Chapter 19
The Weight of Chains
(Mary's POV)
I have always wanted to go back to my father's company and work there, atleast keeping myself busy.
I was very surprised when Andrew gave me permission to resume, even though I thought he wouldn't give me a positive response.
Walking back into my father's company, I was given a good ovation when I got back, bi stella gave me a cold attitude.
I understand that she's angry with me, so I decided to give her time to chill out before I talk to her.
*******************
I sat in my office, staring at the city lights through the massive glass window, my fingers gripping the edge of my desk. London at night had always been mesmerizing, cold, beautiful, and ruthless. Just like the world I had been forced into.
The silence in the room felt heavy, pressing against my chest. I had barely slept in days. My mind had been consumed by him. By them.
Elijah.
Andrew.
And now… my father.
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
Three days. That's how long Elijah had given my father to decide. Three days for him to either accept or reject an offer I knew was drenched in manipulation and hidden motives.
And my father was considering it.
I shouldn't have been surprised. My father was a businessman before anything else. He saw deals in black and white, profit and loss. He had always been a survivor, but survival came with a cost.
And that cost was me.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
I had spent my whole life building myself into something unbreakable, into someone untouchable. And yet, no matter how powerful I became, no matter how much I fought… I was still just a pawn in their game.
My phone vibrated on the desk, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I glanced at the screen.
Unknown Caller.
My stomach twisted.
Only one person ever called me from an unknown number.
Elijah.
I let the phone ring, my pulse pounding in my ears. Answering would mean walking straight into his trap. Ignoring it would make me look afraid of him, which I was not.
I exhaled sharply and pressed accept.
"Mary," his voice was smooth, in an almost affectionate. A lie wrapped in silk.
I leaned back in my chair, gripping the phone tightly. "Elijah."
He chuckled softly. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."
"I was," I admitted. "But clearly, that didn't stop you."
Another chuckle. "You always were bold, weren't you?"
I stayed silent, waiting. Elijah never called without a reason.
And I had a feeling I wasn't going to like it.
"I assume you already know about the proposal I made to your father," he finally said.
My fingers clenched. "I do."
"And?"
I knew what he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear doubt. Fear.
Instead, I gave him nothing.
"I think you overestimate your leverage, Elijah," I said. "If you think my father will hand over his company to you, you're delusional."
A pause. Then, a slow, amused hum.
"You sound confident," he mused. "But confidence doesn't change reality. And the reality is, your father is desperate. He's running out of time. And when a man is desperate, he makes choices he wouldn't otherwise make."
I clenched my jaw.
"I'm not going to let you use him," I said, my voice sharp.
Elijah sighed, as if he were disappointed in me. "I'm not using him, Mary. I'm saving him. And you."
I nearly laughed. "Spare me the theatrics."
His voice softened, turning almost gentle. "You think Andrew is your salvation?"
My breath caught in my throat.
Elijah didn't wait for my response.
"You're smart enough to know what kind of man he is. What he's capable of," he murmured. "You think you can control him, but men like Andrew don't get controlled, Mary. They consume. And once he's finished with you… you'll have nothing left."
I swallowed hard.
I hated how easily he could get inside my head. How effortlessly he planted seeds of doubt, twisting reality until I wasn't sure what was real and what was manipulation.
"You don't know him," I said, forcing strength into my voice.
A long pause. Then, a quiet chuckle.
"Oh, darling," Elijah said softly. "I know exactly who he is."
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone, my pulse racing.
I didn't believe Elijah. I couldn't.
But the problem was…
A small part of me wasn't sure anymore, if I didn't believe him
---
An Hour Later
The penthouse was dark when I arrived home. The only source of light was the faint glow from the city outside, casting long shadows across the room.
I stepped out of my heels, the cold marble floor sending a chill through me. Every part of me was exhausted, but my mind wouldn't stop.
I poured myself a drink, the burn of the whiskey doing little to settle my nerves.
And then I felt it.
A presence.
I didn't turn around. Didn't react.
"Are you going to keep standing there?" I finally said.
A deep chuckle. "You noticed."
I turned slowly.
Andrew stood in the doorway, dressed in black, his piercing blue eyes watching me like a predator sizing up its prey.
"How long have you been here?" I asked.
"Long enough," he said, stepping closer. "You spoke to him."
It wasn't a question.
I didn't bother lying. "Yes."
His gaze flicked to the glass in my hand. "And?"
I hesitated.
He stepped even closer, closing the distance between us. "Tell me what he said."
I studied him, searching for something, a crack in that impenetrable mask he always wore. But there was nothing. Just quiet intensity.
"He thinks you'll destroy me," I said finally.
Andrew's lips twitched, as if amused. "And do you think that?"
I didn't answer.
Because I wasn't sure anymore.
His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. It was such a small, intimate gesture, one that sent a whirlpool of shiver down my spine.
"He's afraid of me," Andrew murmured. "That's why he's trying to turn you against me."
I swallowed. "And should I be afraid of you too?"
He tilted his head slightly, considering my words. Then, a slow, deliberate smirk.
"I suppose that depends," he said.
"On what?"
His fingers trailed down my jaw, his touch barely there, yet burning.
"On whether you plan to betray me."
My breath caught.
The air between us was charged, dangerous.
"I haven't," I said.
His smirk deepened. "Good."
A beat of silence.
Then, just as quickly as he had invaded my space, he pulled back, the warmth of his touch disappearing.
"Get some rest, Mary," he said. "We have work to do, and you would need all the strength in the world."
And just like that, he was gone.
I exhaled, staring at the empty space where he had stood.
I had spent my whole life thinking I could control my own fate. That no man could ever hold power over me. Building myself to be that type of woman
But Andrew De La Cruz…
He wasn't just any man.
And the terrifying part was, I wasn't sure if I wanted to run from him.
Or fall for him.