The Heiress' Revenge

Marcus’s POV

The office was cold as I walked in. Melissa sat behind Dante’s desk.

I stood across from her with my hands in fists, and my jaw was tight. I had been trying to be calm.

Trying to be professional.

Trying not to lose my temper with her, but she made it so hard. She made everything so hard.

"Melissa," I said, my voice was tight. "You just married Dante two days ago. Two days. He’s still in a wheelchair, still fucking confused. He still doesn’t remember half of his life. He needs you right now. He needs you to be there for him, since apparently, you’re the only name that is familiar to his lips now; you’re not supposed to be here, not in this office. Not trying to change things you don’t understand."

Melissa leaned back in Dante’s chair.

She crossed her legs.

She smiled that smile that made me want to scream. "What I do with my husband is none of your business, Marcus. You’re not family. You’re not even an employee. You’re just... a friend, and even that is being generous."

I stepped closer to the desk. My hands were shaking, and I was so angry. "I am his best friend. I have been by his side for years, so you don’t tell me I’m not family. I am more family to him than you will ever be."

Melissa’s smile didn’t waver as she stood up. She walked around the desk.

She stopped right in front of me.

She was shorter than me, but she looked up at me like she was looking down, like I was nothing but dirt on her shoe.

"Let me tell you something, Marcus." Her voice was sweet. Poison sweet. "It wasn’t hard for me to get rid of Ariana, a few threats, lies, and papers to sign... then she was gone. Just like that, she rolled over and gave me everything I wanted."

My blood boiled.

My hands clenched tighter. "She didn’t roll over, unlike you, she was willing to make sacrifices for the people she loves, not try ruining their lives, she was protecting her family. She was doing what any mother would do."

Melissa laughed in a cold sound. "Whatever helps you sleep at night. The point is she’s gone, and if you think it will be hard for me to get rid of you, too, you’re wrong. Dante is on my side now. I’m the only one he sees and the only one he believes, and you’re nothing, Marcus. Just a friend, or rather a bystander who thinks he matters but doesn’t."

I stared at her.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

The audacity.

The arrogance.

The pure evil.

"Are you threatening me?" I asked if my voice was low and dangerous.

Melissa stepped closer; she was inches from my face.

"I’m not threatening you," she said. "I’m promising you. Stay in your lane and mind your god damn business. Take care of your little nanny and your little boy and stay out of my way because if you don’t, if you try to interfere with my marriage, with my family, with my life, I will destroy you and I will enjoy every second of it."

"Brave of you, Melissa, but mind you, I’m not Ariana or Dante... the last thing you should ever think of doing is crossing my line," I warned

Melissa’s smile flickered just for a second.

"We’ll see about that," she said and walked back to the desk, sat down. She picked up a pen. She looked at me like I was already gone. "Now get out. I have work to do."

"You’ve been warned... I won’t be responsible for what happens next... bring yourself in while you still have the chance."

Melissa looked up at me, her eyes were cold. Hard. "Good luck with that. You’re going to need it."

I turned and walked to the door.

I opened the door. I walked out.

I knew she was bad news the minute she walked into his life. If only he saw that too, then he wouldn’t be stuck in the mess he currently is in.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I almost ignored it, but something made me pull it out and look at the screen.

Dante.

My heart stuttered.

I answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

Silence for a moment, then his voice rough, tired, but his. "Marcus."

I straightened up in my seat. "Yeah. Yeah, I’m here. You okay?"

Another pause, I could hear him breathing on the other end, slow and measured like he was choosing his words carefully.

"I need you to come over."

My grip tightened on the phone. "What’s wrong?—"

"Just... come over, please. I need to talk to you."

"Sure, I’ll be there in a bit."