^^ Adeline Carter
***

Adeline Carter's POV

I walk alone as usual.

It's been an extremely long day and all that I want to do is go home and sleep.

When I finally get home I walk into hear the sound of muffled shouts coming from the living room.

I am suddenly completely wide awake.

I quickly walk into the living room to see my mother and father sitting on the couch.

My older brother, Elijah is standing up, his stance broad like he wants to fight.

My dad notices me first. "Ade, come in" he says.

I can immediately sense that something is wrong.

My dad's voice is a little strained.

I walk into the living room and look at my brother's face.

^^ Elijah Carter.

My older brother and undoubtedly, my right hand man.

Or rather I'm his right hand woman, since he is next in line to take over the business after my dad.

Elijah.

He stands a good 6'4 and has a muscular frame.

He is dressed in a suit, meaning that he arrived here, from work, not too long ago.

His cropped hair makes his facial features look sharp and focused.

He is glaring at someone from across the room. I follow his gaze and it lands on a man.

The man's coily black hair is cut down neatly and his dark brown eyes are a sharp against his toffee coloured skin.

He has a face that silently forbids people to fuck him over and a demeanour to match.

His body is clearly sculpted to near perfection, his crisp white shirt is tailored perfectly against him like a second skin.

His face looks expressionless as he stares back at my brother and I can't deny that he looks very familiar.

He looks strangely familiar...

But that is besides the point. I tear my eyes away from him and look at my parents.

"What's going on?" I ask.

My voice is smaller than I had originally intended and stupidly childish.

There is an awkward silence.

What is wrong with them all?

My dad's eyes are set on my face.

He looks slightly guilty, but then it's gone just as quickly.

I look at my mom, who diverts her eyes quickly.

Are they in danger?

"Come here" he says, patting the seat next to him.

Now my dad has never been an affectionate man.

So this is new.

I comply, walking towards him and he pats the spot next to him.

I sit down next to him and my mother.

I am close enough to see the stress lines creased into my father's dark skin.

"Look, there is something that your mother and I have been meaning to talk to you about" he starts off.

Without giving me a chance to answer, he continues.

"As you already know, I am the current leader of our organisation, The Black Nerium" he says.

I suddenly become extremely conscious of the fact that there is a complete stranger standing in the corner of our living room.

We're a 'pharmaceuticals' company that has been running for decades.

The Black Nerium is our actual name.

It was the founder, my great great grandmother's name. A sharp and deadly woman with grit and a family to protect.

I frown at my dad.

"Dad!" I clip, giving him a subtle look.

My eyes flicker to the unidentified man, who stares out of the window, and I turn back to my dad.

My brother and I grew up knowing that we had better not mention that name to anyone including people who were supposed to trust.

"This young man is from one of our rival organisations, the Golden Phonix" he rushes out all in one.

I immediately freeze up, feeling my mind race with questions.

Why is he here?

We must be in danger.

My hand immediately curls around the gun on the back of my couch.

I look at my mother.

The colour has drained out of her dark skin a little.

"Ade, please don't" she says.

I don't move.

I glare at her.

"I've not even picked it up yet" I snarl at her.

The man doesn't even flinch. He rolls his eyes and turns around to continue staring out of the window.

"Put the gun down Adeline" my father says gently but sternly.

I relax, switching the safety lock back on and put the gun into the waistband of my jeans instead of where I found it.

My mother sighs out in relief and my father speaks up.

"Adeline, meet Matéo Santiago, the leader of the Golden Phoenix and... Your new fiancé".

I nearly snap my neck to look at my father, clearly having heard wrong.

He looks at me expectantly, waiting for my response.

I am about to ask him, whether he is serious but I know way better that to do that.

Especially in the presence of someone from outside.

I say nothing, but just stare at my father.

"Adeline would you please say something?" my mother says weakly.

I glare at her and my father in turn.

What the fuck does she expect me to say?!

"What the fuck this?" I almost hiss at my parents.

My father stands up.

I step back.

He's always been the father I know and love.

But his anger is dangerous and I know that better than anyone.

"Your fiancé will explain everything to you when you reach your new home" he states simply.

"My, what?!" I ask incredulously, looking at him like he has lost his mind.

"Don't refer to him as such a thing" I spit.

I feel my face heat up. I turn to Matéo.

"Leave us alone for a minute" I demand.

He doesn't move an inch.

"Get the fuck out, before I have you taken out on a stretcher, by a medic" I tell him.

"Adeline!" My mother says aghast.
Matéo looks at my father, who nods at him.

He nods and walks out of the living room.

As soon as I hear the door click close, I spin around to face my family, ready to explode but my father quickly cuts in.

"This is not a discussion, Adeline, pack up your bags and get ready to leave first thing in the morning. Now are there any questions?" He asks.

Is he being sarcastic?!

That question is closed. And it leaves no room for an actual answer.

There are so many questions!

My dad glares at me and his towering figure causes me to step back and shrink away a little bit.

This isn't like him!

There has to be an underlying factor I'm missing.

"No, sir" I respond, through gritted teeth, staring him down.

My mother stands up and tries to take my hand, but I snatch it away.

"Don't touch me" I seethe.

I would never hurt my mom, but the next person to touch me out of turn today is leaving with a snapped wrist.

I look at my brother.

His sad eyes stare back at me.

He wanted to help.

"Come and help me pack, Elijah" I say, still glaring at my mother.

And by 'pack' I mean that we need to talk.

My mother has barely said a word.

She is on his side as usual.

I roll my eyes at her.

Before angry tears can spring from my eyes, I walk out brushing past Matéo without a word, knocking my shoulder against his.

My older brother runs after me and we go into my room.

I slam the door so hard, that one of the pictures on my wall fall onto the floor smashing the frame into several pieces.

Elijah sighs and walks over to the picture frame and picks up the pieces from the floor gently so he doesn't cut himself and throws it into the waste paper basket in the corner of the room.

It's not like I'm going to need it anymore anyway.

"I tried to convince them not to- " He starts but I cut him off.

"Not here" I tell him.

"Help me pack up and then we'll talk tomorrow" I tell him and he nods digging into my closet in search of a suitcase.

I've already run the risks of running away through my mind on the way up here.

My family knows people on every corner of the world and in every dark alley this country has to offer.

Running is futile and not worth the punishment.

As my brother pulls a suitcase out, we hear a knock at the door.

I walk up to it and open it, shocked to see Matéo, leaning directly on the frame and right in front of my face...

I step back instinctively, avoiding being in even a meter's proximity of him.

He takes the advantage and steps into my room.

"What the hell do you want?!" Elijah asks him, disgustedly, looking him up and down.

He looks at my brother.

"I would like to talk to my fiancée... In private" he states.

His voice is smoother than I expected.

The raging panic I had earlier means I wasn't really listening.

Snap out of it!

My conscious tells me and I do so.

"Not a chance" my brother replies taking a menacing step forwards.

I place a hand on his shoulder gently.

"It's ok Elijah. You can leave us" I tell him.

"But..." He starts.

"You heard her" Matéo states, an arrogant smirk on his face.

"Shut up. Don't get cocky, you bastard. You're a guest in my home. Act like it" I snap.

My brother glares at him and walks past him, making sure their shoulders brush harshly, causing Matéo to trip backwards slightly, before he steps out of my room, and closes the door after him.

I am left alone with the one person I already can not stand and the sudden silence is deafening.

"I suppose you are wondering what this is all about, si?" He asks.

He has a thick Hispanic accent with a trace of something else.

"Don't ask such obvious questions" I snap.

He suddenly steps forwards so that our faces are inches away from each other.

He is clearly a solid 6'3, whereas I'm a solid 5 foot 5.

I'm 5'7 on a good day.

"You seem to have an attitude on you and I don't like that" he says, holding my jaw, making me look at him.

I nearly flinch, but my brother never raised a bitch.

"I will not be spoken to like that again, do I make myself clear?" He asks.

His lips hover over my ear and I can feel his breath on my neck.

My body goes rigid and I can feel a hot flush rising.

My heart picks up the pace rapidly and I refrain from taking a sharp breath.

I snatch the gun back out of the waistband of my jeans, holding it up to his eye.

"Step away from me unless you want to lose your ability to see" I seethe.

My voice is a dangerous whisper.

He freezes.

"I trust that my parents' men did a search on you and you're unarmed?" I ask.

He nods slowly.

I step back.

"Sit down" I demand, gesturing to a seat.

He does as he's told.

"Tell me what you came to say and then leave" I say, glaring down at him.

"This is what I'm in for?" he asks himself, making me roll my eyes.

"As your father told you previously, I am the leader of the Golden Phoenix" he continued.

"Your once, rival organisation."

"You still are. Those papers aren't signed just yet." I remind him.

"Once we are married, it will merge the companies and there will be no more fighting" he explains.

"Take Elijah. He doesn't like men, but I'm sure you could work something out" I say sarcastically.

I'm a business proposition...

"The rest of the details will be discussed tomorrow, as I have a feeling that we are being listened to..." He says, ignoring me.

My heart rate speeds up.

Listened to?

Matéo quietly stands leaving me still in place.

He silently walks to the door, and grabs the handle, without making a single noise.

He flings the door open suddenly and but brother comes flying in, head butting the air in front of him and nearly falling flat on his face.

Elijah regains his composure and stands upright, glaring at Matéo.

Matéo chuckles quietly.

"Good night to you both and Adeline I will see you tomorrow" he says.

I say nothing in response, turning my face away from him.

My brother says nothing.

Matéo walks out of the bedroom and walks towards the stairs.

As soon as his footsteps have become distant, I lean forward and whisper to my brother quietly.

"As soon as I have left tomorrow, I want the whole house on high alert in case this is a trap. If I die, our parents shouldn't get a dime. Flush it all into a new account and then invest it on any children you or our cousins may have" I demand.

He nods solemnly.

"You're smarter than you look you know" he chuckles.

I throw a pair of flat shoes at him, which he catches easily and I laugh back, my chest feeling a little bit lighter.

"Let's continue to pack..." I tell him.
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~ Xo.