Chapter 2

Elysia's POV

It was just 7:30 am. I trotted to his room in the east wing, hoping he was yet to leave for work. 

The sound of my heels clicking on the tiled floor filled the room. My eyes dwindled as I kept reciting words I would say when I got to him.

I nudged his door open without knocking. He was dressed in a black velvet suit and perched on the couch, his eyes by the Tv screen in front of him. On his right hand was a bowl of popcorn. He had his two million dollar Richard Mille watch perfectly wrapped around his left wrist, and his shoes were just as expensive.

'He is dressed for work yet watching anime?'

I strode nigher to him, he could hear the clicking sound of my heels, yet he feigned I wasn't there. 

"Why did you have my contract at Seattle canceled?" I shrieked, but still, he didn't spare me a glance.

My eyes wafted to the TV, and I knew how to make him talk to me. I walked to the wall socket, and I switched the TV off.

"Someone grew wings overnight." He stood on his feet, his brows raised and his lips warped in a sneer. 

"Why did you have my contract at Seattle canceled?" I yelled at him.

"I wanted it rescinded, so I rescinded it. I don't need your permission to do what I think I should." 

"What?" 

"You wanted to partner with Tulips's for what? So you can build a branch in San Diego? You want to move out of the house to live with your lover?" His brows puckered as he strode toward me. I could see the fire in his gaze, and his lips snugged as he scoffed at me.

"How did he find out about my lover?"

Twitchings of great fear rushed through my spine. My knees quivered as my feet slowly stepped backward till my back hit the wall. My eyes fluttered between his eyes, and suddenly his hand slowly hugged my arm and gripped my bottleneck. 

"You seem to have forgotten that I owe you. You can't possibly expect that I'd let you do as you please. I allowed you to run your own fashion company, don't take my kindness for granted." He growled. 

I thought I could. I felt that somehow I could defend myself, but I lost again. My dirty little secret has been figured out.

He tugged me to the ground with force. I couldn't stop huffing and slogging towards the door. But suddenly, I heard his footsteps as he wobbled to where I was and bent on his knees.

"I need you to follow me." He hauled my hair and then released it. 

***

I gradually stood on my feet as he waited with his hands in his pockets.

 I massaged my neck, walking behind him like a scared poppy. When we got to the car garage, he shoved me inside the back seat of his Hilux and joined me. Two guards were seated at the front, one was driving, and the other had his gun loaded with bullets. 

I had no idea where he was headed, but in few minutes after driving through the tunnel, I discerned the streets. It was his street-Jakes. 

Jake was my coitus toy. He was someone I met at a bar during one of those nights Damon irk me. 

I was miserably seated at the bar, and Jake had offered to help me. I never knew how sex was a stress reliever until I was underneath him in a hotel in the middle of the city. Since then, I would go to him when I was queasy, delighted, or just wanted to be with someone who had no idea how hideous my life was. 

***

My hands clenched my dress as my gaze slowly drifted to Damon's. 'How did he find out?'

My heart was beating erratically as if it would lunge out of my chest any minute. I was terrified so much that I couldn't breathe. 

'Maybe it's all in my head.' He mustn't have figured it out, and I was as discreet as possible. I know, Damon, he would never take such chagrin.

Suddenly, the car stopped, and one of his guards seated by the front seat opened the door for me to step out. It was in front of the hotel-Jake and I always hung out. 

My lips were parted, my teeth and fingers shuddering. I couldn't think of a lie. I didn't know how much he knew. The only thing I could do was pray Jake wasn't at the hotel. 

"Why are you standing there?" Damon yelled. I felt so stupid. As I took a step forward, I felt hot liquid wet my panties and trickled my thighs to my feet-I can't believe I had wet myself.

***

When we got to Jake's room, Damon stopped and looked at me.

"Ring the doorbell, or don't and be the cause of your family's massacre. And your precious little sister will be my new wife." 

I couldn't even argue. He knew better; he wouldn't get me to do anything by threatening my life, so he always imperiled the thing I was afraid to lose-my family. Like a fool, I walked to the door and rang the doorbell.

"I pray he isn't here." I mumbled to myself, but then Jake responded.

"Holy shit!" I feigned a smile through the camera. 

The door opened, and Jake walked out-

"Elysia, I've been waiting for your response, I sent you a text earlier, but you never responded. I just came to pick up the bag I left last night. How are you, beautiful?"

Jake held my cheeks and kissed me. Tears rolled down my cheeks. When his eyes met mine, I could say only one word.

"Run." 

"What?" Jake was surprised. Only then did he look by the left. "Holy shit." 

He tried to latch the door, but Warren-Damon's most ruthless bodyguard placed his feet between the door, and his gun edged at Jake's forehead.

Jake slowly walked back into the room. I stood right there sobbing. When the other guard followed and entered the room, Damon brandished my arms tight and yanked me in.

"So this is where you make me the biggest fool on earth?" Damon looked around, then gripped my chin. His fingers pierced my skin. 

"So this is where you make yourself a whore."