Carla dropped her documents and made her way over to the window to marvel at the awe-inspiring view. Could Derila be here to look for me?
"Meeting adjourned!" Daemon said in a cold voice.
The executives almost trampled over one another in their haste to leave the office.
"Daemon…"
"I knew it!" He gritted his teeth in consternation. "I know she wouldn't be able to let go of her money, so I locked her bank cards, ID, and jewelry away in a safe downstairs. She took the bait!"
Carla was flabbergasted. Derila is not here for me after all! She's here for her money.
"Get back, " Daemon ordered before pulling open his drawer to reveal a safe painted entirely in gold. "You have no business being here."
I'm confident that she would not be able to escape with the safe without me noticing. If she's going to try anyway, things might get dangerous for Carla.
"We can talk about it, Daemon, " Carla pleaded.
Daemon merely flapped his hands impatiently.
Carla did not need to be told twice. Beckoning at Freda and Rogan, the trio left hurriedly. Carla turned to take one last look at the safe when they were at the door.
There was a photograph attached to the side of the safe. In that photograph, Daemon's head was tilted with a cold expression on his face. Derila wore a red wig and leaned close to him.
Both of them had their lips locked though they did not look like they were kissing.
Their encounter must have been secretly captured as they appeared taken aback in the picture. It must have been the only photographic proof of their intimacy in existence.
It was obvious how much Daemon valued that photograph by holding on to it all that time.
At that moment, it was ironically attached to the safe which served to lure and deceive Derila.
Carla could not resist herself. "How did you meet her, Daemon?"
"What's it to you? Scram."
Daemon had made preparations for a fight to the death with Derila and was not pleased to see Carla dawdling in the vicinity.
Carla pointed at the photograph on the safe. "Was that photograph of the both of you taken in secret when you first met?"
Daemon's brusque remark was stifled when his gaze fell upon it as if he had forgotten its existence.
As he gazed lingered on the photograph, the anger in his eyes seemed to soften as a complex mix of emotions welled up from within him.
"The success of all relationships worth having is based on communication, Daemon, " she said gently before departing. "It's no use being more headstrong than she is in the hopes of forcing her into conformity. You need to appeal to the beautiful past you both share and remind her of that."
Outside, the elevators were crammed full of panic-stricken employees as if the devil herself had come to claim their souls.
Rogan sighed. "What do you think it was that the future Mrs. Lierger might have done? Why is everyone so afraid of her?"
"We should leave, " Freda said hastily. "I don't think it's wise to be here when whatever Mr. Lierger has planned for her gets set in motion."
"She's right, " Carla agreed as she eyed the crowded elevators, opting instead to use the stairs. "Let's not get involved."
"You're right, Carla. Let's go."
The words were no sooner out of her mouth when several tawny eagles nearly collided with them.
Freda and Rogan pinned Carla against the wall out of harm's way.
Before the trio managed to regain their footing, a dark shadow flashed before their eyes as her enraged voice echoed menacingly through the stairwell.
"How dare you steal from me, you b_stard? I'm going to kill you!"
Carla gulped. "Run for it!"
Flanked by her convocation, Derila burst into Daemon's office.
Swiveling around in his armchair of black leather, he regarded her with a haughty expression as he toyed with the fountain pen in his fingers.
"Scoundrel!" she continued in a rage. "Rouge! I will-"
Before she could hurl more insults, a familiar voice blared from the overhead speakers.
"I, Derila, hereby swear to repay Daemon for saving my life even if it means marrying him. May God smite me if I go back on the promise!"
As the final syllable of her recorded voice echoed throughout the room, a terrifying crash of thunder exploded outside the window like a divine reminder. Derila shuddered before composing herself.
"Remember your promise, woman! Those were your words!" Daemon stood up and approached her. "In case you need a little reminder…"
Derila kept her eyes fixed on his as the speaker blared her vow again, her mind casting back to many years before.
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