Fatal Alliances: Bonus Chapter 1

Blurb

Mystery. Romance. Deception. 

When Juliet Greene secures an internship position at the Empire Heights hotel, and things seem to be finally going her way, a brief encounter causes her life to turn upside down. Getting in the way of the hostile, unfeeling, yet wickedly magnetic billionaire Adrian Vandermir, Julie suddenly gets thrown into a situation that's too much for her to handle. Wanting to have little to do with this and the infuriating Vandermir, she none the less convinces herself that his decisions would be best for her family's own safety. But when things begin to get out of hand, she discovers that she has more to do with the dangerous situation Adrian is involved in than she or anyone else could ever imagine. In the hopes of ending the matter, both must endure each other's company as they take a trip together which reveals unbearable past secrets and irresistible desires. Desires that Julie fears would only deepen her wounds, but somehow heal Adrian's.

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Bonus Chapter 1

There she was, standing before him in the far distance of Adrian’s apartment. Blood soaked through her clothing, pooling at her feet. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, he was frozen in fear, in a relapsing, repetitive sort of agony. She was smiling and yet her features were pale- what was left of her features of course. Her head had been halfway blown off. He could see the ivory, red-stained skull of her perfect circular head. Death had licked her, and he was paying the price.

 “Finny?” Juliet’s voice suddenly rang into his ear, snapping him back to reality. He looked back at the window seat where she had stood, but she was gone. Melissa was gone. For now.

“Are you alright?” she asked again with concern whilst they sat together on the sofa, “You’ve been quiet all night.” The apartment had been filled with décor and fine food for Ricardo’s birthday evening. Laughter had been filling the air all night long and yet he felt too tired to even smile.

“I’m just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well, that’s all.” He reassured her.

“Oh, I didn’t think you had it in you,” Donnie chuckled as he leaned against the sofa next to them and watched Adrian and Ricardo discussing work at the table ahead of them. “Do these men ever stop working?”

“It’s not like that,” Finny sighed at his first remark, “And you know how Adrian and Ric are when it comes to investments.”

Suddenly, cold icy fingers touched his neck and breathed into his ear, “I know.”

With a gasp, he stood, spilling the cocktail on Juliet.

“I’m- I’m s-so sorry, Julie. I-”

“It’s okay,” she stood as everyone’s attention was now on him. “Finny, I’m worried about you. You haven’t been yourself lately. Is something going on?”

“I’m sorry, I just- I have to go,” he said grabbing his phone from the sofa and rushing out the door with a bead of sweat leaking down his forehead. It was too much for him to deal with. What would he tell them anyway? Melissa was dead. Is dead. She isn’t real. It’d been a year since her death- since she shot herself in the head, and he’d been seeing her every day since.

His head was pounding murderously. All he wanted was to be able to sleep. Just for an hour, atleast for thirty minutes, just to shut her out. He thought being around people helped but it didn’t. Somehow, it only made things worse. So much worst that three months ago he packed up his things from his apartment at the Heights and moved to another one, The Carlton Hotel, just to be away. It was as if his life and his grip on reality had been slipping away from him.

As he entered the hotel lobby, he stopped at the liquor store and grabbed a few bottles of beer, sluggishly giving the cashier the money. Without waiting for his remaining change, he walked out of the store and took the elevator up to his apartment. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, he frowned. This person wasn’t him. His blue eyes dimmed like a light about to blow, his hair fell a litter flat, and his skin- God, his skin- was as dry as the Sahara Desert. 

He groaned tiredly as he dragged himself to the kitchen counter and popped a bottle open, feeling it ride down the tunnel of his aching throat. He didn’t want to admit it, but he was a mess, and he knew it deep within his soul. He was too embarrassed to admit it.

The cold silence lingered and, in the dimly lit room a shiver ran up his spine. Across from the countertop, she stood before him. Silent. Dead. Staring with her face dripping off her shoulders.

“Please,” he sighed putting his head down on the counter, “Go away.”

The sudden sound of the phone ringing startled him. He raised his head to note that Melissa had been gone. Again. Yet, he knew she’d return a couple of times more. Looking at his phone’s caller ID, he identified the number as his therapist whom he had been seeing for months prior and had been missing his latest sessions with. 11:52 pm. Why was she calling so late? She probably wanted to confirm the appointment for tomorrow. An appointment he wanted to miss. It wasn’t helping he admitted. The sessions were useless as were the pills.

His head ached thunderously within his skull. It was almost as if his brain itself was melting and seeping through his ears.

Why did you do this to me, Finny?

You killed me.

I would have been alive if you hadn’t shown up.

You cared about Juliet more than you cared about me, your own sister, your own flesh and blood.

I’m dead because of you.

You did this to me.

You killed me.

Melissa’s voice had been like a slow torturous sort of poison dripping into his soul. One with no cure, and perhaps she was right. He felt dizzy and nauseous. It was as if his senses were slowly shutting down. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to pull himself together. A knock on the door caught his attention. A distraction was certainly what he needed.

A petite young girl stood before him with strawberry blonde hair and grassy green eyes. “Room service,” she smiled.

“I didn’t order anything.”

“Oh, you didn’t? That’s strange, this is the same room number. Are you Mr. Harrison?”

 “Yes but I- ” a sharp pain shot through his head and he staggered back a little.

“Goodness,” the girl said in an alarmed tone, “Are you alright, sir? Do you want me to call a doctor?”

“No, no I’m fine. Maybe some food is good. You can bring everything inside. Thank you.” He instructed kindly and went for a glass of water when his phone rang again. It was a number he hadn’t recognized.

‘Hello?’

‘Is this Finneas Harrison?’ the voice quizzed almost in irritation.

‘Yes. Who is this?’

‘Jonathan Wilby, from Gloucestershire England. My father was Francis Wilby, your mother’s half-brother.’

‘Right, yes, I remember mother mentioning him.’

‘Well, he’s dead,’ Jonathan state casually. ‘And as much as I would like to randomly call and chit-chat with my half-cousin, it isn’t the reason I called. My idiot father also put the Wilby Manor and some of our assets in your mother’s name, hence according to the will if she dies it goes to her children-”

‘I don’t want your money,” Finny stated, “I don’t care for any part of it.’

There was a lingering silence for a second and Jonathan spoke again, ‘Good, that makes things less messy.’

‘My condolences.’

‘Yes of course,’ the man responded coolly, ‘However, Harrison, we still need you here. To settle the loose ends of the will. It would be simpler if you could be here yourself. The process could be a little smoother.’

Finny looked at his reflection in the window, but only his sister stared back.

‘I guess maybe a trip to England doesn’t sound too bad after all.’

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