His Deal, My Revenge

Isabella's POV Marcus walked through the door carrying flowers and I had to stop what I was doing because I couldn't remember the last time he'd brought me flowers. "Hey, love," he said, kissing my cheeks. He smelled like the expensive cologne I had bought him for his birthday. "I have something to tell you." "What?" I asked, and gripped my cup of coffee harder, smiling softly. I've never seen him this calm for a very long time, and if he continued like this, I'll definitely show him my all. "The company called me today,” and for a moment my heart skipped a beat but seeing how he smiled and how his hand held mine softly made me calm. “About the promotion,” he finally said and I set down the coffee cup. "Yeah?" "Yeah… They're moving forward with me. I'm getting it, Isabella,” he hugged me. Thank God! I thought. Finally he can be the man I met three years ago I thought and looked at him, my eyes getting wet. I took a deep sigh and I felt something I hadn't felt in over a year. Maybe things were actually going to change. "That's amazing," I said, and I meant it. He pulled me into his arms again and held me against his chest. I could hear his heart beating fast. "I know I haven't been what you needed baby, but this changes everything. This means I can actually take care of you the way I promise I would." I pulled back and looked at him."I need to ask you for something," I said. "Anything babe.” "Stop drinking…and the smoking. I'm serious, Marcus. If you're going to do this, if you're going to be different, you have to actually commit." He took my face in his hands, his palms were warm. "I promise, I swear to you, no more. I'm done with all of it. Anything for you, Isabella. Anything,” and he kissed me and for the first time in months and I believed him. That evening, Marcus came out of the shower and told me to get dressed, that we're going out. I put on the navy dress. The one he'd bought for me a year ago and said I always look breathtaking when I wore it. The drive was quiet, and after sometime, I turned to look at him. "You excited?" I asked him. "Yeah…yeah, I am." We pulled up to a high-rise downtown with fifty stories at least. From just looking at it, you could see that Important people worked in buildings like this. A guard in a suit walked over as Marcus parked. "Where is the…" the guard asked him. Marcus moved closer to the guard before he could finish and whispered something and the guard nodded. "Let's go," Marcus said, and he gestured toward me. I grabbed my purse and stepped out. The guard looked me over and then nodded. We walked into the lobby. It was all marble and glass. Marcus had his hand on the small of my back as we headed to the elevators. A second guard was waiting and he pressed the button for the top floor without being asked. "What is this?" I asked Marcus. "Just wait," he said rubbing his thumb on the back of my hands. When we got to the top floor, there was another guard waiting by the doors. He gestured down a hallway. Marcus stepped out first, and I followed. We stopped in front of a door and Marcus turned to face me. "Before we go in there, I need to tell you something." "Okay," I said, my brows furrowed, my heart pounding, but I stopped every negetive thought because Marcus could never do that right? "Do you remember what I told you this morning? About the promotion?" "Yeah. You said you got it,” I whispered. "I didn't get it," he whispered, avoiding eye contact. My chest tightened as I closed my eyes for a moment. "What do you mean you didn't get it?" "I didn't qualify for it. I wasn't high enough in the company." He looked up at me. "But there's another way." "What do you mean, another way?" I asked, as I gulped, shaking slightly now. "The CEO," Marcus said. "He's willing to help me. He made me an offer." “Ohkay, so what was the offer,” I asked, bitting my lips, my forehead already filled with sweat. "If you spend tonight with him," Marcus said, "I get the promotion. That's the deal. One night. It's a business arrangement. He's an old man, so he won't hurt you baby,” and I just stared at him as everything around me seemed to stop. "No," I replied after a moment, as I stepped away from him. "Isabella…" "No. What are you saying?" "I'm saying one night. That's all. We can get married after this baby,” he came closer to me. "Marcus, you're asking me to…" "I'm not asking," he said, his voice deeper, and I couldn't find any trace of smile on his face. "I'm telling you and you're doing this." "I'm not doing anything! We're leaving right now!" but he grabbed my wrist firmly. "No, we're not," he said, as he clenched his jaw. "Let go of me!” my voice was getting louder, but I didn't care anymore. "You're going to do this, Isabella. It's already arranged,” he said in gritted teeth. "I'm not…" "Yes, you are,” he said, while I struggled to let go. The guard stepped forward. Marcus didn't even look at him and he just nodded. "She's ready," Marcus said. "Wait…Marcus, wait. We need to talk about this. This isn't…" "There's nothing to talk about. You're doing it." "I'm not consenting to this. I'm telling you no. You can't…” "Yes, I can," he said, while tears slipped down from my eyes. He let go of my wrist and he stepped back toward the elevator. "Marcus, where are you going?" "Home,” he replied without looking at me. "Don't you dare leave me here,” but he was already pressing the button. "Marcus!" The elevator doors closed before I could move as the guard grabbed my arm. "Don't touch me! You can't touch me. I don't consent to any of this. This is illegal, you can't…" "Come on," the guard said. He pulled me down the hallway while I tried to resist. My feet scraped against the floor and I stumbled but he caught my elbow and kept walking like I weighed nothing. "Stop! Let me go. Marcus! Someone! Help!" There was another guard at a door and two of them opened it together. "No…no! stop. I don't consent to this. You can't…" One of them pushed me inside and closed the door. I ran at the door and pounded my fists against it until my hands burned. My hands hurt, my throat hurt. But I kept screaming because I didn't know what else to do. I screamed until my voice was gone and until there was nothing left.