IN HELL WITH YOU

~Elowen POV~

For the third time, he rejected the million-dollar compensation offered to him. Who the hell does he think he is?!

I stared at the rejected document crumbling at the intensity of my grip on it, a bitter laugh escaping my lips at my own question. Of course, I know who he was. He was a man full of himself. A man whose name made any ear that heard it tingle.

Someone I had never seen before yet stuck in an arranged marriage with him. A man whom I relied on stories told about him, stories that brought creeping fears to me since the day my father told me I would get married to him.

He never showed his face to the public, his face was always hidden behind a mask that shielded a little of his daunting scars. Living in a secluded mansion and doing deeds that up till now seemed mysterious to the people. Those who had seen his face, the story was never a pleasant one to tell.

Owens Vitmoz.

The name alone brought crawling irritation to my skin.

Despite the scarring stories about how he looked, miraculously, the man had kept his slate clean. No scandal. No dirty politics. No crime seemed to be recorded, yet whenever his name is mentioned, fear manages to creep down the neck of the people.

"What are you going to do now, Elowen, he rejected the offer again." Emily's voice barely came audible, the doubt in her eyes was evident the moment they met mine.

She tagged along beside me as we headed to the parking lot. It was 5: 30 pm, the time I should be heading home to rest my mind after a long day at work.

But here I am. My mind in chaos.

Ever since my father told me I would be getting married to Vitmoz, the world had dulled around the edges, and Emily seemed to see it too—see through me—far more clearly than I wanted her to.

"Since he doesn't want money, I'll proceed with plan B. I'm confident it will work," My voice made a strong tone. There was no going back.

I can't believe how much I've held onto believing that Owen would give in to the offer this time. But no. I was fooled again. Rejected like a lost cause.

This confirms it. My feelings about him were right. This was far beyond a debt that needed to be paid. He says Father owes him money. Technically, debts that have to do with money should be paid with money.

But he didn't want it. Rejecting every offer, said he only wanted me.

Now it's clear he only manipulates Dad to pay his debt through a marriage proposal.

The feeling that even after the marriage he would still come after Dad and Mom hung heavily on my chest. But I'll not let that happen. Whatever reason he has in wanting me, I will end it with me. I will protect my family from this.

"Plan B? Are you sure you're willing to sacrifice your first night with a stranger after keeping it all these years?"

"What's the need for a special first night when the life of my family is involved?"

"You'd never wanted it this way."

"I have no other choice."

I've always dreamt of a first night lit by flaming candles that danced in the gentle breeze. A night when somewhere in the distance music played—soft, slow, almost blending into the hush of shared breath and lingering touches.

A night not born out of obligation, or the hunger to break free from the judgement of morality—not from a forced marriage, not from loneliness or because I'm broken or in a moment of weakness.

I wanted something real, a memory worth keeping, a bliss never to be forgotten, not just from anyone, but from whom I have given my heart to. Not a man like Owen. A man I didn't love.

"But are you sure it's going to stop the marriage? A scandal? You know how dangerous this could be. You know Owen, what if he comes back for your parents and...?" Her expression never softened, skeptical and wary, the way someone looks when they fear the truth is far worse than what’s being spoken aloud.

"I'm sure of it, Emy. There's no way after the scandal he would push for marriage. He is one proud man who keeps his reputation flawless, clever enough to stay under the radar. If he ends up married to a woman who everyone believes sleeps around with several men, then his reputation would be tainted which I believe he would never let happen."

"But Elowen I'm scared. You just signed a new important debut. It will destroy your reputation, your lifelong career you had built."

"Well then, since there is no other way to save my family and me from the hands of this man, I will end his plans myself and bear whatever consequences it may bring." This time my words were final before I took a last glance at my friend.

"Don't worry, Emy. I will conquer this. Inform the man you'd already hired for me that I will push with the plan. He should meet me tonight at Haven's hotel as planned."

"Alright, Els." She nodded. I knew she was scared for her friend, knowing me as a woman who respected her dignity, knowing how much I had fought to keep myself from scandals to save my career. But to do that which I hated just to save myself and family, it brought tears to her eyes.

"We'll talk later. See you." With that, I slid into my car. The pity in the way she looked at me never left a minute as I drove out of the parking lot.

~Owen POV~

I stood before the shower, the steady rush coming to a stop as I stepped out behind the sheer curtains. Water I bothered not to dry slid from my hair, tracing lazy paths down my temples and along the strong line of my jawline.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I slid my hand over my head, through the long fallen strands of my spiral curls, letting them fall gracefully on my shoulders from behind.

My skin glistened, damp and warm, catching the light as water clung to me in small, shining beads.

I could feel my chest, my abs, and muscles all dance to the reflex of my movements as I made towards the dresser. I reached for one of the bottles lined on the counter, taking oil.

Deliberately, I walked it over my skin. And when I was done, the mirror reflected someone composed, skin cared for, scent lingering quietly in the air clean.

Done, I poured myself a warm soothing tea.

After the first and second sip, I licked my tongue over my teeth, wiping clean every trace as I took a look at the brand name again, acknowledging the efforts they put in giving my muscles a new strength.

"Come in," Came my deep octave on hearing a knock at the door.

Melvin in his classic casual look, slid through the door keeping his head lowered in a bow before he barely held himself from ogling my features.

I once heard him say, ‘If you were gay, I sure would have done wild things with you. Your framed chest could send even a man drooling over a thousand times.’

Tsk. He knew he wouldn’t say that in days I was in the mood for…

"I can see you sold your tongue that you forgot to speak." I let my sharp tone finally cut the drooling Melvin out of his trance. "What did you find out?"

Melvin swallowed–maybe a sudden lump in his throat before getting his act together to speak. "Boss, because you have rejected the offer for the third time, she had planned to put up a scandal for herself just to make sure she doesn't get married to you. Right now, she has hired a man whom she's going to play the game with." He relayed immediately.

A knowing smile appeared on my face.

I knew Elowen Walker. I wasn't surprised to hear she devised another way to stop the marriage from happening. This was making the game more interesting.

I let the remains of my soothing tea sit in my fingers for a while before twirling it, letting the liquid dance in the glass.

"Who is this man?" I demanded, not letting my gaze slacken from the tea, desperate to refill my cup till the brim. Perhaps, someone was going to help me achieve that.

"He is a nobody, boss. A random guy from the studio, probably must have been paid a good sum for him to agree to do that."

The smile on my face broadened, slowly turning into a smirk. Hookers never minded the problem they might be getting themselves into, as long as money played the vital role.

Someone is indeed stirring the hornet's nest. And I will definitely enjoy it this time.

I watched Melvin study my face for a while. It was on this kind of occasion that he had a mouth like a loose cannon.

"I believe Elowen is not going to let herself be a bargain for the debt her father owes. Again, according to stories she had heard about you, stories you made the father and daughter believe in, she believes you to be someone the world is afraid to speak about.

I'm sure she is not going to back down in making sure she stops the marriage with someone like that. Ugly and scarred isn't a sweet description you know," Melvin was saying when the glass suddenly shattered in front of him, spilling the contents on the floor, one that brought goosebumps on his skin. One that made him look up at me in fear.

"That wouldn’t be a reason for her to escape a marriage with me.” If her father were a good man, she wouldn't have perhaps heard the stories. “She should be very grateful I chose to forgive her father with a marriage proposal. She is mine. She cannot escape it.”

Melvin tugged on his shirt smoothing it like it was in disposition in the first place, watching me step casually over the shattered glass as if nothing had happened. As if I had not purposely let the glass slip from my hand.

He knew I could be very dangerous with things even when I looked nonchalant about it.

Up till now, he still doesn't understand why I chose to marry my enemy's daughter, of all people in the world. I would have chosen to punish the man in other ways or accept the compensation Elowen had offered me he had said. But I chose not to and decided on a marriage with his daughter Elowen instead.

Not just an ordinary daughter. One of the country’s A-list actresses.