MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Carlos made peace with the fact that he was about to die. The wolves were circling around him. I never really had a chance - he thought not against twenty wolves. But he was proud of himself for how well he had managed with what he had. He closed his eyes and began to recite Psalm 23. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

Suddenly he heard a woman calling his name. "Carlos!" she shouted. He recognized the voice. It belonged to Crystal. What is she doing here? - wondered.

"You can do it!" she shouted. "I know you can! You are the strongest person that I have ever known!"

Is that true? - he wondered. He opened his eyes. The wolves were closer than ever, but they suddenly seemed like less of a threat than they had a moment ago, and as he got to his feet, he continued his prayer: "I will fear no evil... for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…."

Crystal cheered as Carlos arose, and Eric was so shocked by what he was seeing that he did not strike her. "It's impossible," he muttered. "Totally... Completely... Impossible...."

****

The largest of the wolves approached Carlos, and he faced it like a warrior. He drew back his arm as the wolf lunged, but just before his fist met the wolf's face, a gunshot echoed through the stadium and his foe dropped dead at his feet.

Carlos gasped. What the fuck just happened? - he wondered.

A second wolf attacked, and it too was shot dead. The bullet passed through its left eyeball, and its brains exploded out the other side of his head.

When the other wolves saw what had happened, they began to retreat.

Suddenly, a bell rang. It signified that dinner was ready. When the wolves heard it, they all turned around and returned to their cages.

The show was over.

****

And now, finally, the tears came, and it was like a dam had been broken. They came in torrents.

"What the f**k is your problem?" Eric growled. "He lives."

"Does this mean that you are going to let him go?" Crystal asked hopefully.

"You care so much about him, but what about me?" Eric asked. "If I died, would you even care? Or would you jump for joy?"

"It is not like that," Crystal explained. "I like you both equally. If you let him go, I will do whatever you want. Everything except to hurt Nathan...He is as innocent as Carlos. There must be something that I can do instead..."

Eric thought about it for a moment, and then he wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Now that I think about it, there is something."

"What's it?" Crystal asked nervously.

"If you give me a child, I will know that Nathan is no longer in your heart, and I will be able to let Carlos go."

Crystal's back stiffened. "I have taken a dr*g. It is a special medicine. I'm afraid that I can't..."

"I know," Eric interrupted.

"You know?"

"Nathan informed me," Eric explained. "Don't you see? That is what this is all about." Crystal was shocked.

"How do you think it makes me feel to know that you took Cupid's Arrow of your own volition?" Eric asked angrily. "I gave you everything that you wanted, but you betrayed me."

Crystal clenched her fists. She finally understood why Eric was acting so crazy.

"What am I to do now?" Eric asked. "I don't know why you married me if this is what you were going to do..."

"I'm so-sorry," Crystal stuttered. "I d-didn't p- plan it. But what d-does this h-have to d-do with C-C-C-Carlos?"

"I am using your weaknesses against you," Eric replied. "Do you think I am stupid?"

"N-no." Crystal was trembling. "I don't know what you want me to do, though. I have already taken the dr*g, so I can't have sex with you, and if I can't have sex with you, how can I give birth to your child?"

Eric laughed. "Didn't you know about the loophole? If you give birth to a child, the effects of Cupid's Arrow will be rendered null and void."

Crystal frowned. "Why are you so desperate to have sex with me?"

"I am in love with you," Eric explained. "Everybody knows that sex is the quickest way to a woman's heart. And once you are knocked up, we will finally be a real family."

Crystal smiled bitterly. "Eric, I am speechless. How did you come up with this plan? It is despicable."

"I don't see how it matters," Eric replied. "If you do not like it, take it up with yourself. You were the one who turned your back on your husband and took Cupid's Arrow with another man!"

Crystal Sighed. "I said I was sorry. Now, will you please release Carlos?"

"How can I?" Eric chuckled. "You still haven't given me your answer."

"Do I have other choices?"

"There is the third option," Eric replied. "But if you are willing to continue to watch Carlos suffering, then you are more of a monster than I will ever be..."

Crystal's head was spinning. No choice felt right, and the voices in her head were driving her insane as they debated which option was the best. "Give me some time to think about it," she begged.

"Alright." Eric shrugged. "I will give you 24 hours."

"That is too short," Crystal cried. "I need three days."

Eric frowned. "If this is another one of your sick games, Carlos will pay for your error in judgment."

"Don't torture him anymore," Crystal begged. "Let him out..."

"Why not?" Eric smiled and nodded to one of the guards. A few minutes later, they returned, and Carlos was with them.

Carlos was a mess. His body was covered in bruises and matted with blood. His hair was disheveled. It was sticking out all over the place, and Crystal could see that chunks had been pulled out. The worst, though, was the inflamed wounds on his back. It is a miracle that he is alive - she thought. 

"Is someone going to help him?" Crystal asked. It saddened her to see that he had reverted back to his previous state. Once again, he was a shell-shocked husk of a man. "How can I think straight when I know that Carlos is dying somewhere?"

Eric nodded amicably. Then he turned to the guards. "Bring him to the infirmary. Get him cleaned up. Have the veterinarian look at his wounds. There are clean clothes in the locker room." Then he turned back to Crystal and said, "Consider this an act of goodwill.. If you betray my trust, you will regret it, but it will be worse for Carlos."