THE BILLIONAIRE FAKE BRIDE

Untitled Episode2

silas pov



The scotch was supposed to calm me down. It did not but It made things worse. I stared at the glass feeling like it owed me some answers. The amber liquid moved a little when I caught the light and shone brightly for a second. It looked like car headlights spinning in the dark.

That same moment came back to me. That same road. I blinked. It did not go away.

"Mr. Vane, do you want another bottle of scotch?" a woman asked.

Her voice was too soft and too eager. It bothered me. I did not look up at her. I did not need to. I could already feel her leaning in getting close. Her fingers touched my shoulder, my chest. It was a touch but it felt wrong.

"Get out, " I said quietly.

I was still in control. She laughed like I had said something. Like this was all a game. Her hand did not stop moving. It slid down my body slowly and on purpose. Something in my chest felt tight. It was not a desire. It was pressure.

"Stop " I said again, still calm..

She did not stop. The other woman moved closer. I could feel them both now, their perfume filling the air and their voices sounding empty. One of them leaned in her breath warm near my ear. I could not breathe. The room felt small. The air felt thin. Something heavy felt like it was sitting on my chest.

Then her hand moved down again. That was it.

"I said, get out!" I shouted.

The words came out of me loudly. I was not calm anymore. I pushed the table forward without thinking. The sound of metal scraping against marble was loud. Glasses rattled. One fell over. Broke.

The women froze, their laughter stopping. Fear replaced it quickly. They stepped back gathering their things and moving quickly. They finally understood. I closed my eyes. Leaned back into the couch. The leather was cold against my neck. It did not help. Nothing did.

The silence that followed was worse than the noise. Because in the silence I started thinking about her. The sound of rain on the windshield. The sharp turn. Her voice, angry and sharp. Then the impact. I saw it again. The way her body jerked forward. The way her head hit the dashboard. The sound. The blood. That sickening sound.

My chest felt tight again. "I know," I muttered to myself even though no one had spoken. "I know."

"Sir "It was Dwayne. His voice was always steady.

"The room is clear." I exhaled slowly trying to come to the present.

"I just need a second," I said, my voice rough. " One second without seeing her face."

I pressed my palm against my eyes. It did not help. Nothing helped.

"General Vance called," Dwayne said.

Of course he did. I let out a breath and dropped my hand. "What does he want now?" I asked.

"He's requesting a video call," Dwayne said. "With you and Miss Violet. Tomorrow."

My eyes opened fully. The fog in my head started to clear. It was replaced by something. More focused.

The General did not ask for things like that without a reason. I felt suspicious. "Get the car ready " I said, pushing myself up.

The room tilted a little. I steadied myself ignoring the way the alcohol made me feel unbalanced.

Dwayne stepped forward. I raised my hand.

"Don't " I said. "I'm fine." But I was not fine.

I did not need help. Not with this. I walked toward the elevator, my grip on the glass in my hand tightening. Each step felt heavier than it should.

The doors slid open. I stepped inside. The mirror showed someone I did not want to look at. My tie was loose and my eyes were dark. I looked like a man who had not slept. Dwayne stood beside me silent as always.

The elevator moved, too slow and too quiet. By the time it opened again I was already tired of my thoughts. I stepped out into Suite 125. The room was how I left it. Perfect, cold and empty.

"You can leave " I said, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it onto the chair.

"I thought you wanted the car ready, " Dwayne said.

"Plans changed " I said.

He did not argue. He never did.

I moved toward the bedroom. Dropped onto the bed. The weight of the few days felt heavier now that I had stopped moving. I could feel him still there watching and waiting. "You can go, " I said again.

Dwayne paused then I heard his footsteps. He moved. The door closed behind him. "Lights " I added.

The room brightened just before the door closed. Silence settled in again. This time I did not fight it. I let it sit.

Then I walked into the bathroom. The water hit my skin cold at first then warm. It should have helped. It did not. I sank into the tub letting the water rise around me covering everything except my face.

For a moment there was nothing. No sound, no memory. Just quiet. Then I heard a sound.. Sharp from the door. My eyes opened instantly. Every part of me felt awake. The stillness disappeared, replaced by something. Instinct.

I moved without thinking, stepping out of the tub of water sliding off my skin. I grabbed a robe. Pulled it on quickly tying it as I moved. No noise, no hesitation. I stepped out into the room. And I saw her.

A flash of silver, hair falling over her shoulders. She moved carefully. Not cleanly. There was tension in her steps, urgency. Not training, not a professional.. Not careless either. She went straight to bed for the case.

Of course. I watched her for a long time. Her hands trembled slightly as she opened it.

Interesting. Then I stepped forward.

"You're a clumsy thief, little bird, " I said.

She froze. Good.

I closed the distance quickly, catching her wrist before she could react. Her skin was warm under my grip and too soft.

She struggled immediately. Determined. I turned to her. Pushed her back onto the bed, pinned and still. For a second she did not move. Then she fought again sharper this time. Her hands pushed against my chest trying to create space.

I held her easily. This should have been simple. I try to Call Dwayne and I end it.. Something stopped me. I leaned closer. Then I saw her face. Everything in me is still. There it was again that feeling. Familiar wrong.

I tightened my grip slightly bringing her closer to the light.

"Who are you?" I asked.

She did not answer. Her eyes met mine, wide and alert, not broken, not weak. That was not Violet. But the face was the same.

My chest felt tight again. For a different reason this time. I pulled back enough to see her clearly and the word came out before I could stop it.

"Violet."

Silence filled the space between us. She moved again trying to break the movement sharp and desperate.

Nothing like the controlled calculated woman I knew..

The resemblance was too exact. My mind tried to make sense of it but failed. I stared at her searching for something that would prove I was wrong.. The more I looked the worse it got.

Because she did not feel like a stranger. She did not feel like Violet either. She felt like something in between something that should not exist..

For the first time that night the ghosts in my head went quiet. Because this was something entirely.