CHAPTER 13: The masked villian

Zara Langford

God, no! Not now! Hold him.

The heavens heard my prayers and the door clicked shut. I released a breath I never knew I was holding.

That was close.

I can't afford for him to find me this way. My job will be at stake. I'm not ready for another cold remark, I already had enough.

Adrien got to where I stood, and he leaned toward my ear, He blew raspberries on my earlobe. My ears twitched.

Ewwww! Now, I really feel like throwing up. Jeez! That ewww!

I took two steps backward. I arched my brow at him. He looked taken aback by my actions.

Adrien's neck was red; his eyes refused to leave mine, but he kept rubbing his palm on his pants.

Adrien cleared his throat and pointed to his room door… the second time today.

Let's have it…. Hehehe.

“I'd be in there” Adrien scratched his head. He opened his mouth to say something. Hesitated. Closed it and then reopened it.

“You are beautiful… I'll see you around” He said in a rush. He turned to his door and went in without sparing me another glance or waiting for a reply.

Good riddance! I was already bored with him. Not him blowing raspberries on my ear.

Natalie, another gist for you. I laughed, my eyes lingered on Adrien's door and I went into mine with my bags.

★★★★

Author's POV

Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, something sinister was unfolding.

Someone clad in a long black coat, and a face mask covered his face. He leaned against the wall, eyes staring outside the city through the window.

Inside the hall, seven men stood in well-ironed suits. Hands folded to the back, head facing the ground.

“How is it going?” The masked man asked.

The one standing closest to him slowly lifted his head, a confident smile spreading across his face.

“Perfect. It's going as planned” He glanced at the others, before returning his gaze to the masked man. “From the Intel reaching me… Zara is Declan's date” The man in a suit added with a proud smile.

The masked man turned. He took a long drag from his cigarette, then swirled the red wine in his glass, watching the liquid cling to the sides.

He set down the glass and suddenly burst into loud ear-piercing laughter.

The men in suits cringed. They shifted their weight from foot to foot.

“Maxwell?”He called, eyes on the first man who spoke earlier.

The man who had replied earlier lifted his head, but dared not look at the masked man.

“You know what to do next… Make. Them. Payy!!!” He roared, his voice resounding in the room. The men in suits startled.

He took another drag from the cigarette, releasing it through his nostrils.

The masked man turned to the wall opposite him. He took slow strides towards the wall, his coat sweeping the floor.

The others watched silently. No one dared to make a sound.

On the wall, so many photos were glued to it. And ropes were strung across the wall. Photos clipped on them.

The masked man picked up a red marker, He crossed out a photo. At the top of the photos he wrote “Next”.

The masked man's hands tightened around the marker… He unclipped a photo from the rope… pinning it to the wall.

The masked man rubbed the eyes of the photo with his thumb. He crossed out the photo with the same red marker. At the bottom of the photo he wrote “RIP”.

“Why is it always you?” The masked man whispered to the photo. “Why not me?”

And almost immediately, a scream tore from his lips.

“Declan! You are fucking next!” He rasped, his breath coming in short gasps. He threw the marker on the floor.

The masked man turned to the men and a single word left his lips.

“Now!”

★★★★

Morning~ Hotel.

Zara Langford

I stirred on my bed. My hands are searching for my ringing phone. I picked up the phone.

The caller ID reads ‘Mum’

I already know why she is calling. I'm not in the mood for her banter right now.

I pulled the duvet off my phone. Dropping the phone back in the bed. I set down my feet to stand. I fell back on the bed.

Ouch!

My feet still hurt. My eyes found my legs. And they widened.

The flesh in my ankle is swollen and red. The area appears to indicate that the bone is shifted to one side.

Oh my days! There is an auction today… How do I attend this without my legs in perfect shape?

Think, Zara. Think.

I rubbed my ankle, and pain shot through me. Shit!

I picked up my phone to call the only person who knows how to scheme.

Yes! You got that right! Natalie.

The phone rang and she picked up on the fourth ring.

“Good morning asshole” I greeted, stressing the last words.

A moan escaped her lips. Her breath is fast and rough.

Huh! What's going on here?

“Natalie?”I called, pulling the phone away from my ear and staring at it to confirm I was talking to the right person.

“Yes.. Queen mo–ther… Oh fuck! Keep going,” she moaned while replying to me.

What in hell!

Natalie is having her pussy drilled and replying to me! The freaking audacity!

I'd been away for just a night and she'd already taken in a fuck mate!

Oh girl! Natalie is a fucking nutcase.

“Don't make me curse this morning bitch… It's really early in the morning,” I said, biting my tongue.

She inhaled deeply. Someone groaned from the other end after she whispered something I didn't catch.

Like I care! Groan all you want, jerk!

“Okay your Majesty, you have my whole attention now” She said and yawned. I don't need to be there to know she rolled her eyes.

“Fuck you both!”A muscular voice screamed from the other end. And the sound of the door shutting with force followed.

Fuck you too son of a bitch! The feelings are fucking mutual.

“Natalie, where did you pick that animal?”

“Refuge dump?”

“That's gross… whatever you do, stay clear from my room” I warned, knowing fully well she wouldn't listen.

“You don't order me around Miss”

The moment I warned her about something, she became daring.

“Like I care, babe I need your help right now… I'm cooked” I said in one breath.

She is the only one who can help in this kind of situation. Her scheming is far beyond this earth.

“You need help? What did you do this time?” Natalie asked, her voice drooping to a whisper.

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. My palms are resting on my ankles.

“I… my ankles hurt and I have just a few minutes to get ready”

“So… that shouldn't be a problem” She said and I don't need a soothsayer to tell me she is demonstrating dramatically with her hands.

“Natalie… I just said my ankles hurt!” I exclaimed. She should have gotten the hint.

I can't walk!

“Hold up! You can't walk?!”

I'm pretty sure her eyes are wider now and her hand is covering her lips.

“You guessed right. I can't stand, I can't even feel my legs”

“Oh no! This is bad and hot at the same time girl.” She squealed, her voice higher in tempo this time.

Bad and hot? Okay, what is hot about this? Am I not able to walk? Won't I be able to attend the deal party and get my ass screamed at?

Just what the hell is hot about all these? Sometimes, I can't seem to understand this girl.

“Hot? Natalie, I can't move my legs and you call that hot?”

She chuckled.

Whatever she is going to say next won't make any sense… I can feel it.

“Well—” She cleared her throat, louder than usual.

Now, this is getting scary. Can she just spill it out already?

I adjusted my leg. Placing a pillow under it.

“Out with it girl!” I snapped, I can't take this shit any longer.

“You could get carried the second time! Girllll!”Natalie screamed. I brought down the phone.

A tired sigh leaves my lips. I placed the phone back to my ears.

“Now you are making me begin to wonder if you got possessed by a lovesick ghost, that loves matchmaking the wrong people, Miss”

My pointer finger and my thumb went straight to my forehead. Why does Natalie choose to say the wrong things at the wrong time? It's becoming creepy.

“Possessed? Oh please, don't be a joy killer.”Natalie squealed. “There are possibilities of Declan getting the contract, if you get carried”

What!

“Wait… what did you just say?”