Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

MARISSA

With the winter finally frosting over, Theta Rho Zeta plans their next quarterly Red Night event, which aligns with Valentine’s weekend. Xavier commanded that I remain next to him the entire night, shut up in his room with no other guests allowed. I’m completely fine with a night filled with sex with my fiancé, but I told him I plan to hang out with my friends, and he should as well. We’ve been neglecting our groups by spending so much time alone together. With a grimace, he agreed with me and I’m quite proud of him acclimating to compromise. Although, the promise of more anal helped.

Dressed in a tight black bandage dress and sky-high black strappy heels for the evening, I left my hair down for Xavier, so that he could pull on it. The girls and I ride to the party together, all of them ecstatic to know the president of TRZ’s fiancée well enough to get personal invitations.

Red Night is well underway when we arrive late. My eyes scan the crowded party downstairs to find Xavier, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I ask a few brothers if they know where he is, but no one does. Only a few people linger in the hot tub out back, given the night’s cold breeze, so I head upstairs to his room–our room–to toss my coat and purse in our closet.

As I approach the double doors, panting moans drift into the hall from inside. Xavier doesn’t want anyone up here, saying he’s changing up the tradition, given his current relationship status with me. Maybe people have sneaked in anyway. Xavier will be livid.

My breath hitches in my chest as I throw open the doors. Caitlyn rapidly rides a man on the sofa, but all I can see is his dark head of hair. Trying to figure out what is happening, I stand in the doorway with my hand on my chest. Is that my fiancé? Why would he do that? Caitlyn meets my confused eyes and says seductively, “Yes, Xavier, right there, daddy. You fuck me so good.”

Gasping, my body turns to run away in horror. Or maybe to sprint to the sofa, rip her off my future husband, and murder them both with my bare hands. While trying to figure out which step to take, I slam into a firm body. Xavier wraps his arms around me, smiling as he sees me. My heart rate slows in his woodsy-scented embrace.

“Hey, beautiful. They just told me you arrived.” Leaning in to kiss me, he stops himself and searches my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought…” Twisting my neck back toward his room, I nod where Caitlyn still grinds on the unknown man. Xavier’s crystal blue eyes harden as they follow my gaze, and he escorts me into his room with his hand on my back.

“What the fuck, Caitlyn. Get the fuck out of here.”

“What? I was just having a little fun…like we used to.”

When he looks up at us, the guy she was riding does have dark hair, but it isn’t black like Xavier’s. He looks nothing like him. Quickly, he shoves Caitlyn off his lap, gives Xavier an apologetic look, then scurries off down the hall completely naked, hard dick flapping as he runs.

Xavier sighs. “No, you were trying to make it look like I was fucking you in here so my fiancée would get mad, or you’d try to make me jealous. Cut the bullshit. I know your games.”

Bending slowly, Caitlyn gathers up a black negligee and slides it on, as if putting on a reverse strip show. “Xavier, I know one woman isn’t enough for you… The foursomes we’d have with Brooke, Kara, and me. I know you. Marrying her is a big mistake. Like I said, I’m up for the gig, and you can still have your cake and eat it, too. You wouldn’t have to put up with a prude.”

“And as I have said many times before, I don’t want you. Stop trying and leave me alone. You disgust me. Now, get the fuck out of my room. Your invitation here has been revoked.” Xavier reaches into his pocket to grab his phone and sends a text.

Caitlyn sniffs, some tears running dramatically down her cheeks, but hurries from the room while Xavier grasps my shoulders, turning me to face him. “You think I would fuck someone else? You think I could ever cheat on you?”

Swallowing, my stomach twists at his raging intensity. “I thought… I didn’t know what to think.”

“Well, know that I can’t even stand to look at someone else because they may think they’d have a shot with me. They don’t. I’m obsessed with you. I love you, Marissa. You’re mine, and I’m yours. There’s no one else, and there never will be.”

Shoving his lips to mine, he wraps his arms around my neck and waist, pulling me into him so there’s no space between our bodies. Cinnamon liquor warms my taste buds as he slides his tongue into my mouth, his lips seeking desperate comfort. A little moan escapes me, and I grip his ass as he thrusts his hard cock into my belly. Trying to hitch myself around him, I toss a leg around his waist.

A man in a bright yellow T-shirt interrupts with a knock on the open door. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, Mr. Cardell. There’s an incident at the front gate. A carload of men is trying to break in without invitations.”

Xavier breaks our kiss, and my head feels fuzzy, dazed. While still gazing into my eyes, he says through a clenched jaw, “Tell them I’ll be right there.” To me, he says, “Do not move. I’ll be back soon.”

“Pfft, Xavier, I’m not going to stay up here all night. I’m going downstairs to hang with my friends if they aren’t already fucking.”

“You stick with Big G, then. Maybe Mason. Stay away from Levi, though.” He pauses, his eyes reaching up to the right. “Stay away from Mason, too. Just stick with Big G.” Turning around, I giggle as he walks with the guard downstairs.

Putting away my coat and purse in the closet, I shut our bedroom doors before going downstairs. Kinsley and Sharice exchange shots by the dance floor in the large living room with Big G standing with them, looking stoic. I can’t find Elle.

“Do you think they have any more of those little hot dogs?” Kinsley asks with a slur as I approach.

“I can go check the kitchen. I know where they keep them. I gotta get myself a drink anyway.” She forces her cup into my hand.

“Gimme a refill,” she says, but Sharice shakes her head without Kinsley noticing.

“Come on, George, dance with me.” Attempting to drag her Viking of a boyfriend out onto the floor, she tugs on his arm. He doesn’t budge, so she settles for grinding on him in the corner.

Heading toward the kitchen, I keep my head down as I approach Caitlyn standing next to Jackson in the dining room. The two are in an animated conversation as I slip past them.

“Oh…look who it is, Jack. The fiancée.” Caitlyn makes some mocking laugh, obviously wasted. Her cheeks flush as red as her hair.

When I sidestep her, Jackson blocks my way with his big football body. Tilting my neck up to look at him, my brow furrows. “What do you want?”

He glances at my cup. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re drinking in your state.”

“Uh…what state would that be, Jackson?”

“Pregnancy? With child? Bun in the oven?” He snickers, and Caitlyn laughs loudly behind him with tears still in her eyes.

“You stupid bitch,” Caitlyn interrupts. “You think he proposed and knocked you up because he wanted you?”

Scoffing, I ask, “What? I’m not pregnant.”

Jackson takes a sip of his cup and mumbles, “You sure about that?”

Licking my lips, I roll my eyes and sigh. These two seem up to something and it can’t be good, but I want to hear what they have to say. “Okay, what are you two talking about?”

Caitlyn narrows her eyes at me and, like she’s been dying to bust out a secret, she smiles. “Xavier doesn’t inherit his trust fund unless he’s married and has a baby by twenty-four, some stupid great-great-grandfather clause thing. Cardell Enterprises has been in trouble for years… He promised his daddy he would help with his inheritance once he got it.” Another chuckle leaves her lungs without any humor attached to it. “I offered, but he doesn’t know a good thing when it gives him the best blowjob of his life. Besides, I wasn’t stupid enough to get knocked up so young.” Her long, black fingernail points at my stomach up and down. “I guess some girls will do anything for a payout.”

Is that true? Surely not. She’s probably being catty and making stuff up to mess with me. Xavier is obsessed with getting me pregnant, but was it all about his inheritance? Why did they assume I’m already pregnant?

Jackson grasps my upper arm and pulls me aside so Caitlyn can’t hear. His gray eyes suddenly take on a serious expression, like he’s hurt or sad. “Word of advice, take a pregnancy test. Xavier switched out your birth control pills for blanks a while ago.”

My pulse skyrockets and my throat closes up, but I manage to ask, “What makes you think he did that?”

“I was the one to hand him the fakes. Last Red Night? Lose your bag? Yeah, he switched them then.”

That doesn’t make any sense. I’ve been taking my pills religiously and haven’t gotten pregnant… I don’t think I’m pregnant now… Maybe he’s lying.

Shrugging off his hold, I ask, “Why are you telling me this, Jackson?”

Tears flood to his eyes. “Because Xavier told me James was into me. Last Red Night, he told me to distract James, and we’d end up together. Said you were a lot more into him than James, and we’d both get ours.” He looks a bit broken. It seems like he just wants revenge on Xavier.

To make him feel better, I cross my arms and say, “James was into you, Jackson. More than me.”

“Well, a lot of good that did. Caitlyn’s a jealous bitch, and that’s her motivation.”

Caitlyn yells, “Hey!”

“I just want you to know what a conniving piece of shit your fiancé is.” His voice softens as he pleads, “Take a pregnancy test, Marissa.”

Dropping Kinsley’s cup on the dining room table, I head toward the staircase. Pounding in my chest, my heart rate picks up and blocks me from being able to hear as the blood rushes through my head. My birth control pills are in my purse. I always carry them if I don’t know where I’ll spend the night. Once I reach the foyer, Xavier walks in through the front door.

“Hey, beautiful.” Scanning my face, his eyes narrow before he looks over my shoulder, where Jackson and Caitlyn stand near the dining room. “What did they say to you?”

But I ignore him, making for the stairs and sprinting as much as I can in my heels with Xavier close behind. He yells at me to slow down and talk with him. When I reach his room, I frantically throw open the closet and search my purse. Holding up the pack of pills to the light, I scan them for any changes, but they look the same as always. Can fakes be this good?

With an eerie tone, Xavier says, “No, no, no, Marissa, listen, no. Listen to me.” He braces himself in the doorway like I might attack him. Maybe I will.

“Is it true?” I ask. His mouth opens, but nothing comes out, so I ask again. My voice holds all the panic threatening to let loose from my chest. “Xavier, is it true? Did you switch out my pills? D-did you only propose and try to impregnate me for an inheritance?” His body is frozen, his icy eyes staring me down. “Oh. My. God. I am so stupid. It is true, isn’t it?”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he quietly says, “Yes.”

Vomit threatens to rise from my stomach. Oh, no. Maybe I am pregnant! Darting to the door, I move to slide past him, but Xavier stops me, putting his large body in front of the exit. His hands grasp the door frame.

Shaking his head, he’s breathless. “But listen, I stopped. I switched them back. I couldn’t do it.”

Taking one step back from him, I cross my arms. “You better explain right now.”

Dropping his arms, his hands open in front of him, as if begging me to listen. “My father, he’s been on me about making my move on someone for years, knowing the deadline… Fuck. I didn’t want to. I thought...ugh. I thought if I got you pregnant, you’d agree to marry me quickly. That you’d be okay with it.” Rubbing his hands through his hair, he tugs on the ends, then grabs my shoulders. “Plus, fuck, Marissa, I want to put a baby in you so bad. It’s an obsession.” His hard body thrusts into mine, and he grabs my hair to lift my face to his. “I thought I could do it, switch out your pills, come inside you so many times you’d have my baby. I switched them out the first night I was with you.”

Sliding my hands onto his chest, I shove, trying to get some space. I want out of here. I need to get away from this person I no longer feel safe with. My trust in him is ruined. Maybe I just need a moment to think.

Instead, he gathers me tighter in his embrace. Some sob escapes his throat as he says, “But I couldn’t! I switched them back the next afternoon before I woke you up. I wanted you to want to get pregnant. I wanted you to want to be my wife.”

Eyes narrowed, I say, “I don’t believe you. You’re using me for money, Xavier! You switched out my pills, trying to secretly impregnate me! How could you? You’re a monster!” I try to shake off his arms, squirming from side to side. He’s too strong.

“No! It was never about the money. I mean, yes, I could save my family’s company. My father hasn’t managed it well. It wasn’t about me, though. It was about the legacy. My family. Which is you. I wanted you and figured I could speed things along and help everyone.”

Stilling in his arms, I let him know with my eyes how serious this is. “That’s it, Xavier. We’re done. I’m done with you. Let me go.”

“No, please listen to me. I’ll do anything. I’ll give up the money. I don’t even care anymore. Fuck the company. The only thing I care about is you. We don’t have to get married until after the deadline… I’ll prove it to you.” He looks desperate. “But I’m marrying you. And you’re having my babies… And you’re not leaving.”

Pain fills my belly like swallowing lead. I need some time to think about what just happened. He has done so many devious things that I wonder if anything good I believed about him was true. Maybe my father, James, and Jackson are right. Xavier is manipulative and conniving, and I deserve better. I think I need a break to be alone, to sort out all the rush of thoughts and emotions.

Setting my jaw, I say, “Let me by.”

His black hair falls across his forehead as he shakes his head. “No. You’re not leaving.”

Twisting in his hold, I plead, “Xavier, let me go. We can talk some other time, just not right now. I need to think. I want this to be over.”

“No. We aren’t ever over, I told you. And you’re not leaving.”

Hurling myself at him with all my might, he stumbles back, then braces his arms on either side of the closet door frame. I slap him across the face, leaving a handprint and, without hesitation, he slaps me back. It doesn’t hurt, but I hold my hand to my face in shock.

“Now, you gonna be a good girl and be obedient, or do I need to lock you up?” he asks with fierce eyes, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

“You’re not locking me up. I’m so over this. I’m so over you.” I try to dip out under his arm, but he grabs my waist and swings me over his shoulder. My short dress lifts, so my butt is exposed, my pussy covered only by a sliver of my black nylon thong.

“Guess you need to be locked up.” Xavier wrestles my body as I kick to fight him, hitting his back with my fists, but heels and a tight dress don’t make for a good getaway outfit.

Thrashing with everything I have, he lowers me onto the ground and holds me there, face down. While my arms are held in one of his firm grips behind my back, my wrists are locked in leather restraints. A ball gag is shoved into my mouth and tied. Lifting me again, he hauls me downstairs over his shoulder. Terror overtakes me, not knowing where he’s taking me or what kind of plans he has for me. Every time I mumble a scream for help, Xavier spanks me so hard that tears flood my eyes.

Downstairs is filled with cheers when he slaps my ass again as I kick. Guests of the party must think he’s just enjoying Red Night with his woman. A few male voices trail behind us as he walks around downstairs.

“Cardell, you’re so fucking crazy.”

“Yo! Check out Cardell and his woman. They be into that kinky shit.”

“Fuck her hard, Mr. President!”

We near an area under the stairs where Xavier opens a black door. My body bounces on his hard shoulder with every step down a set of rickety stairs into a stone basement. Through narrow dark passages, nausea creeps up as I sway with his lumbering gait. My body shivers with the cold air and terror.

The low-ceilinged room we enter reeks of mildew, the source revealing itself in a small opening in the far corner. A little bathroom is tucked into the wall with a dripping faucet. Xavier spins me around and tosses me onto a bed that takes up most of the tiny room. The silky red sheets are damp from the moisture in the air. Tears of fear form in my eyes and fall over my cheeks. Trying to scurry away from him, I push my legs up, but he pulls out ankle cuffs and straps me to the metal footboard as I twisted in his grip. He does the same by unhooking my wrist restraints and moving my arms from around my back to up over my head, securing them to the headboard. I can move my body somewhat, but not by much.

Now that I can see, the room also holds a strange, small A-frame bench and a wooden chest with a padlock attached. A large red velvet rug covers the floor. Hooks line the beams in the ceiling.

Standing at the end of the bed, he crosses one arm over his chest while the other leans against his chin. “I tried to spoil you. I tried to give you everything you could ever want, Marissa.” He won’t look at me as he paces slowly. “Apparently, that wasn’t good enough. You wanted to leave because you thought I was a monster…” Stopping, he drops his arms.

His icy blue eyes glower at me. “That was me being nice. Now, you’re going to meet the monster.”

Then he turns on his heel and leaves.