Chapter Forty-Five

Alina’s POV

“What is going on?”

“Can you introduce me to those Frenchmen? I want to jump on it”

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I don't see why that is any of your business Sebastian. This was a bad idea, I'll find them myself” She grabbed the shopping bags from me and stormed off.

Sebastian didn’t come after me like I expected.

wasn't willing to help, it was all a waste of time.

I stormed off forgetting about the man in the shadows until I saw him again.Was I the only one who had seen this figure? My eyes darted around the corner for help. Who would help me? A little help was not going to hurt me, I just needed saving, and yet it didn’t come.

Panic engulfed me in a warm hug that grew tight, almost suffocating as I stared at the man in front ofme.

The hair in my arms stood straight up like spikes, my breath caught in my throat.

I could hear my heartbeat racing and I couldn't think, could hardly breathe. I couldn't speak or move, as I tried to focus solely on his face, which seemed to glow with a light from within. It felt strange, extremely strange.

But the eyes, those eyes were cold and danced with mischief and danger. Like liquid ice. I had seen them before but where?

Everything about those had seen them so many times, burning in my nightmares. Eyes that looked deep into yours like they could read your deepest desires. Eyes that screamed chaos, he was looking at me like a cat playing with its food before devouring it and leaving the bones to crumble underneath the weight of his appetite. I knew those eyes.

“Not exactly who you were expecting, am I right?” he murmured amusedly, taking in the sight of me, as if he had planned this whole encounter.

He took a step back and leaned his back against the wall of my room, still looking directly at me.

My brain felt fried and my mouth felt dry. I couldn't find any words to reply. All that could run through my mind was him, and his eyes and his voice, and his smell, his smell that filled me with pure terror.

“Hello, Alina” he greeted once again when he noticed my lack of response. His voice sounded like he was talking to a toy, a toy he was going to mess up.

“Aren't you going to answer me?” he teased, smirking playfully.

My chest was constricting and my breaths were shallow. He chuckled again and shook his head, stepping towards me.

“Answer me, Alina,” He demanded, looking furious like he was about to snap my neck, which was possible.

Very possible.

But I couldn't think of any other thing apart from the fact that this could be my last moment on earth.

This man would kill me. He would kill me.

The reality of that thought punched me in the guts causing tears to roll down my cheeks , making me gasp for air, but failing.

He didn't make a single sound as he stepped closer and closer until we were inches away from each other.

“Aw, don’t cry. You haven't been crying when you were whoring around, you can't possibly cry now, can you?” He asked mockingly. “I just got here.” he said, shaking his head laughing. “How about we start over? Hello, hello? Can you hear me?”

I closed my eyes tightly trying to control my breathing. Tears continued to flow freely from both my eyes and my lips. Everything felt blurry.

His hand wiped the side of my cheek and I cringed, wishing I could disappear, wishing that all of this was just a bad dream and that I would wake up soon.

“Look at me!” he yelled, grabbing my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His grip tightened around my jaw and I let out an involuntary whimper.

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Why now? Why me? Why here? Why this place of all places?

“Good” he had a sickening smile on his face , his tone sounding very smug as he spoke. “Look how obedient you are. Good girl”

I wanted to scream ‘stop hurting me! Stop it! Please!’ but my vocal cords refused to work.

He leaned in closely until our lips touched and I wanted to puke.

His lips continued their assault but I remained cold as ice.

“Kiss me back” he demanded.

But I didn't.

I felt myself gag under his touch but managed to swallow it. My stomach rolled as he pulled back, his thumb caressing my lower lip.

“You're so beautiful, such a beautiful slut.” he whispered.

I opened my eyes and tried to move but his grip on my jaw remained firm.

“Do you wanna know something sweetheart?” he questioned slowly, like he was talking to a child.

He bent down a little bit, resting the tip of his nose on my nose.

I gasped for air.

Why was everything getting smaller and smaller around me, shrinking the space between us until it was just tiny and tight enough for us to be touching and yet still just big enough for us to be separated by a few centimetres.

Why was it so slow? Who was coming to rescue me?

His fingers tangled themselves in my hair. The sharp pain and pressure from his grip caused me to wince and whimper in pain.

My knees felt weak, my whole body trembled under his harsh grip.

“Answer me! Say it right now”

I flinched at the sound of his voice, his words making every part of me cringe.

More tears fell from my eyes “Please, you are hurting me ! Let go of me! Please! Please! Don't hurt me, please!” I begged desperately as more painful cries tore through my lungs.

He smiled sadly at me and moved his hand down to my thigh pressing against it. “Are you really begging me to hurt you? Do you really want me to do that?”

My vision became blurred with more tears and I lowered my head hiding my tear stained face in my hands.

“I thought you were stronger than that. But you don’t even fight back anymore...”

His voice trailed off and silence filled the elevator with a thick tension that could crush anyone.

“I won't ask you again,” he added menacingly, “but I swear to God, Alina, that I'll make you wish you'd never been born. So you better think twice before you start crying.”

His hand suddenly lifted my chin up and my tears were washed away immediately. I saw the anger in his expression, in the hardness in his eyes, in the hard glint in his stare.

But most of all, I saw fear. And there was something else besides anger reflected in his eyes; there was desperation. I saw the desperation in his gaze that made my blood run cold.

It was only when the world came to an abrupt halt that he let me go. My legs gave way beneath me and I collapsed on the floor, gasping for air.

I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let go, not even when I started screaming.

“Stop! Stop! Leave me alone!” my screams echoed throughout the walls, sending shivers down my spine.

“You're mine Alina” his voice was deadly serious, making my blood turn cold.

Suddenly he stopped. Just like that.

He let me go roughly andI landed on my butt . He glared at me before turning and walking out of the door without another word, leaving me there on the floor sobbing hysterically.

And then it was silent. Complete and utter silence. I was completely and utterly alone.