Chapter 2

Emma’s P.O.V

Robin held open the door to his secluded country cottage for me as I grinned. Up until that point, my evening had been wonderful; it had been even more thoughtful and attentive than usual, taking me to my favorite restaurant and filling me up with delectable food and pricey wines until I was full and my head was pleasantly muggy. Robin had purposefully avoided telling me the reason for the celebration all evening, only implying that he had some exciting company news to share with me.

The food, the wine, and the expectation that after he told me the good news he had, we would go through to the cosy bedroom and make love made me smile as I took off my coat and kicked off my shoes. The thought of his hands and tips on my body as we shared mutual pleasure gave me a warm glow in the pit of my stomach. It wouldn't be the first time an evening had ended that way.

He brought me a goblet of fine brandy as I sat down in a plush armchair. He then went to get himself a large whisky and sat across from me.

"Is there any good news?" I asked. He looked happy.

"Well, I have some good news about that." He was smiling and I loved that smile.

"You mean. You've found someone to finance?"

"That's exactly what I mean. The company's safe, Emma. Lord Aris had agreed to finance." In the name of Aris I stammered for a moment but then I shook my head because Lord Aris was the uncrowned king of the Mafia, while Aris Johnson must be fighting for survival after being released from that painful prison.

"Oh, wao?" I gasped. "That's wonderful news! However, how did you get him to agree?"

"It wasn't easy.” He replied smiling. “He drives a hard bargain, but then he made a deal that I couldn't refuse.”

"Oh, you're a genius!” I was thrilled and elated. "But what was the deal? I heard that he is a very ruthless man. Did you meet him?” I was curious. I always hear about him but never met him.

"We had an agreement." He replied softly, "Now it's all settled and the money is in the bank. But I need your help.”

"Yes, tell me.”  I smiled, looking into my lover's gleaming eyes and nodded firmly.

"Actually, he wants something in return, and I had no choice but to agree." He hesitated for a moment.

“What does he want?” I was confused. What did I have to do with it?

“He wants you, Emma.” He stopped and looked at my shocked face. I looked at his face and laughed uncontrollably. I know he must be kidding.

“Be serious, tell me what he wants?” I barely controlled my laughter and asked him. I know that it must be a joke. I think that he will surely say now, he was joking, but no, he was still serious.

“He wants you and I agreed.” He repeated the same line and I felt that my heart stopped beating. For the first time in my life, I was speechless.

He read the fear and anguishes in my dark, staring eyes and his face softened.

“I’m so sorry, Emma," he said gently, "However, you did say that you'd go above and beyond for me, and you know how much money you need. You earlier questioned me about how I had attracted Lord's financial support; he had made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I had to bargain because the company had one asset that I really wanted. I had to accept his conditions in order to save the company. Emma, I hated having to tell you this, but you were the asset he was looking for, and he would accept nothing less. I was powerless because he wanted you, honey. He was speaking in a soft tone and I stared up at him whom I consider my everything, my partner, my lover. A chill of sheer stark terror turned the blood in my veins to ice water.

 I quickly backed away as the truly horrifying ramifications of his words began to sink into my spinning mind.

“How could you even think of doing this to me? You are selling me just for your business. This is the company for which I risked everything. I sold all my property and handed over the money to you. Whatever you used it for, I never asked. But now you’re selling me out to save this company that was built on my own money? How can you do that? You are a vile, greedy person.” I was tired of shouting. It was a terrifying feeling that I had risked everything for him, who was selling me to a stranger.

"You don't understand. I had to do it. It was the only way to save business. I saw a chance to keep the company going and took it. I don’t know why he wants you, but if I hadn't agreed to his terms, he would have closed me down. I had to do it, dammit, I had no choice. If there had been any other way but there wasn't.” His eyes softened again and he stared deep into my tear-streaked face. He cupped my face in his hands.

"I really am sorry, Emma," he whispered. "I love you, but I had to do it. I know you did a lot for me. I will remember this. But I can’t lose that company. . I must depart now, but your handlers will arrive shortly and transport you to your destination. Don't judge me too harshly, eh? You know I needed that money. So, honey, be brave and simply do what they say, and you'll be fine. You really will."

He sighed heavily and rose to his feet; I beseeched him as he turned and walked to the door, my mind numb from the horror of the situation. A horror that grew deeper and more terrifying as the door closed behind him and I was left there alone. The sound of the door closing jolted me awake.

 “Run, Emma, save yourself.” My mind boggled me and I quickly turned to my purse. He had forgotten in his excitement that I used to have a key to that apartment. I quickly got into my car, ordered the driver to drive fast and held my head in my hands.

Till today, I consider myself the luckiest person in the world because I got whatever I wanted. I know I have done many bad things which I feel sorry for, but I did them all on my father’s orders. I always used to love to deceive, to achieve a goal like getting some sensitive information or to seize property, but Robin is the person I have truly loved. I met him about two years ago. We fell in love with each other and started living together. I had blind trust in him; I knew he would never betray me. He supported me after the sudden death of my father. I blindly trusted him; he sold all my property and started a company of his own. I never questioned him and today he made the deal for me.

One by one, I started remembering the faces of all the people I had cheated on. The most prominent face among them was that of Aris. I know he loved me but I just did what my father told me to do.

“Why did you do this to me?” I remembered when he was roaring and rumbling and I was laughing arrogantly at his condition.

 I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I did not know what was happening around me.

Sometime later, the car jolted to a halt. Not really awake, I called out, "Driver? What's the matter? Why have you stopped?" but there was no answer.

Grumbling under my breath, I pushed open the door of the car and stepped down on to the road. It was extremely dark, no lights anywhere around, even the lamp of the cab seemed to have been blown out and I peered around in the gloom, wondering what the trouble was and where the driver had got to.

With no warning, strong arms pinned my arms to my sides and a thick pad of cloth clamped over my nose and mouth, a sickly sweet smell filling my nostrils. The sudden shock made me suck in a deep breath and the drug filled my lungs. My eyes widened as soon as my eyes fell on the person standing in front of me. He was a strong, muscular masked man.

The drug-soaked cloth was tied loosely over my nose; I heard the low chuckles of him. After that, darkness came before my eyes. I passed out and my body went limp in their arms.