Thirty minutes have gone since we had a stranger-kind argument. We halted in front of the abandoned building made out of concrete and brick as if it were left after decades of destruction. I scrutinized it with curiosity. The outside was sheathed in graffiti, making me wonder if there was a gang inside that made this place their home base.
We stepped out of the car, allowing me to inspect further the surroundings. There were two doors from a building on the left side that didn't match the other door on the right, which was slightly ajar, revealing a staircase going up and down to unknown destinations, and there were no windows on any of its walls.
But why Courtney would be coming here?
I didn't notice him staring at me until he cleared his throat. "Watch your step when we enter the building. Just ignore whatever you see. Understand?"
Baffled by his words, I crumpled one of my brows. "Why? And what kind of place is this?"
"Quit asking." He stepped forward, his mesmerizing gaze never leaving mine. "You initiated coming with me. Now, better stay hushed and listen to every damn word I say."
"Okay." I respired and didn't ask anything further, though my question still lingered in my mind. He then signaled me to follow him. So, I did.
We made a beeline directly to the right door and walked in. Only darkness greeted our eyes. My curiosity grew as we strode in silence, and the more my flat shoes grazed the surface beneath, the more I felt dread. It only lasted for a transient moment because the light of a bulb flicked on, exposing the interior. The view completely stupefied me. There are six men in black suits and bow ties sitting in a semi-circle around a long table where different champagne bottles lined the edges. Judging by the way they looked at us, they were surprised.
I turned to look at Courtney, hushed and bewildered. He didn't say a word. Instead, he motioned me to move beside him, and so I did.
"Who is she?" One of the men queried. He looked at me with the utmost contempt, like an ant under their microscope, as he examined every inch of me.
"For the first time, you brought an enticing lady, Sir."
"A floozy," The other man clarified as if he knew me well. "But she looks like a virgin. Are you, girl?"
They laughed after the man with brown hair articulated those filthy words.
Even though their words were gibberish to me, I have to admit they were stupid for stating those nonsensical accusations.
I was stunned when Courtney took his gun and shot at the guy who accused me of being a "floozy." Not once did he falter from his stance. The bullet hit its target in his right arm.
"Shit!" the man yelled, holding his injured arm.
"Know where to shut your mouth. She's not a whore." His gun remained steady in his hand, eyes flaming in fury this time. "One more insult or touch, and I won't hesitate to shoot your brains out if you try.
"I'm just kidding, Sir… I'm sorry."
"Confessing you meant it or not makes no matter either way." He ambled forward and stopped from a distance.
"Sir, I'm sorry. Please… I didn't mean it," He desperately begged, trying to show sincerity amidst his current pain.
"That shit better be true. You know that I have no heart for doing this." His eyes seethed even more as if he would kill him at any moment. "I loathe those people who can't abide by my decree."
His presence was so intimidating. From that moment, I knew he was not just an ordinary man or even a powerful being but someone who could make others bow down and give him what he desired. He was the kind of man with power and dominance, which I could sense by just standing here.
The other men didn't show any sign of contradiction to his statement. They stayed, agreeing to every word he enunciated.
"A-Again, I'm sorry, Sir. It's not really my intention to make fun of her," Uttered the injured man, still in agony.
"Apologize now." His voice wasn't loud, but the command was evident in its intensity. None of his men dared to speak. They knew what would ensue if they flouted his orders; the upshot would be catastrophic.
The man gave him the most abject bow I've ever seen and said, "I'm sorry. Promise, I won't do it again." He glanced at Courtney with so much sincerity, then at me. "I'll let him decide my fate if I ever make a mistake again. Please give me a chance, Ms…"
"Adeleine." I smiled slightly. "It's fine." As much as possible, I don't want to be the cause of unnecessary conflict.
"You're off the hook," Courtney commented, then put down his gun. I felt relieved after that; at least no one ended up lifeless because of me. I couldn't afford to witness such an unfortunate death.
"All of you except Oliver, finalize your task before the rest come back."
"Copy that, Sir," They said in unison, then bowed their heads in reverence.
"We'll keep you apprised of any developments," One of them said.
They started moving out of the room in quick succession, except for Oliver, who was now standing before Courtney and awaiting instruction. "Yes, Sir?"
"Please guide her to the guest room and give her everything she needs. You know what to do."
"Copy that, Sir." He bowed his head, and that made me feel nervous.
I don't condone his decision. I hate men, and it is frankly hard to trust them. It may sound stupid, but Courtney was the only man I trust now.
Before I could say no, Courtney pulled my waist to the other side, giving me a stern look but with a hint of care. "You've been fidgeting for about twenty minutes. Now, I need you to calm down and stop overthinking 'cause you're safe. And when I say it, I mean it."
His words made me feel an unfamiliar and unbecoming bizarre sensation despite its cold tone, very genuine that I found myself trusting him without objection.
Almost thirty minutes have gone by since I ordered Oliver to assist Adeleine. That woman is unbelievable. The fact she entrusted her life to me is the most unforeseen thing I've ever encountered. Now I'm fucking accountable for her safety. I must admit that the moment I first looked at her, I glimmered something unfathomable. She's just so damn beautiful. Her beauty is different than all the other women I've known. However, judging the scenario earlier proved her life in the hands of her husband was in dire straits. Unfortunately, I knew our encounter would soon end because my life was not a game. I have a cruel fate, and someone like her doesn't deserve to be part of it. I need to send her to a safe place as soon as possible to ensure she will not be involved in any danger.For now, I have a grave job, and this is paramount.I was standing in front of the man who murdered the former president of Viasco Corporation, Macario Alejo— the man who has done so many good things for me and t
Back to Adeleine's POV No words escaped my mouth as I gazed at the man in front of me incredulously. It was the man that Courtney had been torturing ever since he decreed Oliver to assist me. I was just curious to see him, but I never expected it was the man who once abused me. I don't remember his surname, but I am perfectly certain his first name is Fredrin. Aside from my husband, this man is one of the evils who wrecked me, and I will never forget his face. "How could you manage to be so elusive?!" I yelled until our eyes met. My mind couldn't process the view that I was seeing. "I know my husband helped you escape. Admit it!" My hands quivered in both pain and rage as I glared at him with so much abhor. The memories of those hell nights were still vivid in my mind, and it was so depressing that I could still feel them on my skin. He looked terrible, badly injured by a couple of bullets and all the physical abuse he'd gone through. His clothes were covered in blood, and his
Morning finally came, and I woke up feeling woozy with the hangover. It took me a few moments to realize what I did last night.Holy shit!My hands moved to my mouth to cover it up when the scenario began playing in my head like a movie. I was so drunk that I lost control and kissed Courtney without his consent. How am I ever going to explain to Courtney about this? I even recalled how he kissed me back, and that thought alone made my cheeks turn red. But no! I have to act like it was nothing, that my action was unintentional.I tried to regain my composure as I sat down on my bed. There are three paper bags on the floor beside the bed. I checked out each one, and they were full of clothes for me. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I imagined Courtney buying these clothes, which only proved how caring and considerate he was. That thought lasted for a few seconds when I glimpsed the clock and realized it was already ten o'clock in the morning.I stood up and took a bath to get
Courtney glanced at me with incredulity, probably assuming my words were hogwash. But those solemn stares of his evanesce into a quizzical one. "Be careful of your words." He took a few steps and halted before me. He lifted my chin and stared deep into the depths of my eyes. "Remember, it takes strength to give in. And your misery won't decide it for you." His grip on me loosened, and he stepped away. I was stunned for a moment until he walked out of the room. It took more seconds before I decided to follow him outside. "Courtney, wait!" I called him out, but my words seemed to have no effect on him. He didn't stop or slow down. Instead, he just kept walking. The hallways are wide and spacious, so I had little trouble keeping up with him. He was going way too fast for me, and it's not as if his feet moved in rhythm. But I am persistent 'cause I followed him upstairs with no further thought until we reached the room where our quarrel started. "I've given up already. Whatever consequ
Back to Adeleine's POV It's been one week, and my recovery was much more rapid than I thought possible. Even though Courtney urged me to use the knife and prove my words, I'm not blaming him despite the upshot. To be frank, I'm grateful because I was able to experience the feeling of being taken care of by someone genuinely. It's hard to describe how liberating that feeling is, but I'm happy it lessened my burden. That's one good thing about this treacherous life I'm in. Two diligent doctors, each specializing in different aspects of my well-being. While one meticulously tended to my physical health, the other delved into my psychological well-being. During their meticulous care, Courtney never failed to make sure I was okay. Through his soothing voice over the phone or reassuring visits, he ensured I never felt alone in my journey toward recovery. Words aren't enough to elucidate his kindness, and even without many words from him, the genuineness could still be felt by his actions.
The trepidation inside me was like a hefty stone weighing down on me. No words fled my mouth, especially when the image of my abusive husband flickered across my mind for a fraction of a second. But my imagination vanished from the moment I heard Courtney.“All of you come here!” He called out in his clear yet strong voice. I was dumbfounded to see more than ten men coming out from different spots. Their moves were quick and precise as they all stood before him, awaiting the decree. So, does this mean men are around while Courtney taught me how to shoot? I hadn’t noticed their presence earlier, not even for one second.“We’re facing an unknown adversary. I need you to adapt. Mobilize our elite units. Make sure half of you will accompany the Python Team. The rest must stay here and take every precaution.” His commanding tone was still calm despite the grave atmosphere, but only because he knew how to control himself. “And later, I’ll give you a signal once I summon Chief William. We mu
Back to Adeleine's POVI am walking in the hallway with Oliver. He told me to follow him and said we would meet Courtney, but he did not mention where that was going, so I assumed it would be somewhere outside of the building. "Did he mention where we were going?" I asked while surveying every corner that we passed. He swiveled around. "He didn't. But don't worry, you can ask him later."He let out a short smile before turning around again and walking down another hallway.This isn't like the first time we met. The previous meetings were awkward, with both of us being strangers trying to get along with one another. The truth is I prefer being alone with Courtney than with him. I just couldn't explain it, but his eyes gave me the creeps. They looked cold and calculating, making me feel like a lab rat. I couldn't open this matter to Courtney because I didn't want him to worry about me.To divert my attention from these thoughts, I decided to take my phone out of my pocket. I was surpr
The weight of the gun in my hand seemed to grow with each passing moment as I stood in the heart of the sprawling lawn behind Courtney's grand mansion. The green expanse stretched before me, the grass swaying gently in the breeze. Courtney and I moved here right after the incident. He trained me well for one week now on how to hold a gun and shoot properly, load the weapon, and handle it at all times in case of any unwanted dangers. One week has passed since the last incident when Oliver attempted to abduct me and bring me back to my husband. He deserved to be behind bars, locked away from the world he'd manipulated. His treachery had cost lives, shattered alliances, and left them with nothing but rage. Courtney showed me the evidence—the encrypted files, the coded messages inside the Redstone Building that he used to fool everyone. These memories still haunted my dreams like some kind of bloody nightmare. But thanks to Courtney, who never failed to ensure I was doing well. He may n