Chased by my Ex Husband novel Chapter 65

Grace

“ What— ” I yelp, finding my lost voice. It’s scratchy and weak, but I can speak.

“ Oh finally, Ms. Whitlock. It turns out you needed a little motivation before talking to me. ” The man on the other side laughs again.

Tears well in my eyes but they don’t fall. I croak in a quivering voice, “ who…who…are you? ”

“ That’s not the right question, Ms. Whitlock. ” He says, sounding all happy and calm. “ You should ask what do I want from you? ”

The fist in my hair tightens, breaking a few of my strands. Tears leak out of my eyes at last, as the pain increases in my scalp.

“ What…do you…want? ” My throat hurts. It’s like someone slammed a fist in it and now I can not talk without a pause or without feeling like my throat is bleeding.

“ It’s simple, Ms. Whitlock. I just want you to convince your boyfriend to call off the shareholder meeting. ” His voice becomes sharp in the speaker.

Boyfriend? I want to shake my head, but I can’t dare to.

“ I…have…no… ”

“ I am talking about Tristin Roberto. Surely, you can not forget your boyfriend? ” He interrupts and blood drains from my face.

I don’t recognize this voice, but I can tell who he is. Goosebumps rise over my skin when the whole scenario suddenly makes sense to me.

“ Carlos. ” I whisper quietly.

Silence meets me on the other end. The hand in my hair loosens, and then the masked man retreats two steps back.

“ So you know who I am. ” He says, in a strange voice. It’s not relief that he is feeling for sure. It’s anger.

I have tanked my chance at survival. The masks don’t mean anything if I know their identity and if I know that they work for Carlos Roberto.

“ You…want to use me to blackmail Tristin, Carlos? ” My heart twists at the thought.

“ You took me by surprise, Ms. Whitlock. I was not expecting you to catch up so fast. ” He chuckles, but it sounds fake now. There is no amusement in his tone.

I look down at my bleeding wrists again. The deep gashes will leave permanent marks on my skin and if I survive, somehow, this incident will haunt me for the rest of my life. That’s the price I must pay for getting involved with Tristin Roberto.

“ Now that you understand the situation you are in, it will make things easy for me. ” Carlos murmurs and the masked man steps closer to me again, pushing the phone in my face.

“ I don’t have anything personal against you, Ms. Whitlock. All I want you to do is to let your boyfriend hear your sweet voice. Tell him how terrified and hurt you are… ” He trails off.

I watch as the masked man brings out a switchblade from his pocket and twists it open. The blade gleams under the dim lightning, the sharp tip ready to plunge into my skin and draw blood.

“ Tell him that you are going to get your skin ripped, and your body cut into tiny cute pieces if he doesn’t do as you say. ” He threatens.

“ And…what is it that…he must do? ” I whisper hoarsely while keeping my eyes on the knife.

They will make it hurt till the end, right?

“ Nothing much. He just has to admit that the video is not fake and hand over the reigns to me. A man who can not even handle a scandal shouldn’t lead such a big empire, don’t you think? For that task, I am more suitable than he will ever be. That’s what you have to make him realize. ” He suggests dryly.

Such a stupid man. He really thinks Tristin will give up his power, money, and position for what? Me?

I can’t help the sardonic smile that pulls at my lips. “ You are…a powerful man yourself. How can you believe there is…anything between Tristin and me? And even if there is…why would he give up so much…for me? ”

Carlos remains silent for a moment. I take my eyes off the blade, and glance at my wrists, twisting them under the rope, watching it dig deeper into my skin.