Janet's POV
My answer turned his gorgeous deep blue eyes dark—the darkness apparently threatening me to retract my words. But I'm Charlotte; when I say something, I don't change it.
"And why so?" He asked, barely above from a whisper. I replied, "Cause marrying you means tying myself to this to no escape!" I expect him to break something, scream, or at least yell at me, but to my surprise, he laughed. A frown appeared between my brows as I watched him laughing hysterically as if I have cracked a joke.
"What did you said?" He asked between laughter. I didn't respond, just stared at him baffled. "You-you said if you would marry me, then you'll certainly tie yourself with this world, right?" I inhaled the fury, his laugh igniting me, "Baby, would you please like to look at yourself first?"
"What do you're talking about?"
"Look at yourself Charlotte. Look where'er you standing. Look to whom you are talking. Look at your gun on the table, and the chair where you've killed a man right away!" He paused, "You're still Charlotte William. A mafia! You think if you'd change your identity, live in some shity place, have a sort of job with a so-called friends than you're free and no longer a William? Forgive me, but you're highly mistaken! Your action is the proof of you're still into this. Already tied to this to no escape! So, drop your obstinacy and marry me!"
"I'm out, Val!" I retorted, "I have nothing to do in here as long as my brother doesn't need me!"
"Accept it, Charlotte that no matter how hard you try, your fate is here and it will find its way back here every fucking time!"
"For god's sake, stop calling this my fate, Val. We both know that I haven't come here myself. You summoned me!"
"Charlotte you-
"Listen!" I interrupted him, "I am living a normal life, Valentino! The life my brother wanted me to have. So, I now request you to stop chasing me because I have made up my mind to never come back here!"
"Should I consider it a no?" He asked and I nodded. His jaw tightening and knuckles turning white by the strong clutch he was making. The anger in his eyes seemed so dangerous; I wish no one disturbs us and end up dead in his wrath.
"Val, I know you're-.
"I'm fed up," He cut me off. I open my mouth to speak, but he beat me to it, "I'm fucking fed up by being so much polite to you, Charlotte William!" I lifted my hands and tried to cup his face but he rudely jerked my hands away, "No! I won't get into it again and I won't be gentle with you either-
"Val," I interrupted. His veins popped out as he shrieked on me, "DON'T INTERRUPT ME!!!" I cringed back. Never in my life has he shouted at me in this way. Fuck the shriek! He has never even yelled at me. His chest moving up and down due to fury and the veins of his neck and forehead popping out as he grit out the next words, "Just because of my unnecessary sweetness towards you, you're being like this; otherwise, you would be lying under my shoe!" I gave him an offended look for his unsuitable line. And I know he had observed it on me, but for the first time in my life, instead of giving me a sorry look instantly, he remained angry.
"You can't talk to me this way!"
He clenched his jaw and grasped my forearm, yanking me closer, "Listen to me very carefully, Charlotte William," I winced by the pain he didn't gave a damn about it. "You got 90 days before you get back to me. In these 90 days? Live as you like and do whatever you want to except for sleeping with someone who's not me! And after these days are over? You will willfully marry me. And if you don't?" His grip tightened on my arm as he added by glaring at me, "Then you will see the new side of me. The side you would wish never to see again!"
"Val-
"Shsh," He hushed me with his index finger on my lips. I gulped. I could easily free myself from him and could kill him too but his unseen demeanor has surprised me so much to even speak. He removed his finger and softly claimed my lips, "The conversation's over, Mrs. future D'Amilio!" He smiled and walked past me but the conversation must be over for him, not to me. I turned around and said, "You're right! I'm still Charlotte and no matter what I do. I will always remain her. So, guess what?" I smiled, "Charlotte will not marry you because Charlotte does what she wants!"
He turned around and smiled, "See you after 90 days!" I gave him my signature smirk. He tugged his hands inside his jeans pocket and after our minute silent stare. he finally walked away.
When he was gone, everyone came back and took their seats back. I sat there blank, swaying my chair left and right with my chin over my palm and elbow on the chair's hand. Valentino's every word was frustrating me but more scaring me. I know him. He's just like me; when he says something, he also never changes it; doesn't matter if the outcome shoots us back.
"Charlotte?" My brother's voice took me out of my inner talk. I looked up at him in response, "Is everything okay?" He asked, his eyes caring and soft.
"Val has warned me that if I don't marry him after 90 days, then he won't be sweet anymore. Which means he won't think twice before harming you or, worse, killing you!"
"Excuse them first, then we'll talk this out," He said.
I nodded and looked at them, "Thanks again for attending this meeting gentlemen. I genuinely appreciate that. So, now let's end this meeting so that you can all go back to your works. But you guys better put this in your thick skull that the Williams are still as strong as before. So, don't risk your unworthy life by doing a silly thing like the late Elijah," I said, tilting my head towards the vacant chair where Elijah was sitting a few minutes ago.
"We are always your obligates, Ma'am!" Said one of them. I smiled, "Yeah, I know!" They all got up, bowed at me and walked away.
When they were gone, Lucas immediately turned my seat to him and said, "Okay, now tell me in detai- He paused between his sentence when his eyes caught the marks on my neck. I quickly placed my hand on my neck and shook my head, "It's not what you think!"
"Fucking psycho!" He ferociously got up and walked over to the door. I got up too and promptly grasped his wrist, turning him around.
"Where're you going?!" I questioned, although I already know the answer. He replied, "You already know where!"
"Lucas, he didn't try to kill me" I defended him when I better shouldn't cause he nearly killed me.
He jerked his hand off, "Yeah, the bruises are clearly telling me how softly he may have grasped your neck!"
"Lucas, you better know that no-one can kill him!" I yelled, exasperated with his idiocy. He clenched his jaw and grasped my forearms. I blinked, confused with his action.
"Then go and end the obstacle name, Valentino!"
I frowned, "Are you out of your mind?"
"Lucas is absolutely right, Charlotte," Said Richard, taking our heads on him. "Go and kill him cause it is the only way to get rid of that lunatic!"
I freed myself from Lucas and shook my head, "Say whatever, guys, but don't ask me to kill him! You already know that he means something to me!" I said.
"Are you kidding me?" Yelled Lucas. "He's a fucking psychopath Charlotte; if he has to kill us all to get you? He won't think about it twice and would kill us in a blink of an eye!"
"Lucas-
"Is he more important to you?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Then kill him!"
"Luca, I'm standing in front of you just because of that lunatic!" I yelled, and he looked away. "Also, it is none of your business!"
He shot his brows up at me, "Excuse me?"
"Yes, Lucas. Valentino is not your problem. You take care of the things you are suppose to and leave him on me!"
He chuckled, "I fucking don't understand that what the fuck do you want, Charlotte! One side you don't want to get back here, and in other, you're consciously tying yourself to this to no escape!"
"For god's sake, Lucas, just stop it!" I yelled, "Please!" He clenched his jaw and stormed off, followed by Richard. I sighed, putting my hand on my head that is throbbing hard.
Suddenly, my cellphone ringed in my pocket and I pull it out, only to find an unknown number. I picked up, "Hello?"
"Hello? Am I speaking with Ms. Reyes?" A soft voice asked from the other side of the phone.
"Yes, how may I help you?"
"Ms. Reyes, I'm Jenny, calling from Grey's enterprises!" Hearing her, my eyes slightly widen and I put my hand on my open my mouth when I realized that today was suppose to be my joining day but here I am. Struggling with my stupid life. "I'm so sorry, I-I had some family drama to take care of!"
"Well, that's none of my business. I'd only like to know if you're joining anymore or not!"
I nodded, "Of course, I'd definitely be there tomorrow. I promise!"
"Alright, see you tomorrow then!"
I smiled, "Sure!" When she hung up on me, I withdrew my hand and groaned by throwing my head, "Screw my shity stupid life!!"