„If you dance with a devil then you haven't got a clue, for you think you'll change the devil, but the devil changes you."

„Heads you lose, tails he wins." – Claudia Moscovici

Chapter 10

Seeing Paul in my house was shocking, to say the least. Usually, I was familiar with my father's business partners, however, I had never heard of him. I knew that we attended the same university, we shared a couple of classes, but nothing more. I had been surprised when he had approached me a few days ago, but I was starting to realize what was the reason for his actions.

I scanned the whole room. My father was seated at the head of the table and it looked like he was in deep conversation with Paul's dad who sat on his left. Paul was next to him and my mother and me in front of the father-son duo. I noticed that she tried way too hard to join in the conversation, but she failed miserably. Paul didn't take his eyes off me the whole night, additionally trying to get me to talk to him, however, I was overly suspicious to do so. This was too much of a coincidence, and my father wasn't one to operate with those.

"Well, dear Tara, I heard that you go to the same university as my son." Paul's father spoke to me when we finally finished dinner and moved to the salon to continue with our night.

"Yes, we share some classes," I answered with caution and he nodded his head, clearly pleased with my response.

"I shall admit that I heard a lot about you, my son just can't stop talking about you," I frowned. Why would he do that? We were basically strangers.

"Only good things, I hope," I gave him the fakest smile I could manage and I was pretty sure that everyone in the room was aware of that.

"Of course," he countered the same way.

For a brief moment we were surrounded by a deafening silence, however, my father put an end to it. He coughed and started speaking with his deep voice.

"Tara, since we are done with pleasantries, It's time to get down to business," he looked at me with a serious expression. I furrowed my eyebrows confused as to what I had to do with all that.

"What business?"

"Remember our agreement from earlier today?" He was obviously provoking me to say something I would regret. I was smarter than that.

"Yes, why?"

"Paul will also finish his studies here, so Adam and I decided that the best thing would be for you two to volunteer together on our project," he stated in a triumphant tone. I looked at Paul with a shocked expression but he had already had a satisfied smile plastered on his face. At that moment everything made sense. The reason why I had to move back, to immediately start working at the company, everything came to this. You didn't have to be a genius to understand what they planned.

Is it possible that someone does these things in the twenty-first century?

"So, this was all planned by you two?" I knew I was stepping into dangerous territory. Dealing with such stern businessmen wasn't something I should take lightly, however, I was adamant to get to the bottom of this.

"You could say so, yes," Adam, Paul's father, answered me in the same way. I found it rather amusing how people were able to act totally opposite of the way they really felt.

"And may I ask why?"

"Well, you see, since you are the heiress to your father's company and Paul is mine heir, I think that that was the only logical solution seeing as we will cooperate much more intimately in the future," he emphasized the word in a way that made me sick. I was angry with myself because I didn't have enough courage to confront my father. I wondered if I would be obligated to do what they said in the end if I would ever be brave enough to refuse my father's orders.

"It will be fun, trust me," Paul winked at me and took my hand, leaving a lingering kiss there which made me roll my eyes.

Sure thing, especially when certain someone finds out about all this.

-

The weekend finally came to an end. The moment I left my parent's home and was seated inside of a plane was one of the happiest I had experienced in my lifetime. Parting was the exact way I imagined It to be, stiff and void of emotions. My father didn't miss the chance to remind me of my near future, though. I wondered how far he could go, but I had already known the answer. To the end. He was someone that always gets what he wants.

The flight was completely different this time. Even though my thoughts were yet again pretty occupied, it felt like It took forever to reach our destination. I couldn't point as to what I dreaded more, the fact that I would have to go back to my home town in a couple of months or Mateo's reaction when he finds out.

Like he ordered me to, I sent him a message before we took off. Although he didn't respond, I knew that he would be at the airport waiting for me. I couldn't shake the flashbacks of our last conversation out of my mind. He gave up, but something told me that that was even worse. Who knew in what mood he would be when I get back. I considered many different options to cheer him up, however, nothing seemed like it could work and as the time of my arrival approached, I was more and more nervous. I debated whether I should add fuel to the fire and tell him about what my father wanted me to do or it would be better to keep my mouth shut, but I had a feeling that he wouldn't really appreciate that since it seemed like he would find out anyway and the whole thing would blow up in my face.

Not long after, the plane landed. The moment I exited the plane, I spotted him waiting for me. My heart started beating rapidly in my chest, both out of nervousness and excitement because I saw him again. When he noticed that I was checking him out he straightened up and started walking in my direction. He looked better than ever in his dark jeans and a black leather jacket.

After a couple of seconds, he was standing right in front of me. He forcefully grabbed my upper arms and pulled me to him. He pressed his lips to mine and kissed me in a way that spoke volumes. It wasn't a gentle kiss, no, it was full of lust, longing, anger. It didn't even last that long, but it was passionate enough to make it clear that he was burning with fire, the fire that threatened to destroy me.

He didn't say a word to me after we separated. He took my luggage with one hand and with the other he was holding mine firmly, pulling me to the exit. I needed time to try to control my breathing. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to walk If Mateo wasn't dragging me like a lunatic, so I didn't really have much choice. He literally put me in the car and buckled my seatbelt, like I wasn't able to do that myself, threw my suitcase in the trunk, and came inside. The moment he was seated he hit the gas pedal and we were off, leaving a trail of dust behind us. I took the time to scan him with my gaze. He was furious, that much was obvious. I put even more foundation than usual so I could hide the mark on my cheek that was left by my father, but it was useless. The way he was looking at my face a moment ago and the way his eyes changed to black color, were clear indicators that he didn't forget what I had told him and that he knew perfectly well that I had a mark there.

The whole ride to, as I later realized, his apartment, we were surrounded with awkward silence. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were almost lost, even though It seemed like he was focused on the road ahead, I knew better. I supposed that he was thinking about everything that had happened. I knew that he was trying to control himself if his deep breaths were anything to go by, but I was also aware of the fact that his attempts wouldn't work. Based on all the time I had spent with him, it was more than obvious that he wasn't someone who can control his anger. That was probably the thing about him I feared most.

When I realized that we weren't going in the direction of my apartment and where we were headed, I wanted to demand the answer as to why was he taking me to his place. I was on the verge to say something, but, for a reason unknown to humankind, I didn't say anything. It was like I had a gut feeling that if I did that I would only make things worse. For the umpteenth time since I met him, I stopped myself from saying something I really wanted, which was a rare case in my life so far. I felt like he would change me if I continued to spend time with him, however, I couldn't fight the animalistic urge my body had for him. I had always had a tendency to act on my hedonistic desires, and Mateo seemed to be the perfect example for it. I wondered what else would I find out about myself on this rollercoaster, hoping that it wouldn't be too late in the end.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when the car abruptly came to a stop. I flew forward, fortunately avoiding the impact because I had a seat belt fastened. Shocked and a bit annoyed, I looked at Mateo, but he didn't seem to care. He exited the car and came to my side, opening a door for me and helping me get out like he usually did. If I didn't know him, I would think that he was the biggest gentlemen that ever existed. He still hadn't uttered a word to me, but he gave himself the right to grab my wrist and drag me to his penthouse. His hold was so strong I was sure it would leave a bruise afterward, so it would become another spot where I would have to put my foundation.

The moment we were inside he practically threw me on the bed and locked the door. Only then did I realized how serious the situation was and that rage wasn't really an accurate description of the level of his anger right now. Furthermore, like the whole world was against me, right when he locked the door and came to where I was sitting, my phone that somehow landed on the floor when he pushed me went off. I wasn't even able to sneak a glance and see who was calling me before he picked it up from the floor and with all his might he threw it against the wall, inches away from where I was seated. With the jaw on the floor, I watched my beautiful baby breaking into a thousand pieces. I couldn't look at Mateo. I was sure that I would be burning in rage if I wasn't so scared. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. Like everything around me stopped. My hands were shaking and my jaw trembled. I didn't want him to see me like this, I didn't want him to know what kind of power he had over me, but I didn't have a choice, my body was stronger than my sense.

"Why did you do that?" I somehow muttered after what felt like an eternity. I still didn't dare to look up, but I was able to at least say something.

I heard his dark chuckle that made me shiver and not in a good way. There wasn't humor in it, only danger and threat.

"You really want us to do that now?" it was like his provoking tone of voice woke me up from whatever trance I was in. in one moment I even considered that I was suicidal, but I didn't care. I jumped off the couch and turned around to face him.

"Yes, I fucking want us to do that right now. You had no right to do that!" I yelled.

"I'll buy you a new phone," he said in annoyance which made me roll my eyes.

"That's not the point! Your behavior is unacceptable!"

"My behavior? You want to talk about my fucking behavior when it is you the one who can't do what she is told!" he yelled back.

"What did you expect me to do? Ha?!"

"Stop fucking cursing!" he said in a threatening voice which made me laugh in irony.

"Isn't it funny when you order me to stop doing something in the same sentence in which you do exactly that?" I knew I was provoking him, but I didn't care.

"I can do that, you're the one that can't."

"No way? Says who?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Me!"

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but you're not my father."

"Do you want me to be like him?" he asked in a calm voice. His infamous, calm voice that only signified the silence before the storm. I was aware of what his implications represented, but I couldn't believe that he could go so low, I refused to believe it.

"I don't even understand why you're mad at me in the first place," I shrugged my shoulders in desperation. I felt like I was on a verge of crying, whether out of frustration or sadness because of what had happened, I didn't know nor did I care. That seemed to bring him back to his senses because the very next moment, he approached me and gently touched my cheeks, cupping my face in his hands. I could still see the anger in his eyes, but this time there was something more, guilt.

"Why didn't you listen to me and came back immediately?" he asked me quietly

"I didn't dare, I was afraid of his reaction, you don't know my father, Mateo."

"He doesn't know me, either."

"He is a dangerous man."

"So am I."

"You don't get it..." I started but I wasn't able to continue. The whole conversation reminded me of what had happened, of the fact that my own father slapped me. Tears started rolling down my face and I would surely have collapsed if it wasn't for Mateo who stood near me and was quick enough to catch me before I did just that. I buried my head in the crook of his neck and quietly cried, finally letting my emotions, which were fighting a battle in me since that day, out.

"Shh baby, everything will be fine, I'm here now," he whispered and gently caressed my hair. He kissed me on the top of my head, not moving his lips from there afterward.

I didn't even know myself how long we were standing like that, locked in an embrace in the middle of the living room, while I was crying and probably ruining his white T-shirt, while he held me in his arms like he was making it clear that he wouldn't ever let me go. For the first time in my life, I felt safe and protected by a man who just a few minutes ago threw my phone against a wall. Who was more fucked up out of the two of us was up for a debate.

"Mateo, there is something else I have to tell you," I muttered and hiccupped after I was able to compose myself a bit. I wanted to move so I would be able to look at him, however, he didn't let me. He was holding me tightly in his arms like he was scared that I would disappear otherwise.

"Hm?"

"My father wants me to move back there after I finished this semester," I told him quickly, in a way hoping that he wouldn't be able to comprehend what I said. Of course, it was stupid of me to even think for a second that something like that could happen. I felt him freeze, his arms that were wrapped around my body were almost paralyzed, he didn't move a nanometer.

"What?" he asked me in an icy voice. Contrary to my wishes, I started to tremble. The last thing I needed was for us to go back to arguing.

"He wants me to take over his business when the time is right so he thinks that the best solution is to work with him in my free time." I purposely left out the small detail regarding the certain guy. I was aware that I was only making things more difficult for me, but I couldn't bear yet another one of his jealous attacks.

"Like hell you do," he said firmly as if he were the one deciding.

"But-" I tried one more time to pull out of his arms, but he wouldn't budge. He wrapped his arms even tighter around me, almost preventing me from breathing.

"There's no but, baby girl. I've already told you. You stay here. With me." He stressed every word.

"But, you clearly can't see the simple fact that I depend on him. Not that I want to, Mateo, I just don't have a choice." I knew that I sounded pathetic, however, I needed to find a way to make him understand.

"And how's that, baby girl?" like it wasn't hard enough to be annoyed by his behavior as it is, he had to keep on calling me those nicknames that made me swoon.

"Financially. Even if I want to become independent, he will not allow it. He's a powerful man, wherever I tried to look up for a job he will forbid those people to hire me, even if it was the most common workplace. I wouldn't be able to even be a stripper," I tried to lighten up the mood a bit, however he didn't quite like my joke. He growled when he heard me say that.

"There is no need for you to work," he said with a slight annoyance in his voice. I scowled and looked him in the eyes a bit confused.

"What do you mean there's no need for me to work? Of course there is, money doesn't grow on a tree. Although it's indeed made of paper," I grunted the last part, thinking about how that could even be done. I should probably work on my priorities

"I know that," he rolled his eyes. "I just wanted to say that you could use my money, I have more than enough." He looked so irresistible when he said that I had a need to pinch him on the cheek. I laughed out loud at his words, happy that he had successfully improved my mood.

"Of course not, Mateo, I can't use your money."

"Why not?" He asked me confusedly.

Can he be cuter than this?

"Because that's your money. I'm a capable woman, I want to earn my money, not to expect it from someone else. Also, you and I have just met, who knows what future holds, we might break up and find someone el-" he didn't let me finish. He hugged me tightly, knocking the air out of my lungs in the process, and kissed me passionately. His kiss was so dominant I thought I would faint.

"That will never happen, remember that. You're mine, no one else can have you," he said the moment he broke the kiss, staring directly in my eyes, sealing my destiny. It was decided, I became his for eternity.

After we finished the night on a good note, we went to bed, exhausted from all the so-called problems. Mateo didn't let me go back to my apartment, as expected. Apparently, I had to spend the day with him. However, I was happy, I enjoyed his presence and, no matter how much I claimed differently, it didn't bother me at all to stay with him. That night I fell asleep with a smile on my face, my body intertwined with a body of a man who slowly started to find a way to my heart. I was looking forward to what the future held for us.

At the time, I had no idea how serious he was about everything he had said.