MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Elma came over to Helen, and as she cut her steak, she said, "You'll like this. The chef said that it's cut from superior Grade A Alberta Beef."

Christine cut a piece, put it into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. "Mmm..." she moaned. "Fresh and juicy." Hers was cooked medium rare, which was how she liked it, but she felt like the texture of this particular cut of meat was different from all of the other steaks she had eaten before.

Helen's steak was well-done, though, and she did not notice any difference. She enjoyed the steak, but since she'd gotten pregnant, she'd had a poor appetite. Thus, she didn't know if the reason she was enjoying her steak was that it was delicious or because she was so hungry that, at that moment, she would have enjoyed anything she put into her mouth. Thus, to set the record straight, she requested another steak.

While everyone was waiting, Christine's phone buzzed. She checked the screen and saw that she'd received a text message from the old Davis. He had just finished dinner and was getting ready to go for a walk in the yard with his birds.

Typically, the old Davis didn't allow anyone to disturb his leisure time, so the message surprised Christine. She elegantly put down the utensils and gently wiped her lips with a piece of tissue. Then she picked up her glass of wine, excused herself, and walked out onto the front porch. Once she was alone, she dialed the old Davis's number from memory, and when he picked it up, he said, "The pharmacist analyzed Nathan's medication, and we have the results."

Christine smiled. From the tone of the old man's voice, she could tell that he was pleased. "What are the pills for?" she asked.

"Essentially, they're antipsychotics," the old Davis explained. "They suppress a side of Nathan- an amazing side! - that very few people are familiar with. You may not believe it, but at the age of nine, he shot a five-hundred-pound boar. The tusks are still hanging in my room. And he is strong too! Once, he knocked down ten boxers in a minute. Do you understand what I'm saying? When the conditions are right, he is bold, cold-blooded, and without weakness. He is perfect!"

Christine shivered because of his words. She looked down at her arms and found that they were covered in goosebumps.

Christine: "Do you mean th-"

The old Davis finished her thought. "- that there is another person locked inside Nathan's head?" he said. "Yes! That is exactly what I am saying!"

"Another Nathan...?" Christine pondered the idea as she drank from her glass. "And the medication is...?"

The old Davis: "It's a mood stabilizer: An antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic. Nathan uses it to control the other Nathan. It's not good."

"I need some time to process everything you've just told me," Christine said. "Is that okay?"

"Go ahead," the old Davis replied. "I'm training my birds now, anyway. Call me when you're ready to talk."

Christine thanked the old man and said goodbye. Then she finished her wine and threw the glass into the yard with all of her strength. She listened for the satisfying sound of glass shattering, but it never came, and she frowned. It felt like an ill omen.

She took off her shoes and socks and looked at the scarlet nail polish on her toes. The color was bright and dazzling, and it matched her lipstick. She hopped off the deck suddenly and wiggled her toes in the grass. It felt nice, wet, and cold, and she started to walk in the direction of the hot pool.

As Christine walked, she slipped her hand into her pocket and gripped the medicine bottle, and she wondered what Nathan would be like if he didn't take his medication - and if she would prefer that other Nathan.

When she arrived at the pool, she dipped her foot in the water and wiggled her toes. The bottom of the pool was as blue as the sky, and the fish swarmed to her. She smiled, and after looking around to make sure that she was alone, she took care of the medication, stripped off her clothes, and eased into the water.

****

At the Villa - Crystal had been brought to the room she shared with Nathan. Her breathing was shallow, her temperature was high, and she was still in a coma. Nathan gently wiped her forehead with a cold cloth. He hadn't left her side since the accident, and he was exhausted.

Crystal had been in a coma for more than five hours, and she showed no sign that she would be waking up any time soon. Vic passed a bowl of tomato and beef soup to Nathan and said, "Master Davis, you have to eat something. All that you've had since the accident is a sip of water!"

Nathan waved him away. He had no appetite. He blamed himself for what had happened, and he was so sick with worry for Crystal that anything he ate would come right back up. So eating was as pointless as living would be if she died.

"I will eat when she eats," he said.

Vic frowned. He didn't think Crystal would ever eat again, but he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

If she dies, then I will follow her into Death's warm embrace - thought Nathan. He was determined to be with her forever, and the cryptic look on his face made everyone in the room uncomfortable.

Vic reached into his pocket to search for Nathan's medicine, but his hand came out empty. When Nathan saw that, he grabbed the bowl of soup and quickly ran out of the house in search of Christine- and Vic trailed behind him.

Christine was bathing in the pool, completely naked, and it didn't take them long to find her.

Vic walked straight to her clothes. He began to rummage through them, but he didn't find what he was looking for.

"What the fuck are you doing?!?!" Christine roared.

"I'm looking for the pills!" Vic shouted, "Tell me where they are!"

"Pills?" Christine smiled innocently and said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't give us that bullshit," Vic hissed. "You're the only one who had physical contact with me today." As he spoke, he approached Christine and squatted down by the side of the pool.

"I'm innocent until proven guilty." Christine leaned back and spread her legs playfully. "Isn't that how the law works?" Her breasts floated on the surface of the water, and the men could make out the faint outline of her vulva. "I don't know anything about any pills," she said. "But if they're so important, why not just ask the doctor to give you more? What are they for anyway?"

Vic sighed and said, "Let's make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" asked Christine. 

Vic: "Tell me where the pills are, and I'll tell you a secret."

Christine smirked, and she gestured for Vic to get closer. Then he whispered the location of the medication into his ear. As she spoke, Vic's face turned as red as a beet, and she began to laugh hysterically. "Well," she said. "Now you know where the pills are. The only question is whether or not you have the courage to snatch them!"

Christine spread her legs open a bit more, and she winked. Vic clenched and unclenched his fists. He looked at Nathan and then back at the girl in the pool. Then, without even bothering to take off his clothes, he jumped into the water.

With nothing left to lose, he attacked Christine. He grabbed her shoulders, and he shook her, and he didn't stop roughing her up until she was crying and begging for him to stop.. Then he let her go, held his hand up to her with his palm open, and said, "Give me the goddamn pills."