Chapter 3

Daria woke up with a hangover, but that was the least of her worries. ‘Where was she?’ She looked around but nothing looked familiar. 

Quickly she reached out for her phone which for some reason was beside her.

But something was off. She was wearing a shirt, which she wasn't wearing the previous night. She began to panic. She raised the blanket before her and noticed she was only with her underwear.

Daria got out of bed and ran towards the window but she couldn't recognize where she was.

She began to search the room for any means of identification to the owner but nothing.

Suddenly she remembered the guy from the bar, and her heart raced a thousand miles. Daria searched for her clothes, but unfortunately wasn't there. 

She grabbed the lamp by the bed and went towards the door with her phone in hand.

Daria went out to what seemed like a corridor. She tip-toed passed a pool area, she peeped through but no one was there.

She continued past the pool and into the living room, and spotted Nicholas who had his back to her. Slowly she tiptoed closer to him  and raised the vase to hit him.

“I see you're awake,” Nicholas said, sipping the glass of wine in his hand. Daria froze in place ' 'how did he know’ ‘ but that voice is that’ Daria stood with her hand still in the air.

Nicholas turned around and his face was blank, ”did you kidnap, are you in cohorts with that man”  Daria fired at him.

“I think you want to say thank you,” he replied, ignoring her question. “Thank you?” She scrunched up her face, “your welcome” he replied with a smirk.

“What did you do to me and where is my dress?” She fired at him. But Nicholas didn't answer her, “I'll call the police” Daria threatened, but he just chuckled and sat on the bar stool.

“Your clothes are wet and soiled, but you can wear some of the dresses in the closet” he continued sipping his drink.

“What do you mean wet?” she asked, irritated with the amount of unanswered questions he left hanging. Daria was about to speak but was distracted by her phone.

Daria took a look at it and cursed, it was her Dad. She immediately picked up “where are you, you left home last night, are you okay?” He asked frantically worried for her safety.

“I am okay Dad I just went out, I am on my way” Daria replied trying to calm her already worried father.

“Please do, I love you okay” he said slowly hanging up the phone. 

Daria put down her phone and marched towards Nicholas who was finding her amusing.

She got close enough to hover over him, “ now you are going to tell me what happened and how it happened” she stood trying to be intimidating.

Nicholas lifted a brow at her, in a split second he grabbed her by the waist and pinned her to the counter. 

“First of all no one threatens him, but because it's you I'll take it” his voice went deep.

Daria looked into his eyes, for some reason she didn't feel fear, she liked the sound of his voice, and the way he threatened her.

“It's simple you got drunk and almost kidnapped I saved you and brought you home” he continued his hand still placed firmly on her waist. 

“But….. that doesn't explain my dress” she managed to gather her words. “you vomited on them and I changed your clothes” Nicholas responded nonchalantly. 

Daria looked at him through her lashes. Her cheeks began to feel warm, her breath became shallow, afraid that it would blow him away. 

Nicholas let go of her and stepped back scrutinizing her, “honestly you look perfect the way you are” he complimented her. 

Daria could feel her cheeks get even hotter, but she got herself together. “I am leaving” she sprinted towards the room she just came out from.

She placed her hands on her hot cheeks, 'what is happening’ she closed her eyes trying to calm down.

Her phone buzzed again but this time it was Elena's message. Taking a look at her phone her eyes widened, Elena had left a hundred messages asking for her whereabouts.

Quickly she opened what looked like a closet and found some ladies clothes, suddenly she paused. 

“How does he have female clothes?” She asked out loud.

“Maybe it's one of his girlfriend's” she rolled eyes , picked up one that looked comfortable and ran to the shower.

Daria fixed up her face the best way she could, with the stuff in the bathroom and headed out.

 Thankfully Nicholas was not in sight, she quickly ordered for a ride and rushed home.

As soon as she left Nicholas emerged from the corner of the corridor she didn't notice, his face decorating with a smirk.

Daria rushed into her father's room, but she couldn't find the man. She went up to her brother's room, he was also missing.

That was when she realized that she was late for work. Quickly she called for the driver and took the key to her Porsche, and instructed the driver to go fetch the other one left at the bar.

Daria arrived at the office in a rush, for some reason the stares she got were strange. But she ignored them and went into her father's office.

“Dad I'm so sorry, I..” she stopped when she noticed Nicholas seated with her father.

“Daria, oh my goodness I was worried” Jacob got on his feet and hugged his daughter. But Daria's attention was on Nicholas sitting comfortably.

“Where were you?” He asked, concerned for her safety. “What is going on” she gestured towards Nicholas with her eyes.

 Nicholas stood up “I'll be on my way” stretching his hand towards Jacob for a handshake.

Nicholas passed Daria a subtle smile and walked away. “Father?” Daria called out to him, her face hardened.

Jacob's expression dulled he knew his daughter would not like what she was about to hear. “Have a seat" he requested, Daria threw him a suspicious look 

“Please,” he added, pointing towards the seat Nicholas had previously sat on. Jacob slightly cleared his throat. 

“Mr. Raceanu has agreed to sign the contract, on one condition” he stated. Daria was about to speak but he stopped her.

“You will accompany him for a business project back in England” he paused “ and I have agreed to it”.

“He can't do that, it's not his call” Daria replied, “unfortunately he can” Jacob answered.

“Dad, we don't need their company” she paused, breathing in long breaths. “There are other companies to join,” she continued, trying to persuade her father.

“I thought of that and I sent our workers to each of these companies and every single one of them was rejected” he replied calmly,

“Dad, that can't be true” “it's ……..” Daria was lost, “Daria please, we need this and it's just a project that's all” he pleaded.

Daria couldn't bear to see her father like that, she had to give in “fine I will do it, but only for you” she succumbed to his plea.

A smile instantly appeared on his face. “After our project is finalized I am retiring” he announced to her excitedly.

“What do you mean?” Daria looked surprised that the events of the day just kept coming without stopping.

“I am old and need to rest so that you and your brother can take over” his eyes sparkled with happiness.

Daria flashed him a fake smile, but deep down she was happy her father was finally going to rest, but she couldn't wave the helplessness she felt.

Daria stormed into Adi's office “I need your help” she demanded upfront. Adi looked up at her from his reading lens.

“Speak to me” he replied, placing his papers down. “I don't want to go on the project with Mr. Raceanu”,

”I want you to help me find if he's responsible for the rejections we got”.

“Are you talking about the jewelry project with Alpha group” he asked, turning all his attention to her.

Daria nodded “please” she moved closer, taking a seat. “I will help but it's not going to be easy” Adi assured her 

“Now leave me, you whining little child” Adi mischievously chased her away.

Daria felt relieved, and went into her office. “Do you love me?” She heard immediately she stepped into her office. 

Elena sat on Daria's seat at the table with a frown on her face as she glared at Daria. 

“Explain yourself” Elena demanded, Daria mentally slapped her head, 'shit’ she cussed.

“Don't say that, I love you so much” Daria replied walking to Elena's side, placing kisses on her cheek.

Elena smiled happily but she couldn't be easily persuaded. “Ever since you called to find that man, you have not called me again” she continued faking her anger.

Daria hugged her tightly. “I am so sorry, I promise to make it up to you” she offered.

“Wait here” Daria went towards the fridge and pulled out a glass of wine and two cups.

Carefully placed it on the table and poured a cup for Elena, “here” she placed the drink in front of her.

“This doesn't explain anything” Elena sipped the wine. “I will…..so you know the guy that I told you to find for me” Daria began explaining.

“Yeah” she nodded in response. “He is the one in charge of my recent project and we had a very unpleasant second meeting and now in order to get the contract signed I will have to do a project with him, which my father has signed and agreed to” Daria let out in one go 

“And I woke up in his house this morning,” Daria added, closing one of her eyes to avoid Elena's gaze.

Elena just burst into laughter, “you woke up in his house?” She laughed even more.

“Did you not hear the other part?” Daria's eyebrows joined together.

“Okay, he's the same man right?” Elena asked, pulling out her phone. “Well, he is the CEO of Alpha group of companies” she turned the phone screen to her.

“Look” she put the phone in her hands. “CEO? But how?” Daria couldn't believe it.

“Family inheritance I guess” Elena shrugged. “That's where he gets his brazy attitude,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“You said, you woke up in his house, The Nicholas Raceanu” Elena emphasized on the 'the’.

“You my dear have bagged a lifetime of happiness” Elena giggled, “no, I dislike the guy” Daria paused to sip her drink 

“He is a two timer, I caught him with two different ladies in one day” “I also think he kidnapped me and took me to his house” Daria said gulping the juice.

“Did anything happen, any sign of..” Elena tilted her head raising her brows.

“No I was intact, maybe he couldn't do anything” Daria shrugged.

“So about the project, where are you going?” Elena looked at her curiously.

“England” she answered nonchalantly. Daria's face lit up suddenly, “will you like to come with me?” she asked.

“Me, why, what will I do there?” Elena looked surprised with the sudden request. “I am no business, I am just an ordinary model” she added.

“I know but you could, get the vacation you always wanted and we could spend more time together,” Daria smiled sheepishly.

Elena reluctantly agreed to it, Daria and Elena headed to Elena's apartment where they spent the entire day talking and chilling.

Meanwhile at the Raceanu mansion. Nicholas went to the back of the building behind. It looked old but chic and well maintained.

He walked down the long corridor, the smell of blood filled the air. Nicholas took in the smell, filling his lungs. He got to a door guarded by a well built man.

The man greeted him and opened the door for him. The scent if blood grew stronger

A man was tied to the wall, bound with chains on each hand and feet. His body was spread apart like a star. He was the man from the bar.

His body had several openings in his body, each of them were bleeding and some had clots on them.

Nicholas called out to the other man who handed him a black pair of gloves. “Untie, him” he commanded, his face remained unfazed.

The man's leg wobbled and he fell to his knees. Nicholas sat on the chair that was brought for him “I see you have received the welcome treatment” Nicholas asked, reaching out for a stick.

“Please, I am sorry I would never touch her again” the man began to plead tears ran down his cheeks crouching down further.

“Are you?” Nicholas used the stick to lift his face. The man nodded profusely, “what's your name?” Nicholas asked again.

“John, please let me go,” John kept begging. “John, you see you harassed the wrong woman last night and you have to pay” 

Nicholas hit his already dislocated jaw with a stick in his hand. Blood spewed out of his jaw alongside his tooth.

John fell to the ground as blood flowed out of his lips. “Pick him up,” Nicholas said to the other man.

“Your hands” Nicholas commanded, but John didn't obey. This caused Nicholas to frown, he punched John in the belly and more blood spewed out of John's mouth and onto Nicholas clothes.

Nicholas grabbed John's shaking hands and placed it on the chair. “These are the filthy hand you used to touch her” Nicholas spat on them.

Using a plier he removed John's fingernails slowly. John screamed in agony, quickly a pool of blood surrounded his hands.

But Nicholas was not satisfied he picked up the stick and beat up John's hand until it was completely bruised and fractured.

Nicholas finally stops when John faints from shock. “Send him to the hospital, and clean up” Nicholas commanded the guard and walked away.