Ch. 3 - A TRAP WITH NO ESCAPE

 LINDEN

I didn't know what in hell I was doing, pressing a full-grown woman against my chest in the storeroom like I had any right to touch her. But hell, the scent of her perfume, still lingering at the base of her neck, teased me and I wanted to hold her still for a while.

“If you scream,” I whispered, releasing my grip, “we'd be caught.”

She didn't move for a while, but I felt the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat—terrified and uncertain. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She had been terrified to speak the moment she saw Derek.

“How…” Her words trailed off, her hands shook at her sides.

Before she could question me further, I was moving toward the door. “I'll be back soon,” I said, my voice commanding. “Stay here. Don't make a sound and I promise to keep you safe.”

I knew I would fulfil that promise the moment Jensyn spilled her life story in her drunken state. Immediately, I made some calls to find out whose watch she stole. I wasn't that surprised when it turned out to be my brother-in-law.

I entered the sitting room to see Derek lounging on my sofa like he owned the place. With a drink in his hand, a smug smile was plastered on his face.

The storeroom was opposite the chair Derek was seated on, if Jensyn stayed put and didn't get discovered, there would be no reason to explain to him why she was in there.

“Good day, Linden,” Derek greeted, standing up with an exaggerated bow. He worked for me as one of the managers in my companies—he had power but still respected me.

A frown was spread across my face, my eyes narrowed as I sat down. I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. “What's going on?"

“It's about Susanne Hallison, Linden.

I swore under my breath. Three days from now, I was supposed to wed Susanne. But I made a decision yesterday to abandon the wedding, leaving my whole family stunned.

And what did I tell them? 

I told them I had a woman I was so ‘in love’ with. With that lie in place, my father dared me to bring that woman in or lose my shares in the company.

It was my father's decision to marry Susanne, and this was the first time I would defy him. “What about her?”

“She is working with Marvel Prints to have some news about you published.” Derek's voice went low, as if he was about to reveal a secret. “The news will centre around the fact that you are… gay.”

My expression remained calm, but my mind was racing with a plan to beat the well-known printing press at their game. “Get in touch with Freddy, tell him I want a news piece published tomorrow afternoon, before Marvel even thinks about running that shit on me."

Derek raised an eyebrow, curiosity eating away in his eyes. “You’re going to fight back with… what? A statement?”

I smiled. “A photo. A perfect one. Of my beautiful bride.”

That shut him up. He leaned back, nodding. I knew he trusted me to work up something mischievous. He was eager to know what stunt I would pull now. But something else was tugging at the back of his mind. I saw it in his eyes, and so I spoke with my eyes too and he continued. 

“I saw your car last night… at Rivendell Restaurant,” he said, his voice laced with amusement. “I wasn't sure if it was you in the car, though.”

My fingers drummed lightly on the armrest. He is testing the water. “What were you doing there?”

Derek hesitated for just a moment. I knew he was thinking about what to say. His expression flickered with uncertainty, his eyes narrowed, and he smiled. “I was out with some friends for dinner. We were finished when I saw your car. I thought it was strange you were in that part of town.”

I knew better than to believe Derek's structured story. I was far too experienced with lies. I kept my face neutral and said, “It wasn't my car.”

Derek nodded, avoiding my fixed gaze. “Oh, I thought as much.” He said and swallowed a lump of saliva in his throat nervously. He shifted the conversation quickly to avoid the awkwardness. “How is Willow? I haven't heard from her in a while. Will she be back a week before the wedding as scheduled?”

I had a twin sister, Willow Rawlings, who was nothing like me. She was captivated by the surface attributes of anyone she met. It was only natural that she had fallen in love with Derek, and soon, they would be married.

I disapprove of Derek, but there was nothing I could do. I had problems concerning my relationship life too. With Jensyn in the picture, I could only imagine what was about to happen.

One thing was sure, she would marry me.

I shifted my gaze to the store room, and my jaw tightened just slightly. “I'm sure she'll be back. My sister always keeps to her words.”

“Yes, brother-in-law.” Derek didn't push further; instead, he excused himself, muttering something about leaving. As he got to the door, my voice stopped him.

“Derek,” I called, my voice cold. I stood up and walked to him. “My sister loves you so much, but I don't. If you ever cross me, I won't hesitate to show you where you belong.”

Derek nodded curtly. “Understood,” he said before exiting.

As soon as he left, I heard movement behind me. Jensyn emerged from the storeroom, her face flushed with barely contained fury.

“Brother-in-law?” She cried out, her hands shaking with disbelief. She had finally found her voice. “Derek Mills is your brother-in-law? What game are you trying to play with me?”

I looked at her, my face masked with calmness. “I am not playing any games with you,” I replied. “Believe me when I say I will not feed you to Derek or keep you here against your will.”

Jensyn's jaw dropped. “Damn you! You… you are so arrogant!” She accused, her mind spinning. “Derek Mills is your brother-in-law; you knew I stole his fucking watch, and you know he is out looking for me, yet you stand there and tell me you wouldn't feed me to Derek. Fuck you!”

My face twisted into a smile I knew would make her skin crawl. That was my charm. It always worked.

“I can, but I won't.” I told her, my gaze steady. “Derek wouldn't let it go easily. He wouldn't stop until he found you, but I can make him forget that you stole his watch. I can do that for you, Jensyn. If you agree to marry me.”

Jensyn recoiled, disgusted by my words. But something in me told me she was contemplating it. Her body was clearly working faster than her words. That was a good thing to notice. 

“You are unbelievable. I don't need your help.”

“You can try. But I'll be the one to get you out of this mess.” I said and was already walking away from her. I didn't have to look back to know she was following me. When we got to the door, I called a driver and gave him a few instructions.

“Take her home. Stay around.”

She didn’t look at me as she got into the car leaving the door ajar, but I saw the tremble in her fingers. 

I walked up to her and smirked. I knew what she’d find when she got home. She might be dazzled, enraged, shocked, and even confused when she read the eviction notice, and the threat from her escort agency. It was then she'd understand.

She had nowhere to go.

I wasn’t the villain. I was her only escape route. 

And soon, she’d come back. “I prepared a gift for you, Jensyn Sawyer. I sincerely hope that you would love it.”

Her face creased into a frown but before she could reply, I shut the door and instantly, the car roared to life with a deafening sound and rode out of the compound.

She had no choice. She would be back.