THE INMATE

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

Clark's POV

“Welcome to my home”. I said, smiling at her.

“Your home?! But…”

“I have an assignment and an offer for you”. I cut in, standing to go where she sat.

“This is your new home, I can't protect you from afar, so from now on, you'll be living with us”. I said, then she adjusted from me.

“My new home?!”. She exclaimed, confused, looking around the house like it was some creepy hole.

“I can't, thanks for your help but I can't accept your offer”. She continued, almost sounding like Victoria. It made me flash back on memories with her.

I still remember everything about that day, Victoria was drenched, then I offered her help, then she used this exact word “Thanks for your help, but I can't”. My intentions weren't to make her my girlfriend, but along the line, we fell in love or should I say, I fell in love with her.

Then,

I had already made up my mind to propose to Victoria, We courted for quite a while and I decided to propose, she wasn't aware, just me and my friends.

I couldn't get my eyes off the diamond ring. She deserved it, so I thought. She was so faithful that I could give up anything for her.

I remember betting with Steve on getting her over, but Victoria turned him down and reported the incident to me. I didn't want her to get mad, I didn't want her to know it was a bet, so I kept that as a secret, between me and my friends.

I still remember the conversation with my friend, Steve.

“How do I convince her to come over? You know she hates me, since the incident and it won't be so easy to convince her”. Steve had said, while still decorating my living room, I was pleading with him, to convince Victoria to come over.

“I have a plan, maybe we can just tell her that I broke down, and I'm currently ill. I'm sure she will get really worried about that”. I replied to him.

Steve had given me a quick weird look, then nodded. “You both just understand each other, how about you go ahead and give her a c—” he paused, weirdly staring at my phone back then, as it began to ring. “ Let me guess, she is the one right?”. He had said, then I blushed and left the room.

I was about to move on with my plans, forge a dying, convincing voice, when she started sobbing over the phone. My heart skipped at the instant. Vicky told me she was scared, there was a robbery going on around her estate. I told her to come over, but she refused. Unknown to me, that was going to be our last call and going to Victoria's home that night, would lead to my life being paused for thirteen years.

It still hurts— It does.

“Aren't you going to say something?”. Isabella's voice Interrupted.

“Umm…I don't have much to say, just that you don't have a choice, and yeah, this is your new home. I'm going to have my guards take you to your room”. I breathed in, then tried to step away from her.

“Wait”. She called out, reaching out for my shirt..

“I know you aren't doing any of this without getting something in return, tell me, what is your prize?” She said,

“It's not something you can't do, as long as you promise to help, especially when I'm in need”. I mumbled, then she sucked in a deep breath and gently nodded her head.

“Sure, I'll do my best”. She breathed out, before Anthony interrupted us with a knock.

“Come in”. I commanded, before he stepped in and whispered some words to me.

“That's great news, you shouldn't set your eyes off him”. I said, before he nodded and left.

I noticed how confused Isabella kept looking at me.

“Want to say something?” I broke the silence, then in fear, she nodded her head.

“Go on”. I let out with a little relief.

“You are rich?”. She said, then I weirdly looked at her and smiled. “What possibly, was the crime you comm—itted th—at led you to jail?”. She stuttered, avoiding her gaze from mine.

“I'll tell you the reason later. But I need your help, I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend, I want to get my revenge on some—”.

“What?! Your girlfriend?! Hell no! I'll never do that”. She interrupted instantly.

“Do you have a problem with me?”. I let out surprise, then she restrained her voice and adjusted “Oh! I get what all of this is about, you are afraid to be called the girlfriend of an ex-inmate?” I continued, then she sympathetically stood to shake her head. I didn't even let her talk, then I continued.

“The last time I checked, your brother is still an inmate”

“How dare you talk about my brother?” She bursted out. “You don't even know him or what led him to jail. You don't have any right to speak about my brother in such a condescending ma—”

“ENOUGH!”. I barked, then she kept quiet at an instant.

“I won't have a puppet like you, insult me. How dare you?”. I thundered, then immediately sent for Anthony.

“I want her locked up, not until I command her release”. I let out coldly, without looking at her, then walked away.

I wanted her to beg, I wanted to hear her plead, but no, she didn't. She would rather be locked up than apologize for practically insulting me. Her nerves? It's questionable.

I was pacing in my room, trying to wrap my head on Isabella, when Anthony's knock interrupted.

“Come in”. I commanded.

“Sir, are you sure she can do the job?” Anthony's voice interrupted, as he stepped into my room.

“Yes, we just need to give her time. She is a little stubborn, but not someone we can't handle. She is the best fit for the job” I muttered.

“Okay, if you say so Sir”. He said, then came closer “What about Victoria are we going to kill her?” he whispered then I grinned. “Not yet. Do you still have the tape?” I mumbled, then he nodded and handed a tape to me.

“Go get her then”. I commanded, before he left.

Hours later, I sighted them from my balcony, as they drove in.

“Victoria”. I whispered with a smile, while walking around my apartment with the tape on my hand. Just while I pondered about her in peace, Isabella's voice echoed from the other end of the room.

“Let me out of this hole!”

For a sec, I wondered if Anthony locked her up in another place, but when I paid attention, I figured out it was my expensively decorated apartment that she was calling a hole. A kind of apartment it will take her like forever to achieve.

“Clark! Get me out of this freaking hole!”. She kept yelling, and just while I stepped out to head to her room, Anthony appeared with Victoria.

“Well, well, well… look who we have here”. I said with a smile, while clapping my hands for her.

“Go take care of her”. I said to Anthony, narrowing my eyes towards Isabella's apartment, after she screamed again.

“H—i”. Victoria had stammered, frightened. Playing with her fingers, while avoiding gaze with me.

“Not nice to see you”. I teased, then crossed my hands behind my back. “But, come, I've got a gift for you”. I said, taking the lead after her, while heading to the sitting room.

“I'm— I'm… So…”

“Sorry? Is that the word, sorry?”. I cut in immediately, then she bent her head ashamed. I laughed, I laughed so hard that you could feel my pain through it.

“I know you—”

“You don't talk—not until I ask you to”. I thundered, as everyone became intense. I know I hate her presence, but I don't want to spoil the show out of anger, at least, not now.

“I have a job for you”. I said, slightly harsh and distant. I could feel her hands and legs freezing cold.

“What job?”. She mumbled scared, her chest puffing up.

“A risky one”. I said, turning towards her.

“I—I…”

“You are to deliver drugs to my dealers, you need to be careful not to get caught, else…”

“I can't, it's illegal, I would be imprisoned for a crime I didn't intend committing”. She blurted out. I could feel her chest tightened, the venom from her voice, the pain… it's something I can relate to. It gave me so much joy.

“The way I was arrested, you mean?”. I let out with a grin, she bent her head, her mouth was open like she wanted to say something, but I didn't let her.

“I have evidence against you. You didn't think I spent my thirteen years in prison for nothing, did you?”. I continued, then she remained quiet. “Deal or no deal, you should know you will spend your remaining life-time in jail” I said coldly.

“But I didn't even mean to lie against you. I was forced”. She cried out, but it got me to laugh even more.

“I didn't want to go to jail, but you forced me”. I mocked, then sniffed my nose like I had inhaled some drugs.

“You are going to return the favour sweetheart, and it's not a plea, it's a command”. I whispered into her ears. Her body was already covered with goosebumps.

“Please—I know I hurt you, but…”

“Wait here”. I interrupted, as Isabella screamed one more time from her room.

“Why the heck are you yelling?”. I let out annoyed, as I stormed into the room.

“What do you want from me? Why the heck do you have me locked up in a room without my permission?! That's an assault!”. She cried out, my chest got heavy, annoyed, I approached her and pinned her to the wall.

“Now listen to me YOU FREAKING ANIMAL”. I thundered, scanning my eyes in hers. I was really fed up with her mess “I won't tolerate any form of disrespect from you or anyone! Whether you like it or not, you are here, you will obey my commands, and you've got no freaking objection to that! Now sit your damn ass down, so we can have a proper conversation”. I thundered, before letting her go.

I was breathing heavily, I didn't mean to get so mad, I could sense her fears already, she didn't even utter another word, she quietly sat on the bed, while avoiding to look at  me.

“I'm…”. I was going to apologize, but suddenly stopped, I didn't want to be taken for granted, at least not from her.

“You have one freaking assignment here. Be my girlfriend, I'll pay you, understood?”. I was mean, but she still didn't keep quiet.

“How can I be a girlfriend to someone I don't even love?”

“Who cares about love? You don't have to love me. Just be my damn girlfriend, and when the deal is off, I'll pay you, you won't even go back to that hole you call a house, I've got better plans for you”. I said, impatiently.

“I'm sorry, but I won't”. She let out bluntly.

“Really? How about I help you get your brother out of the prisons?”. She widened her eyes in shock.

“Are—Are you being serious right now?” she stuttered, then I nodded my head.

“It's no big deal, I can get my lawyer to work on the case, since he didn't commit the crime he was accused of”.

There was a smile on her face, an excitement I couldn't explain, then she nodded her head and said.

“Yes, yes, I'll be your girlfriend as long as you want. I just want my brother out of that creep, this will mean a lot to me Clark”. She said, almost running to give me a hug, but stopped halfway.

“So…” she whispered, looking around the room.

“Our deal starts now, and I want you to meet someone… also”. I paused, then she widened her eyes, still confused.

“What?” She repeated.

“You really have to be harsh, you need not to treat the woman I'm about to introduce you to as a human, she doesn't deserve any pity”.

“But why?” she let out, still shocked.

“Rule number one, Never question me. The more you pay attention and do your job well, the faster your brother would be released from jail”. I rolled my eyes “Now, freshen up and join us downstairs, make sure you put on something really attractive and don't forget to treat me as your boyfriend when you come”. I said, paused, then walked back and kissed her hands, before walking away.

*********

Downstairs, Victoria was still standing, waiting for me.

“Babe” I said in a mocking tone, tears were already strolling her face.

“Ow cutie, are you crying?”. I mocked, trying to clean the tears off her face.

“Why are you doing this to me?”. She said, I picked a strand of her hair, then gently played with it.

“You don't seem to get it, do you?” I whispered into her ears. “You are about to suffer for the years of pain you caused me in jail. If I were you, I would prepare my heart for the worse, now sit, so we can discuss your first assignment”. I exhaled, then sat with my legs crossed. She stood for a while, then inhaled and took a seat close to me.

“What's my first task?” She said firmly, causing a smile to escape my mouth.

“Oush! I love that energy”. I mumbled, but she straightened her face even more.

“Babe!” Isabella's voice echoed behind us. Again, I smiled, the show is about to begin. So I thought, until I heard them both echo in unison.

“Bella?!”

“Vicky?!”

“Hold on, what the heck is going on here?” I let out confused.

There was a little silence, until Bella dragged my hands.

“We need to talk, Vicky, give us a minute”. She said, then forcefully dragged me away.

“What silly game are you playing, Huh?” She said furiously, with heavy breath. “To think you were some random guy I met at the prison, not knowing you have other plans, tell me, he sent you right? How much did he freaking pay you, you cheap hole?” She yelled, panting non-stop in the room.

“What the heck are you talking about?” I said, a little annoyed.