Chapter 35: CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: BUNDLED REVELATION

/JAMIE-/

What a fool I had been. Playing by every word Bella spoke just so I could get close to Artemis. Where had I gone wrong?

I gazed at the ceiling, staring at the vertical lines that crossed the inserted plaster of Paris. The lines seemed to say much about me: how I had thrown the one girl I had loved away because I didn't want to accept my responsibility or how crazy I had fallen for her that I couldn't help but check up on her even if she didn't want to see me. 

I know I had caused it all with my hands, but I had to make a big difference, show her that I was someone lovable by nature. A man she would yearn to be with till her last breath. 

"Jamie!" A thick voice emanated from the door. 

I tilted my head, staring at the door as it creaked open. A huge man walking into my office with tons of keys in his hands. I could recognize the scent of his perfume; it was the same as the one given to all my family members after a brief ceremony. 

"Dad, didn't think you'd come visit at the office." I forced a smile. 

He grunted as he pulled into the chair before me, dropping the pictures in his hands on the desk. I grabbed one, staring at the image he had been so enraged about. 

I gasped, dropping the photo when I realized what he was trying to say. "I can explain."

"What do you want to explain to me, Jamie?" He smashed his hand on the desk. "Do you realize that this lady here is also a Mercedes?"

I held up a plain face, showing not a glint of emotion as he spoke. The consequences for my actions were going to be much wilder than the last time, but I was up for it. Anything was fine by me as long as I could see Artemis each passing day. 

"So tell me, Jamie. Do you love those ladies more than you love the family?" He grunted. 

"Family is my number one priority. I want Artemis to be one; that's why I'm doing all that I can..."

"You got into a relationship with Bella Mercedes after I sent you away from Artemis Mercedes. How cocky are you getting, Alexander? His fist came, smashing my face to the wall. 

"Father, try to understand me." I blocked his hands, avoiding the next attack he had prepared for me. I was lucky he had taken off his knuckle rings; I would probably have gotten bruises from the hit. 

"What do you want from the Mercedes, Jamie? You're a Leonardo, a pureblood, not an adopted rascal. We Leonardsdon't roll with the Mercedes, and that's just all that's to be known about our relationship with them. If anything, and I mean anything at all, occurs between you and any of their two daughters, you'll be in trouble much more than you can handle." He said. 

I could only nod in defeat as he stared at hopeless little me. I had never had the courage to stand up to him till Artemis came along. That to me was my miracle and my one victory even though he beat me to a pulp the following day. 

"You didn't tell me your dad was going to be in the office today, Jamie." 

My eyes dilated as I spotted Bella walking towards us. She was holding a bag filled with snacks as usual; only this time it was bigger. 

She walked up to him, greeting him like a true daughter. He held up a smirk, accepting the homemade cookies she had packaged. 

"Jamie, next time call me when Father is around. I don't want to be caught off guard and look like a bad daughter." She let out, flashing him a smile like they'd known each other before. 

"I'm sorry about that. I'll inform you of his arrival next time." I played along, trying my best not to let out a curse in the process. 

They both conversed for a while before Bella packed her bags and headed for home. She had begged to be escorted, but knowing my father as a cunning man, I wouldn't want to be caught up in such. I was already in quite a mess, and she would only add to it. 

Bella's footsteps had barely faded when he began. "I like that girl; she's quite the lady." 

I held back the urge to smile, knowing how callous and mischievous he could be. I had to be sure he wasn't kidding or setting up some kind of word trap. 

"So you like her?" I stuttered. 

"I would have agreed to your union, but I will never allow my son to get married to a Mercedes. Over my dead body shall that happen." He let out a chuckle, hitting me playfully on the face.

"Why don't you want me to get married or have a relationship with a Mercedes? I mean, you've always wanted me to get married to a rich female and not some street girl I found at a party, right? I watched him nod in compliance. "Then why are the Mercedes not supposed to join hands or do business with us?"

He rose up from the chair, prepared to leave. "Follow my orders and you'll be just fine." 

I knew my father was always filled with mysteries, but this was the only one I was enticed to get a hold of. Why did he hate the Mercedes? Why did he want me to cut ties with Bella just as he had instructed with Artemis? He was hiding something from me, and I am going to find it. 

After following him to his bulletproof Camelot car, I watch him head for the road, his warning pinned to my head: "No Mercedes is out there for you; they are all but bloody betrayals injected with manipulation skills."

I heaved a sigh of relief as his car moved along with the others. The thought of standing one more minute next to him was more of a torture session than a blessing. 

Barely at the entrance, Artemis's voice crawled into my ears, making me turn backwards. She wasn't smiling; neither was she putting on that bossy look. What was it now?