He threw money on the bed after our one-night stand.
I threw it back in his face at his own inauguration.
By sundown, we were engaged. By the week's end — married.
Franklin Flemington needed a wife to secure his empire. I needed a miracle to save my family. For two years, we played our parts flawlessly — the golden couple the whole city envied.
Behind closed doors, I was invisible to him.
When the two years were up, I handed him divorce papers without blinking.
He stared at me like I'd lost my mind. "I've given you everything a husband should. What more do you want from me, Octavia?"
I smiled, signed my name, and walked out.
I thought that was the end. I thought I'd finally won.
I forgot one thing — Franklin Flemington has never lost anything in his life. And he has no intention of starting with me.
Game on.

 "The person you are calling is not available. Please leave a message after the tone."


"Hey, it's Franklin. You know what to do. Leave a message."


The beep sounded, sharp and mocking. I squeezed my phone until my knuckles turned white. 


"Franklin, it's me. For the thousandth time. I'm tired of hearing this goddamn machine repeat itself. I need to see you. I need to talk to you. Please, Franklin...call me back. I'm begging you."


I hung up and began to pace the length of the room.


"You need to stop pacing, Bella. You're giving me a headache," Rufus muttered. 


He pulled a battered lighter from the pocket of his leather jacket and sparked a cigarette.


We were in his apartment—if you could even call it that. It was a cramped, suffocating loft where the wallpaper peeled like sunburnt skin and the air smelled of stale beer and desperation.


Chapter 45 - ~ 45