Imprisoned by the CEO
“You will have to marry me and bear me a child.” “What the fuck?!” Logic flew out of the window when Grace heard him say that. “Excuse me, what did you just say?” Maybe, she was the one who had heard him wrong. It could have been anything except marrying him and giving him a child. “You heard me,” Christian tsked, “but I’ll repeat it. Marry me and have my child.” Her mouth opened and gaped at me. In her mind, she was trying to make sense about what was going on. How in the world had it come to be? What in the world could make the situation come to this?! “No?” Grace replied, but then realized that the word was not firm enough. “No.” she said again. Christian frowned, and it seemed so innocent like he had not asked her the most unbelievable thing. “Why not? I thought you wanted to help me. You offered.” “I offered my help, my brain, my support not my,” she hesitated, “stomach!” What was the word for it? “Womb,” he provided. “Yes!” She slapped her hand on the table. “You don’t get my womb!” “I don’t?” He challenged. “No!” “What if helping me out means Lorelai coming out of a coma?” Grace felt her heart drop. “What?” Christian nodded. “What if helping me out, agreeing to what you have to do for me, means bringing your grandmother out of the, that she is in?” ******** Grace was one strong girl and with the people she put her trust in, that was only a small number, she knew she could conquer the world, or at least she thought to herself. When her best friend proposed a deal that could change their lives, she made a decision that was going to be mutually beneficial to both of them. But one renovation led to many and everything has been just a game, a manipulation from him. Everything was full of deceit, lies, planning and plotting against her. Every single thing, right down the fact that only he had been her friend… Everything was a lie and she had been living it, willingly. Tropes; Friends to lovers, office romance, best friends, frenemies, marriage of convenience, possessive villainous and morally gray heroes!
To new beginnings - II
Three weeks had gone by. There had been no trace of Christian. At least earlier in the first wake his phone was reachable even though he did not pick up but after that his phone number is no longer available.
His social media was gone. The only accounts that remained with those managed by a publicist.
This sad and hurt the most because every time she needed someone Christian was there and now when she needed answers the most along with some comfort and support she was the one that was found nowhere.
This disappearing act of his had caused her dearly.
"So you think you have abandonment issues?" The therapist placed her pen on the paper in her lap and stared at Grace.
She nodded. "I think it's about time I accept it."
The therapist; Cora, nodded. "There's the start we need. However, would you tell me what effect that has on your relationships?"
Grace gulped, she had thought about it but saying it out loud affected her more than she thought.
In the previous week she had started therapy. Overall, there were many issues that had come up from her past but the most difficult part was talking about it to someone who was judging her professionally.
"Um . . I try to please everyone?" She added hesitantly but an encouraging nod from the therapist made her talk more. "I think the problem is I try to please everyone. There are many times when I had a bakery I would go to extra lengths to make sure that the customer that was coming hair daily had their favourite cupcakes and baked goods."
Cora nodded, probing for more. "Anything else that comes to your mind?"
"I always try to send money to my mother whenever she demands it." She muttered quickly, "but it's hard to understand that she is my mother. She gave birth to me and if she wants money and I have it, I can give it to her."
There Cora shook her head. "Giving birth to you was her choice. Just like giving money to her is yours. If you want to give money to her Grace, that is perfectly fine but remember to prioritise yourself first."
"Now," she leaned to the side slightly and placed her notepad and pen on the table before concentrating on Grace again, "I need you to prioritise people into different categories and according to those categories you set your boundaries."
"Boundaries?"
Cora nodded. "Boundaries as in the limits and lens you would go to. These are only for the people you know."
Grace nodded slowly as she thought about it. Their sessions had a gap of a week which meant that it would give her enough time to categorise people and try to set boundaries.
"Okay, I think I can try." Grace agreed and within minutes, she was in the car.
"Where to ma'am?"
Grace sighed, "Graveyard."
Romeo was used to Grace visiting the graveyard once a week at least. This happened after her session.
There was a florist wide outside the graveyard, a few shops down and Grace as usual bought a small bouquet of lotus flowers representing peace.
She let them down over his grave. Christian had killed him and she did not want the blood on his hands. She could not do anything about it which is why she could only pray that Liam found peace in the afterlife.
She stepped back. She had forgiven him.
She had let the night go. The blood night?
Walking back to the car she pulled out her phone and dialled the number of Mr Miller.
"Grace?"
She hesitated slightly, "Good afternoon, Mr. Miller. About the job. ."
"Tomorrow, my office. 8.30 sharp."
She smiled slightly, "yes sir."