Episode #7: "Unknown Psychopath"

Hailey went to the washroom and splashed water on her face to cool down. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. "What the...," she said when she noticed, not her reflection, but the locket shining on her neck in the mirror.

"Where the hell did this come from, and how didn't I notice?" she exclaimed, touching the locket. She tried to take it off when suddenly her cell phone started ringing.

She came out and checked her phone. It was from the same private number. "What?" she spat in anger, only to hear a chuckling sound from the other side.

"Cool down, Rose, and the locket should not be separated from your neck," the caller, or better to say Cassian commanded before disconnecting the call.

"How in hell did he put this locket on my neck without me knowing?" Hailey murmured in disbelief and turned back to the mirror. She approached the dressing table and examined the locket keenly.

It was a small bird adorned with blue diamonds. Hailey tried to remove it, but suddenly Cassian's words echoed in her ear, and she took a deep breath. "Just great, now I'm listening to the words of someone about whom I don't know anything. In fact, I don't even know his face, just his strong, manly voice. He could be anyone, a psychopath or maybe a serial killer. I wish I could punch him once," she murmured and went towards her bed.

Cassian had tied the locket around her neck when she was standing, lost in her thoughts after talking with Abria.

Morning:

"Mr. Caleb, my flight is in 2 hours," Hailey said to Caleb, who had come to her room. "I wanted you to stay here longer, but honestly, I don't want more punches from you. So, if you're ready, the driver will drop you at the airport," Caleb exclaimed.

Hailey was embarrassed after hearing this, as she had thought the same the previous night. "Thank you for everything, and sorry once again," Hailey said, and Caleb just smiled at her in return.

"Text me once you reach. We will schedule a meeting to discuss the further proceedings," Caleb exclaimed. "Sure," Hailey said and left with the driver for the airport.

She was calmly sitting and gazing out of the window when her cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and found it was, as usual, a private number. She rolled her eyes but picked it up.

"So, you're going?" Cassian asked. "When you know, then why are you asking?" Hailey replied. "Are you wearing the locket?" Cass asked. Hailey rolled her eyes. "Yeah," her sassy reply made Cass chuckle.

"I should have named you Firecracker instead of Rose," Cassian said. "My name is HAILEY," Hailey exclaimed while emphasizing her name. "Tch, for me it's Rose," Cassian replied.

"No," Hailey replied. "Sugarplum?" Cassian suggested. "What? Heck no," Hailey replied abruptly. "Sweet cheeks?" Cassian said. "Ew, yuck, no way," Hailey said in disgust.

"So...," Cassian started, but Hailey cut him off. "Don't you dare call me by any other name, or else," Hailey said, but Cassian interrupted her. "Or else what, Rose?" he teased.

"I'll punch you and call you Psychopath," Hailey said. Cassian burst into laughter upon hearing this. "And why so?" Cassian asked. "First, you're calling me from a private number every day. Second, I don't even know your name or your face. Third, you're commanding me and just increasing my frustration," Hailey exclaimed.

After hearing this, Cassian started chuckling again. "Soon, you'll know everything, my dear Rose," Cassian said, and before Hailey could say anything, he disconnected the call.

"Idiot," Hailey murmured and started gazing out of the window. Without her knowledge, a beautiful smile appeared on her lips as she remembered the conversation with her unknown psychopath.

She boarded the flight and texted Abria that she was coming to the office but would go to her penthouse first. Jacob had told her that the people were arrested, but they didn't know on whose orders they had tried to break into her penthouse.

Hailey arrived at her penthouse and found the lock had already been changed. She greeted Jack and went to freshen up. "Jack, make something for tonight. I'll be late, but I'll have something at home," Hailey instructed him before going out.

She had already texted Caleb that she had arrived safely. She went to the parking lot and opened her car. She zoomed out of the parking lot, but suddenly, out of nowhere, a car came in front of her. The automatic brake stopped her car with a jerk, but she, busy buckling her seat belt as she often did out of habit, hit her right temple hard on the steering wheel.

"Ouch," Hailey hissed and looked at her fingertips, which had blood on them. She fumed in anger and unlocked the car, but before she could open the door herself, someone opened it and, holding her arm in a tight grip, dragged her out.

"What the hell, leave me," Hailey screamed, but her voice caught in her throat when she saw the face of the person. It was none other than Adam Steve. "Leave me," Hailey said and tried to free her arm.

"With great difficulty, you are in my clutches," Adam said and dragged her towards the car. "Adam Steve, leave me," Hailey said again and tried to scratch his face. Adam, who got a small cut because of her nail, became angry and gave her a tight slap.

Hailey's lips started bleeding from the intensity of the slap. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she controlled herself and tried her best not to go with him. Nobody was around other than Adam's guards.

"I'd prefer death rather than going with a rascal like you," Hailey said while trying to pull her arm away. Adam ignored her and opened the car door. He was about to push her inside when someone else held Hailey's other arm.

Hailey looked to her left with a jerk, but before she could see the person's face, he pulled her towards himself and hid her behind his back. "Who dares to stop me? Who the hell are you?" Adam questioned while glaring hard at him.

"Told you not to get in my way," Hailey heard a voice, and her head shot up with a jerk toward the person who had just saved her. It was the voice of a person whom she named Psychopath.

She was standing behind his back, so his face was not visible. She stepped aside to look at his face when she heard another familiar voice from behind. "Are you okay?" she heard Caleb's worried voice from behind.

She was shocked to see him standing there. She opened her mouth to ask him but stopped when Cassian started speaking. "Adam Steve, you never learn from your past mistakes," Cassian exclaimed.

"Do you know who I am?" Adam said while gritting his teeth. "We know who you are. But do you know who he is?" Caleb asked from behind, and Adam eyed Cassian.

"Cassian Holt," Caleb's words fell in Adam's ears like hot lava. On the other hand, Hailey felt the whole world spinning when she realized that the person she thought was a psychopath was none other than Cassian Holt.

She stumbled, but Caleb caught her just in time.

To be continued...