Love's Inferno

Chapter 2

Daniel

“Damn incompetent idiot.” I shook off my suit and slumped into my chair, trying to massage the

head-splitting headache that plagued me all morning

Why couldn't these people just leave me the hell alone?

The damn envelope felt like it weighed a million tons as I lifted it out of my pocket. I could have bet

my life that I knew the contents but on the off chance that I was wrong, I reached for my letter opener.

My hand landed on a stack of papers. A stack of papers that shouldn't have been there anymore.

“This damn…” I inhaled and slowly forced all the air out of my lungs. “Jasper! Jasper, get in here

now!”

My useless PA came sauntering into my office with his typical unbothered look. I've tried. Tried to

rattle him but he just wouldn't budge. I respected a little him for that.

“You called?” He asked in his annoyingly monotonous voice. “More like screamed at the top of your

lungs but here I am.”

“I'm in no mood this morning. Why haven't you filed these?” I gestured to the stack of papers on my

desk.

“I would have but you gave me another stack of documents to file. In your words, ‘this takes

priority.’”

I badly wanted to knock his glasses off his smug face. “I hired you to assist me. You should have

found a way. You can't find good help these days. Do you think I would be where I am today if I

raised a white flag to every obstacle in my way? You find a way.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Of course sir, it was your unrelenting work ethic and not the fact that you

inherited Coceonic. I'll get started on these.” He grabbed them and started to leave my office.

“Where's my letter opener?”

“Bottom left drawer,” he called before slamming my door.

I sighed as I ripped the envelope and took out the letter.

This letter – like the one that came before it – ended the same way, “We know who you are. Who you

really are.”

Damn cowards never signed or left a return address. I'd have loved to pay them a visit, let them tell

me who they think I am to my face.

But still, if news of this got out, even a hint of it, my reputation could be ruined. I should have been

more careful. I was careful. I had no idea how they knew or who they were.

My head rang and I felt a throbbing behind my eyes – like I had a construction crew banging and

jackhammering away at my sanity.

I needed a solution. I needed something to cover up this potential debacle.

But what could I do? I leaned back in my chair and tapped my feet against the marble floor, wracking

my brain for the answer I knew was just out of reach.

What could I do? My feet tapping got faster and faster.

I shot out of my chair as a thought suddenly occurred to me. I looked at my shoes and my mind

replayed the scene from only a few moments ago that left me stunned.

The image of that girl kneeling to clean my shoes with her shirt.

“Jasper!”

He opened my door and leaned his head into my office. “Another priority task?”

“There was this girl who was with the i***t manager earlier today. Find out who she is and run a

background check on her.”

“Any other piece of info besides the fact that she was in the general vicinity of Mr. Kohen?”

My eyes bored into the bumbling i***t's head. “Why did I hire you if I still have to do your job?”

He sighed. “I'll check the CCTV footage.”

“Well, look who is completely useless. You do that. And make it quick.”

I paced back and forth, mind running a thousand miles per second. This was a potential solution.

No. It was the solution.

***

“You wanted to see me, sir?”

I tore my eyes away from my keyboard to look at her. “Come in.”

I found her attire appalling. Who the hell wore a faded t-shirt and jeans to a 5-star hotel? And those

shoes…

But I got a good look at her face and I could honestly say she wasn't bad looking. Not the type I would

normally go for but still not horrible to look at. And her shabby clothes sat well on her slim frame so

that was a plus.

I returned my gaze to my screen, clicking away at my keyboard. I wanted her to feel uncomfortable.

She looked like she was. No doubt she was reeling being this close to me. The thought nearly made

me smile.

“What do you do here?” I asked, not bothering to look at her.

“I'm a roomkeeper, sir.”

Sir. I liked that. It had a nice ring coming from her. “Well, you're about to be so much more.” I finally

gave her the pleasure of my gaze. “You are going to marry me.”

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head and her mouth hung open. I could almost hear the gears in her

mind grinding to a halt.

I wondered what was going through her mind. Probably how rich she was about to get. Damn gold

digger.

“What?” she asked with the most incredulous look on her face.

“Are you hard of hearing?”

“No, I…” She must have found the floor intriguing the way her eyes were glued to it.

“Don't flatter yourself.” I scoffed. “It will be a contract marriage.”

“Oh, it will?” She asked. Her face started turning red and her first balled up.

“Yes, it will.”

She squared her shoulders and looked me dead in the eyes. “I'm not interested.”

I felt that throbbing behind my eyes again. Who did this woman think she was? Turn her back on me?

Me?

“Who do you think you are,” I barked.

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to lol at me, fear written all over her face. Good.

“I'm giving you the opportunity of a lifetime and you dare turn your back on me?” I rose from my

chair and circled my desk to stand in front of her, my massive frame towering over her.

“You think this is a joke? Do you know how many women will kill to be in your position? You don't

have an ambitious bone in your body."

She stumbled backward and I followed, trapping her against the door.

“Let me tell you who you are.” I cupped her chin and raised her head to stare deep into her soul. “A

nobody. If you go missing today, no one will look for you. You're nothing, a mere stain to be wiped

off.”

She was trembling, teeth chattering as if she were in the Arctic without a coat. Good.

I stalked back to my chair and stared at the mess she was turning into. “Maybe someone will look for

you, but your sweet mother is too weak to do anything, huh.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes sparked like flaming balls, shooting me a withering glare. “You

asshole. Leave her alone.”

I couldn't control the guffaw that rumbles that burst from deep in my chest. I laughed and laughed,

wiping my watering eyes. “So you do have some fight in you, huh?” I managed between bouts of

laughter.

She said nothing, opting to glare daggers at me.

I finally regained my composure, adjusting my lopsided tie. “I'll pay you – very well in fact. Ask

Jasper how much he makes. You'll be able to afford premium care for your mother. Do you not love

her enough to let your pride go?”

“I… I can’t–”

“Look, it's really simple.” I leaned forward on my desk. “Do this and you get more money than you

know what to do with. Don't and, uh…” I leaned back and swiveled side to side. “Maybe you and

your sweet mother turn up missing. The choice is yours.” I finished with a smile.

Her deep furrow in her brows melted into a look of absolute defeat. I smirked knowing I'd won.

As if there was ever any doubt.