Chapter 2 A "Fair" Deal
909 Words
The absurdity of the coincidence made Beverly pause before calmly replying, "I had no idea about Robin and your fiancée. Perhaps you should address this directly with them."
Elroy's fingers tightened around his cigarette, his gaze darkening as it fixed on her.
It looked as if he was holding himself back.
"You're as cold and heartless as ever," he said as he strode toward her, his towering frame radiating an oppressive energy.
"What are you doing?"
Beverly's guard shot up instantly.
He braced his hands to trap her. His eyes flickered to her rosy lips, his Adam's apple moving with restrained hunger.
That desire had sparked the moment she stepped into the room.
The fitted black dress she wore was like a siren's call, perfectly showcasing her curves.
It was maddening.
A wave of lust was surging in Elroy's eyes.
"You've always had terrible taste in men, Beverly," he muttered, his voice low and cutting.
Beverly let out a sneer. "And your standards, Mr. Bellone, aren't much better."
Elroy's thumb brushed over her lips. She was still as sharp-tongued as ever.
In the background, the vulgar sounds of the couple on the surveillance video grew louder, an unbearably ironic soundtrack. It enraged him—how could Beverly have left him for a man like Robin?
And worse, he hated himself for having let Robin go unchecked these past three years.
"I have a solution to this mess," Elroy said. "He seduced my fiancée. So, naturally, I should sleep with his girlfriend."
The faint floral scent that clung to Beverly filled his senses.
It was intoxicating, just like herself.
Beverly's eyes widened, her shock unmistakable. Did he even realize what he was saying?
Just as his lips were about to capture hers, Beverly swung her fist with all her might, aiming for his face.
"Don't even dream of it, Elroy! I won't agree to such a ridiculous demand!"
Years ago, being with Elroy had been a test of endurance.
His insatiable passion left her nearly incapable of standing some mornings.
Now, as he caught her wrist with ease and pulled her into his chest, the memory of those days flooded back.
The punches she had just thrown at him didn't cause any harm. He pulled her close and pressed her into the plush mattress. His strength overwhelmed her.
"Let me go," Beverly demanded, trying to sound calm despite the panhgbtic rising in her chest.
Elroy, however, was anything but obedient. He loomed over her like a predator, unrestrained and utterly in control.
He pinched her chin, and his voice dropped to a husky whisper. "My dear Beverly, I hear you've racked up a million-dollar debt for him. Is that true?"
"This has nothing to do with you." Beverly could feel a surge of heat pressing against her, his proximity awakening desires she thought she'd buried. She shoved at his chest, desperate to create some distance.
But Elroy intercepted her hands, locking their fingers together and pinning them above her head. The movement only brought him closer, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke.
"So, you plan to work yourself to death for over a decade, nonstop?" His voice was low, tinged with amusement. His lips grazed the back of her hand. "Or, perhaps, you'd like another option, one I'm offering right now."
The implication hit her like a slap.
A proposal for a sordid arrangement. Call it sponsorship, a transaction, or outright prostitution—Beverly couldn't believe Elroy would stoop so low as to suggest such a thing to her.
The man she had once loved so deeply, the one who had loved her to the point of madness, now spoke with nothing but mockery and scorn. For a moment, she faltered. Was it her decision to leave him that had twisted him into this bitter, vengeful man?
She was too astonished to speak, but Elroy took it as hesitation.
His smirk deepened, and his hand trailed lower, cupping her breast with an audacity that sent shockwaves through her.
But Beverly didn't react. She lay there, stiff and unyielding, her wide eyes staring up at him in stunned disbelief.
The reflection of his face in her sapphire-blue eyes made Elroy pause. It was as if her gaze had struck him, slicing through his composure. "You're that unwilling?" he asked, his voice carrying an edge of frustration.
After a moment, he straightened, withdrawing slightly. "Beverly, he's betrayed you. Doesn't that matter?"
"So what?" she shot back, regaining her composure at last. Her tone dripped with icy sarcasm. "Should I stoop to your level and repay betrayal with more betrayal?"
"You despise betrayal, yet you've come to me. Why?" she challenged, locking eyes with him. "I've already paid the price for my choices."
Elroy's jaw tightened, his calm finally unraveling. He thought he had been well-prepared, but her indifference and mockery fueled his rage.
And as for what Beverly had said... The idea of them together, of all they might have done in those three years, stoked his fury beyond measure.
"Get out."
Elroy stood up and ordered coldly.
The vulgar sounds from the surveillance continued to play as the room plunged into silence. Beverly scrambled off the bed, hastily smoothing her clothes before making a beeline for the door.
"Did you ever truly love me, Beverly?"
Just as the door clicked shut behind her, the words reached her ears like a faint whisper.
She wasn't sure if she'd imagined them.
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