Chapter 5— Unknown

" This is no joke. I have every right to call the police on you if you don't leave my house at this minute."

" Relax. I only came here for our agreement. I simply want to know your answer of which will do well to determine my next move."

" I don't need you in my life before it goes well, okay? So leave." She strolled to him and yanked the magazine out of his hold. Who the hell reads upside down?

" This is the second rejection now. I'm afraid you have only one chance to reconsider." He stood up. His red corset waistcoat fitting his muscular frame did the needful of distracting her mentality.

" Get out." She spoke— loud and clear.

" You have less than twenty four hours to reconsider, otherwise, I wouldn't stop anyone from trying to harm you again."

His suit jacket that rested well on the couch was taken by him.

" Too bad, the numbers of rescues would be odd, I usually fancy even numbers." He wore his suit, dipped a hand into its pocket and brought out a rose— a black one.

It was already fragile from having to endure the suppression of his suit. " I brought one for you again but it's black. Black is always my favorite colour."

For once in a lifetime, he smiled— an actual smile and not a smirk. His face beamed with humour enhancing his godly beauty that threatened to suffocate her eyes.

He placed the rose on the couch and straightened himself. " I am guessing I will see you sooner."

" All joke's on you, Mr Morello. I won't repeat myself." She beckoned him to the door. He left eventually but his scent left a part of his presence.

The fragrance of his smell made her numb. It gave her goosebumps and it made something within her chest swell. She tried not to give much thought to it and decided to do anything while away time.

It was almost midnight when she closed her laptop to call it a day. Her eyes were already heavy and sore, her fingers hurt from too much keyboard usage and her head throbbed. She had just finished another work for a client and had received a good amount of pay, though not as good as she wanted.

Josette had her bath and went to bed. Sleep took her eventually and the next morning just had to start badly. The knock on her door was persistent, heavy and loud. She groaned out of frustration— forced to get out of the bed and head downstairs.

Fixing her robe to cover her revealing nightgown, she opened the door and a sudden moment of deja vu hit her. There was no one, although there was a box outside. " Zade! It must be Zade again."

If it was truly Zade, what had he brought this time? Josette took the box and exited back into the living room. She brushed away the thoughts that told her to trash it— after all it wouldn't be more than a picture of her and her fake names.

But after unboxing— her gaze on the item left her startled. This wasn't just about her alone, they had to include the one person that she loved. There in the box was a picture of a young girl, tied on a chair with tapes sealing her mouth. Her face was soaked from crying and her side face stained with blood.

Josette gulped hard. Her heart shattering, tears welling in her eyes and her breathing becoming shallow. Her phone rang and her heart missed a beat. She was getting a call from a private number, leaving her worried.

She answered but stayed silent, knowing that the call had something to do with the girl in the photo.

" Sophia Martinez." The speaker said, chuckling darkly. Even through the phone, she could feel his cold aura surrounding her.

" Who is this?" Amidst the situation, she tried to sound fierce, her thick confidence overshadowing the fear her voice held.

" You harm her and I swear on my mother's grave that I will kill you."

" All the way from BlackBeth to Casino? I don't think you'd make it in time, Josette."

She inhaled shakily. " Tell me whatever you want and I'll give it to you, don't just harm her."

" Well..." The speaker sighed. A loud noise of a long wheeze of vape echoed. " It's easy. We have a target on our elimination list and you are going to get your dirty with that."

" You want me to kill someone for you?"

" Easy right? But before that, you owe us seven million dollars and we promise to return her as we found her."

"Do we have a deal, Miss Montgomery?"

She stood there in total disbelief— thinking, doubting, and reconsidering but she found it complicated to come to any conclusion. Having the police in this wasn't the best option. In fact, she knew better than to tell anyone about this.

" I'm guessing your answer means a deal."

" I can only agree to get my dirty but owing that sum of money? Cut the chase."

" You do as you wish but I'm afraid little miss Sophie would have to bear the consequences. You have until tonight to make a choice, otherwise she will be ten feet beneath the earth and you will have to live with guilt for the rest of your pathetic life."

Why were bad things suddenly happening to her? She brought the phone off her ears, her eyes getting wet with tremendous tears. She couldn't let the young girl die— she loved her too much which was why she sent her all the way from BlackBeth to Casino to have a proper life.

There was no choice for her now, she had only one person in mind who could help— Zade.

She had trashed his card that he had dropped for her before he left yesterday because she thought she wouldn't need it.

Josette searched the trashcan and found it eventually and with a rush of adrenaline, she dialed the number and in a moment, the phone was answered.

First, it was silence, though she heard breathing. She was unsure if it was him or not but then she heard him clearing his throat. " Is that a yes?"

She closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly.

" We should probably discuss it first."

She heard him scoff but he answered eventually. " We will discuss it. Over dinner. Preferably somewhere intimate— your bedroom works just fine." He scoffed again, sarcastically.

His voice was like acid, burning her in private places and leaving goosebumps in its wake. And yet despite everything, her body betrayed her— yearning for anticipation— something she didn't understand.