Page 15 of Darkest Deception

“I hate you, Helia Nashwood. I’m glad you wear black all the time. When I do manage to kill you, I won’t have so much cleaning to do or blood to hide.”

He laughs, throwing his head back.

The next moment, Helia’s own hand is around my neck. He walks me backward until my back hits the elevator doors.

My eyes widen.

We are about to reach the ground floor. The doors could open at any moment, and I could fall right in front of everyone. That is just asking for humiliation.

The elevator dings, and my heart races.

No.

“Not before I make you beg at my feet. There is no ending this before I am done with you, Miss Torre.”

The doors slowly slide open against my back. My heart is in my throat. I grab for his shirt.

“No…” My voice trails off.

The doors fully open and so does Helia’s hold on my neck.

A small push and I stagger back. My heels catch in between the doors, and I go falling back.

A scream climbs up my throat, and my eyes widen as I fall back.

My eyes shut, but a jolt snaps them open.

Helia’s glaring eyes are above me, and he holds me just a couple of inches above the ground.

“For all that barking you did, you sure are a coward.”

He pulls me up with so much force that I get thrown against the wall of the elevator, effectively saving me the embarrassment of falling. I hate that his throwing me around like a rag doll just proves he is much stronger than me.

I don’t care that he is. I want my company back, and he has made my life a living hell ever since he stepped into my life.

With my thirty-eight per cent of shares compared to his fifty-two per cent, it’s a lot less, but the remainder are sold publicly. I have more than enough money to file a lawsuit against him.

I just need enough evidence that I should be the CEO of Glamorous. Not just the CEO but the owner. After all, I am the rightful heir to this company.

5

“I don’t like this dress.” Helia points at the pink dress Runa, one of the brunette models, is wearing.

The photographer, Arlo, sighs.

“How many more outfit changes do we need? I am a busy person, and you only have three more hours left with me,” Arlo says.

Helia’s eyes snap towards him with such cruel intensity, I don’t know how Arlo isn’t shaking.

The studio has a pink backdrop for the pictures, and there are five models lined up. The first two have already done their part, but Helia seems to be having a problem with Runa. She has already changed twice.

“I’m the one paying you, aren’t I? Go change, Runa, and you—” He points at Arlo, who pushes his glasses up his nose. “If you want to keep your business going, I advise keeping your trap shut. If any of these pictures don’t come out as I expect them to, I will drag you back here, be it midnight or during ungodly hours of the morning, and make you redo them.”

Arlo swallows thickly.

“Understood?”

Arlo nods frantically, then waves a hand to his assistant, who walks Runa to the change room.

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