Chapter 5 - Back To The Lion's Den.

ELSA'S POV,

My heart skipped a beat and my smile disappeared at the sight of Leonard standing right before me, I felt glued instantly, unable to say a word,

My initial exuberance had eluded me and a sense of shame and disappointment washed over me, I got scared as cold ran down my spine,

Right before me was the man I thought I had successfully escaped from, I couldn't believe I had been lured back into the lion's den after my careful calculations,

From the smirk on his face, I could tell he wasn't oblivious to my coming, right then I realized I had been tricked,

"What?" He questioned, his eyes gleaming with mischievousness as he stared at me, his smile had never left his face,

Even though he was smiling broadly, his ice-cold eyes made him look like the devil himself, he seemed to be enjoying himself,

Even though I was scared, I managed to hold back my composure, as I didn't want him to see through me.

"Aren't you happy to meet your husband-to-be?" He questioned, his voice dripping with mockery as he spoke,

But as I stared at him, a thought crossed my mind, the thought that he probably wasn't aware of my identity,

My first instinct was to pretend I had come to the wrong house and excuse myself. I slowly drew in a quick breath as I stilled myself to execute my thoughts,

Forcing a small smile on my face, I said,

"I'm sorry sir, it seems I'm in the wrong house." My voice was a little bit shaky as I spoke, betraying the fear that tugged at the corner of my heart,

Without waiting for his response, I turned to leave, but with just one step he closed up the distance between us, holding me back by the arm, which made my heart skip another beat.

As I turned to face him, I noticed his smile had disappeared and was replaced with a scary sight of him, anger mixed with hatred gleamed in his eyes, and his features, contorted in fury, the veins in his face stung,

His grip tightened on my wrist, holding me firmly as he stared into my eyes, even though I was hurting, I was too engrossed in the look I had seen on his face.

"Don't try to be smart with me little girl," He said, his tone low and dangerous, as he spoke, his ice-cold eyes glinted with hatred as they shot at me,

"I've once been fooled by you Elsa Elkins and there's no way it'd happen again." He growled with his teeth gritted, like a predator ready to attack his prey,

At that point, I knew there was nothing I could do than to face it.

Just then, I realized that everything was a deliberate effort from him to get me back into his life, making my heart begin to race as fear coursed through me, dampening every form of confidence I once had.

"Please let me go, I beg you." I pleaded, my voice breaking from the fear that was beginning to spread across my heart,

His response was a deep guttural chuckle, the sound of which spoke of the satisfaction in his heart,

Suddenly, his expression turned serious and his cold aura reappeared,

"Let you go?" He finally said staring deep into my eyes,

"Then how do you intend to repay your debts?" He questioned his eyes glinting with fury as they shot at me,

In a sudden surge of urgency, I replied, "I'll refund the money you sent me, but please let me go, I beg you," desperation coursing through me as I spoke,

"Then what about my damaged reputation? How do you intend to amend that? Huh?" He glared at me, sending waves of cold down my spine, yet I managed to hold back my composure, not willing to allow him to see how scared I was,

Even though deep within me, I was shivering under his aura,

I thought I could negotiate with him since he never delighted in women, but as I tried to wrap my head around what to say to him, I felt lost for what to say, so I allowed my heart do the talking instead, unsure of how I sounded,

"I'll apologize properly to everyone and tell..." But before I could complete my words, his response came cutting me off my words,

"Apology? He sneered at me, his words echoing in the foyer, bearing the weight of his anger,

"Do you think an apology would repair the damage you've caused?" He thundered like an angry god of war, while I stared at him, in an energy matching his,

"Whether you like it or not Elsa, you're my wife and I've bought you with your father's debt," he continued, tightening his grip on my wrist again as he drew me closer to him,

"But don't let that fool you, you're no different from my slave because I'm so going to make you pay for what you've done to me." He spat, his words dripping with hatred with no regard for my feelings at all.

Upon hearing his words, I felt my anger begin to boil at how little he had regarded me.

Even though deep within me I was scared, I wasn't going to be anybody's slave, so I said in energy matching his,

"Never Leonard, I'll never be yours, either as a wife or a slave," my eyes glinting with fury as I spoke,

His response was another round of dry laughter, the sound of which spoke of the contempt in his heart, he leaned closer, his voice low and dangerous as he spoke,

"You're my property, and that's what you'll remain forever," his dark eyes looking deep into my soul,

"I'll make sure you pay for the damage you've caused and the humiliation I felt on that day." His cold and menacing words sent chills down my spine as he spoke with his teeth gritted, which conveyed the hatred in his heart.

I summoned all the courage I could find deep within me and straightened my spine as I opened my mouth in response,

"I will repay what I and my father owe and then I can be free from your monstrous grip." Despite my heart heaving hard against my chest, frightened by his look.

His features curved into a conceited smile, "Have a nice try then," he said, as satisfaction twinkled in his eyes.