Chapter 5

The ride felt endless and after what felt like forever, the ride slowed. I glanced out the window and my stomach dropped. 

We were far from the city. 

There were tall iron gates just like I had seen online, Zac’s estate. 

  The gates opened automatically, and the Escalade rolled in. The house was larger than I had imagined. It was sleek, glassy and cold just like its owner.

  When the car pulled to a halt, the man in black turned and said quietly, “We’re here, Miss Ackerman.”

 He got out, opened my door and extended his hand politely. I glared at it, then at him.

  “I can walk by myself,” I muttered and got out of the car.

  He opened the front door and gestured for me to enter.

I hesitated. “Is he in there?”

 He nodded.

The house was quiet. The smell of expensive wood and some other scent hung in the air. I could almost hear my footsteps against the marble floor.

Then I saw him. 

Zac stood at the end of the hallway, his hands in his pockets casually, watching me. He looked calm and well rested, unlike me, who had barely had any sleep since the wedding. I hated him, just like I thought, he was sleeping like a baby while I was on the receiving end of all the backlash and bullying. 

  Then he took a step forward.

 “Jane..”

Before I realized what I was doing, my hand flew up. The slap echoed through the hall.

He didn’t move. His head turned slightly from the force, but he didn’t react, no anger, no shock, just the same calmness that angered me.

  “That is for ruining my life!” I hissed.

My palm stung, but the rush of emotions was stronger, the anger, the hurt was unbearable.

 He turned to face me. “I understand you’re upset, and I deserved that.”

  “You deserve more than that,” I spat. “You lied! My family and friends aren’t speaking to me all because of you. I lost my job. Do you know how hard I worked for it? I’m not like you, Zac, I don’t have wealthy parents who can afford whatever I want. I watched everything I'd accomplished burn down in a few days. As if that wasn’t enough, you sent someone to abduct me!”

  “You’ll get your life back,” he replied.

I scoffed, was this a joke to him?

  “How? When? How does someone come out of this? My father is sick, I don’t know how he’s doing and I can’t see him. I can’t imagine how heartbroken he must have been. My life is over.”

 I’ve replayed scenes of my father receiving the news. The disappointment in his eyes, the heartache.

   “Your father is fine, Jane,” he replied. “In the meantime, you don’t have to worry about money or anything you need.”

He pulled out a gold card from his wallet and placed it on the table. I stared at it in disbelief and disgust.

  “You think you can throw money at this? At me? I don’t care for your money. I may not be as rich as you, but I have some decency and I have a heart.”

 He passed a hand through his hair. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “My name is all over the internet for a bad reason. I lost the love of my life, and you think money would fix that?”

He scoffed at the mention of the love of my life.

 “What’s funny?” I demanded.

  “The love of your life but he abandoned and threw you out of the house without hearing your side of the story.”

His words sank. He was right, but it was all his fault too. 

 “He’s the love of my life,” I said, my voice low. “Don’t you dare talk about him.”

   “Look, I didn’t have a choice, I had to lie.”

I clenched my fist. “Don’t say that! What situation could’ve made you lie about me like that? There were so many women at the wedding, but you chose me, why me? How did you hack my phone?”

 He looked away. “It’s complicated and, at the right time, all your questions will be answered.”

  “Why did you bring me here if you aren't going to fix what you’ve done or answer my questions?”

   “I brought you here because you’ll be safe here. It’s my duty to protect you.”

 “Your duty?” I retorted. “Same way was it your duty to humiliate me and put me in danger?”

He didn’t flinch at my words. “I know that nothing makes sense right now, but just give me some time. I assure you that you’ll be protected and well taken care of until I sort things out. The same thing goes for your family.”

  “Who do you think you are?” I snapped. “You’re not my boyfriend.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not your boyfriend, but I’m doing a better job than he is right now. You have no choice but to stick with me.”

My frown deepened. I would have slapped him again, but my hand still stung from the first. 

  “You’re not safe out there. So you’re staying here until I say otherwise.”

   “I want to leave,”

   He stepped closer, his tone firm. “You’ve been tailed every single day. The hotel you are staying at is no longer safe. There’s a room ready for you here. If you need anything, just ask. It’s for your own protection.”

I laughed dryly. “Protection or captivity?”

He didn’t deny it. “Call it whatever you want.”

Silence filled the space between us. I wanted to scream, to throw something at him, to make him undo all this, but what was that going to do? I had nowhere to go, no one to talk to, and I was scared something bad might happen to me if I didn’t listen to him. 

  

Finally, he glanced at his wristwatch. 

 “I have a meeting in a few minutes. I’m going to see you when I’m back.”

And then he walked out, leaving me standing in his mansion, furious and more confused.