I'm ready to run away with you

JETHRO’s POV

I walked into the dungeon with Brandon beside me, while Harry and Rocco followed closely behind. The job was well done.

Emma was in our custody, and Mr. Williams would have no other choice but to sign once he found out where his daughter was.

I pushed the door open and grinned at the sight before me. She immediately lifted her head, trying to see who was responsible for her kidnapping.

“Who are you?” Emma’s trembling voice rang through the room. There was fear in her eyes, but her anger was more obvious. “Who are you? Did you kidnap me? You don’t know who I am. You should know, because my dad will come for you.”

I stared at her, unimpressed. “Shut up.”

“You can’t shut me up!” she yelled.

The next moment, my palm connected with her cheek. She groaned in pain, clutching the side of her face.

“Don’t talk when I’m talking,” I warned, my voice rising slightly. “You’ll have whatever you want while you’re here, but you’re not leaving until your father does what he needs to do.”

I turned to leave. “Is that the reason you kidnapped me?” she called after me.

I stopped for a moment but didn’t bother looking back.

“I didn’t kidnap you. You’re simply under house arrest.”

With that, I walked away. I made my way to my office and settled behind my desk. Brandon and Rocco sat across from me.

“Mr. Williams isn’t someone who gets scared easily, boss,” Rocco said.

I slowly raised my eyes to him, giving him a cold, warning stare.

“I don’t need your opinion.”

“Sorry, boss.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“Brandon, send Mr. Williams a befitting gift.”

“Okay, boss.”

I shifted my attention to Rocco. “Rocco, ensure Melanie’s safety.”

“Yes, boss.”

“You can leave.”

They both stood and walked out of my office, leaving me alone. I rose from my chair and walked toward the transparent glass wall.

The city stretched beneath me, its lights flickering in the distance. I folded my hands behind my back and stared down at it.

Everything was going according to plan. Mr. Williams would sign. He had no choice. And if he dared to resist, I had more than enough ways to make him change his mind.

***

MELANIE’s POV

I sat in front of the mirror, carefully applying my makeup when the door opened. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was, becausei knew it was Jethro.

I continued with what I was doing, pretending his presence didn’t bother me. He walked toward me, but I refused to turn around.

Jethro knew better than anyone why I hated him. He knew exactly what he had done to earn my hatred, yet he didn’t seem to care.

Apparently, my safety mattered more to him than my feelings.

“Why did you reject the guards I sent to you?” I ignored him.

He waited for an answer, but I continued applying my makeup as though he wasn’t standing right behind me.

Finally, I glanced at him through the mirror before standing from the stool.

“I don’t need them,” I said. “Besides, I can take care of myself. I don’t need your help.”

“You can’t just—”

“As if you care about me,” I muttered, cutting him off.

I turned and headed toward the door, but before I could reach it, his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist. I winced.

“Well, I don’t care—”

“You’re hurting me,” I interrupted, my voice strained.

He immediately loosened his grip, but he didn’t let go.

“I don’t care if you think you can take care of yourself,” he said coldly. “Those guards will be ensuring your safety.”

He paused, his eyes fixed on mine.

“Am I clear?”

I swallowed my anger. “Yes,” I muttered.

He finally released my wrist.

“They’ll be with you every day and time. Don’t leave their sides for a minute.”

I rubbed my wrist and frowned.

“Why the sudden need for protection?”

“You don’t need to know about it.”

And just like that, he walked out, leaving me standing there. I stared at the closed door, my heart pounding with frustration.

I couldn’t take this anymore.

“I can’t take this any longer,” I whispered to myself.

***

PRESTON’s POV

That night, I sat alone at the club, already drowning in alcohol. No matter how much I drank, I couldn’t silence the thoughts in my head. Melanie.

Her smile. Her voice. The memories we shared. Everything came rushing back. Deep down, I knew I would never have her. She had made it clear who mattered more to her. And it wasn’t me.

“She chose you over me!” I yelled, slamming the glass I was holding against the floor. The bartender flinched.

“That cost a hundred dollars.”

I scoffed and reached into my pocket, pulling out a hundred-dollar bill.

“Here.”

I tossed it onto the counter. “You want more?” I pulled out another hundred and placed it beside the first.

“He isn’t better than me,” I muttered bitterly.

“Hey, handsome.”

I looked up to find a woman standing beside me.

“Hey.”

“Do you need some company?” she asked, running her fingers suggestively along my arm.

“No.”

I turned away from her, hoping she’d get the message.

“Come on, handsome. You’re too good-looking to be sitting here all alone.”

I turned toward her.

“She doesn’t see it,” I said bitterly. “She chose him over me.”

The woman smiled and took the stool opposite me.

“That’s why you need me. I can help you forget all about her.”

I shook my head.

“I can’t. I love her too much.” I swallowed hard. “Just the thought of her being with someone else drives me crazy.”

“Look at me.”

She gently turned my face toward hers.

“I’m here for you.”

***

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. Then I felt someone beside me. I slowly opened my eyes.

“Irena?”

Shock immediately washed over me. She was lying beside me, and judging from the state of the room, I knew we’d crossed a line the night before.

“What are you doing here?” I pushed myself away from her.

“Good morning, handsome,” she said with a grin, reaching for my hand.

“Don’t call me that.” I pulled my hand away.

“Come on, Preston. You should know what happened between us.”

She ran her fingers through my messy hair.

“How did you even get here?” I asked.

“Erin told me.”

“That sister of mine is a—”

“Don’t blame her,” Irena interrupted. “She’s a good friend of mine, and she cares about you.”

“Just leave.”

I looked at her, but all I could see was Melanie. Her eyes, her face, her smile. Irena reached up and caressed my cheek before pulling me into a kiss. For a while, I was too stunned to react. Then I pulled away.

“Why?” she asked, her voice breaking. “Melanie left you, Preston. When will you realize that?”

I said nothing.

“I’ve been here, waiting patiently for you to love me, but it’s always Melanie.”

“Irena—”

“No, Preston.” She shook her head, cutting me off. “Even last night, you kept calling her name.”

She wiped away a tear.

“I’ve given you everything I could. My body, my heart, everything. And still, I’m not enough.”

I looked away.

“You can’t expect anything from me,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry, but I will never love you.”

I stood and began putting on my clothes.

“What does she have that I don’t?” Irena asked, tears filling her eyes.

I stopped. I looked at her. There was no hesitation in my answer.

“You can never be compared to my Melanie.”

I walked out of the room, leaving her behind.

***

MELANIE’s POV

My heels clicked against the ceramic tiles as I made my way toward the elevator. I needed to speak to Preston. Desperately.

I had finally made a decision, and it was probably the most important decision of my life. I couldn’t bear Jethro anymore.

Living with him was suffocating me, and having bodyguards follow me everywhere only made it worse. I needed to get away from him—away from that house and everything that came with it.

The moment the elevator doors opened, I stepped inside. A few minutes later, I found myself standing in front of Preston’s office.

I knocked lightly, even though the door was already open, before stepping inside and closing it behind me.

Preston was there. But something was different. He looked troubled, almost distant. Maybe it was because of us. Maybe he was still angry about everything that had happened between us. “What are you doing here?” he asked coldly.

“We need to talk.”

I walked around his desk and stopped in front of him.

“I don’t want to see you, and I don’t want to talk to you either.” He finally looked up at me “Get out, Melanie.” His voice was low, but the anger behind it was unmistakable. “Get—”

“I’m ready to run away with you.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

He froze. “Out—” He stopped himself. “What?”

He shot to his feet, staring at me as if I’d just said something impossible.

“Yes, Preston.” I took a deep breath. “I’m ready to go to Denmark with you.”

He stared at me in disbelief.

“What about your parents?”

“I don’t care anymore.” I shook my head. “I can’t keep trying to be the perfect daughter for them. I’ve tried. I’ve done everything they’ve asked of me, and look where it got me.” My voice cracked. “I can’t live with Jethro anymore. The longer I stay with him, the more I hate him. I feel like I’m suffocating.”

A smile slowly appeared on Preston’s face as he listened to me. “Are you sure?”

He reached for both my hands and pulled me closer. I nodded.

“I’m sure.” I lowered my gaze. “I’m sorry for breaking the promise I made to you before. But I won’t break it again.”

His smile disappeared. He suddenly released my hands and I frowned. Something had changed in his expression.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

He looked at me again. “We’ll be leaving in three days.”