Caged By The Devil [18+]

Chapter 18

Elena's POV:

After coming back home, I got a call from Lizzie. She was asking whether Chris agreed or not to cancel the contract.

I was feeling ashamed to tell her the truth as Earlier, I ensure her confidently that Chris must be agreed to cancel the contract, but now he didn't. I can't even imagine how Lizzie going to react to this but I can guess that she must be going to very much furious on me.

I ignored her call three times but lastly, I received as she was calling me continuously and I have to share it with her.

As expected, she became utterly furious with me and start scolding me as I was thinking like dumb while hoping that the contract will be canceled. But now I have nothing left to do other than paying the money by selling all of these properties which I'm never going to do.

I asked Lizzie helplessly to suggest me any idea to get the money but it was another dumb thing to do. I don't know how even I ask her that when there is not a single way to get the money as the bank will also refuse to give loans.

To my utter surprise, Lizzie also start asking me to sell all the properties when I made her clear before that I never going to do it. But I can't even blame her to ask me to sell everything because anyone will ask me the same in this situation.

After talking with Lizzie, I called some of my father friends whom I see with my dad numerous times. They are also very much rich and close to my dad. So, I think that they might be agreed to help me.

When I called them one by one and told them everything, they just refused to help me simply. Some of them don't even receive my call or cut the call when I mentioned the word help. And I again left helpless.

I was literally surprised about the fact that I always saw them acting like a brother with my dad. But when today, I'm asking help for them, they just treat me like they don't even know me.

I realize that in times of danger, people show their true color. They used to be my dad friend at that time just because he had money but now, they turned their back to his daughter.

I started feeling like I was only left alone in this world and not a single person was with me. Everywhere I look, I only see darkness and there was no way to get rid of it.

I can't help myself to remind Anthony's and Aunt Jenna's words, and how much they concern about me being alone which I don't even take seriously. But now I understand that what they actually mean, and there is no doubt that they are more than right.

Being in this situation, I started understanding the real meaning of being alone which is totally opposite from what I used to think.

I considered my earlier days as hell when my dad was alive but the day I'm spending nowadays is a real hell for which I wasn't ready, and I can't bear the pain by which I'm going through every single day. I'm sad, lonely, frustrated, depressed and again I was willing to kill myself.

I want to get peace and get rid of every single pain by embracing my death, but I can't even do that because of Stefan. I left with no other option other than facing my cursed reality and deal with it.

Sitting on the floor, I started crying because it's the only thing, I can do right now. There is no one besides me but my tears still with me and I don't think that they will ever stop coming from my eyes until I die.

While I was crying, I suddenly remind Anthony as I can also talk about him about the contract and I don't think that he will refuse like Chris because it still refreshes in my mind, how he told me that he wants to be my side.

But when I also remember about the rejection, I feel ashamed to even talk to him because he will consider me nothing but selfish. Although I was feeling guilty, but I have nothing left other than being selfish.

I was wishing that I have Anthony's number to contact with him right at the moment because I want to talk with him as soon as I can. But I have no other choice without waiting until tomorrow as I haven't any way to contact him until I get his number.

**************************

The next day after going to the office, I asked Lizzie to bring me Anthony's number, and she agreed without asking many questions.

As I asked for his personal number, so it was taking a quite long time to find which was making me feel desperate because I can't wait to talk to him and tell him everything. And I'm very much sure that Anthony never going to refuse my request.

While I was waiting desperately for Lizzie to come with Anthony's number, the office door open and I thought it was Lizzie. But to my utter surprise, it was Chris who is the last person I want to see right now.

"What the hell he is doing here?", The first question arises in my mind after seeing him.

He was in his official attire, looking ridiculously handsome. But he must be in his office right now other than mine.

"I'm not a ghost. You don't need to be so surprised", he again started his sarcastic talk while taking his seat opposite me.

I started thinking that he maybe come here to annoy me as his expression was saying the same. But I wasn't even interested to bear his presence right now.

"What are you.....", He interrupts me before I could ask him the reason for his surprising visit.

"My car was passing the street near your office. So I think, Why not I pay a visit to you in case you started missing me?", He said with a worried expression.

Seriously... I started missing him. Here, I'm praying that I may not see him again, but he is thinking, I'm missing him. But soon I realized that he just give me a useless excuse for coming here.

"I don't think that it's the date to pay the money. Then what are you doing here, Chris?", I asked him.

But ignoring my question, he started roaming his eyes around the office room.

"It's changed, isn't it?", He questions but I don't understand what he even means by that. But I really feel curious when I suddenly find him disappoint.

"Changed... What?", I asked curiously.

"The weather", came his reply, and there was a sadistic smile on his face.

I started feeling dumb while talking with him because he doesn't make any sense. I decided to remain silent without talking with him and also start waiting for him to leave. But I don't think that he is going to leave so soon.

"So... Have you been able to manage the money?", He asked, but his reaction was saying that he already knows the answer but still he is asking.

"Why... Are you wishing to cancel the contract if I can't manage the money?", I asked curiously thinking that maybe he decided to agree with me. But I was fool enough to think that again.

"Obviously not... I think it's my responsibility to cheer you up to manage the money otherwise you will lose everything, Elena....", He said and now I understand why he is here.

He comes here to scare about losing everything and guess what I really feel scared when he says that I have to lose everything.

"Listen... I know what will happen? And I think you're complete with your so-called responsibility. So... You may leave", I suggest to him, but he gives me a confused look.

And there is no doubt that my behavior confused him.

"Really surprising!! You're scared yesterday, but not today. What happened? Tell me honestly... Have you been able to manage the money?", He said and I really feel surprised as he was sounding nothing but worried.

If he thinks that I managed the money then he needs to be happy, but here he is seeming worried which only means that he doesn't want me to manage the money. I don't understand what is wrong with this man as he acts so strangely.

But he was right about me being less scared as I'm looking forward to talk with Anthony, and I was hoping that he will agree to cancel the contract. And then, I don't have to deal with this arrogant Chris.

"You don't want me to manage the money, do you?", I asked to change the topic of me being less scared.

"Why not... Of course, I want....", Chris stopped as someone opens the door of the office room, and it was Lizzie.

"Elena... I brought Anthony's personal number and.....", Lizzie was saying while entering inside but stopped as soon as she saw Chris, but he already heard what she was saying.

Although I don't want to hide the matter from Chris that I'm willing to talk with Anthony but I become worried about how he will react. I don't know what I will do if he gets angry with me all of a sudden.

I thought that he is going to be angry instantly, but he gives me a normal surprised look without saying anything. And next second, he looked at Lizzie who was still standing near the door being confused.

"Hey beautiful.....", Chris said sweetly to Lizzie while fixing his eyes on her. Lizzie's cheeks turned pink instantly after hearing him as she must take his words as a compliment.

I feel weird about the fact that Chris didn't greet me this much sweetly as he was greeting Lizzie. When he complimented her, I was really feeling bad about that although his stupid compliment didn't matter to me at all.

"Lizzie... Give me the number", I asked her when she was looking at Chris without blinking her eyes.

But I don't think it's her fault because it's worth enough to look at his handsome face without blinking until he shows his arrogance.

After hearing me, Lizzie back to her sense, and she comes near me to give me the number. But Chris still wasn't saying anything rather being silent while looking at me and Lizzie.

Lizzie must want to ask me what he is doing here, but she was failing to ask that. So, I gesture her to leave, and she started leaving.

"Wait... You didn't even reply to me. You don't need to force yourself to ignore me", Chris said Lizzie which again makes her surprised.

And I really can't figure out what Lizzie was feeling about Chris. But his flirting act with my assistant was really making me feel angry.

"I... I'm not in... ignoring you, Mr. Richards", Lizzie replied, and she was blushing while talking with him.

But I don't understand one thing that why isn't she just ignored his flirting drama and get the hell out from here.

"So... Are you free today's evening, beautiful? We can.....", I interrupt Chris as he was crossing his limits.

I was thinking about how he got the courage to talk like this with my assistant without taking my permission. But Lizzie surprised me more as her eyes were shining when he was asking about today's evening.

"She isn't free at all. And she is my assistant. So, you have to take my permission before asking her something stupid", I said Chris firmly, but he gives me an annoyed look as I was disturbing him to flirt with my assistant.

"And Why are you still standing here? Please leave", I sound angry at Lizzie as she was acting carelessly.

"Are you feeling jealous as I was going to ask her for an outing? If you want then, I can also ask you", he said giving me a pity look.

I don't know how he even thinks that I'm willing to go out with a person like him who is hard for me to tolerate a second.

"I would prefer to stay in my home for my entire life rather than go for an outing with you", I said, giving him a forced smile.

"Ouch...", He sounds disappointed but in reality, he was just pretending to be sad.

"Now you may leave... Please", then I said, showing the door with my hand as there wasn't any sign of him to leave.

And he was still not leaving when I ask him to leave.

"Why you need my brother's number?", He asked, giving me a calm as well as serious look.

Well... I wasn't expecting this question when he already knows the answer.

"You know the reason. Why you even asking that? You afraid that your brother going to be agreed", I said, and the next second, he clenched his jaw in anger.

But his anger soon turned into a playful smile which confused me because I thought maybe he would bark at me for willing to call his brother.

"Do you think he still wants to talk to you after you broke his heart into pieces by your rejection?", I left utterly surprised after hearing Chris because I didn't expected him to say this. Also, I have no idea that he knows about this.

"Wh... What are you so... saying? You know about this", I sound shocked at the same time disappoint.

I didn't think that Anthony would share this simple matter with his brother.

"Not only me rather our parents also know about this because Anthony was in depression for one and a half months because of your damn rejection. He literally broke down for you, Elena....", Chris yelled at me but not too loudly.

I really left speechless when I heard that Anthony went on depression just because of my rejection. I knew that he was hurt but I never thought that it will affect him so much and make him suffer. I started feeling guilty while thinking that I make suffer Anthony.

"Anthony's is a very kind person with a soft and pure heart. It was hard for him to deal with your rejection as he.....", Chris stopped without completing what he was going to say.

"He what?", I asked him curiously.

"I can't, Elena. It's not my place to say that", he refused to say while I was being desperate to hear. I was feeling angry with Chris for not telling me.

"Please... Tell me, Chris", I requested him again.

"He fell in love with you before even seeing you. He was in love with you, Elena... He wanted to marry you because he loved you", I was stunned after hearing what he said.

I already started regretting requesting Chris to say this. I was feeling like it would be a lot better if I stay unknown about this.

Honestly, I don't know what to feel about this because I never thought that Anthony was in love with me. And if I know that I had to reject him anyway because I never can accept his love.

But I was feeling bad about the fact that it's Anthony and all I know, he is indeed a great human being. And he doesn't deserve to suffer from heartbreaking or depression. But it's me who made suffer such a kind-hearted person like Anthony. And I will never forgive myself for that although I had no choice other than rejecting him.

Tears welled in my eyes as I was thinking that I made suffer Anthony for one and a half months. I can't even imagine the pain which he has gone through.

"Don't cry... Elena. Your tears aren't going to undo Anthony's pain. Besides, it's great that he overcome the pain. But if you call him, and he heard your voice then I don't know how will he react", Chris said sounding sad.

Chris's words remind me that I was willing to call Anthony without knowing anything about what happened to him after my rejection. And Chris is right as my voice can affect Anthony in a worse way.

"You know what... It's supposed to be him in my place today as he always deals with the contract in other countries. But this time he sent me as he hasn't the courage to face you again. And most importantly, now he hates you more than anyone", I feel like my heartbeat skip for a second when I heard that Anthony hates me.

"Hates me", I sound nothing but shocked and more tears started pooling in my eyes.

"He not only hates you rather he decided not to meet you again as he feels disgust about you", Chris said, and it was enough for me to break down into tears.

It was really heartbreaking for me that Anthony hates me and feels disgust about me as I really don't want to be hated by a person like Anthony. It was a blessing for me that I got to know Anthony but lastly, I made him hate me.

"I think you care for him, Elena. So... Please don't try to contact him because it again left him heartbroken and maybe this time he tried to do something wrong as love and hate feelings are really strong for someone like Anthony who never falls in love with any girl except you", Chris request and I don't think that I left the courage anymore to contact with Anthony anymore.

I broke Anthony and now it sounds more than selfish if I call him to do me a favor. Besides, I pretty much guessed about his reaction which not going to be good at all.

"I don't want to lose my brother, Elena... So, please keep in your little mind what I told you before you try to contact him", saying that, Chris left from my office.