Facing The Fear

The path got clear as the bodyguards hurried to either side of the walls, hanging their heads low and bowing their heads at their young boss.

Ethan walked straight, his chin up and hands in his pockets. His polished shoes made a perfect rhythm against the marble tiles.

"Do you want me to put her in the basement?" His PA, Steven asked once they were inside his room.

Ethan just sighed before removing his blazer and undid the first two buttons of his white ironed shirt. He loosened his tie a bit by pulling it down and plopped into the big gray coloured couch. He leaned further down into the couch and closed his eyes, obvious to the fact that the man was waiting for his response and he liked it. He liked it, Hell! he loved it when someone wait for him, for his one word, they will wait for god knows how long just to get a response from him and he fucking loved it. He loved the attention.

After a few minutes he opened his eyes as well as his mouth.

"Not now Steven. Now I want you to go and search that entire area one more time and find that fucking phone." His voice was so serious that made his PA leave that place without another word.

Ethan watched his PA exiting the room and slowly got up from his seat. He undid his shirt cuffs before folding it till his elbows. He slowly made his way towards the glass table as he pulled open a drawer and took out a packet of branded cigarettes. He put the butt of the cigarette in between his lips as he lit it up using a lighter.

Ethan puffed out the smoke as he sat on top of the glass table and that's when his silver orbs landed on the blue stick file that was placed on the very end of that table. It only took him seconds to acknowledge what was inside that file.

He leisurely put the butt of the cigarette on the glass bowl as he opened that file. Very soon his sinful eyes caught the name that was written in bold letters along with the picture attached to it. His eyes lingered on that photo for a very good minute as he scanned it thoroughly. That green orbs, it felt like he was staring at the real emerald gemstone 'cause they were shiny and attractive. It shone like a star and his dark orbs instantly felt an attraction as well as a hint of jealousy towards that bright and active color. The color which reminds everyone of lush green, trees and forest, a color which symbolizes rebirth, renewal and immortality and for a second he doubts her being a human.

JASMINE JOHANSSON it displayed and his eyes traveled down, Age - 22, and then further down, Orphan.

He was fractionally relieved when he read that, So no one's going to disturb him even if she dies.

Dropped out from college. Dropped out from college? He raised his left eyebrow upon reading this. So she's not graduated, illiterate. He scoffed internally. No wonder she pulled such an act. It's no surprise for him to have stalkers and spies around him all day but what surprised him was it being a girl, a small fragile girl like her, that too late at night. Suspicious as well as interesting. Fierce and bold women are always interesting.

Before he could continue his phone rang out loud. That music echoed in the spacious room with full volume as he just stared at it with cold eyes.

MOM, it displayed a beautiful picture of his mother along with his father. Unwillingly he attended it, placing it over his right ear as he threw that file on the couch.

"Hello?" Her sound was soft with a hint of confusion.

"Hey mom" he answered in his usual tone. However the harshness in his voice was less because it's his mother. He closed his eyes when he heard a soft sigh, probably of annoyance from the other line.

"Your dad wants you here as soon as possible, Eeth." His mother said.

"Now where are you?" She asked and he easily caught the distress in her voice, it was full of worry, panic and fear. But why? He thought for a second.

"Mom, I'm out for some reason. Tell dad I'll meet him tomorrow" he tried to reason even though he knew it won't work.

"Eeth, why can't you understand? Your dad is furious and he wants you here right now. That girl Karina and her father are also here. You've to come and solve the problem you've created." Before he could respond she hung upon him.

Ethan threw the phone which was in his hand into the couch before rubbing his temples. He knew it, he knew that girl must be the mastermind behind of all this, that cunning bitch. He couldn't help but swore her. All they had was a simple fuck and here she is crying and bawling like a girl who lost something precious to her when she wasn't even a virgin.

• • • • •

Four heads snapped towards the main door hearing the sound of it opening. Their eyes gleamed when they caught the walking figure, two pairs with anger and vex while the other two pairs with greed and desire while Ethan's eyes were fixed on his dad who was sitting on the head chair, watching him with fire in his eyes.

"Oh you're back son! How was today?" That old man asked with a wicked smile once Ethan reached them. He loved Ethan because who wouldn't?. He is a whole damn meal, highly educated, famous, self made billionaire.... A perfect match for his one and only daughter. Every dad dreams of a son like him for his daughter and here he too did.

"It was fine" that man's smile vanished when he noticed the seriousness in his voice, like there was a hidden warning in his voice that told the old man to shut up.

Ethan rolled his eyes when he saw the crying girl beside her father. From one look anyone can say it is a pure act but his parents are in a position to believe it even though they knew everything.

"Take a seat Eeth" his mother offered and he nodded, obeying her. He took a seat next to his father and looked at him, waiting for him to start the conversation.

"You know why I called you, Ethan?" it wasn't a question, it was more like a statement and Ethan nodded his head agreeing with him.

"So what's your decision?" His father looked at him, straight into his dark orbs without blinking.

Ethan noticed how his father's jaw twitched and teeth gritted.

"What do you want me to do Dad?" Was his question. He is in no position to answer and his answer will never impress his dad. His dad released a long sigh before turning his gaze towards his business partner. They both shared a look before his dad opened his mouth,

"So what do you want us to do David?" Ethan easily found the hint of worry in his father's tone. Well it's about their reputation and his son's future.

"Xavier, I know it's hard but I've to consider my child's situation too. They both made a mistake, but my daughter wasn't in her right state of mind, she was drunk and made a mistake but Ethan, he was sober and is even two or three years older than her so he's at fault. What if my daughter gets pregnant? What will she do alone? I can't see her like that, David. No father can." David said and coughed a little showing his illness.

"Can you come straight to the point?" This time it was Ethan. He couldn't see the melodrama happening in his house and it made him furious to know that it's all happening because of his mistake. He shouldn't have done that.

"I want you to marry my daughter," David said in his old and broken voice. Karina couldn't help but smile a little hearing this. After all it was her dream to marry this Greek God from the time she saw him.

Ella couldn't help but feel pity for her child, it's clear like crystal that he isn't interested in Karina and doesn't want to marry her. He isn't a family guy and she knows that too. A mother knows her son better than anyone.

"It's a No" Ethan ended the conversation there and now. There's no way he will marry such a pathetic girl, heck he'll never marry anyone in his life.

For him Marriage is full of problems and quarrels and he isn't interested in it, not even a bit. The only problem is an heir right? It can be solved by a simple surrogacy or something, that too is not a big deal then why he has to marry. Living a life till the end with the same girl will be boring as hell.

"Watch your mouth, Ethan. Elders are speaking right now. You'll open your mouth only when I ask you to. You get me?" His father's warning was like a fuel to his inner turmoil. He couldn't talk back to his father but at the same time he didn't want his father to disrespect him like that. He too is a man, it's his life, why others are controlling it.

"David, I know my son made a mistake but don't forget your daughter is equally responsible for it. When I saw her that night she was clearly sober and I couldn't find out how she got drunk in a few minutes and about the marriage thing, we have to think about it. My wife and I will discuss and will let you know." The smile on Karina's face vanished hearing this. There's a possibility of them not agreeing to this marriage, the hatred in his eyes for her is visible like lactoderm on top of milk. But she cared less, who wants love when they can have ultimate luxury and wealthiness.

"I-I'm sorry uncle and aunty. It's all my fault, I loved him with everything that's why..... You don't have to worry, I'll take care of everything by myself." Karina said while wiping her tears using the back of her hand and sniffed a little. She looked away and blinked rapidly, licking her lips and intertwining her both hands.

"Dad let's go" Karina rose to her feet and bowed a little, turning around to leave.

"But dau-" "Dad please. Let's go, I don't wanna disturb them" She pleaded in her soft yet broken voice and continued to walk, with her father following her behind.

"Wait a minute, David" Ethan closed his eyes when his father stood up from his chair, storming towards the father and daughter. She purposefully played the innocent role and he knows his parents will fall for that.

"I never said I'll let you face the consequences alone Karina." His father uttered, making her smile a little. She knows what's coming next as a toddler can expect it.

"My son will marry you"

• • • • •

Jasmine whimpered a little when the rope chafed her already bruised wrist. The knot was tight as hell that she couldn't even move her hands and the same goes to her legs. Even her mouth was shut using a duct tape. The only thing she can move is her sore neck and droopy eyes. They were tired and exhausted after the emotional breakdown.

She couldn't find a proper idea to get out of here, it's like her mind and brain stopped working. Her whole mind was set on her phone, will they find it? The phone determines her time of living, if they find it then it's sure as hell that they will kill her.

Her eyes on their own grabbed the sight of the shining metal in her hand, a beautiful yet simple ring on her ring finger. The same ring he put on her finger, a symbol of their love. A memory of their boundless love.

How beautiful life would have been if he was with her. None of this would have ever happened. She would have been with him now. Living each and every moment, bickering with each other, gossiping and loving each other but that's not the reality, this is the reality.

Her, all alone, watched her dead parents, brother and boyfriend, having dreadful nightmares at night, ungraduated and now trapped in the hands of a murderer. How funny and twisted fate is, atleast to her.

Jasmine's head snapped towards the door and she clutched the hand rest of the chair tightly, expecting the presence of any bulky bodyguards but her face calmed when a lady, probably in her late 40's came in.

Jasmine was observing the lady with squinted eyes. The woman was wearing a custom tailored dress, her hair was tied up into a tight bun and light makeup was visible. That lady passed her a small smile when she found Jasmine looking at her with curious eyes.

"Your food," the lady muttered gently. That's when Jasmine saw the plate and a glass of water in her hands. She scrutinized the plate and found two pieces of bread and a glass of milk.

Jasmine was hungry would be an understatement. She was utterly starving but who would eat food from a murderer's house? It's all from the money he got by taking others' lives. How can he eat this food without even feeling guilty?. Even the thought of looking into the food made her stomach churn in pain.

"I don't want it" was like a whisper. That lady hardly heard her words but from her expression she understood what was said.

"You've to eat it, or you'll get sick." that lady tried to persuade her but who's she talking to, the girl who thinks of her dignity as everything.

"Then let it be. I'm not eating food from a murderer's house and I don't want his sympathy" Jasmine retorted and that lady's eyes widened.

She's not afraid. This girl is not afraid to die. Disobeying him means inviting death and she's inviting her death willingly. That lady nodded her head and left with the food after hearing her constant rejection. She doesn't know why the girl is here but it's sure that she is not that type of girl he brings home every night and leaves every day. If she's not his type then why is she here? It's obvious that this girl hates him too.

It's true that he disliked low standard girls who wear baggy clothes and less make up. According to him, every girl should be like a model, flawless and attractive, just like him. Jasmine is really different from his taste. She is a divine beauty and God knows what he is going to do with her.

• • • • •