She clutched her hand onto the nearest chair she could reach behind her while staring wide-eye at the dangerous man.
She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. 'This is the business world. Everything is possible.' She thought.
"Mr. Stone," she acknowledged. Her tongue rolled a bit emphasizing the word Mister.
"Yes Maia?" his lips curved showing his beautiful white teeth. When he found a large brown envelope with a red seal on the flap he stopped rummaging and opened it. "Come here." he ordered her motioning to his table. Although she was hesitant, she still went to him. She readied herself for whatever shocking news he still holds. "Ms. Bernard's case has been taken care of." He handed her the pictures inside the envelope. She went through it all scanning the men in black and white print. "A rival company?"
"Yes. For your safety, and as we know the company's safety too, you should find another Mrs. Stone." he looked apologetic at her as if not liking the idea.
"And what if I won't?" she asked as she placed back the pictures and stared at him while adjusting her eyeglasses.
He suddenly stood up and loomed over her. They are now face to face with the table between them. "Your husband says so,"
She snickered."Five years, I haven't seen your face and now you act like a protective husband? Who are you fooling?" she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"I am saying this for your safety." His voice was deep and darkness seemed to have hovered above his head when she mentioned the five years of his absence. "And wasn't I fooled too when you sent Ms. Bernards to sign your papers during our wedding?"
"So you sent someone else too, is that why?" she answered back. He gritted his teeth and Shook his head in defeat. "I had my reasons back then."
She raised her hand. "We are business partners. The marriage was for the company. Whatever reason you had, I don't care. I'm going to stand as the real Mrs. Stone this time. I can't let anyone get in trouble trying to pretend to be me." She was already walking to the door when she turned around and held the doorknob tightly. With one last look, she turned around and said, "Thank you for seeking justice for my bestfriend. Goodbye."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She memorized all those faces in the pictures. She knows all of them in the business world. They were Stone Inc.'s rivals in different businesses.
She was alone. Her thoughts keep going back to the scene when she woke up in the hospital with her bestfriend beside her covered in white cloth. Her world crumbled that day. She felt alone again.
Fresh hot tears rolled down her cheeks while she wrote down the names of the people involved in Leticia's case. Whatever suffering she had before entering the business world was nothing compared to the pain she is in right now.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Three slow knocks rapped in her bedroom door. She wiped her tears with her hands. "Who is it?"
"Maia," the deep tone is now familiar to her.
"Mr. Stone, our marriage won't be consummated, that was written in the contract." She did not open her door but she felt her heart starting to race as it became aware of the specimen behind the closed door. 'Stop it heart!' she mentally shouted to her heart.
She heard him chuckle at her words.
"I know very well what's in the contract. I'll place your dinner by the door. Eat well or else I will resume my place as your husband." Her eyes widened in shock. Husband in? She didn't want to think so much. Before she could ask him what he was talking about, he already left. There was a tray of food exactly in front of her door when she opened it. It was five years ago when she got married to an unknown man. Who would have thought that the rumored monster, Mr. Stone, can serve people food? She smiled at her thought. 'Foolish girl.' was her last thought before she decided to eat all of the food he delivered. She thought that staying in the Stone's Villa wasn't that bad as much.