Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina wondered if Darren Scott got the right person. But she remembered him mentioning her company and her, by name. Her surname can be considered not so rare, but her name definitely is.

He is talking about my company!

"May I know who the buyer is?" she asked. She wanted to know the 'genius' who wants to buy a company that is worth two hundred thousand dollars for twenty million.

"Can we meet somewhere?" Darren asked and Jerlina somehow felt a weird feeling in her gut.

"Mr. Scott, I have no plans on selling my company for now. So I don't think the meeting would be productive. Let's not waste our time here," she spoke in an indifferent tone.

Was she interested in the deal? Abso-frigging-lutey! With twenty million, she can settle for life.

But... And it is very big but with a capital B...

There is no free lunch in this world. If someone is offering that much money for seemingly no reason, there should be more to it.

"Ms. Hopkins, I was asked to hide the identity of the buyer, but for your company and the workers, yourself know twenty million dollars is a lot. If you want, we can negotiate the price further. You will regret this later if you dismiss this offer. No one but me will be able to even suggest this offer to you." Darren was polite but Jerlina could sense he is a little impatient.

"You're saying I can get more than twenty million?" Jerlina sounded curious.

"For sure. I can set a meeting with the other party's lawyer and..."

Darren Scott explained a lot of "concessions" he is making for her and he made a very convincing case on why she should sell her company now.

Jerlina went along with him and showed herself to be interested in the sales and even set a date for the meeting. He told her he'd be in contact with her through emails and she agreed.

After ending the call, Jerlina plopped on the bed, as her heart pounded. Her heart wavered thinking about the amount of money, but as Darren explained, it seemed like she has to sell her employees along with her company, which she found abhorrent to do without consulting them first.

They might not want to work for the new employer after all. And she didn't have any contract with her employees and they chose to stay in her company. Darren asked for their contract details and wanted them all to have at least five years of a contract before the sales.

Mr. Davies and others are working in her company just for her father's sake and nothing else. Otherwise, Mr. Davies would have retired years ago and others would have found other places to work at. She thought of selling the company so she can release them of their loyalty to her father, and the money was great and she can give them good severance pay which would help them until they find another job.

But now, she had no interest in this offer since it seemed so suspicious.

Is TJ involved in this? But why would he pay me twenty million when I offered it for free? Is there more to it? Anyway, I should stay away.

Ah! How am I going to pay my employees for the past month and this month?

It was then Jerlina got reminded of her job. She might have stopped going to work, but she believed she must receive some sort of severance pay since she worked in the company for more than five years.

She called Hanna, the assistant secretary. She was angry at Jerlina that her boss had become unhinged in her absence and asked her to return to work immediately to save their colleagues who are getting tormented by the CEO.

Jerlina knew Hanna was exaggerating, but it gave her hope when she learned that her position is still left open and she can return to work if she wanted to.

I haven't lost everything it seems... I still have my job.

With this new information, she found her mind getting clearer. Her nose got cleared too and she could sense that she stank,

Time for a shower!

When she came out of the shower, she heard that gas-guzzling truck leaving and she ran out of her room and checked through the window. That black car was actually leaving the compound.

TJ left? Why don't I meet my boss?

An idea popped into Jerlina's mind. Hanna said their boss is in the office and she wanted to meet him to talk about her job. She also wondered if she could ask help regarding her situation with TJ.

Her boss Mr. David Millman is not a very kind soul, but an a**. He had generational wealth and is considered someone with a blueblood. He never measured his words and never cared for other's feelings and he gets away with it because of his wealth.

Jerlina was good at her job and that's why she became the personal secretary of the CEO at her age. She never got any words of appreciation, but he never threw things at her and so she was known as the most loved employee in the company. She knew since her job is still vacant, Mr. Millman is awaiting her return. And if she told him that she is kept against her will, he might help her get away from the clutches of TJ.

It was a long shot, but she was willing to give it a try. Asking for help through a phone call won't be accepted by her haughty boss and she needed to talk to him face-to-face. She wished her efforts would succeed.

She wished Mr. Millman would arbitrate between TJ and her, to explain that she is not a threat to Emma's marriage. She thought if she could establish that TJ would let her go. And if someone of higher status than him speaks on her behalf, TJ will have to listen, right?

With a lot of expectations, Jerlina got ready. She wore one of her business outfits and booked a cab as she walked down the stairs. She looked around and the house was empty. Even the two huskies weren't there.

She decided to keep on walking until she meets with the cab since she feared that someone might stop the cab from entering the town. Her heart pounded with each step she took and she walked at a faster pace, not to get caught.

Just a little more...

As she walked near the gate thinking she has almost made it, she heard that grating voice behind her.

"Where are you going?"

He hasn't left yet?

Jerlina's heart palpitated and her legs refused to move forward.

"Need a ride?"

He asked and Jerlina gulped. By now her heart was beating in her throat as if she was caught by a cop red-handed. But then she realized that she doesn't have to be scared of him since she is not doing anything wrong. He is the one keeping her hostage and he should be the one feeling bad and not her.

"No, thanks. I've already booked a cab." She turned and looked at him with a forced smile. He was wearing a green flannel shirt this time and his usual jeans and boots.

"Do you want to buy something? I'll drop-"

"No thanks," Jerlina turned and started to walk. She was scared, but she wanted to try her best to leave.