In Love With My Bully-Chapter 50: Betrayal at the Breaking Point

Nita’s POV

I stared at the TV screen, listening intently with Richard by my side. Sam just announced to the whole world that he was a Numero. It was an interview on a business TV station.

A woman he had introduced as his biological mother sat beside him, looking proudly at her son. He told the story of how his father had taken him away from his mother and handed him to a junkie who abused him every day of his life until his father ’adopted’ him.

He also said Damon had told him the truth about his parentage, and he had secretly carried out a DNA test that revealed he was truly a Numero.

Due to fear of exposure, Damon was set up by Richard Junior, and he was forced to step down as COO.

"Son of a bitch!!! I’m going to ruin him!"

"Calm down, Richard. This is what we wanted, isn’t it?"

His phone vibrated on the coffee table, and Sam’s name flashed across the screen. He picked it up and put it on speakerphone.

"Sam, how nice to hear from you!"

"Richard, I’m sure you have seen my performance; stellar, isn’t it?"

"You deserve an Oscar. How can I help you, brother?"

Sam snickered. "Brother? Is that a sign you feel defeated already?"

"What do you want?"

"Equal rights to Numero Empire."

Richard laughed. "Ask for the sky while you’re at it, won’t you? I have no control over that. You should speak to my father about that."

"Well, I am speaking to you because you have more to lose. If I release the details of your contract to the world, you lose everything, and the board will choose the bastard son."

"Sam, I cannot lose everything. I have my wife, the one you could never have. The one you couldn’t even get it up with. So yeah, go ahead, take the company. I have still got my wife."

"Is that what she told you? That I couldn’t get it up? She was so young then, innocent. She didn’t know much, not like now. You tainted her. She tasted so good..."

I reached over and ended the call. "I’m sorry. I... I couldn’t listen."

"Are you ready for war?" he asked. The voice that spoke to me was one I was unfamiliar with. It was cold, annoyed, dripping with hate.

"Always."

"I will see you at work tomorrow."

"Are you not coming home tonight?"

"I have to do this myself so it can be done right. There can be no mistakes. This is the one shot we have." He kissed me on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you right back."

*****

The next morning, the office was in utter chaos. As I approached the building, the noise of reporters and the flashing cameras hit me like a wave. I spotted Mary through the mob, her face a mask of tension as she tried to answer as many questions as she could.

It took four security guards to create a human barricade and get me safely inside the building. The reporters were relentless, throwing questions at me: "Is it true the ex-Miss Universe is having a baby with Mr. Numero?" "How do you feel being pregnant at the same time as your husband’s mistress?" "Do you have any comment on Sam’s allegations?" I tried to shut out their voices as my pulse raced.

Inside, the tension was no better. I went to the tenth floor to check for Richard in his office. There was no one there; neither was anyone in Mr. Numero Senior’s office.

Richard was nowhere to be found. Neither was Martin. My heart sank further with every second that passed, fearing the worst.

"Sasha, have you seen Richard?" I asked breathlessly as I approached her desk when I got back on the ninth floor.

"Good morning, Mrs. Numero. No, but something big is definitely happening," she whispered. "All the directors got here early, and they’ve been locked in the boardroom since. Whatever’s going on, it’s serious."

My chest tightened; the pressure had been building for weeks, and now with everything going on, it just boiled over. I felt like I was drowning. My emotions betrayed me as I walked into my office.

I don’t know if it was pregnancy hormones or the stress had become too much for me; tears welled up in my eyes, and before I could stop myself, I broke down.

Standing in the middle of my office, I hugged myself and cried uncontrollably. It was as though every worry, every fear, and every ounce of frustration hit me all at once. My tears weren’t just about the situation with Richard and Gwen.

They were about Sam’s scheming, Mrs. Numero’s illness and heartbreak, the constant pressure at work, and the overwhelming thought of bringing a child into this chaos.

The door swung open, and I spun around, my heart leaping. "Richard?" I called, hope surging for a brief moment.

But it wasn’t him. It was Victor.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What the hell is going on?" he asked, his voice full of concern as he hurried toward me.

His presence only made my tears flow harder. "I want my husband," I choked out between sobs.

Victor reached out, gripping my shoulders gently but firmly. His gaze locked on mine, "Your husband is here, Nita. He’s in the building," he said softly.

"What?" I gasped, clinging to his words like a lifeline.

"He’s been in the boardroom with the other directors and Sam since early this morning," Victor explained, his voice soothing. "From what I’ve heard, Richard rallied everyone. He’s handling it. He’s got this."

Relief flooded me, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

Victor stepped closer, brushing a tear off my cheek. "Come on, Nita. You’re stronger than this," he said, his voice low and comforting. But then, something unexpected happened.

He leaned in, and before I could process what was happening, his lips were on mine.

My mind reeled in shock. It took a moment for my body to react, but when it did, I pulled away from him.

I glared at him with anger and disbelief, but before I could say anything, my gaze shifted to the doorway.

There, standing frozen in place, was Richard. His face was a mask of shock and betrayal.