Fredrico's POV
I made my way to the winery to get her some wine. I know it’s crazy to bring her to my house with such a cheap gimmick, but I know she wouldn't have it easy if I left her alone at school.
If one of those people trying to curry favors from me doesn't harass her, my father will likely get wind of what happened and send his men after her.
It's not the first time my father has been involved in dirty practices for revenge. He craves perfection, and if things don't go according to his plan, he leaves no stone unturned to destroy everything in his path.
Our lives have been decided at birth, and despite being attracted to a few girls growing up, I know pursuing something with any of them would ultimately result in writing their death warrant, and that's the reason I've tried to conceal my feelings for Rita as well.
I had to keep quiet and pretend that I hated everything about her, even though she's constantly looked down upon. I started tormenting her myself to make everyone else back off since she's already my prey.
I've been the one pouring trash in her locker since I caught Daniel right in the act a few days after she got to this school.
She still doesn't know I'm the one doing that, so I wonder why she came for me rather than the people she suspected. Well, maybe it's because she'd never expect me to stoop that low and take laws into my hands.
Putting trash in her locker and having her grumble as she cleans them up seems to be the only way you'd hear her say a word, which is why it became a habit for me before I realized it.
I love how cute she looks as she packs the trash with her tiny hands while trying so hard to maintain her composure. I couldn't help but grin as I recalled the look she always had on her face. I never realized she could be a cute, feisty tigress as well.
I picked up one of my favorite wines from the cellar, grabbed two glass cups from the cabinet, and headed to the sink to clean them up. I haven't been to this apartment in a while, and everything has become dusty. I've been staying in the family house to comfort my brother, who is still grieving his missing girlfriend.
Despite being listed as one of the most eligible bachelors several times, Fabian has been in a relationship for over two years, which he kept secret to protect her.
Fabian has been dating Camella for a while and managed to keep the relationship under wraps for the longest until my father found out about her a few months back and did what he does best: destroy them.
Fabian had anticipated this for the longest, which is why he never mentioned anything about her to anybody, not even me.
I had wanted to surprise him since we were supposed to play soccer together before he left for the USA on an impromptu business meeting not long before my father found out. I decided to pay him a surprise visit shortly after he left for the USA. I had his key and let myself into his apartment in Los Angeles.
The apartment, which used to be very silent and dark like a graveyard, had a homely feeling. The aroma of the pancake that welcomed me still remains fresh in my memory. I stepped outside to cross-check, and there it was, house number 7. I definitely wasn’t in the wrong address.
I stepped back inside to understand what was going on, and before I could say a word, Camella's silhouette appeared, and I could swear that an angel had fallen at that minute.
She was the perfect epitome of beauty, and I could swear I never knew a human could be as beautiful and gracious as that, at least not until I met Rita.
I couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate her. Her features were delicate, her eyes pools of shimmering warmth that radiated kindness and understanding. Her hair cascaded in gentle waves around her face, framing features that seemed almost too perfect to be real.
She had a crop top and bum short on, and her hairs were dangling loosely upon the apron.
Before I could ask who, she was, she beat me to it. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic, tinged with genuine curiosity. "And what brings you to this place?"
Her words were laced with sincerity that left no room for doubt, a genuine desire to understand the stranger who stood before her. As I struggled to find the words to explain my presence, I felt no pang of longing, no yearning for connection beyond the simple exchange of words.
"I'm Fabian's brother," I replied, my voice steady despite the uncertainty that churned within me. "I came here to surprise him, but... I didn't expect to find... to find you."
She looked straight at me, her eyes piercing through my soul as if searching for a hint of lies in my words. At that moment, Fabian walked in and was shocked to see me.
He pulled me to a corner to ask about what I was doing there and if something happened at home that made me rush down there barely a few minutes after he had left. I explained to him and he begged me to keep Camella’s existence a secret.
I looked back at her before saying my farewell to them and leaving for Shenza City. I did not return to the mansion and simply headed for my apartment to prevent father from finding out.
But to my bewilderment, Fabian returned to Shenza City a month later, broken and dejected. I do not know the details of what happened, and no matter how many times I tried to pry the answer from Fabian, all he kept saying was father made her disappear.
I know that my encounter with Camella was nothing more than a fleeting moment in time, a chance meeting that held no deeper significance than the simple exchange of pleasantries between strangers. But I could understand Fabian’s loss, and I also felt like I lost someone who could have been a great friend to me.
After this, father canceled my education plan for the USA and insisted that I must have my education in Shenza City without any form of explanation. I was frustrated and determined to make him lose face in the city, which is why I allowed those douchebags around me.
I know the majority of them are just with me to curry favors and not that they are genuinely my friend, but as long as they have questionable characters and being with them was enough for people to think they take orders from me, I am more than pleased.
I headed back to the living room to find her admiring the pot of red roses mother had gifted me when I got this apartment as my 12th-year birthday gift. My mother is a dominant person in the house, and her presence is rarely felt. Her only duties are to serve my father, accompany him to functions when necessary, and communicate his wishes to us.You can imagine how everyone would go to their mother when they are sad or dejected for comfort; it is not the case for my brother and myself. She is simply a great wife but not someone we can rely on because there is nothing, she can do to help us.Her eyes always look sad, like there are a million tales of sadness behind them. Growing up, I used to wonder what the problem is and ask her, but I have grown accustomed to seeing her sad eyes, which she always masks with happiness whenever she has to appear in public. But the moment she is back home, she blends perfectly with the furniture.She always gives me weird gifts on my birthdays, like a
She looked into my eyes, trying to gauge my honesty, and it seemed to work because her expression relaxed. She glanced at the wine, then back at me, nodding in dismissal."Fredrico, don’t you think you're being very cheap right now, trying to instill fear of the unknown in me just because you want me to take this drink? If you think I will fall for this cheap trick, then you do not know me.""This girl is just as stubborn as a cow. What will it cost her to just take the drink from me? Does she find me so untrusting?" I muttered to myself, pouring some more for myself and downing it again, loosening the tie that seemed to be suffocating me.Rolling up my sleeves, I faced Rita once more. "Rita, would you consider switching schools?" I began, but she was about to berate me again when I held my hand up to stop her. "Listen to me before you start nagging. It will be in your best interest to leave this country entirely.If you want, I can send you to the US, Canada, or any other country. Yo
I was shocked by the notification that popped up on my phone. My boss confirmed the leave I applied for.I was dumbfounded. When and how did I apply for leave without being aware? I called him, trying to make sense of everything going on right now.He picked up on the second ring, and I quickly asked, "Tim, what do you mean by you will find someone to replace me pending the time that I'm able to resume work? Nothing is wrong with me, and I’m perfectly fine. I can even come to work right away.""I’m sorry, I can’t allow that," he said, and I could sense fear in his apology. "The café is the only business that my entire family depends on for survival. I can’t bear to risk it for just a week of your absence, but I promise you that you would always have a place here whenever you're ready to return," he said, sounding very apologetic."Alright, Tim, but can you at least tell me what is going on?" There was a long pause before he finally answered. "I got a call from someone in Fidelis Group
Adam Fidelis reclined in his opulent office, surrounded by mahogany furnishings and adorned with exquisite works of art. Sunlight filtered through the grand windows, casting warm hues upon the plush carpeting.With an air of authority, he sat behind his expansive desk, meticulously flipping through files with practiced ease.As he perused the documents, his countenance exuded confidence and authority, every movement deliberate and calculated. His presence commanded attention, a testament to his stature in the business world.Suddenly, the tranquility of his sanctuary was interrupted by the arrival of his secretary, a poised and efficient woman whose every gesture bespoke professionalism. She stood at the threshold, her expression betraying a hint of apprehension."Sir," she began, her voice measured but tinged with urgency, "there's something I need to bring to your attention."The man raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued by her tone. "Go on," he prompted, setting aside the files to
Adam was very displeased, but he knows Fred to be very stubborn; he would not discuss the issue further. He slapped his phone to the wall in annoyance before reaching for the landline sitting on his table and pressing a key.The phone got picked at the second ring. "Hello, sir," the voice at the other end of the phone said.Adam tugged at the ties to loosen it before responding. "Get me the full information of what happened in Picaremore University today and fetch me the girl. Dead or alive, I want to meet her.Also, get me every information that you can find about her family, take her to the warehouse; I need this to be done before the close of the day.""Alright, sir, on it," he responded before hanging up.Adam sank back in his chair before muttering, "Looks like no one is scared of me anymore. I will be sure to make an example of that classless bitch."He pressed another number on the telephone, and the secretary came in. "Fetch me another phone from the store and clean up this me
Rita opened her window and peeped to check if there was anyone guarding the window-side, and true to her fear, there they were: three guards standing firm like rooted poles. They noticed her and looked up."It's nothing," she said, waving her hand as if surrendering to them. The guards returned their gazes forward, and she recoiled back into the room.She paced aimlessly in the room, biting her nails. "I need to get out of here," she muttered, and an idea seemed to have popped into her head as her eyes lit up. She rushed to her mini studying chair, pulling it away from the table with which it was perfectly synced.She quietly dragged it to the bathroom, trying not to make any noise to arouse their suspicion. She sat on the chair and turned on the recorder on her phone, recording herself singing. After about thirty minutes, she saved the recording and quietly returned the chair to the room.She smiled sheepishly, as if giving herself a pat on the back for coming up with such a brillian
Her body was already getting tired, but she could not afford to stop running now. She kept running down the quiet street, and just when she thought of slowing down to catch her breath, she missed her steps and fell, rolling down the slope.She grunted in pain as she looked at her bruised hands and legs.Her whole body was now very dirty, and she looked like she was just fished out of the dirt. She pulled her weak body up and started raining insults on Fred for putting her in this situation for something so trivial as tears pricked down her face.She heard the honking of a car that made her look up in anticipation, hoping the person might be able to help her to the nearest hospital. "At least I will be safe there for a while before he discovers my whereabouts," she thought. She flagged down the car, and it stopped in front of her."Can you please help me to Picarmore Health Centre if you are headed that way?" she hurriedly shouted the moment the car stopped in front of her. The driver,
"Will you not come out?" he shouted, and before she could bring herself to make sense of his words, the door adjacent to her opened, and the frail figure of a lady came out. As she moved closer, she could finally see her beauty that was hidden behind the sadness that enveloped her eyes."Welcome," she said to him before drifting her gaze to her.She nodded as if saying hello, and she waved back. She seemed harmless, and her eyes seemed to be full of tales. She thought to herself, "Could she have been kidnapped as well?" Fear gripped her at the thought of that when she finally noticed her protruding belly."He will come around later, so take care of her bruises and have her clean up," he said, breaking her chain of thought. "Wait, does that mean he is leaving already? How do I escape if he leaves with the key?"The lady exchanged looks with her, and as if she could read her mind, she said, "You took the first aid kit the last time; there is nothing for me to use for her."He grumbled b