Wicked Games: Bishop Mafia Series 1

Chapter 6

“There was no other way.” Gloria spoke, seated opposite her daughter.

“But why, Dean?” Elena paced to and fro in the room. “We have other partners for The Peridot. Why did you turn to, Dean?”

Gloria blew her nose. Her eyes were still red. The tears had fallen as she explained to her very angry daughter. “Dean is almost family. The Bishops were the only ones I could trust.”

“Family?” Elena scoffed. Her mother’s words were getting more absurd by the minute. “He is forcing me to marry him. You call that family?”

“Elena,” Gloria slowly arose from the chair. “I know all these is too sudden for you. But the situation is such. Dean helped us at a time when I had no one to turn to.”

“And you didn’t tell me about the debts incurred by The Peridot. Why, mum? I am a Cruise as well. After dad, the hotel comes to me.”

“You never had a head for business, Elena. You and I both know that.”

Elena stopped walking and looked at her mother. It was true. She didn’t want to manage the hotel. Each day, saw her at the studio she had bought and decorated on her own. The studio where she taught Salsa to the seven-year-olds to the seventy-year-olds. Life as a dance teacher completed her.

“When your father passed away…” Gloria gripped the armchair for support. Speaking of her husband’s passing always weakened her. “When you father died, you didn’t even to attend his funeral. And you locked yourself in the room for days. I had to take over the business. You know The Peridot was your father’s blood and sweat.” Gloria paused. “Besides, all you cared about was to sway around the ballroom. That wasn’t even a decent job, Elena.”

“It’s my passion, mum. Passion.” Elena shook her head at her mother. “You could have told me about the problems in The Peridot. We could have thought of something. And now, Dean is threatening to tear it down if I don’t marry him.”

Gloria sighed. “You never once asked me about The Peridot. Every morning when you woke up, you will run off to that studio of yours. I hardly saw you. There was so much to do in the hotel, Elena.” Gloria threw her daughter a long look. “I know all this is hard to take in. But you will grow to love, Dean. He is a lovely man.”

Elena spun around and looked at her mother in disbelief. Did her ears hear, right? Dean, a lovely man? Hell no, he wasn’t.

She sat on the edge of the bed. “How much did he pay for the debts?” Her mind prepared to calculate. She still had her shares in The Peridot.

Gloria sniffed. “All $2.7 million.”

“What?” Elena’s jaw dropped open.

Gloria nodded. “Every single debt was paid off. All $2.7 million.”

“How on earth did things escalate like this, mum?” Regret began to pound on her heart. She should have paid more attention to The Peridot. Instead she had wallowed in the guilt of what had happened to her father. The only way she knew how to deal with his death was to throw herself into her dancing.

“There was an embezzlement.”

“Mum… you didn’t tell me any of this before?”

“You weren’t speaking to me, Elena. I tried so many times. But you were still thinking about your father and that dance of yours. I had to do something.” Tears rolled down Gloria’s cheeks.

Elena’s heart twisted within her. It was at that moment, she realized her mother had aged so much. Gone was the vibrancy and laughter from her face. In their place, was sorrow and drunkenness. She knew her mother drank every night. They had lived in the same house but they were two different strangers. She had heard her mother genuinely laugh when the Bishops had visited a few days ago, back in their Florida home. That was the first laughter she had heard from her Mother in about a year. And in that year, so much had happened and she had been oblivious to it all. This was her fault.

“Mum,” Elena threw her arms around her mother. “I’m so sorry. You were bearing everything on your own.”

Gloria squeezed her daughter. This was the first real talk they had had in the past year. Both had withdrawn from each other, following William’s death.

“There was no other way, Elena. I only thought of, Dean. He paid every single cent from his own pocket.” Gloria spoke, still holding her daughter. She missed their mother-daughter bonding times when they used to bake cupcakes together. Cupcakes was both their favorite.

Even if I sold my shares, it wouldn’t be enough to pay Dean. Oh my God!

Elena, felt the walls around her closing in.

“I can’t marry, Dean.” She whispered to herself.

Gloria let go of her daughter. “Elena. The contract is clear. Dean didn’t want any repayment for the debt he paid on our behalf. He owns The Peridot now. He serves as an Advisor. Only with his approval, The Peridot stands.”

“I’m the repayment. I’m that $2.7 million!” Elena stepped away from Gloria.

“Elena, listen. It doesn’t sound bad as you think it is.”

“Oh, then how does it sound? Huh?” Elena’s hands rested on her hips. Her temper was beginning to flare. “You had a debt to pay. You didn’t tell me anything. You turned to, Dean. In his good heart, Dean paid every single cent of $2.7 million and got control of The Peridot. There’s no payment to him. Instead, I have to marry him. Otherwise, he will tear The Peridot apart.” She shook her head. “Tell me, mum. Which part of this doesn’t sound bad? This is an absolute nightmare.”

“Dean has loved you since you both were kids.” Gloria reached out to her.

“Love? Oh, trust me. I have no love for that animal.”

“Elena! Mind your language.” The tear-stricken face was now replaced with sternness.

“Mum, he is forcing me to marry him for the debt he paid. I’m being sold off. You sold me!”

SMACK!

Elena's face turned roughly to the side and a stinging pain shot up on her left cheek. Immediately, her left hand went to the now cherry cheek. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Enough! I told you to mind your language.”

Gloria, grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to sit on the edge of the bed. Elena's hand was still glued to her cheek.

"You hear me young lady and hear me well! You will stay in this house till the wedding. You are only allowed to go out with Dean. Mel is only here because she is your best friend. Dean permitted it. You will not set foot out this house unless its with, Dean. And you are getting married to him. Am I clear?"

Elena stared at her mum. She could smell the alcohol off her. She had been drinking again.

Gloria demanded loudly, "Are we clear on this Elena?"

A second later, her daughter's brunette head nodded. Gloria marched to the door. Before closing the door, she looked back at her daughter. She saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Without a word, Gloria shut the door.

Left alone, Elena threw herself into the bed. Her body began to throb as heavy tears began to flood the pillow. Fingers clenched the corners of the pillow.

After an hour of crying, Elena turned on her side. Still lying in bed, her eyes looked out to the big bright moon that was smiling down at her.

In most nights, the full moon would have enchanted her, making her stare at it and dreaming dreams of stuff she wanted to do.

Dance and travel the world...but they had all stayed dreams all these years. Her twenty - two years have all been about doing what dad and mum wanted her to do.

Suddenly, like sunshine after rain, something triggered in her head. Elena shot up and sat on the bed. “I’m not marrying you, Dean.”

As the wheels in her head turned, a sense of determination began to grow inside of her. Jumping out of bed, she ran to her wardrobe. Flinging the doors wide open, she searched through her wardrobe. Pulling drawers here and there, she made a frantic search.

It must be here.

After almost thirty minutes of searching, her newfound determination evaporated into thin air.

Biting down on her lip, she slammed her back onto one of the wardrobe doors and her body slid down, in despair. She had to find a way to get The Peridot back from Dean. It was Cruise not Bishop. Only she, as her father’s sole heir had a right to it. Not that savage.

In frustration, her palm banged on the door. The hit caused something above her to shake. She didn’t notice it. She thought of the threat, Dean had thrown her. The anger within her grew larger. She banged her palm again. Like manna from heaven, it fell next to her.

Looking at it, her eyes welled with tears once more. This time, tears of joy and relief. Hurriedly, she picked up her worn our diary and flipped through the pages.

“Yes!” She yelled when she found what she was looking for.

Jumping to her feet, she ran to the door. Slowly opening it, she was glad it didn’t squeak like her room door in Florida did. She peeped outside, turning her head left and right. The coast was clear. It was late at night anyway. The Bishop household was asleep. No Dean nor any of his men with guns were walking by.

As quietly as she can, she made her way to Mel’s room. They had much to discuss tonight.