Chapter 10: Rebel

[Cara]

Nobody dared to stop me as I stormed out of this glass monstrosity. Or because Damon told them not to. Mom was shouting my name behind me, but I was too angry and hurt to even listen to her.

How could they do this to me?

Am I not to be trusted about such matters that they chose to tell Damon instead of me? Over their own daughter? Is that how keen and desperate they are to sell me? I know for the longest time they are trying to find me an eligible bachelor with tons of money to expand and strengthen our business domain, and also to ensure my future. 

But fuck! 

I never expected Dad to include my inheritance in this gamble, and for what? So that I would be forced to marry that fucking bastard. It was clearly stated in there that I could only access whatever was left in my name only by marriage to Damon-fucking-Montreal.

Gosh! I felt so dumb and stupid.

“Drive!” I hollered, directing to no one while marching briskly through the roundabout pavement where the SUV was still parked and hasted inside, slamming the door shut with such force that it shook the whole car.

The suffocating air grappling my lungs suddenly release when the engine immediately roared to life and sped through the road.

Still cradled in my hand was my dad’s security phone and I am very tempted to turn it on, but on the other hand, I am scared of what I might see once the screen is lit. 

I don’t know what to do, and all I want right now is to forget. To do something that would whisk away the pain gnawing in my chest. The betrayal they conspired against me and to disappear. Never to be seen again.

But I know that would be impossible. I don’t want to run like a coward whose tail is tucked in between the legs. 

No, I am anything but.

Just tonight. 

I swear, for this one night only to forget everything and give myself a break, otherwise, prettily I would go crazy.

The trip back to my office took less time than it should have. Without saying anything, I got out of the car and made my way inside the building. This too would be lost if I refuse to agree with what was written on my dad’s will. 

Everything that was ours will soon perish, as will life as I know it.

The pain roared again in my chest, causing tears to flow in torrents. Fortunately, all of the employees had left, so no one had to witness my distress. My knees were drained of strength, and I was stumbling on my feet. It's a miracle I got into my office without smashing my face into the tiled floor. 

I came here first to place the security phone into my vault where I know it would be safe. When I am ready, perhaps I might turn it on, hoping that whatever was in there would help me understand why he did all this. Nonetheless, at this moment, I don’t think I would be able to keep myself together if I take one quick look at it.

Before rushing to my destination, I send Nancy a quick message letting her know where I'm going in case of an emergency. Changing my dress from the spare clothes stored in the trunk so that I won’t stick out like a sore thumb. I even put on some heavy makeup to cover up my puffy eyes and tear-stained face.

Loud music blasted my ears in greeting soon as I entered the establishment. The smell of heavy cologne mixed with cigarettes slammed into my senses. The flashing light was hitting my eyes, yet it was a good distraction not to think of anything. 

Just what I need. A little rebellious night won’t hurt, right?

The Pulse, a family-friend-owned nightclub, was brimming with wild people, dancing and grinding on the dancefloor and I can already see a glimpse of myself being one of them once I filled myself with alcohol. 

“Hey beautiful, what’s your shot?” The bartender immediately asks soon as I perched on one of their high stools at the bar counter. It was a new guy for he did not recognize a regular customer, apparently bold enough to rake his gaze unabashedly over the length of me before winking. “Sexy.”

“A Negroni.” I fought the urge not to roll my eyes and blandly told him my order over the blaring music. 

“Sweet choice.” He winks again. I must admit he’s somewhat cute, but if he keeps on doing that, I might leap over the counter and scratch his eyes out. 

I’m in a foul mood and not to be trifled with.

Damn newbies.

My drink came and before the glass butt could drop a drop of condensation onto the marbled surface, it was down my throat in less than a second. Loving the burning sensation heating its way down to my belly. I take one after another until my head started to buzz and my face goes numb and felt anew. Like I’m a totally different person than the one I came in with.

I tensed slightly as a warm presence loomed behind me, and a palm spread across my lower bare back, sending tingles up my spine. I thought it was my phantom at first, but then it spoke in a different sultry, heavily accented voice. “It’s on me.”

A masculine scent permeated my senses, making me drunk even more as my gaze wobbled into the stranger extending his black card to the bartender. 

The man whips his attention to me, thrusting his other hand for a shake.

“Liam.” He leans a little closer, his palm skimming nether to the swell of my ass. “By what name do you go by beautiful?”

“Cara.” I slurred, giggling like a flirty little bitch while taking his hand for a little shake, suddenly loving the attention coming from a stranger.

This time, I play with my last shot, twirling my finger around the glass rim while studying his figure. Not as tall as my phantom or Damon, but he's hot. A face that screams fuck me and looks handsome between my legs.

Hmm, that’s a good idea. 

He took my invitation and move his hand further. From my ass, grazing into my legs and when I didn’t protest, he continued to the inside of my thigh. Halting dangerously close to the juncture between my legs. The other hand played on the thin strap sling around my neck, holding my dress together.

“Nice name for a temptress,” he complimented, whispering in my ear, his aquiline nose inhaling me deeply. “Would you care for a dance, sweet Cara?”

“Are you a good dancer, mister?” I retort, spreading my legs wide and allowing him full access. 

Not caring for anything else. Not for Damon, my mom, the inheritance my dad compromised, nor my phantom. All of them faded into the haze of boozing alcohol into my system.

I might regret this afterward, but the hell do I care about it.

“We’ll find out.” His grin broadens as he drags me to the floor, and the music changes to a drop. 

That’s when I lost all sense of control keeping me bridled. A couple of hands raked all over me lewdly while my hips swayed and started grinding myself against a massive hard-on behind me.

A tongue licked the curve of my neck, sucking the soft spot, followed by a low guttural growl. “Should we find a much quieter place?”

It was a question that doesn’t require an answer, and in a blink, I just found myself pressed against the wall outside in a dark corner with Liam feasting on my lips.

“Hmm…” he groans. “Fuck, your lips taste like heaven, babe.”

“Shut up,” I growled in need, grabbing him by the collar and crashing his mouth back into mine.

I know I want this, to get laid and forget everything that has been in my life for this single night. However, my sub-consciousness won’t let me. Damon’s face keeps on resurfacing into the frontal lobe of my brain. The way his cold blank stare embedded in my memory since the last time I saw him.

Consuming all my other senses and even with Liam giving his bests shots, the wave of pleasure extinguished in a beat. His touch became increasingly strange and repulsive, making my skin crawl with disgust.

Fuck! 

I froze like a bucket of ice-cold water was dumped on my head, and the alcohol that had previously dominated my system vanished, leaving me in shame. 

Liam noticed my abrupt shift. “Is something the matter?”

“Nothing, it’s just…” I shake my head, pausing with a hiss to let the throbbing pain blustering in my skull fade before gathering my bearings and rearranging my dress to cover up my exposed chest and butt. “I’m sorry, I should go.”

However, Liam grabbed my arms again and pushed me into the wall before I could even take my second step away from him. “No miss, you’re not going anywhere.”

The deadly tone of his voice rendered me unheeded as I stared at him uninterestedly. 

“Look, I’m sorry okay. I made a mistake giving you all the go signal but I am no longer in the mood to screw around. The night is still young, you can find another woman willing to get laid.” 

“Don’t play hard to get now, lady. I know you like it.” He only pressed his bulging erection into my belly, ignoring what I said, and started kissing me again. 

This time was a little rougher and more forceful. 

“I said let go of me!” I tried to push him, struggling against his grip but he was a huge hefty guy while I am still intoxicated with booze. My strength was no use compared to his, and I just started crying without my notice. 

“I said stop...no!...please help!—Oh god!” A startled gasp replaced my cries. 

My mind—at a snail-pace rate—hardly digesting what just happened. Liam was just forcing himself on me, then in a blink, something cracked and connected to his head sending him flying across the ground, rolling, and knocked out cold.

Blood trickled down his nose. 

“Are you okay?”

My befuddled gaze shifted to the man standing beside me. His fist is still tightly closed, but it uncurls as soon as our eyes meet.

Damon. 

What is he doing here? Is he following me?

He was about to extend his hand, but my reflexes kicked in and caused me to flinch away, snarling in response. “No, don’t you dare touch me!”

There’s something in him. A little different with his aura, but there’s no mistaking it is no other than Damon Montreal.

“It’s late Cara, let me take you home.” His gaze softened and take another step closer but I backed away. 

“I said no!” Lashing out and holding my index finger up to stop him, which instantly brought him to a halt.

My body was trembling, not because I am drunk or that nearly got raped, but because seeing him rekindled my anger.

A rage directed at myself rather than at him.

“I hate you, Mr. Montreal.”