CHAPTER TWELVE

Thomas was enraged beyond words. The meeting had just ended and didn’t go the way he wanted. They were unable to sign the deal with Xiao Zhan. The asshole wanted Melina before signing the contract. Thomas is pissed off that he’s using Melina as his bargaining chip.

To make matters worse, his brother believes he should sell Melina. He’s trying his best to remain calm as his brother vents his rage on him. He walks over to the bar and pours himself a drink to help him relax.

“Why the fuck won’t you sell her? It’s not like you’re still dating her,” Stefano says, pissed off at Thomas for refusing to sell Melina.

“Why the fuck should I sell her? She’s mine and no one else’s. Nothing you say will persuade me to sell her," Thomas snarls back at his brother.

“Don’t you dare use that tone with me? I might be your brother, but I am also your don. Show respect when you talk to me,” Stefano spit in Thomas’ face.

“I don’t mean to disrespect you, but don’t fucking ask me to sell Melina.” “How can you ask me to do that?” Thomas is also furious with his brother. He couldn’t believe he was asking him to sell his possession.

“I know you’re keeping her to find James, but the deal at stake is worth selling her, so fucking agree to sell her,” Stefano says, shoving his finger into Thomas’ chest.

“No!” Nothing in this world would make Thomas change his mind about selling Melina. She was his to keep and make life miserable. There was no fucking way he was selling her off to someone else.

“You will; if you don’t, I will.”

“You won’t dare,” Thomas growls.

“You know I’d do it, so you better agree or watch me do it forcefully,” Stefano warns as he walks to the door to leave. “There’s no way I am losing a connection into Asia’s underground world for a girl who isn’t worth it,” Stefano says as he walks out, banging the door.

***

The moment Stefano shuts the door, Thomas grabs the closest thing to him and throws it against the door. The cup that held his scotch a second ago shatters against the door. Thomas paces up and down his office, fuming with anger. His brother’s threats are not empty, and it infuriates him that Melina could be sold to someone else. He’s furious that another man could have his Melina, his property. He’s the only one worthy of having her on this earth. He knows it sounds like he still has feelings for her, but that’s impossible. Thomas harbors a deep hatred for her, and he does not mistake his possessiveness over her for love. Fuck love for all he cares. His possessiveness over Melina ran deeper.

Thomas knew men like Xiao Zhan, who were far crueler to women than he was. He couldn’t have another monster in Melina’s life. Thomas is the only monster Melina is worthy of having on this earth. He’s the only one who is allowed to make her shiver in fear. Thomas felt like ripping Xiao Zhan’s head off right now for wanting his Melina. How could he want what was his? Xiao Zhan does not understand that he’s the only man allowed to see fear swim in her eyes and watch her bottom lips quiver as she tries to hold back her tears. The one he loves the most is when she realizes the Thomas she knew is no more, and only the monster that stands before her exists. Thomas has always been a monster, but to Melina, he was the best boyfriend in the world.

He grabs a bottle of scotch from the shelves and flings it against the door, remembering he will lose a major deal if he doesn’t sell her. He reaches into his breast pocket for a cigarette and lights it. He runs his hands through his hair before taking a drag. As he takes more puffs, it dawns on him that Melina is to blame. She’s at fault for being sexy; she’s the reason his brother is upset with him and why he will lose out on a huge deal. Thomas recalls that none of this would have happened if she hadn’t shaken her ass in front of Xiao Zhan.

Thomas cannot believe she’s still trying to ruin him while he’s making her life miserable. He’s kind enough to let her live, and she repays him by destroying things for him. Thomas’ heart burns with rage as he realizes Melina is to blame for another setback in his life. His hatred for her begin to spread like wildfire in his heart. Thomas needs to make her pay, and tonight he will make her pay for all she has done to him.

“Leo,” Thomas shouts.

“Yes, sir,” Leo says as he walks into Thomas’ office.

“Bring Melina to my room,” Thomas grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels and starts walking towards his office door.

“Okay, sir”

***

Melina

Leo arrives late at night to inform Melina that Thomas wants to see her. Her mind wanders as she walks toward his room. Melina tries to figure out why he’s looking for her so late but comes up blank. She knocks on his door and waits for him to let her in.

“Come in,” Thomas says from inside.

Gently turning the doorknob, Melina walks into the room. The whole place is dark; no single light bulb is switched on. She doesn’t move from the doorway since she can’t see. She tries to find the light switch by placing her hand against the nearest wall. She wonders why the lights are switched off.

“Don’t turn on the light,” Thomas says from across the room. She pulls her hands back to her body and remains in her spot. Seconds go by, and nothing happens. Melina starts to play with her fingers and rock her feet against the floor as she waits for Thomas to tell her why he asked for her.

“Come closer,” Thomas commands after an eternity of awkward silence.

She considers asking him if she should turn on the light first, but decides not to, realizing he would have told her if he wanted the light on. She moves her feet slowly as she tries to find him based on where she hears his voice.

“Ouch,” Melina cries out as she hits her leg on something. Her hands move to her foot and rub the ache away. She hit her knee on the edge of the bed. She regains her balance and continues walking toward Thomas in the dark.

“That’s enough,” Thomas says once she reaches a certain point in the room. Melina has no idea where she is in the room. If she were to guess, she’d say she’s in the middle of the room because nothing is within an arm's reach.

The couch squeaks as Thomas gets up and approaches Melina. Her heart rate increases with every step he takes closer to her. All the hair on her back takes a standing ovation, as a cold metal is placed on her spine. She tries to turn but comes to a halt as she feels it travel down her back. A cold shiver runs down her spine as the metal grazes her skin. Looking down at her leg where the gun rests, Melina sees a pair of blue orbs staring at her. Tears fill her eyes as she sees the anger blazing in his.

Thomas maintains eye contact with her as he raises the gun and places it above her left breast. All the color drains from her face as she watches him release the gun’s safety. Thomas gently presses the gun against her chest. Melina could feel her death approaching, and she had no idea what she had done to deserve it today.

“You’re going to give me three reasons why I shouldn’t kill you right now,” he says, moving the gun from her cheeks to the side before resting it at her temple.

“I---I-I,” she stammers. A huge lump forms in her throat, preventing her from speaking. Swallowing saliva to unblock it, she tries to speak again, but no words come out. Tears fill her eyes as she reflects on her predicament.

“Tick tock." "Tick, tock, tick, tock "You don’t have all day, Melina,” Thomas spins around her, circling the gun around her waist.

Closing her eyes, Melina tries to think of what to say to save herself but comes up blank. Her mind is racing, wondering if he’ll pull the trigger or not, and she is at a loss for words. Even if she could think straight right now, she doesn’t think she has a good reason to give him.

Melina snaps out of her reverie as Thomas presses the gun deeper into her brow. Her knees buckle as she realizes this is it. This is how she dies.

“I see you don’t have a reason to give me, which means you don’t need to be in this world.” “Any last words?” he asks, taking a step back from her.

Melina raises her head and stares at Thomas, her eyes blurred by the tears streaming down her cheeks. He has no remorse in his eyes, so she knows he isn’t bluffing. Melina’s heart cracks in her chest as she stares at his emotionless eyes. Thomas is really going to kill her tonight. Melina realizes she must have really broken his heart for him to point a gun at her head and show no sign of hesitation in pulling the trigger.

Taking in a deep breath, Melina forces air into her lungs. She clears her throat before saying her final words.

“I love you.” A loud bang is heard in the room as Melina falls to the ground and closes her eyes.