1 The Same Coin

Chapter Four: Rock And A Hard Place

By Jessie

Author's Note: *** denotes flashbacks

***Metropolitan Opera House

'The nerve of that guy,' thought Antoinette as she leaned back in her seat. He was arrogant, conceited, and well, gorgeous. She'd noticed him the minute he had arrived. He had black, curly hair and golden skin, and what he lacked in height, he made up for with those dimples. But what his looks weren't the only thing that attracted her. She saw the woman with him, and the tender, loving way he'd helped her to her seat. She was too far away to be certain, but based on his behavior and the petite woman's coloring; Antoinette was guessing her to be his mother. Never close to her own mother, she'd often wondered about and envied those whose parents were affectionate and loving. When the lights dimmed, she focused her attention to the opera and quickly became absorbed in the story. She had completely forgotten him, until for some reason; she looked up to see him turning away from her. Instead of looking away, Antoinette allowed herself a moment to study him again. Then it happened. He looked right at her. Caught staring, she blushed furiously and looked away, but glanced up just in time to catch him smirking at her. Disgusted with herself for wasting her time on an arrogant jerk, and with him for being one, she sat back so she would be hidden from his view and vice versa.



1.1 Skye's Suite-Present time

" What is this? Some kind of sick joke?" Skye asked, " You break into my home, threaten my brother, and now you're proposing?"

His lips hovering over hers, he stared into her eyes and said, "Does it look like I'm joking? Do you want me to get down on one knee?"

Rattled and furious, Skye ducked under his arm and walked to the bed and sat down. Forcing herself to get a grip, she took a deep breath and asked him calmly, " How does marrying you save A.J.?"

He turned and said coldly, " There's a contract out on your brother, Miss Quartermaine, and if you don't agree to my proposal, it will be carried out."

Shaking with fear and rage, Skye stood up and said, " You can't honestly expect to get away with it! The police have wanted to take you down for a long time. They know you hate A.J., and if anything happens to him, you'd be the prime suspect."

He smiled and replied, " Oh, they'd question me, maybe even keep me in lock- up for a few days, but they'd never be able to make it stick. You see, these guys are professionals, and after the little tidbit I gave them about A.J.'s drinking problem, all the police will be see is a drunk driver who lost control of his car. Courtney won't suspect anything, not after the little show I put on at that hotel. Having lost a wife myself, I'll help Courtney deal with her grief."

" It seems you have the details all worked out." She said, " So why the marriage proposal? Won't that screw up your plan to murder my brother?"

He walked over to her and stood directly in front of her. He put his hand under her chin and forced her to look in his eyes. " Don't you see? Marrying you would be the better revenge. He's tricked my sister, an innocent; into believing he's in love with her. She thinks he actually wanted to marry her! If you marry me, you'll be in my power, just like Courtney is in his. Death is too easy for him. He deserves to feel the pain and helplessness of watching someone you care about trapped and suffering, and if there's anyone on this earth he loves, it's you."

" You're insane," she whispered.

He released her chin and put one arm around her, pulling her to him. With the other hand, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and forced her head back. His kiss was rough, bruising, meant to punish rather than seduce. She fought him, but he was stronger and bent on revenge. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both gasping for breath. He was the first to recover. " Insane? I've never been saner! At night, when he's in bed with my sister, he'll think of you, in my bed, and he'll know it was him who put you there. He won't be able to sleep for thinking about what I'm doing to you and why."

Eyes flashing fire, she slapped him hard and said, " You bastard! I'd rather die than let you touch me!"

He chuckled, " Your death isn't one of your options. We're talking about A.J.'s." He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. " Time's up. Yes or no?"

"Go to hell," she replied calmly.

" I'm sure I will eventually, but thanks to you, your brother goes first." He said coldly and began dialing.

'He's going to kill A.J. right in front of me,' she thought to herself. She imagined A.J's car being pulled from a lake. Having to identify his body. Putting him into the ground. Knowing she could have prevented it. She had no choice.

Looking him in the face, she said quietly, " Call off the hit. I'll marry you."

He grinned, signifying he knew she'd accept, and said into the phone, " Benny, it's me. Cancel the contract on A.J. Quartermaine. I don't care what it will look like, just do it."

Skye heard the door to the suite being opened. Frowning, Sonny put his phone back in his pocket and went to see who it was. He returned a few moments later, the man he called Johnny behind him, carrying a garment bag in one hand and a shoebox in the other.

" I was pretty sure you'd accept my offer, so I took the liberty of buying something for you to wear." He said with a grin, " It's been a long time, but I think I still remember your size." Johnny handed her both items and Sonny said, " Now go get ready, we leave for Vegas in an hour."

Without a word, Skye walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She looked in the mirror and almost didn't recognize herself. The woman looking back at her wasn't Skye Chandler Quartermaine, ruthless and powerful CEO. This woman was deathly pale, with the wild frightened eyes of a trapped animal. This woman was a victim, powerless and at someone else's mercy, but Skye refused to be a victim. She'd be damned if she'd let that bastard see her fear. She reached for her blush and applied it furiously.

Exactly a half an hour later, Skye immerged from the bathroom, calm, collected, and most of all, beautiful. The dress Sonny had chosen was a simple amethyst silk. It was delicate, with only spaghetti straps to hold it up, and while it wasn't low-cut, it accentuated every curve. Her sleek red hair was pinned up in a neat French Twist and she wore pearl earrings in her ears.

Sonny was staring at her hotly, and she felt a measure of satisfaction. Coldly, she asked, " Well?"

" You look gorgeous." Sonny's voice croaked. His mouth was suddenly very dry.

" I meant could we go now?" She asked icily

He grinned, showing those deep dimples. " Are you that eager for the wedding night, Antoinette? Because I know I am."

With that, he took hold of elbow firmly and led her out of the suite. As Johnny followed them, he shut the front door behind them. When she heard the sound of the door shutting, she closed her eyes briefly and heard the sound of her cage door slamming shut as well.

TBC-

Author's Note:

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