THE BILLINAIRE CEO PROMISE

alf-empty bottle of beer that sat accusingly on the coffee tabl

roat raw and ragged as she

a wet streak. The betrayal, a poisonous current running through her veins, was more t

destroyed by the harsh light of reality. With the room swaying

me by it and the pain was overshadowed by a desperate desire for answers. Incredulous and an

miles. There was a glimmer of doubt, a tiny spark of self-reflection but Bella

tion staring back at her from the darkened windowpane. Her lips were pressed into a thi

g's dawn. Although she still had a dull ache behind her eyes from the previ

when her phone buzzed. Samuel was it. Her breath caught. She experienced a knot in her stomach. To cut al

e conflict. To be sure that this wasn't some complex deranged night

ngly steady as she res

ained uncertain voice. "Bella. I need

ink? Because I thought we had already spoken last

ease. Let

ie? How can you promise one thing and do another? How can y

he case. It is not s

at your justification? Samuel you're an adult. Decisions are

s superior to me in some way.

rds came out quickly and urgently. Bella hesitated, h

you mean

t Bella. Let's meet. Last time. Just

ely given up clung to the idea that there might be more to thi

, still piercing but tinged w

their tension. With his shoulders slumped and his face drawn and pale Samuel was already there pacing agitatedly by

anguish that pulled at something deep inside her was evident in hi

ne even and icy, "Tell me.

n a hand through his hair. "I promise Bel

trying to control her trembling

d I sincere

. "That was Evie. She is aware of something I did in t

hin so she pressed "What some

ago. Prior to our meeting. I was a part of an illegal activity. It wasn't violent I

ath. "Evie was there. She took pa

Samuel? A criminal?" That seemed so completely inconsistent with the

n me. I'm afraid you would perceive me as something less. I put a great

erious Evie reappeared. She threatened to make me public. to impri

ked incredulously. "Some old secr

if I didn't marry her. I would be imprisoned by her. Additionally she ha

er head to buy her off to find a way out. But she refused to move. I am what she desires. She w

grudging flash of sympathy. The picture of the self-assured charmin

t me? Pretend to be married t

"Bella, I tried to keep you safe. She would pursue you as wel

hout humor "Protect me?. By making me

was evident in his voice which was earnest. "I thought of you wheneve

struck a chord with her deepest self. Even though the anger persisted it started to change and

g tone she questioned "Why a

rate the lie Bella. Also beca

f a terrible new insight had just hit him he

who are aware of

brow in perplexity.

as dead."Samuel spoke in a shivering dread that was hardly audible above a whisp

ack. Suddenly there was a heavy fore

ho

disbelief and fear and he was stari

pale as it lost