"You must be joking" Violet snapped and Derek raised his brows, before chuckling.
"You don't have the option to be feisty, this time around. Just one click, and your pictures would be everywhere on the internet.
What a shame" he sneered.
"Besides, who did you sleep with? I used to think your mother was the only whore, however, I didn't know that her child has picked up that profession too.
Family inheritance. How sweet" he mocked and Violet bit her lips hard.
"Won't you still make up your mind?" he probed.
"Do as you want. Post the pictures. I don't care anymore. Not like anyone knows my status. Do whatever you want" she shouted in frustration.
"Really? You think so. It would make it juicier. People would look into you, and find out who you really are.
But, there's no worry, you are a nobody.
You are just a sex worker. I know you slept with that man for money. How pathetic!" he spat.
"You are such a coward, Derek. A big fool. It's pointless talking some sense to a deranged fellow like you.
You want to sleep with your step sister, can't you hear how insane that sounds?"
"You are not my step sister. Not like we are related by blood, anyways" he blurted out and Violet creased her brows. "What did he mean by that?"
"Do you think I can't do it. Just watch. You'll go on your fours and beg me for help."
"Try me, Derek. Try me and you'll regret that you were ever born" she retorted, mustering all the courage in her. He smirked, before entering his car, and he zoomed off
She knew she had nobody to help her. No resources, no backup. Nothing. But still, she just couldn't back down in cowardice.
If Derek knows she's scared, he would taunt her the more.
Why does that night keep causing chaos in her life? Why is she being pushed here and there because of that single incident?
Whom she slept with, where he is ? She has no idea.
Ever since her parents died, life has been really tough on her. She didn't even know when tears started streaming from her eyes.
She saw an handkerchief stretched out to her and she looked up. Her lips parted when she saw Adrian.
"Aren't you going to collect the handkerchief? My arms hurts" he said and she took her lips in, before collecting it.
She dabbed her face with it. "I'll buy you another handkerchief" she said, after she was done.
"I don't know why I always seem to be around, when you are in trouble." he muttered.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, hoping he wasn't crossing the line.
He is the last person she needs to talk to about this. He won't be saying this, if he knows that she is the mole in the company.
But she needs to talk to someone, and Alexa is not currently around. She had travelled to her hometown.
"It's fine, if you don't want to" Adrian shrugged, noticing her hesitation.
"No, I want to talk. I need someone to talk to" she said and he nodded.
"Let's go to the cafe over there" he said and she followed him.
,__
Xavier sat with a sense of triumph. "Exactly what I've been telling you to do. You just proved that you are my son" Dave, Xavier's father said, happy that Xavier brought the award home.
"Victory tastes really nice" Xavier muttered. And although, he had been angry by the way his father had been pushing him around. But now, he feels like a winner.
Beating Adrian has always been his goal and now he had achieved it...at least, part of it.
"You mustn't let Adrian take over you. You have to be the best and make him a follower." Dave said.
"Let's go to the lounge and drink up" he added and Xavier smiled. He hasn't seen his father so happy about something he did.
___
Violet sipped her coffee gently, thinking of how to tell him about Derek's threat.
She had no plan of telling him about the main blackmailer, since she doesn't know who he is and his capability.
Because he sounds powerful, and doesn't seem like someone she can stand up to.
Adrian watched her reactions, wondering what she was thinking about
"Are you ready to tell me?" he asked. He doesn't even know why is here. On a normal day, he would have just walked past, not caring about anyone.
But he had seen her arguing with a young man, and for her to have broken down like that, it must have been something serious.
He couldn't just help but care. 'Care'; that had never been in his dictionary. But...somehow, he feels this young lady has drawn out some of that feelings in him.
"That man.." Violet started. "He is my stepbrother" she said. "Ohh" he muttered. He also has step brothers, but they were more like enemies.
"I had always lived in my parents house; even though they are dead now." She continued, closing her eyes as she mentioned her parents death.
She never liked to think about it, because how sad it makes her. Yet, she tried to control her feelings.
"However, I was chased out, because I pushed him down the stairs" she said. "Why?" Adrian heard himself asking.
"Ever since I turned seventeen, he had always been after me. He always tried to harass me, but I kept evading him. I tried reporting to his mum, my step mother, but I was never taken serious.
However, there was a day he took things too far and I couldn't help but retaliate. I pushed him, and he fell.
His mother was very angry and she chased me out. Deep inside, I was happy. Staying in the house had been a living hell for me.
To cut the long story short, I started living with someone I called my best friend. She drugged me, and..." she paused, biting her lips, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
Adrian looked at her, unsure of how to console her. She continued before he could say anything. "She drugged me, and I ended up in the bed of a stranger." The tears that she was trying to hold back, started prickling out of here eyes.
"I don't know how, but somehow, Derek got some pictures of me, taken that night. And now, he's threatening me with them.
He's asking for sex, which sounds so outrageous to me. But then, he mentioned that we aren't related by blood, and I got confused.
But that's not the main point. If, I don't give him what he asks, my nude pictures would be posted.
I don't know what to do. I can't fight him. I don't have anybody to take my side. I have nothing. I'm helpless" her voice cracked and she finally broke into tears
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
Adrian allowed her cry a bit, before speaking up.
"How about I be that person for you?" he said and Violet sniffed. "Huh?"
"I can protect you" he said and she creased her brows, confused.
Adrian continued" I can help you take down your worst enemies. I will help you have your revenge." he said, his voice laced with authority.
"You can?" Violet asked, surprised.
"Of course, I can. I am Adrian after all." he muttered.
"But on one condition." he added and apprehension crept into Violet's gaze.
"Marry me." he said out of the blues, and Violet froze, her eyes locked on Adrian's.