Chapter 97
Emely stared at her phone screen. The more she read that one sentence, the more her body trembled, and her hands shook severely. Then her phone vibrated again, and she dropped it on the marble floor with a loud clatter.
She quickly retrieved her phone because she knew the new message that had just popped up was from the same man.
There was nothing wrong with the first message or even the second message that read: Don't keep me waiting. You know how impatient I am.
Okay, the second message sounded like a threat, and that was why she got so scared of reading it that she dropped her phone.
She dreaded meeting the man. He was a sadist, and if she had known, she wouldn't even want to be involved with him.
But it was her own fault for being too greedy, which led her to her current predicament.
She swallowed hard and quickly took her bag, stuffed some clothes inside, and called a cab, giving the driver the address of her and the man's usual place of liaison.
From the outer appearance, the house seemed like a perfect family house located in a family district, but only Emely knew how appearance could be deceiving.
She didn't know why the man chose this location. Maybe so it wouldn't attract attention. And she knew this house was not the man's primary residence. She suspected it was where he played with his toys, including herself. Emely shivered before she pressed the doorbell, and she didn't need to wait for too long until the door unlocked by itself. Like the exterior, the interior depicted a warm family house, but she knew it was only on a surface level. The man never waited for her in the living room or anywhere else because the room they used was on the second floor - the master bedroom - and he expected her to meet him there.
Emely climbed the stairs despite her shaking legs and braced herself before knocking on the door. "Come in," came a deep and rough voice from inside the room.
Emely swallowed before turning the handle, stepping into the room, and closing the door behind her.
As usual, the room was dark, and she could barely see anything even though it was still daytime. It was as though the man used special blinds for the windows so that not even a tiny amount of light could penetrate into the room. All she could see were the silhouettes of the furniture and the man sitting on one of the couches.
The man slowly rose from his seat, and like a predator, he moved toward Emely, and it took every fiber in her body not to cower or back away from him.
"You were late," the man said as he stood tall in front of her; his cold voice sent chills down Emely's spine.
"I'm sorry, there was a traffi-"
"Shhhh..." The man placed his index finger against Emely's lips and then rubbed her lips with the pad of his thumb, silencing her.
"You know I don't like to be kept waiting," he said; his tone and touch were gentle, but Emely knew that he was the Devil reincarnated.
Sooner or later, he would show his true color, and as she had expected, his free hand grabbed a handful of her hair, yanking it hard so Emely's head tilted back more.
She was only five minutes late, and he was already hurting her. She could already imagine how much pain she would suffer after the man finished 'playing' with her.
His grip on her hair was hard, and it brought tears to her eyes. It wouldn't surprise her if some of her hair were pulled away from her scalp.
"Awww... We haven't even started, and you are already crying," the man mocked, then brought his thumb lower until Emely's neck, and he curled his hand around it, putting slight pressure to make her afraid of what he'd do next. The man, who was way taller than Emely, leaned down, placing his lips next to Emely's ear, and whispered menacingly, "You failed."
"It's because of Che-"
"Tsk, tsk," he cut her off. "You know I only need to hear successful stories and not bullshit excuses. You need to try harder to get Hudson. But now it's time for your punishment.!
He then pushed Emely away, making her cry out as she tumbled hard to the floor.
"Strip," the man commanded in his icy voice.
Emely knew better than not to obey. She stood up and began taking off her dress, but her fingers were shaking too badly, making the man impatient.
She yelped when the man strode toward her and ripped off her dress.
"Better." The man seemed pleased with his own action. "Now the rest and turn around." He pointed toward her underwear and commanded again.
Emely obeyed him, turning around and taking off the rest of her clothes as she heard the clicking sound of belt buckle being opened and the swishing sound of the belt being pulled from his pants.
Before she could think of what he would do next, she cried out as she felt a sharp pain across her back and knew he had just whipped her with his belt.
Out of instinct, she tried to run away, but his belt slashed against her back again and again until her knees weakened, and she fell to the floor, shaking and sobbing.
She knew he was a sadist, but he had never hit her with his belt, and Emely cried out with each whip, begging him to stop.
The more she begged, the harder he hit her. His evil laugh added to the nightmare she was experiencing at the moment.
After what seemed like forever, he finally stopped, then yanked her up and used her body roughly like she was just a toy and not human.
The house was filled with Emely's cries of pain, but she knew no matter how loud her voice was, no one would hear her. He told her the whole house had been soundproofed, so no neighbors would be able to hear her cry for help, even if she was stupid enough to do it. Monster, he was a monster, Emely thought before she passed out from all the pain he was inflicting on her body.
In Cherise's office at the Alster Group's building, Julian, Cherise, and Logan were enjoying their cups of tea when suddenly Julian spoke, "You handled the interview well."
Cherise shrugged and replied, "I was representing the Alsters. I had to handle it well."
Then she turned to Logan and spoke to him gently, "Logan, you have to learn to manage your anger better."Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
"He irked me," Logan replied with no remorse for wanting to hit Hudson during the press conference.
"I know." Cherise sighed because she wanted to mock Hudson, too, but it wasn't the time to do it. "But we were being the representative of the Alster family, we shouldn't do it. You can always do it another time, not during a press conference about our identities." Logan sighed as well. He knew Cherise was right. It wouldn't do good for the Alster if he had hit Hudson since he came with good intentions. And even if Cherise was wrong, he could not say no to her.
"Alright, I'll work on my anger," he said with a gentle smile. "Only for you."
Cherise beamed at him. "Thank you."
"Tell me, Cherise. How difficult was it not to throw that bouquet back at his face?" Julian teased his sister.
Cherise gasped exaggeratedly. "I would never! It was such a beautiful bouquet!"
At that moment, they heard a knock on the door, and Neil appeared with the said bouquet.
Cherise, Julian, and Logan looked at each other before they burst laughing, making Neil frown. What was so funny about the situation? Was it because a man like him looked comical while holding a bouquet of beautiful roses?
He cleared his throat and remained professional, asking Cherise, "Miss Cherise, where would you like me to put the flowers?"
Cherise, still with her eyes shining with humor, tilted her head to one side and asked him, "Do you have a girlfriend, Neil?"
Neil was taken aback by her question and felt the tip of his ears growing hot because, at that moment, Miss Cherise looked too damn cute, and to be asked such a question by a beautiful and adorable woman, his heart could not help but beat faster than it usually
did.
"No, Miss Cherise," he replied.
"Oh, I thought if you have a girlfriend, you can give it to her." Cherise smiled. "But if you don't, just give each stem to the secretaries or whoever you want to give it to." Cherise winked at him, making him blush even more.
"Alright, Miss Cherise." Neil nodded and nearly lost his professionalism by scurrying away while holding the bouquet. Whenever Miss Cherise teased him, it never failed to make him blush. His boss was a menace to the male society!
"Stop teasing Neil, Cherise," Julian warned with a laugh.
"He is cute," Cherise replied cheekily. "He's so stoic. He needs to live a little!"
"I thought you were not going to throw away the bouquet." This time, Logan teased her.
"I'm not going to throw away the bouquet, but it doesn't mean I'm going to accept it," Cherish said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I just gave them to others to brighten up their days. It's good to boost the morale of the secretaries. You guys should praise me for it."
Both Julian and Logan shook their heads helplessly. Their sister loved to be praised, and they'd be damned if they didn't love to do it.
"Alright, now go back to your office and finish your work," Julian said after both brothers praised her. "Tomorrow, we'll tell you everything about the Alster Group."
Cherise groaned at the thought but did what her brother asked.
Once they were alone, Julian asked Logan, "Do you love Cherise?"
Logan glanced at Julian. "You know I do."
"You know that's not what I meant," Julian pointed out.
Logan leaned back, sighed, and repeated what he had told Katherine. "I love her, I do. I'll be anything she wants me to be. If one day she decides to settle down again, I'll offer myself to be her husband and cherish her. I'll be the most perfect husband for her." "You know that's not how it works, Logan," Julian explained patiently. "She wants love. The kind of passionate and sweet love between a man and a woman, not a brotherly love."
"If that's what she wants from me, then I'll give it to her," Logan replied firmly. "As I've said, I'll be whatever she wants me to be a best friend, a brother, a protector, a boyfriend, a husband, or whatever else."
Julian looked hard at his adopted brother and shook his head. It was great that Cherise had someone like Logan by her side, but it also kind of hurt him to see him like this.
Julian loved both his sister and adopted brother and wanted the best for them. If they could end up together, then it would be great. But he knew Cherise and Logan didn't love each other in that way.
Which was why it kind of saddened him that Logan thought that way. Maybe someday he would find someone he truly loved and be happy.
Hudson arrived at his office and was greeted by Finley's loud and excited voice. "Damn, Hudson! I didn't know you could be that romantic!"