Beverly frowned in confusion.

"A visitor?" She questioned within.

She couldn't remember anyone telling her that he/she was visiting. It couldn't even be Clarice her friend. If she was coming or was in town, she would have of course informed her. So who could that be?

Putting all the questions aside, Beverly stood up and headed out, upon reaching there, she met the last person she ever wanted to see at that moment....no, for the rest of some days or even months.

Reece Blackmore!

He was leaning on his car, with his two guards beside him, his face serious and hard as a rock.

Beverly couldn't believe it!

How in the world did he know where her ice cream shop was?

As he began to strode to where Beverly stood frozen, she could already feel the aura hanging around in the air, a smile that meant trouble and danger, playing on his face.

"Do you intent to run away with my money, Beverly Bloomfield? Or perhaps, I should loan you more money?" He said, a creepy smile on his face.

"Mr. Blackmore, I...that....."

"You have 10 days, woman!!" His voice was a cold, calculated whisper, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, a smile that sent shivers down her spine.

"Pay the debt in full, or surrender to marriage. Refuse any of these, and I'll destroy everything you hold. Your business, your home, your family... everything will burn to ashes, leaving nothing but smoldering ruins and shattered dreams." His voice was as cold as ice, his blazing eyes piercing right into her soul.

Beverly's heart raced as she stared at the man before her, her mind reeling with the impossibility of her situation.

How could she possibly pay back the millions she owed in just ten days? Was someone kidding her?

The thought of working even harder to pay back the money was daunting, but the reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks. She was trapped, with no escape.

She thought about her struggling business, her family's dependence on her, her son and the shame of losing everything they had worked for. The weight of her predicament crushed her, leaving her breathless and bewildered.

She was left with no choice, and so she managed to ask....

"And if I choose to marry you?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'll divorce you once I've secured what I want. You'll be free to go. It's just a prison of loveless matrimony, no strings attached" Reece's gaze never wavered, his voice devoid of emotions.......

"I'll divorce you once I've secured what I want. You'll be free to go. It's just a prison of loveless matrimony, no strings attached" Reece's gaze never wavered, his voice devoid of emotions.

Beverly's eyes widened in shock, her heart sinking at the cold calculation in his words. She was nothing more than a pawn in his game of power and wealth?!

She couldn't believe the man! How could he come up with such cruel choices for her to make?

What even made him think he could control her like that just because she was owing.

Pay up in just ten days?

For crying out loud, it had been months since she collected the loan, and hadn't been able to pack. And now he was saying she should pay back in ten days?

Beverly was really in a tight corner.

"The choice is yours" Reece said and with that, he walked back to his car, got in and they drove off. Beverly stared at the car till it was completely out of sight.

This was a total nightmare that she wished to wake up from.

As she soberly walked back inside, she began to remember the words he said to her months ago.

~ I always get my money back. One way or another ~

As she remembered those words, her heart thumped in her chest.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[ THE BLOOMFIELD'S HOME ]

It was evening and Beverly sat at the kitchen table, helping her son Jorel with his math homework. She patiently explained the concepts, and Jorel listened intently, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Okay, Mom, I think I get it now," Jorel said, his face lighting up with understanding.

"That's great, sweetie! You're so smart." Beverly smiled, feeling a sense of pride and joy.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening interrupted their moment. Beverly's heart sank, knowing that her mom, Susan, was home from her night out.

"Grandma's home!" Jorel exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Beverly forced a smile, her mind racing with worry. What state would her mom be in tonight?

And, just as she feared, her mom staggered in, looking disheveled and drunk.

"Hey, kids!" Susan slurred, dropping her purse on the floor. "Miss me?" She hiccupped.

Beverly's heart sank.

Susan staggered over to the couch and collapsed onto it, reeking of booze.

Beverly's mind raced with worry and anger. How could her mom do this again? And always in front of Jorel? She was getting tired of it all.

Her mom's descent into alcoholism started after their father's death. Beverly had tried everything to get her mom to stop drinking, but nothing had worked. Susan's health issues, including kidney damage, had led to huge medical bills, which Beverly struggled to pay.

The debt to Blackmore Company, which she still couldn't pay, was also related to her mom's health issues.

Same money that was meant for her boutique, to boost it to a higher level, she had to use it for her mom's medical bills.

Sometimes, Beverly felt like she was shouldering the burden alone, she not only cared for her mom but also cater for Alex's other school needs and Jorel's school fees. The whole family's burden was on her, and now she had millions of dollars to pay back, which she didn't even know how or where to start from.

The fact that Reece Blackmore even came and gave her those hard choices to make, worsened everything.

It was even hard for her to think it.....she didn't feel like thinking about it at all. How he came in like that with that stoned face of his and gave her those hard choices to make, she might just go crazy if she thought too much about it.

She couldn't even concentrate anymore, back at her ice cream shop. Her employees had to do the rest of the things she usually did before going home. She felt too weak.

"Mom, how much did you have to drink tonight?" Beverly asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

"Just a few drinks, sweetie. I'm fine." Susan waved a hand dismissively.

But Beverly knew better. She'd seen this too many times before. Her mom's alcoholism was a constant stress in their lives.

She sighed and put down one of Jorel's books she was holding , her mind racing with concern. She knew she had to handle the situation carefully, for Jorel's sake.

"Mom, why don't you go take a shower and get changed?" She said.

"Yeah, yeah...good idea, sweetie." Susan nodded vaguely, her eyes already glazing over.

Beverly helped her mom up from the couch, trying to ignore the smell of alcohol and disappointment.

Once she got her mom settled in the bathroom, Beverly returned to the living room, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. Why did her mom keep doing this? And how could she protect Jorel from the negative impact?

Just then, Jorel looked up at her with innocent eyes.

"Grandma's okay, right, Mommy?" He asked innocently.

"Yeah, baby, she's just...tired as always. Let me go make your favorite meal, and we'll have a fun night, okay?" She said and Jorel nodded, oblivious to the tension. Beverly was grateful for his innocence, but she knew she had to find a way to address her mom's addiction soon. For all their sakes.

It will be useless anyway, but she was never going to give up on her mom.

"Where's uncle Alex, mom? Is he gonna come home? I miss him" Jorel suddenly asked, and Beverly immediately squatted to his level, rubbing his cheeks lightly as always.

"Yes, baby. Your uncle Alex will come home for sure. I think he's hanging out with his friends" Beverly said, sighing inwardly.

"Okay, mommy. I love you" Jorel hugged her, and she smiled, patting his back.

"I love you too, my world" Beverly kissed his forehead and cheeks. "Let me go make your food, okay?" She said. Jorel nodded with a smile.

••••••••••••••••••••

[ REECE'S HOME ]

Reece's eyes groggily opened, and he was met with a piercing headache, his head was pounding from the night before.

As he sat up and rubbed his eyes, he remembered the fun he had at the club with Kevin last night.

As he turned to his side, he noticed a woman lying next to him, her hair disheveled, and her makeup smeared.

He and Kevin had gone wild, drinking and dancing, and he had brought this woman back to his place yesterday.

As he looked over at the woman, his expression turned cold.

"Get out" He instantly barked, his voice icy.

The woman's eyes snapped open, and she froze, fear evident on her face.

"W....what time is it?" She stuttered, her voice shaky.

Reece's gaze was unyielding. "It's time for you to fuck the hell out of my room. Leave!" He yelled.

The woman scrambled out of bed, her eyes fixed on Reece as if she was terrified of him. She hastily gathered her clothes and dressed quickly, her hands shaking.

"P....please, can I at least..." She began, but Reece cut her off abruptly.

"Get the fuck out!" He yelled again and the lady flinched at his harsh tone and quickly made her way to the door.

She hesitated for a moment, then turned back to him.

"Y....you won't...call me, will you?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sure, I will call you. But just to cut off your two milk factories" He said darkly.

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.....