The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 11

The next time I'll be posting on HMR, it will be a rant and not an update just so I could get back on all those ingrateful-- wait for it.

Reporter

When, I walked out of the office door, Sierra was standing outside. Her eyes already on me.

I colored. Did she hear us?

The secretary's eyes fell, "This day isn't exactly his best so..."

"It's fine," I waved her away with a brief smile, "there's nothing to explain."

Sierra then looked up, her lips pursed as she took me in. "For what it's worth, Miss Porter, you don't seem to be the type to... to blackmail people into marriage."

Blackmail.

I felt like I was shot and it took everything in me not to flinch at her words. That was the exact word for what my family did to the Blacks. They drove the proud bloodline into a corner with nothing but cheap blackmail. It was clear all of a sudden how wrong it was that I was here in his office. That I was so casually going into places where the welcome was forced. Why the Jace's accusation was suddenly on point.

A smile dragged itself to my stiff lips, "thank you."

Sierra paled, "I didn't mean it that way--"

"I know," I quickly cut in, "it's fine, really. I-I have to go."

My legs moved on their own volition. Taking one step in front of the other. Quickly, almost jerkily, through the hallway, back to that elevator. My hand automatically slapping on that descend button. The elevator dinged open and hastily, I went in. When it closed, I felt myself collapse onto the floor. Only to pick myself up quickly when I realized what I was doing. Decorum was too heavily ingrained in my system and one should not show weakness in such public premises. I had no right, no good reason ever to show such considering who I was, whose family I belonged to. My emotions tamped down, I schooled my face into a serene mask. And when the elevator doors opened again, I stepped out with my back straight.

The woman at the front desk perked at the sight of me. There was a clear question in the way she eyed me and I smiled back pleasantly. I knew what she had to be thinking. It hadn't even been half an hour since I went up and now I was leaving.

"Good day, future Mrs. Black."

I had to steady myself and not stumble. I knew the employee meant well as she gave me an approving nod. There wasn't anyone else in the lobby at the moment and that was an added bonus. But really, what was I supposed to expect with becoming that man's wife?

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and hastily walked out of there. Out of the revolving door and into the open air. Right there on the busy sidewalk as everyone else passed hastily in front of me.

I whipped out my phone then, poised to dial my personal driver when all the realizations came to me. My parents were monitoring my actions. And they expected me to stay for at least the duration of an hour for lunch. I couldn't go home right now. It would raise eyebrows and voices against me. And I couldn't go back upstairs because what message would that tell Jace Black? So what was I to do now? I mentally scolded myself at my own inpulsiveness.

Stupid girl.

There wasn't really a choice now. I had to find the nearest cafe and wait out for at least another half hour before calling my driver. And just as I started to do that, I froze right there in the middle of the rushing pedestrians.

My eyes caught something that made my heart race within a second. About ten feet away was a man, a DSLR camera raised to his face and was clicking away. He was taking my pictures!