CHAPTER 1~ F*CK BUDDY

Larisa’s eyes shot open, a frightened look on her face as she looked around. She had just woken up from a nightmare, a terrible nightmare!

But as she looked around at the same hotel room it had all taken place in, she realized it was not just a nightmare; it was reality.

Everything happened in real life…her freedom was taken away from her at the expense of her life.

The ropes were gone, but her hands still felt sore, and though the room was empty, the fear in her heart still remained.

The two men standing by the door…

The guns in their hands…

And Julian standing right in front of her with an evil smirk across his lips.

She didn’t know when she fell asleep or when he left, but she remembered everything else. Her desperate cries for help, and him telling her that no one would come to her rescue. It was like a horror movie and Julian Maverick was the psycho killer.

Julian Maverick…he wasn’t just a thug or a businessman, he was the devil; heartless, a man who knew no mercy. She had begged him to spare her. She told him she wouldn’t talk, that she’d delete the photos, but still he just couldn’t let her go.

Larisa wiped her eyes when tears rolled down her cheeks, her shaky fingers lifting the thin material sheets off her as she sat up. She was wearing the same red dress she came here in.

Well, at least he had the decency to not touch her, or maybe she just wasn’t his type…thank God she wasn’t.

At one point, she thought he’d still kill her even after she agreed to his clause, but he had done the opposite, and she couldn’t fathom why. She’d watched the movies, criminals never let witnesses go, and the fact that she was still alive was questioning.

It was probably a mistake, and that was why she needed to get away before he became conscious of it.

Larisa shuffled out of the bed and onto her feet. The sun was out, spiralling through the curtains and creating light. Her eyes searched the room for her bag. When she didn’t see it, she shuffled through the sheets, ears twitching as something that had been beneath them fell to the floor. A phone…one that wasn’t at all hers.

Her shaky hands slowly reached for it, and immediately the screen lit up with a text message.

‘Little reporter…Good morning, you look beautiful on camera. I’ll send you a location of where you should meet me tonight. Try anything funny and I’ll anonymously release the following video.’

Larisa slid her finger across the phone, unlocking it and entering messages. There was indeed a video attached and though she was fearful to open it, she did…her heart slamming with vigour against her chest when she found a video of herself, making another life changing mistake on the same night.

It was a video of her stealing the attendant list from the security when he wasn’t looking, and it extended into her rushing around a quiet corner and taking pictures of the names on the list…names that should've remain confidential to the owner as well as the employees of the club.

F*ck. Why was she such an idiot? Why didn’t she look for cameras? No wait, she did…in fact, she was looking into the camera and didn’t even see it.

F*ck, f*ck and f*ck agai~

Larisa’s eyes shot back down to the phone when it started ringing. The fear in her heart was paralyzing, but still she managed to appear calm.

She looked at the caller ID, realizing it was the same as the message sender:

F*ck buddy.

Swiping her finger against the screen, she accepted the call and reluctantly put the phone at her ear. “H-Hello…?”

“Hello little reporter, I see you’ve finally woken up. Your shoes are beneath the bedside table.”

It’s funny how she hadn’t even realized that she was barefooted. However, what she did recognize immediately was that voice, that same voice that had manipulated her last night, but was he…was he watching her?

Her hands and legs began to shake as she looked around for the camera.

“Don’t bother, angel…you won’t find it.”

His words had her heart racing even faster. Why was he doing this to her? Did he by any chance watch her sleep?

“W-Why?” Her voice was croaky and dry, just above a whisper. “Why are you d-doing this to me?”

“Larisa sweetheart…don’t blame me for what you’ve done to yourself. You invaded my private space first and now when I’m invading yours, you’re getting all emotional. You see? This is exactly why I hate reporters.”

A streak of tear slid down Larisa’s cheek, her hand gripping the phone tighter. She was scared, scared of what he could do to her. “I’m sorry, it will never happen again…I promise. Just l-leave me alone…nobody will ever know about what you did to me…I’ll live like a ghost.”

“Of course, it won’t happen again. By the time I’m done with you, you won’t ever point a camera in my direction again.” He chuckled, the sound taunting her in the most hurtful way possible. “Now, back to what I initially called you about. Again, I have your life in the palm of my hands, I can bury you where no one will ever find you, or I can let you keep breathing while the entire world watches your life fall apart. I’m that powerful, so I’d suggest you try your best to stay on my decent side.”

He paused for a moment, then begun again. “Be a good girl, come when I call and keep that little mouth of yours shut. Everything will be fine for you if you do. I’ll send you the address, be there by 7:00pm sharp tonight. I’ll punish you even if you’re just a minute late.”

Larisa swallowed with a nod. She was more scared now than she was before. He was blackmailing her yet again, using her life and that video he had against her. There was no escaping him, was there?

“Answer me, little reporter…a nod alone won’t do.”

“Yes…” Larisa answered immediately. “I won’t be there by 7:00pm, I’ll be there as soon as the clocks strikes 6:00.”

“Good, good…you’re finally getting the drift. Until then, have a good day ahead.”

And then the call ended, and Larisa jotted down on the bed, taking in a deep well needed breath. She was utterly hopeless now, she couldn’t escape him or that would mean death…

Was this how it felt to be blackmailed?

Just then, another message popped up on the phone screen; the address…

‘Harvin hotel

27 Harvin Street.

It’s a popular hotel, I’m sure you know it…be on time, angel, tell the receptionist your name, they’ll take you to me.’