Remy:
Sipping on my green tea in the local coffee shop, heavy metal music blared in my headphones. A throat clearing shattered my peaceful moment, a stern businessman glared down at me. His cold emerald eyes watched me with disgust the moment I took off my headphones. Turning off my music, his dark gray designer suit screamed of a venomous personality. Running his hands through his long chocolate brown waves, my death glare matched his. What was his damage?
"What do you freaking want?" I snapped hotly, tying my crimson waves into a ponytail. "I don't care if you own a freaking company you can shove your foot up your ass. Rising to my feet, I didn't want to hear it. Smoothing my navy fit and flare dress, the sweetheart neckline emphasized the deep cleavage of my ample breasts. Placing my headphones over my ears, the sound of the city was soon drowned out by my loud rock music. It was the only thing that stopped me from remembering my abusive parents and ex-boyfriend, the scars still remaining to torture me with those stupid memories. A man tried to steal my purse, the heel of my spiked boots meeting his face. Scooping up my purse, I sprinted down the street. If there was one, there would be many more. Skidding to a stop, my ex-boyfriend kicked me to the cracked pavement. His breath reeked of alcohol, his stringy hair clung to his sweaty face. His dark eyes glittered with malice, ruby painted the tip of my finger after me touching my lips. Grabbing me by my hair, he dragged me down the sidewalk. My face paled, the word help not coming to the tip of tongue. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, my mind raced through the endless ways out of this situation. Maybe he would wear himself out without beating me to an inch of my life.
"You think you can escape me, bitch!" He screamed with a crazed expression, my eyes noting the stains soaking his white t-shirt and jeans. "I don't let my pets get away." Clawing at his hands, a crack echoed in the air the moment a left fist met his cheek. Tossing me over his shoulder, it was the businessman from before. Carrying me to the car, my protests fell on deaf ears. Sitting me in the front of a silver muscle car, he crashed into the driver's seat. Locking the doors, his concerned gaze fell on me. Pulling out his handkerchief, he held it against my mouth. Now he was nice? Wondering where his rude behavior went, my heart fluttered for a quick second.
"I am offering you something to keep you out of that." He commented stiffly, pulling out a contract. "I want you to marry me and stay married to me for at least three years at the least. After that we can divorce, you will be ten million dollars richer." Smacking his hand away, he must be on some crazy drugs. Annoyance burned in my eyes, his request sounded like one of my earlier novels.
"Just because you fucking saved me doesn't give you that fucking right!" I retorted viciously, rattling the door handle. "You can go fuck yourself." Leaning back into his seat, he set the contract on my lap. Unlocking the door, I stepped out into the chaos. Putting my headphones back over my ears, I had a new novel to write. I merely out people watching for new characters, his throat clearing. My ex-boyfriend charged at me, his hand yanking me in. Stop being a hero and let me suffer.
"I know I don't have any rights but how are you going to defend yourself against that jackass?" He uttered simply, rolling his eyes. "From what I saw was a woman being dragged down the street by her hair by the biggest scum in the world. You will have money and safety with me. Aren't those important?" Noticing the lack of the word for love, my heart sank. Not one person in my life liked me for me, tears welling up in my eyes. Feeling the sudden pain, the adrenaline must have worn off. Cursing darkly to myself, the man deserved to be heard. Three years couldn't be so hard. Maybe he could learn to love me for being me.
"I am Remy, the author of the Silent Scream series." I introduced myself briskly, my creep of an ex-boyfriend hovering by his car. "Could you kiss me like you love me? Creeps like him go away when a dominant man claims his pr-" Smashing his lips into mine passionately, time stopped. Thump! Thump! My heart was beating a mile a minute, our eyes watching the jerk leave. Releasing me from his spell, my heart wouldn't stop freaking beating. Pulling out a pen from my pocket, the tip danced across the proper lines. Give it a shot, I told myself.
"I am all yours but you have to promise to protect me, 'kay." I answered with a false smile, his expression barely changing. "I don't mean to be rude but what is your name? I can't get married without knowing my husband after all." Clearing his throat for the thousandth time, scarlet colored his cheeks.
"I am Dominic Sulkins, the owner of a security company." He choked out oddly, gripping his wheel tightly. "I need you to be my wife in order to inherit my father's money before my older siblings get it. They would just blow it all instead of saving it for a rainy day." Staring out the window, the goal was simple for him. All I was a pathetic pawn for his sick rivalry with his siblings, my heart sinking deeper into my stomach. Clicking my seat belt, he shot me a confused look. Did he not expect me to go through with it?
"Call a witness to get to the courthouse, we have a marriage to make official. If I know anything about shitty families it is best to be two steps ahead of them." I chirped cheerfully, wishing that I didn't care enough to help him out. Peeling onto the road, the courthouse wasn't far from here. Pulling up to the marble building, he helped me out. A woman with a sleek blonde bob waited patiently at the bottom of the steps in a tight black office dress., her ocean blue eyes shooting daggers in my direction. Clearly, she loved him and he still chose not to marry her. That woman would have followed him blindly, my hands crossing. So why didn't he choose her over me?
"I won't date her because she has obsessive tendencies." He informed me calmly, rolling his eyes. "Alice stalked me in high school and college. To cripple me, they forced her to become secretary. Every woman that has gotten close to me was scared off by her. No one has even gotten to this point. Thank you." Marching in with her heels clicking behind us, a judge greeted us immediately. Explaining the situation to the elderly guy, he slid over the proper paperwork. Signing where we all needed to, a peace of justice appeared out of nowhere. Stamping it, we were basically official. All we needed was the certificate. Running my hand through my hair, Dominic excused himself to go to the bathroom. Waiting in the hall, the petite Alice pinned me to the wall. My five inches on her did little as she spun her pen menacingly in her palm. Damn it! She was just as insane as he said.
"Leave him now!" She threatened darkly, raising it above his head. "He belongs to me." Fear paled my skin, clammy sweat drenching my skin. Swinging it towards my neck, the heel of my boot knocked her into the wall. Plaster crumbled over her head, my brow cocking. Charging at me, the security was nowhere to be seen. Dodging her attack, a wicked grin danced across her lips. Sprinting down the hall, she wasn't going to stop. Leaping over the benches, her dress was hindering her. Skidding into the bathroom, I locked my stall behind me. Catching my breath, this woman was psychotic, chills running up my spine at her heels clicking in. Banging on each stall once, her maniacal laughter bounced off the white tiled walls. Leave me alone! Being alone was my dream right now.
"Come on out, you little thief. He belonged to me." She hissed venomously, my boot threatening to slip into the toilet. "He can't stay married to you if you're dead!" Kicking in my door, a fit of laughter burst from her lips. Leaping over her, the years of my father hunting me in the woods coming to help me out. Bursting from the bathroom, people cried out the moment I leapt over the railing. Landing gracefully, the hot sunlight bathed my skin. Why couldn't she get over it! Another shout echoed down the street, my heart sinking at the sight of one of my father's victim family members. A gun glinted in the light, a bullet whistled by my head. Ducking into the nearest alley, filthy water splashed onto my boots as I climbed on top of the dumpster. Pulling myself up onto the nearest escape ladder, the rungs clanged with every climb up. Climbing into an open window, the poor woman screamed while I burst out her door. The main door clanged open a couple floors down, my eyes falling on the laundry chute. Sliding down, dirty clothes broke my fall. Climbing out, it seemed like everyone was out to get me today. Holding back tears, I wanted to quit. The vision of Dominic flashed in my mind, guilt eating at me for ditching him at the courthouse. He could have protected me, my lips pressing into a thin line at the thought of potentially dying. A body thudded down the laundry chute, my lungs needed air. Hiding in the shadows, I found a rundown dumb waiter. Crawling in, I clutched my knees to my chest. Holding my breath, the bastard dragged the gun along the wall. Silent tears stained my cheeks, all of me regretting being born to two serial killers. My father had to be the New York Hunter while my mother was the Seamstress, his gun stopping on the dumb waiter door. Tugging on the trigger, it took everything not to scream the moment a bullet lodged itself into my shoulder. Biting my lips until ruby dribbled down my chin, the crushing anxiety threatened to give me away. A cloud of dust choked me the moment I pulled on the ancient rope. Pushing through the intense pain, one hand after another had me squeaking up to another floor. Stopping at the next level, the door smashed across the floor. Rolling out into the kitchen, a long groan poured from my lips. Looking outside the window, my apartment was across the street. Walking out casually, I entered my drab apartment building. Stepping into the elevator, my hands fumbled around my pocket for my keys. The elevator door rang on my floor as it opened, my shaking hands struggling to hold my keys. Horror rounded my eyes at the sight of a fuming Dominic standing by my door with his arms folded across his chest, dread bubbling in my gut. I should have expected as much since he owned his security company. Wiping away my tears, I must have looked like Hell. His eyes fell on my shoulder, any annoyance melting away in seconds. For a split second, we almost smiled sadly at each other. Did he actually like me or was I imagining things?
"How did you get shot?" He demanded with a shocked expression, my shitty day didn't warrant such questions. Unlocking my door, I limped into the bathroom. Picking up my special first aid kit, I pulled out a stitching needle and a pair of tweezers. This wasn't my worst day considering I was raised by two serial killers. Dominic took off his jacket, his fingers taking the tweezers. Letting out a long sigh, he didn't even try to argue with me. Why did he care so much about a piece of trash like me?
"Your secretary attacked me so I ran. Then one of my family's victims decided to shoot my shoulder." I sobbed pathetically, most of the tears falling due to the burning agony in my shoulder. "I don't have insurance so I need to fix it by myself. I am great at fixing any wound due to my fucked up childhood." Digging around in my bullet wound, it took everything not to let out a steady stream of curse words. Taking it out, the damn thing clattered to the ground. Picking up the medical stitches needle, he threaded it with ease. How on Earth did he know what to do?
"I used to get into loads of fights when I was younger." He explained with a rare smile, focusing on making neat perfect stitches. "I know who you are. My secretary was arrested after being found. She admitted everything with a sick sense of pride. I am only okay that you are alive." Bursting into tears, I rested my head on his chest. Today's nightmare had me beat, embarrassment coloring my cheek. Sitting right back up, he hid his smile underneath his hand. Popping to my feet, the room began to spin around me. Packing up my small box of all my things, he hovered in the doorway. Glancing around my empty apartment, the dark memories of many panic attacks haunted my mind. Placing the box on the table, letters from my parents floated to the floor. Freezing in place, their cruel voices bounced around in my head. All the harsh insults stung harder than any punch I ever took, my eyes fell on the address of the girls' home I had to live in after. Children could be so cruel, no one ever treated me the same again after they got caught. People tore me apart, my face becoming a pawn for the next news story. Bending down to pick up the letters, his phone rang. Leaving them on the floor, fresh tears flowed freely from my eyes. Glancing around my apartment once more, the dead bodies of the victims lay at my feet. Guilt devoured me from the inside, a hatred brewing to life with the fact that I never knew. How could I be so stupid? The notch remained on the beam where I almost took my life after I had to move again for the fifth time, the phone call from the publisher stopping me. Sinking to my knees, my fingers curled around the unopened letters. Every day I would pick them up but I couldn't stand to read them, my heart aching for a warm touch.
"I have to go back to work. Do you want to come?" He asked sincerely, not having the tenacity he had in the car. "I apologize for being rude. I didn't know how sad you were. If security is a problem, I have the best system in the country. You are finally safe with me if you don't leave my side." Offering me his hand, he yanked me to my feet. Taking my box, his warm smile made my heart flutter. Shaking my head, I didn't deserve this. Stepping behind him, his place was above mine. If I was being honest, I wasn't worth more than a grain of dirt. Pausing in the doorway, he wiped away my tears with his thumb. Trembling in place, this was freaking embarrassing. Saying nothing, I made sure to leave the furniture that was there before me. Getting into the car, he couldn't help but to watch me clip my seat belt into place. Staring out the window, buildings flashed by me. Pulling up to an all glass skyscraper, the tires crunched into the garage. Getting out, I grabbed my computer bag. Following him upstairs, hundreds of eyes watched me go up the elevator with him. Saying nothing, we couldn't be any more different. The glass doors opened up, both of us stepping out. Taking his seat at his massive desk, the only thing I could do was stand around waiting for some sort of place to sit. Not a single chair rested in the room, my eyes scanning the empty walls and perfectly organized desk. Stop being so freaking awkward.
"Where can I sit?" I choked out awkwardly, rubbing my injured shoulder. "I don't mean to get in your way." Bowing my head in shame, he rose to his feet. Standing a couple of feet away from me, he rolled his chair up to me. Uncertainty hung in his face, his hands crossed. His lips parted to speak several times, the words not coming out initially. Clearly, he had socializing issues along with me.
"You may use my chair if you wish." He stammered nervously, both of us standing in awkward silence. "I have an emergency meeting. Sit at my desk and wait for me. I promise that none of my staff will bite." Plopping into the chair, he wheeled me to his desk. Running out, he couldn't help but look back at me looking tiny at his desk even though I was a solid five foot seven. Laying my head on his desk, a picture of his family reminded me of a group of strangers until it came to how his father gripped his shoulder. Yawning groggily, my palm pressed against the nice wood. Was his father dead or alive? The door burst open, a shrewd woman with flowing chocolate waves burst into the office, her emerald eyes glistening with malice. Her tight scarlet blouse hugged her ample chest, her tight gray pencil skirt only made her look prettier. Why did I have to be so hideous compared to her?
"You can't be his bride." She sneered darkly, twirling her hair around her finger. "I can't believe you are the only one who took our money away. Divorce him and I will pay you triple the amount." Popping my feet, our faces were inches from each other. Donning a sly grin, his sister had to be kidding me. He wasn't wrong, was he? He was my husband, my duty was now to stand up for him. No one talked about him that way.
"You can take your ass out of the office." I laughed sarcastically, a fiery rage coloring her cheeks. "I refuse your offer. Buh bye now." Refusing to move, the crack of her hand meeting cheek didn't shock me, the bratty woman clearly never having heard the word no in her life. Raising her hand a second time, shock mixed with disgust the moment I caught it.
"I fail to see why you need the money if you can pay me that much. Maybe use your pea sized brain to make your own money." I growled through gritted teeth, throwing her hand away. "I have dealt with enough craziness today. I have been shot in the shoulder after a psychopathic secretary that you placed hunted me down. Get out and don't come back ag-" Pinning me against the slightly open window, my face falling at her opening the window deliberately. Apparently everyone wanted me dead today, I thought bitterly to myself. The office door slammed open, a fuming Dominic ripping me from her clutches. Clutching me close to his chest, my arms dangled by my side. What fresh Hell was this?