Chapter 5
1164 Words
The next morning, Diana woke up with her mother pounding on her door.
"Diana! Get up! We need to talk!"
Diana groaned and checked her phone. Seven AM. Twenty more missed calls from Ryan.
She got dressed and went downstairs. Margaret was waiting at the kitchen table, arms crossed.
"Sit down."
Diana sat. Marcus brought coffee silently and disappeared back to the kitchen.
"I've been thinking about your situation," Margaret said. "You need to apologize to Ryan."
"Absolutely not."
"Yes, you will! He's telling everyone you're a gold digger!" Margaret shoved her phone across the table. "Look!"
Diana saw social media posts from Ryan's friends. "Can't believe Diana Wilson rejected Ryan Blackwood. Gold digger move?" and "Heard Diana is broke and desperate."
Diana's face went hot. "He's spreading lies!"
"He's angry! Call him. Apologize. Fix this!"
"I'm not apologizing for making a smart business decision!"
"If you won't fix this, I will." Margaret stood up and walked away.
Diana felt uneasy. Her mother was planning something.
At work, Diana tried to focus. But Ryan's texts kept coming.
"We need to talk."
"Diana, answer me."
"I'm coming to see you."
That last one made Diana's stomach drop. She told Amy, "If Ryan Blackwood shows up, don't let him in."
"Yes, Ms. Wilson."
But at three PM, Amy knocked nervously. "Ms. Wilson? Mr. Blackwood is here with several men. He's demanding to see you."
Diana took a breath. "Send him in. Alone."
Ryan walked into her office, his face red with anger.
"Diana."
"Ryan, you need to leave."
"Leave? I came to talk and you want me to leave?" He sat down without being invited. "That's rude."
"What do you want?"
"I want to know why you rejected me. Was my offer not good enough?"
"Your offer required me to divorce my husband and marry you. That's manipulation."
"I offered you everything!"
"I want my company and my freedom."
"Freedom?" Ryan's voice got louder. "You're married to trash! That's not freedom!"
"That's my choice."
"Your choice?" Ryan stood up. "You chose HIM over ME? A man who eats garbage?"
"Ryan, lower your voice—"
"No!" Ryan slammed his hands on her desk. "Do you know how many women would kill to marry me?"
"Then go marry one of them!"
"I don't want them! I want YOU!" Ryan walked around the desk. "Who is this mystery investor? Did you sleep with someone for that money?"
Diana's face burned. "How dare you—"
"How else does a failing company get five million overnight?" Ryan grabbed Diana's arm. Hard.
"Let go!"
"Not until you tell me the truth!" Ryan pulled her closer.
"I said let go!" Diana tried to pull away but his grip was too strong.
The office door opened. Marcus stood there, holding a food delivery bag.
"I brought Diana's lunch," he said quietly.
Ryan turned, still gripping Diana's arm. "Get out, trash."
Marcus pointed up at the corner. "Diana, should I call security? The cameras are recording everything."
Ryan looked up. Security cameras. Red lights blinking. Recording.
Then he looked at the doorway. Amy and two other employees stood there, staring. Witnesses.
Ryan's face went red. He let go of Diana's arm quickly. "This is a misunderstanding."
"A discussion where you grabbed me and wouldn't let go?" Diana rubbed her arm. Bruises were forming.
Ryan straightened his suit. "You're overreacting."
"Get out of my office. Now."
"Fine. But this isn't over." Ryan walked toward the door. He stopped next to Marcus. "You think you're clever?"
Marcus said nothing. Just stood there, head down.
Ryan shoved Marcus hard. Marcus fell backward, dropping the lunch bag. Food spilled everywhere.
"Oops," Ryan said with a fake smile. "Trash belongs on the floor."
He walked out.
Diana rushed to Marcus. "Are you okay?"
Marcus was picking up the spilled food. "I'm fine. I'm sorry I dropped your lunch."
"I don't care about the lunch! Are you hurt?"
"No." Marcus gathered the ruined food.
Amy appeared. "Ms. Wilson, I recorded everything on my phone. Including him shoving Marcus."
Diana felt relief. "Thank you, Amy."
Marcus finished cleaning. "I should go."
"Marcus, wait." Diana touched his arm gently. "Thank you. For thinking of the cameras."
Marcus looked surprised. "I didn't want him to hurt you more."
"Well, thank you."
Marcus nodded and left with the ruined food.
Diana sat at her desk, shaking. She took photos of the bruises on her arm.
That evening, Diana came home. Marcus was making dinner.
"Where's Mother and Derek?"
"Your mother went out. Derek is at a friend's house."
Marcus brought her a plate without being asked.
"You didn't have to make dinner," Diana said.
"You had a difficult day. You should eat."
Diana looked at the bruise on his shoulder from where Ryan shoved him.
"Marcus, I'm sorry. You got hurt because of me."
"It wasn't your fault."
"It was. If I hadn't married you, you wouldn't be in this situation."
"I chose to marry you. I chose to stay. These are my choices."
"But why?"
"I made a promise. During our wedding."
Diana felt frustrated. "I don't understand."
"You will. Someday." Marcus went back to washing dishes.
Diana's phone buzzed. Unknown number: "Ryan Blackwood won't stop. He's planning something worse. Protect yourself and your husband. -A Friend"
Diana stared at the message. "Marcus, do you know anyone who might be watching out for us?"
Marcus looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Diana showed him the text. "Someone is helping us."
Marcus read it, his face showing nothing. "I don't know who that could be."
"No friends? No family?"
"I don't have any, Diana. You know that."
Diana put her phone away. "Whoever it is, they've been right so far."
"Then maybe we should be careful," Marcus said quietly.
Later that night, Diana couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Marcus. Standing in her office. Pointing out the cameras. Protecting her the only way he could.
He didn't fight Ryan. Didn't threaten him.
He just used his brain.
That was smart. Really smart.
Her phone buzzed. Ryan: "I know where you live. We need to finish our conversation."
Diana's blood went cold.
She walked downstairs. Light showed under the storage room door. Marcus was still awake.
She knocked. "Marcus?"
"Come in."
Marcus was reading on his blanket.
"Ryan sent another text. He said he knows where we live."
Marcus's jaw tightened slightly. "Lock your bedroom door tonight. Keep your phone close."
"What about you? If Ryan comes—"
"He'll go to your room, not mine. I'm not important to him. Lock your door and call the police if you hear anything."
Diana nodded. "Okay. And Marcus? Thank you. For today."
"You're welcome."
Diana went upstairs and locked her door. She kept her phone ready.
The night passed quietly.
And in that silence, Diana realized something.
Marcus wasn't strong. Wasn't powerful. Wasn't rich.
But he was smart. And loyal. And he'd protected her today.
That was worth something.
Maybe worth more than she'd realized.
- Writer
