Chapter 52 BEAUTIFUL.
\~~~RAINA
My knees gave out and I almost didn’t even realize I was sinking to the floor until my back hit the side of the desk and pain shot up my spine. The phone slipped from my fingers and landed beside me with a dull sound.
“No… no… no…” I whispered, shaking my head slowly like that could erase the words.
My chest tightened suddenly, sharp and painful, like an invisible hand had wrapped around my lungs. I clutched at my shirt, my fingers digging into the fabric as I struggled to breathe.
In…. Out.
God, it wasn’t working.
Air refused to go in properly, and my vision blurred at the edges. Black dots danced in front of my eyes as my heart slammed violently against my ribs, fast and wild, like it was trying to escape my body.
“I can’t…” My voice cracked. “I can’t…”
I bent forward, hugging myself, rocking slightly as panic swallowed me whole. My stomach churned violently and bile rushed up my throat.
“Oh God…” I gagged.
I scrambled toward the trash can beside my desk just in time, retching hard. Nothing came out at first, just dry heaves that burned my throat and left tears streaming down my face. My body shook uncontrollably, every muscle tense, and every nerve screaming.
How? Who?
My phone vibrated again on the floor.
The sound alone made me flinch like I’d been struck.
“No… please…” I whispered, pressing my palm against my mouth as if I could silence the world.
Slowly, slowly, I reached for my phone with trembling fingers. My hands were shaking so badly that I almost dropped it again.
Another message.
“How does it feel living a lie, Raina Marielle Monroe?”
My breath hitched painfully and without hesitation, I slammed my phone against the wall.
My head spun violently and I leaned back against the desk, staring at the ceiling like it might give me answers. My heartbeat was so loud in my ears that it drowned out every other sound.
They know.
Someone knows.
About Talia, about the switch, and about the sham marriage.
A sob tore out of my chest before I could stop it. I slapped my hand over my mouth, muffling the sound, my shoulders shaking as silent tears poured down my face.
If this got out…
If Luciano ever finds out…
I squeezed my eyes shut, my nails biting into my palms.
I wouldn’t just lose my job.
Job? Please, that should even be the least of my worries.
I would lose my life.
My parents too…
God, he’s going to kill us.
I rushed to where my phone had landed, picked it up, and stared at the broken screen before scrolling through it.
I dialed the number immediately, but it was out of service.
My fingers trembled as I lowered the phone, my grip loosening until it slipped from my hand and clattered softly to the floor.
Just then, the door pushed open, and my secretary, Vanessa entered.
She looked around the room, and then at me very carefully as if whatever she was going to say next was going to set off the bomb in my head.
“A… are you okay, ma’am?”
For a second, I just stared at Vanessa like she wasn’t real, like my mind had placed her there to test me. My chest felt tight, as though someone had wrapped a rope around my ribs and kept pulling.
“I…” My mouth opened, but no word came out.
Vanessa took a cautious step closer. “Ma’am?” Her voice was gentle now. “You look pale. Did something happen?”
That was when my knees finally gave in.
I sank onto the chair behind my desk, my hands gripping the edge so hard my fingers hurt.
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, too quickly. “I just… didn’t sleep well.”
It was a lie. A poor one. And she probably knew it.
Vanessa didn’t push, but her eyes flicked briefly to the phone on the floor, then back to my face. “Should I get you some water?”
I nodded, because if I tried to speak again, I knew I would break.
She turned and left quietly, closing the door behind her.
For a moment, I sat in complete silence, and after a while, Vanessa returned and handed me a glass of water.
“Are you sure you are okay, ma’am?”
“I am okay,” I said again, forcing myself to stand, even though my legs felt weak. “Please. I just need a moment.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “The CEO asked that you meet her in her office. Should I tell her you won’t be ab…”
“No. No!” I cut in too fast, shaking my head. “I’m okay. I’ll go to her soon.”
I waved my hands lightly, trying to look normal. Trying to look sane.
Vanessa studied me for a brief moment longer, clearly unconvinced, then gave a small nod and turned to leave. The door closed softly behind her, and the silence returned thick and heavy.
I swallowed hard.
If I told Alessia I couldn’t see her, she would come here herself. And the last thing I wanted was for her to see me like this… shaking, pale, and barely holding myself together.
So I straightened my back.
I adjusted my clothes with stiff fingers, wiped the sweat on my forehead with the back of my hand, and took a deep breath that barely helped.
“I’ll deal with this later,” I whispered to myself.
I picked up my phone, clenched it tightly in my hand, and stepped out of my office.
_______
I nodded at her secretary who stood outside the office and knocked lightly before pushing the door open.
However… I froze.
Because the very last thing I expected was for Alessia, my sister-in-law, who barely tolerated my existence to jump up from her seat as she had just seen a long-lost friend.
“Talia!” she exclaimed, her voice bright, almost too bright, as she rushed forward.
My heart skipped.
What?
“H… hi,” I stuttered, stepping fully into the office, my body stiff and unsure.
That was when I noticed her.
Someone else was there.
A figure sat calmly in front of Alessia’s desk, her back turned toward me, legs crossed with deliberate ease. She didn’t move, nor did she turn. And somehow, that was worse.
Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the swivel chair began to turn.
The soft whirr of it sounded too loud in the quiet room, and my breath caught in my throat as my eyes landed on the woman seated in it.
Fuck, she is beautiful.