Chapter 7 Stop Frustrating Me!

• "What? Reece Blackmore? Isn't he the owner of Blackmore Loan Company you got a loan from?" Clarice's voice rose in disbelief.
• "The same one" Beverly confirmed, her throat constricting.
• "Girl, what have you gotten yourself into?" Clarice exclaimed. "You know what they say about him, don't you? He's ruthless, Beverly. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants...."
• "I know, I know" Beverly interrupted, her mind racing. "But I had no choice, Clarice. He f*cking gave me ten days to pay back his money or face devastation. Geez! Clarice, I couldn't even imagine that happening. You know how much I owe him, and he's willing to forgive the debt if I marry him" Beverly's spoke under her breaths.
• "Oh, geez! This is dam crazy. Is he crazy or what! That's not all he'll want from you, trust me, Beverly. You're playing with fire here." Clarice warned.
• "I know, I know" Beverly repeated, her voice laced with worry. "But what choice do I have? I'm in way over my head, Clarice. I can't pay him back in....ten days? Geez! The fact that he threatened my business and the lives of my family just drives me nuts. I didn't have any other choice, Clarice" Beverly shut her eyes and took a deep breath.
• "That's not even all, Clarice. When I asked him what would happen if I chose to marry him, he told me something that made my blood run cold."
• "What did he say?" Clarice prompted, her curiosity piqued.
• "He said...he said that he would divorce me once he's secured what he wants" Beverly repeated, her words laced with disgust. "He called it a 'prison of loveless matrimony" Beverly explained further.
• "That's disgusting. He's using you, Beverly. He's using you to get what he wants, and then he'll just discard you like trash" Clarice spat out.
• "I know" Beverly said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I feel like I'm selling my soul to the devil himself. But what choice do I have, Clarice? I'm trapped" Beverly said, resting her head on the car seat in frustration.
• "Don't say that, Beverly" Clarice said firmly. I think it's good, you know? You won't be trapped in a loveless marriage for long....forever" Clarice said, and Beverly's heart surprisingly stopped racing fast.
• Clarice was right, she wasn't going to be stuck with him forever. She'll be free to go....free from her debt....free from Reece and can go her way once he got what he wanted.
• But the thought of what he wanted or why he wanted to marry her for surged in, and she grunted in frustration.
• "Well, whatever happens, I'm here for you, girl. You're not alone in this, okay?" Clarice spoke cheerfully, jolting her out of her dilemma.
• "Thanks, Clarice. Just talking to you makes me feel a little better." Beverly's eyes welled up with tears at her friend's words.
• "So, what about Kelly? Have you told him about this?" Clarice's question instantly snapped her out of her thought, and Beverly's eyes flickered.
• Speaking of Kelly her boyfriend!
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• "Beverly, I can't believe it" Kelly, Beverly's boyfriend said, his voice laced with disbelief.
• Beverly had just told him what was on ground.
• "Reece Blackmore gives you an ultimatum, and you just roll over and accept it without even thinking about it? Did you even consider me? Our relationship? Our future together?...."
• "Oh, what would you have preferred I do?" Beverly cut in, her anger surging. "Allow him destroy everything I have worked for? Destroy my family? Or maybe pay the millions of dollars I owe him in just 9 days?" Beverly shook her head, gesticulating with her hands.
• "That's not the point, Beverly" Kelly said, his frustration evident. "We could have figured out something else...together. But no, you just went ahead and made a decision that affects both of us without even consulting me." Kelly's tone was a bit high.
• "Oh, yeah. We could have figured out something, alright? That's exactly what you have been doing for months now" Beverly's sarcasm was thick.
• "What have you been able to assist me with, huh? No, tell me. You even take from me instead...you take my money, my resources, my energy...and what do you give me in return? Nothing! Just empty promises and useless advice!...."
• "You're being annoying right now, Beverly!" Kelly yelled, anger evident in his voice.
• "Annoying?" Beverly's voice rose to a shout as Kelly interrupted her. "You think I'm being annoying? You have no idea what I'm going through! You have no fucking idea! You're never here, you're never helpful, but you're always taking!" Beverly spoke harshly.
• She paced back and forth across the room, her hands waving wildly as she spoke.
• "You want to know what I am? I'm desperate! I'm desperate to save my business, my family's lives...and you're just standing there, judging me, like you're better than me!" She continued yelling in frustration.
• "That's not fair, Beverly! I'm trying to help you, but you won't listen!" Kelly took a step back, his eyes flashing with defensiveness.
• "Listen? Listen to what? Your empty words? Your useless suggestions? No, I've had enough of listening! I've had enough of waiting for you to do something, anything, to help me!" Beverly's laugh was bitter.
• She stopped pacing and turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger.
• "You know what? I am tired of all this. If marrying Reece will save my business, my family and free me from this huge debt I won't be able to pay in months or even years, then I don't see why I shouldn't marry him" Beverly spoke amid deep breaths.
• Kelly's gaze narrowed, his eyes flashing with anger.
• "It seems more like you're happy about it. No, it looks like you have been waiting for this moment....you have been waiting for him to give you those choices to make. You're happy you're marrying him, aren't you?...." He accused, his voice rising.
• "Stop frustrating me, please. You're driving me insane right now, argh!" Beverly threw up her hands, exasperation etched on her face. She slumped into the couch, burying her head in her palms as she continued to ruffle her hair in frustration.