Hate in between

Chapter 1: Unpaid Debt Avery's POV "You want me to do what?" I said, completely surprised by what he just said. "You have an option, Miss Morris," he sat across me, with a nonchalant expression on his face. "I will not force you, you have to choose how to pay me, you could either take my offer or get my eighteen million dollars in a month's time" he said, like he enjoyed watching me get angrier. "But how can I possibly pay what my father owes in only a month?" I asked as though he would have an answer.

"I miss the part where that's my problem" he answered taking the cup of tea to his lips, his eyes watching my gaze, I could tell that he was very serious about it. "I'm giving a space of three days to think, if you do not give me an answer, I will assume that you have rejected my offer for a contract marriage" he added, putting the cup on the table that stood between the two of us. "How could he talk about marriage so casually?" I muttered under my breath later that day when I sat idly behind my desk. 'I can erase your father's debt, if you will marry me' I heard his voice echo through in my ears. I felt someone slightly tap my shoulder "Miss Avery, there's someone who wants to see you" Perry said to me in a worried tone "Are you okay?" she added putting her hand on my shoulder, gently. "Yeah I'm okay, thank you" I said calmly putting up a smile hoping it looked real. "Avery" Phill's voice resounded in the room, his smile reaching his ears as he cackled. "Mr. Phill, please what are you doing here" I asked in a hush tone, I would resent myself if there were any rumors about me getting affiliated with an old wealthy man. Three days ago... After a long day at work trying to arrange the documents for the audit in Magnus Corp that was needed, I was quite exhausted when I heard his voice from across the door. "Avery" he said in his mischievous tone "Mr. Phill..Wh..what are you doing here? At this time?" I asked, picking up my bag. "I'm here for work, you know" he said smiling at home, his belly bulging from his tight outfit, his receding hairline showing more signs of his age. "Mr. Phill, I'm heading home now, I can't talk to you" I said walking away from him hastily. "Goodnight," I added, trying to move away from his side as he tried to block the exit. "I'm trying to have a conversation with you, don't throw me off like that" he said in a harsh tone. "Goodnight" I said again, this time showing how serious I was. "Let's have a talk, okay, my wife will know nothing" he said, grabbing my hand. "Leave me alone!" I yelled, making sure they'd be people to hear me, even though everyone was already done with the day's job and it was closing time, it knew it wasn't empty. "Is everything alright?" Someone called from the exit door, I quickly bolted towards the door, pushing his rather bulky body to the side as I ran across. I was sure he was planning to see me again, I wasn't. My apartment wasn't so far from work, I usually took the train and walked down to my building, which wasn't very inconvenient as it gave me time to think and blow off steam. I strolled towards the train station, and right when I got there I felt my phone vibrate in my purse. I ignored it because it was probably Mr. Phil wanting to harrass me again, or try to persuade me to be his side piece. But when the phone rang the second time, I just had to check, I saw the caller ID read; "Kail" my younger brother. "Sis, you have to come home, it's urgent" Kail, my brother said on the phone. "Did something happen?" I said already turning around and lesving the train station to stop a taxi. "Yes, but I canmt explain, you just have to get here" Kail said with the urgency in his voice. I boarded a taxi and quickly headed to my father's house, hoping for the worst and the worst, I did see. The couch turned upside down, the door broken, things destroyed around the house, like there was an earthquake. "What happened here?" It escaped from my lips, my bags dropping to the floor, and the expression on my face beyond shocked. my father paused in his attempt to put things in order. "It's.. it's" he stammered. "Dad, I want to know what happened here!" I exclaimed demanding an answer, with anger in my voice. "There were some really bad men, they destroyed the place talking about some loan" my little brother said as he stood behind the dining table, in fear. "Kail, what are you doing there? Get inside" my father ordered, his voice was faint bit firm and my brother listened immediately. "You took a loan? When? And why? Oh and how?" I asked questions demanding answers all at once. "Three years ago, for your mum's surgery" he said, with pain and shame in his voice, I was forced to remember how much my mother's death took a toll on my father. "From the Dark horse gang" he added. "You were in school, I didn't want you to find out this way" he said in a sad tone, picking up the CDs he normally listens to. "I'm sorry Avery, I disappointed you" he said, standing up to walk away. "No you didn't dad" my anger subsided, I was no longer angry at him but at the monsters who ruined our home. "How much is it" I said with a mix of fear and anticipation, I needed to know how I could bring my family out of our despair. "Eighteen million dollars" he said and I was begond shocked. Where was I going to get eighteen million dollars? That's more than the money I'll make even if I worked 50years in my job. "I'll see what I can do tomorrow" I said with a very low voice, and walked to my room with my face full of despair like I had seen a ghost. "We're doomed" I said under my breath. I laid in bed, looking at the ceiling, my eyes welling up with tears, my heart aching from anxiety and before I knew it my eyelids felt heavy, my solace, my sleep. The very next morning, I looked over to the wall clock, my eyes catching what seemed like 7:30 The knock on my door came as a surprise to me, i hesitated to open the door, but after the second knock, I opened the door. A black coated cadillac and a man in suit awaiting my arrival to answer the doorbell. "I didn't know you would be this early" I said to the man still putting on my maroon flats for work. "My master has requested that you come this morning, before you go to work" he said almost immediately, answering like a programmed robot. He opened the car door, letting me in the carlike a gentleman. "Thanks" I said before I stepped into the vehicle and got comfortable. 'Are these people gentlemen-like?' I thought to myself after some moments whilst watching the road and the cars that passed ours. The drive to the place was quiet, the man said nothing to me throughout the ride and I think I preferred it that way, to just be left alone. "Miss, we're here" the man's voice was soft as he came down to open the car door for me, "Thank you" I muttered, letting myself out of the open car door. I walked through the bold glass rotating doors of what seemed like a complex but was a restaurant, I looked in awe "This place is huge" I said calmly. "It is, isn't it" a voice said from behind. "Oh my.. you scared me" I said as I jolted from him, his broad chests behind me, he stood so close, making me feel very scared and uncomfortable. "Please" he gestured to where had been reserved or likely taken because the complex was empty. "So, Miss Morris, you've finally made up your mind" he started as a waiter came with a menu, setting it at the table in front of us. "Yes, I have" I said, recollecting myself. "Then you wouldn't mind signing this contract, don't worry there'll be two copies" he added taking a sip from his cup, I looked at the papers before me, the pen sitting close to it. I picked up the papers, flipping page by page 'This is quite meticulous' I thought to myself, holding the pen to my lips. "The contract lasts for a year, I can work with that" I said, my eyes looking at the paper. "We have to look intimate?" I asked puzzled. "Yes, that is part of the deal, if by any chance my mother suspects a thing, the deal will be off and so we have to look like a real couple" he said, his eyes staring deeply at me. "Is there a problem?" He asked, raising a brow. "It's just that.." I said. "You have a boyfriend? Or you haven't been intimate with anyone before?" He asked, lowering his gaze to meet my eyes, a playful smile forming on his lips. "Of..ofcourse I have" I lied. "I've had..several strides" I added, hoping I sounded more convincing. "Oh aren't you a fiesty one" he said now with a full smile as just then the waiter came by. "Have you placed your orders?" He asked staring at this man sitting opposite to me, a man I knew nothing about, not even his name, just the name of his agency. "What would you like to have?" He turned to me. "Uhmm, I'm fine, I'll have water" I said, not wanting to receive any generosity from him. "I'm sure my driver picked you up before you had a meal, are you sure you don't want anything?" He asked, his face motionless. "Yeah, I'm good" I answered avoiding his gaze, it seemed to be his way of making me uncomfortable as his eyes were always on me, watching my every move. "Thank you" I immediately said when the waiter put the bottle of water on the table. "So, the contract, can I have my clauses?" I asked holding the bottle of water in one hand. "You are under my stipulations, Miss Morris but you have a chance at one clause, that is all I can do for you" he said with a stern look on his face. "I want our marriage to be a secret to others, apart from your family and mine" I blurted out, without being asked. A smirk formed on his face once again. "I'll ask again, do you perhaps have a boyfriend?" He asked, staring intently. "N..no, I just don't want this to be awkward for me" I answered, taking the papers in my hands and swiping the pages, and signing what needed to be signed. "There, all done" I said after signing it off. "I'm leaving" I added, taking my bag to leave. "Well, i think breakfast is canceled" he said standing up from where he sat. "My driver will drop you off at work" he said. "Oh and Avery, the name's Calvin" he added, I knew his smile would reach his ears, I didn't ask but he knew I was curious. "Calvin who?" I asked standing close to the exit, with an intention to dig into the internet about him and his background. "Calvin Magnus,my lady" he answered, staring at me, the grin still on his face. "I'll be sure to try to remember" I said, trying to show nonchalance, I walked through the door as the driver opened the door for me, just then I stopped in my track. "Calvin Magnus, the CEO of Magnus Corp!" I exclaimed with shock on my face. "Yeah, that Calvin" he said smiling at me as he walked into the car in front of me. "See you soon Avery" he added as the doors of the car was closed and he drove off. "Miss" my now designated driver said but I still stood in shock, I'm getting married to the CEO of the company I work for, I was now more uncomfortable than before. I mustered the courage to say to myself, "I'm not going back on my word" instead of getting into the luxurious car. "Please think of it as an off day, I'll go to work myself" I said to the driver. Getting into the cab, as I was already late for work, well now, that was the least of my problems, how would I tell my father that the loan shark leader was also a CEO of a huge company, the same company I worked for.