Chapter 45 — I Quit

A frown made its way into my forehead. I knew that voice.

Stepping closer, the person got down to my level, and rays of light shone on his face.

"C-Christian?"

"Oh God! What happened to you, Ember?" He scanned over me, shock and worry visible in his eyes.

I stayed silent not knowing what I should tell.

"Did...Hunter do something?"

I looked down as an ache shot through my heart at hearing that name.

"Alright, alright. We can have this conversation later. Let's take you home first. You might get sick." He extended his hands.

"I-I don't wanna go there." A fit of coughing stopped me as my throat felt soar.

He pondered for a second. "Okay, then you can stay in my house. Come on!"

Holding my arms he pulled me up on my feet. I clutched on his shoulder finding no might in my feeble legs, and his arm snaked around my waist to hold me in place.

"Are you okay? Can you walk?"

I nodded.

And with his support I walked to his car. Opening the door he ushered me in, but I stood there eyeing my soaked physique and shaking in cold, goosebumps rising all over my body.

"Oh it's not a problem. Get in. You are more worth than those leather seats." The corner of his lips turned up into a kind smile.

Nodding I got in, and he wrapped a towel around me fetching from the backseat. The car ride was silent until he decided otherwise.

"So...What happened if I may ask?"

"We had a fight," I lied, not wanting to reveal to him yet.

"He left you in the park just for that?" Disbelief laced his voice.

"It was my decision. I left."

Sighing he went back to driving in silence, and soon we were in front of a beige colored mansion much alike to the Kings Mansion; only it was two-storied. I closed my eyes and gulped back the tears that threatened to fall once again.

"Come on, Ember." He guided me up through the huge stairs in the middle of the hall to a room at the end of the hallway. I looked around at the light gray walls where a couple paintings hung except the bedside wall that occupied a huge golden frame consisting of a girl's picture. She was beautiful and looked to be my age, but those emerald-green eyes…they seemed familiar like I had seen them before. But where?

Walking ahead Christian opened a door which appeared to be the closet judging from the rows of dresses hung in the shelves. "Change your clothes. Here you will find everything you need." He smiled which never reached his eyes as a soft sigh left his lips. Turning around he began walking away.

"Christian?"

"Hmm? Anything else you need?"

"Is that your wife? Is this her room?"

He nodded as a curtain of sadness fell over his face.

"Where is she?"

"Two years ago there was an accident."

"Oh..." My eyes widened.

"She's in a coma. I go see her every day waiting for the day she might wake up." A ray of hope bloomed on his face as he was lost in the memories of his wife.

"I'm sure that day will come soon." I forced a smile.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you for your help."

"What kind of a friend will I be if I can't help you in need?" His lips curved into a lopsided grin, and then he was gone.

I closed my eyes once again letting the tears fall. Why God? Why do you hurt the ones that love? They don't deserve it. Please, give Christian his wife back.

Picking a sweat pair I got into the bathroom and looked myself in the mirror, my whole body was a canvas of red and blue. My eyes puffed up, and the corners burned from wiping the tears continuously, yet more demanded to spill as my heart felt the constant pain like it's been brutally torn apart.

I casted my eyes down at the ring. Stop it Ember! Stop. You won't think about him or even cry for him anymore. Remember what father told. Be strong and learn to let go. You are strong, and you will show him that. Pulling the ring off my finger I looked up, and there was fire in my eyes, a determination for revenge.

~~~

The next day I sat at the dining table with Christian at the head chair who insisted on me having breakfast with him.

"Come on, Ember. Eat something now at least. You haven't touched your dinner last night. You'll get sick like that." His eyes were almost pleading.

"I'm fine, Christian. Don't worry!" Sending him a half-hearted smile I shoved a piece of apple in my mouth when something came into my mind. "Can you tell me about the Elite Board?"

He looked up. "Sure! But...I thought Hunter told you everything."

Sighing I shrugged. "I never asked."

"Well, The Elites is an organization founded in 1963 by Albert Arthur, Mr. Jonathan Arthur's grandfather in order to assemble the Noble businessmen and enhance their trade area by supporting each other. The board is where all the decisions are made."

"Um...What is with the marriage rule?"

"Ah." He pointed at the air. "That's the interesting part. Albert Arthur was a man deeply in love with his beloved wife. He believed behind every successful man there is a woman. So he made it a rule. Now the board members aren't required to follow that rule but the one leading them and that'd be the board head who has to be a successful married man like I was..." he trailed. "Now is Hunter."

I looked down, biting back the tears as my heart broke once again. This was the reason my life was a ruin right now. He only married me to claim that head chair in the board. Despite my tries a drop of liquid rolled down my cheek, and I got up before he noticed. "I'm done."

"Ember," he called from behind.

Wiping the tears hastily I turned around.

"I'm going to my office. If you want I can give you a ride to your office," he offered.

Biting my inner cheeks I shook my head. "I left that job."

His brows arched. "Oh..."

"Don't worry! I won't trouble you for long. I will find a new job and a place to stay soon," I added looking down not wanting to be a burden on him.

The scraping of a chair against the floor made me look up as Christian held my arms. "Hey! Never ever think of yourself as a burden, okay? I'm glad to be of help to you."

I nodded, sending him another half-hearted smile. "Thanks, Christian! You are a really good person."

He waved his hand off and then pondered for a second. "Hm...I think I found you your new job."

I frowned.

"I'm looking for an assistant. My previous one left to get married and move to another state with her husband. Will you take the offer? I mean, I won't find a better candidate. You are both intelligent and experienced—"

"I'll take it," I cut him off. I couldn't let the opportunity go.

"Excellent! You can start from tomorrow. Rest today." Sending me another of his signature kind smiles he began walking off as a maid handed him his necessary belongings.

"Actually...I do need a ride to Kings Corp."

~~~

I stood in front of the familiar skyscraper, my aching heart thudding in my chest and legs feeling glued to the place not wanting to move an inch towards the blasted devil's den, but I had to for completing the unfinished business.

Gulping and inhaling deep I padded inside, each step tearing my heart bit by bit and the tears were getting tenacious to be held inside, yet I marched right in his room balling my fists and letting my nails dig in my flesh as a distraction from the insufferable pain my heart faltered to bear. To my surprise it was empty, no sign of the devil anywhere.

Exhaling a long sigh of relief, I went to his desk and pulled open the drawer where a stash of papers was stacked. Moving them one by one, I finally found the envelope he once endeavored for me to accept.

Pulling the letter out, I surveyed it once again and put it on the table. Observing the resignation letter I leaned down holding a pen on the signature spot. Biting my lip I closed my eyes and ran the pen over the paper.

It was done. I had quit.

Two hands wrapped around my waist and in a flash I was whirled around, my back hitting the cold hard edge of the table and wrists pinned against it. A squeak left my mouth until my eyes caught a glimpse of the icy glaring sea-green ones boring into mine.

"What. Were. You. Doing?"

My lips were sealed shut as I matched his fiery stare.

"I asked what you were doing in my room?" His voice was deadly low.

"It's none of your concern." I twisted my wrists to get out of his grasp, but they only tightened.

His eyes narrowed infinitesimally as he came closer, pressing into me slightly. "Excuse me?" His gaze went over me, and his eyebrows knitted. Pressing me hard against him, he gripped both my hands in one hand and leaned over me examining the letter.

"Ah! What are you doing? Let go of me!" I squirmed against him. The heck! What was he so scared for? That I would hit him again?

One side of his lips turned up slightly into a tight-lipped smirk. "Finally."

His word boiled the blood in my veins.

"What are you going to do now? Go be a burden to your parents?"

That was it.

Pulling my leg back I delivered my knee right in his groin.

"Nrng..." His grip on my wrists loosened.

Taking the opportunity I slipped from between him and jabbed an accusing finger on his chest stopping him from coming any closer. "Don't you dare think my parents would ever think of me as such. Not all families are the same," I warned. "And don't worry about me. I already got a better job at a better place. They even offered me a place to stay," I lied. I didn't want him to think of me as a helpless girl.

He arched an eyebrow. "Who is that generous person may I ask?"

The corners of my lips twitched into a devilish smirk. "Mr. Christian Delgado."

I had never seen someone move so fast as his face was just inches away from me, my eyes widening and heartbeat racing at the proximity.

"You- you...And you say I am the bad guy?" For a millisecond hurt flash over his physiognomy.

"You hurt me..." I whispered over my heavy breathing.

"What about the money you took?" he inquired, his eyes scanning my face for something I had no idea about.

I clenched my jaw. I couldn't take it anymore. One more second, and I would break down or worse, give into him. "I only took what I worked for," saying that I sharply turned around and ran out the door, out of his office…and perhaps out of his life as well.