Chapter 24: CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR: MEMORIES.

ARTEMIS-/

The thought of the ruthless CEO of Leon, Jamie, being punished by his father was truly an outrageous scene I found hard to fantasize about. 

I didn't want to believe his words, but upon meeting with his butler, it turned out he had truly been locked up in the place he called the dark room for a week. 

All I could think of was his last words to me before he was locked up. "Not all fathers are fathers."

It made me remember my foster father, who I had once believed was my biological father. 

"Don't you ever keep shut." His voice delayed in my head. 

The memory of him coming home drunk just like every other day and smashing the empty bottle on my foster mother's head gave me countless nightmares. 

I always thought it was the influence he got from the alcohol, but it turned out it was basically just him. I remember eavesdropping while he was speaking with his friend and learning the true reason he had drunk. 

"You know it still hurts inside." I recalled my father telling his friend. 

"You should just send her packing rather than maltreat her along with your daughter." His friend had advised.

"She lied to me, Chris. She told me she was fertile, fruitful, a virgin, only to get married and meet myself 6 feet beneath." He had said.

Chris chuckled. "We both know you only wanted her for her body. You disvirgined her and then used that as your excuse to move on with Hailey. You have a daughter now; stick to it." 

"I prefer to live like a loner than to take care of a daughter and her. Hailey is much better than her; she gives sick styles, and damn, she knows how to take care of me. She doesn't just lie there like a piece of wood."

"If you know you want her out, then create that out yourself." 

That was the last thing I heard before the creaking sound of the door. I had run into my room, pretending to be asleep when he walked in. 

"I know you're not asleep. Stand right up." I didn't respond, playing pretense. 

"You lousy bitch," he rolled me out of the bed, letting me fall to the ground. 

I cried out loud, screaming for help with the knowledge that no one dared to surface. It was my way of creating hope rather than falling into despair.

"You little nunchuck. Did you hear any word I said?" He asked, tugging on my hair. 

"I didn't." I had cried my eyes out as he hugged hard. 

"You filthy girl. Laying your ears in the Lycans lair." He has clubbed me with a wooden ruler, tears rolling out of my eyes as I wailed loudly. 

"It's okay," Chris had walked in, stopping him from hitting me anymore. 

"If I hear a word about what you heard tonight from anyone, including your mother, I'll throw you out into the streets and let you suffer till your flesh turns into bones." He thundered before leaving the room.

"Mom," I wailed as I tugged myself back in bed. 

"Are you okay, Arte?" Alexander's voice echoed in my ears, drawing me out of my memories.

"Yeah." I let out a smile. 

"You don't seem so." His hand grazed my cheeks, wiping away the tears that had welled up in my eyes. 

"I'm fine, Alexander." I pushed his hands away. 

"How long are we going to be doing this, Arte? You've been like this for a day straight, and that's the answer I keep getting. His tone was aggressive but filled with care.

"Because that's the truth, Alexander. I have nothing else going on." I shot out.

"You're thinking about him, Jamie."

"I have more important things to think about than him. Mind if I can get some alone time?" I said politely. 

"You know what? You're coming with me." He moved towards me, lifting me onto his arm after a playful fight. 

"I can't let the workers see me like this. They'll think something's going on between us." I hesitated.

"To think you of all people care about what other people define you as is pretty crazy. Come on, you're the new Mademoiselle. No one dares unless they want to go all blank. He chuckled. 

A smile appeared on my face as I thought of how cute his words were. A combination of French and English always seemed to make my day. 

"So, Mi Amor, how about a drink to cheer us up?" His eyebrows furrowed upwards.

"There's no need for that. I've had my fill of drinks for the week." 

"Then why don't we just catch our breath?"

"Merci?" I raised my eyebrows, hoping I had gotten the trend correctly. 

"Merci." He grinned, carrying me out of the office and heading straight for the exit. 

"Miss Artemis, are you okay?" Kate ran after me, her heels making hideous sounds. 

"Take care of the files on my desk; I'll be back in some minutes." I said barely above a whisper.

She nodded, running back to the elevator to get the job done. 

"What do you say about the park?" I suggested.

He grinned, "Mechante."

"No merchants," I said, and he chuckled.

The sight of the green fields at the center of the park gave me a sense of comfort. It sat alone with the three-layered water fountain, which gave it quite an exquisite look. 

"Let's go, shall we?" He flashed a smile, his hand holding onto mine. 

I stared as our hands melted in each other's. The temperature difference was just perfect, and his hands were quite bigger, giving mine the warmth it needed. 

"So have you perhaps fallen in love with anyone in your entire life?" He dropped the billionaire question. 

I halted in my steps, my gaze on his white sneakers. 

Had I ever loved anyone honestly? I couldn't tell knowing how broken they had all left me. Jarvis seemed to be the answer, but he did the unspeakable, leaving me for a bimbo. 

"Have you?" He repeated. 

"That's a topic for another day, don't you think? My relationship life is a despicable waste of time; you wouldn't be interested in something as lowly as that." 

He took my other hand into possession, our eyes merging. "I'm here for you always. Remember that."

I looked up, and to my surprise, it was Jamie. Stunned by his sudden appearance, I released my hands from his, wrapping them around his neck. 

His hands found my waist, pulling me closer to him. 

"Did you miss me?" He said with a chuckle. 

"Yes, I did. Pretty much." Our eyes locked onto each other. 

"How about I reward you for that?" He lowered his head, his breath warm on my neck as he kissed me on the nape. 

"I'm most welcome." I brought myself closer, standing on my toes. My eyes shut as I went for it. 

Our lips met, and I opened up to him. His tongue entered slowly, teasing me as he savored my mouth. I moaned as our tongues intertwined, filling me with bliss. 

"How was that?" he asked.

"That was great."

I opened my eyes slowly, and there I was in Alexander's arms. 

"No, no, no..." I threw his hands off me, storming away. 

"Hey, wait up."

I couldn't believe I had gotten so worried about Jamie that I had thought he was Alexander. I had to forget about him some way or the other before he sees me like this after he's released. 

"Where are you heading off to?" He grabbed me, turning me to face him the next moment. 

"How's that your concern?" I flared up. 

"I care about you, Arte." He placed my hand on his chest. The feel of his heart beating rapidly calmed me down a bit. 

"I hate you."

"It's okay for you to hate me. I'll take it all in if that's what you want." He brought me closer, wrapping his arms around me. 

"Get off me." I pushed him away. 

"Come on, Arte..."

"Never you call me Arte." I kept a stern face, hoping he would leave me all alone. 

"You look cute when you're angry." He held a smirk as his fingers found my cheeks. 

"Don't you dare?" I let out before he began playing with my cheeks. 

"You have to cheer up Arte. I don't know what is coursing through your mind, but just know it isn't the end of the world." He let out a smile, releasing my cheeks. 

"Get lost." I flushed. 

I watched as his smile bent into a plain face. He wasn't cheerful; instead, he was trying not to let out the monster in him, which I wanted to see. 

"You call yourself the prince of Height, but you're no prince. You're just a guy who goes all over speaking French, teasing ladies, and hiding behind those high-priced clothes and ornaments."

"Arte," his voice became deeper. 

"You're not a man, and you'll never be." I yelled.

"Enough," he raised his hand, about to hit me. 

I shut my eyes immediately, hoping he wasn't like my foster father, who would take the slightest chance to beat any lady who blurted out hateful words relating to him. 

"You need some space. If you ever need someone to talk to, visit me or place a call through

gh." His hands landed on my shoulder, the card resting in his palms. 

"I..." Words refused to leave my mouth as he slowly placed the card in my hands.

"Goodbye, Artemis."