The dinner lasted for about two hours. Everybody was talking in low voices. The two bodyguards stood outside the lanai. Ginny and Gillian cleared the dirty plates and utensils. They left the glasses and a bottle of brandy, which Sam had produced after dinner.Jamil was explaining something to Rye earnestly. The younger man remained enigmatic while listening intently.Gillian glanced at his direction sporadically. She wanted to catch his eye but he was elusive.When Ginny started yawning, Gillian took the opportunity to escape."You're sleepy, Ginny. Say goodnight to everyone."Ginny came near Sam and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight, Sam! Goodnight, Mr. Jamil and Sir Rye! Goodnight, everyone!" She waved to the two bodyguards."Goodnight, Ginny." Sam stood up to give Ginny a chaste kiss on the forehead.Gillian bowed her head wordlessly in the direction of the men. Her lips remained unsmiling and her eyes lowered as she bade a silent goodnight. Her throat tightened as they walked ins
When Arnault sank into her, she screamed discordantly."Yes! Yes, scream all you like and I'll cream you all night!" he joked obscenely.Foul-mouthed rejoinder and laughter were heard all around them.She did not know how long she shrieked and squealed like a small animal. Maybe, the whole night long. Her voice had vanished. Her throat was raw.Gillian was sobbing weakly. She lost consciousness for short while. She was on and off but Arnault was still rutting inside her. She couldn't feel her arms and legs. They seemed dislodged and numb.She was staring unseeingly to the brightening windows when dawn arrived.When Arnault opened his eyes, a white paper was waving on his face."You must marry her, my dirt Arnault! She's only fifteen! How could you?" Lupo was smirking slyly. "Or I'll call the authorities? One mobile car is already outside!""W-what--?" the nonplussed Arnault managed to peek at the windows."Transfer this mansion to my name. And you will pay me one million per month unti
"Here we are, bitch!" Arnault paid the taxi.Gillian peered at the sprawling mansion disinterestedly. She was languidly neutral.They entered a large door with two guards. They did not question them but they stared at Gillian very closely. Arnault cleared his throat."The dungeon, Mr. Schmidt," the first guard said courteously.The wide hallway was full of lavish objects. They were not there to decorate. They were on display to boast the riches of the owner.After the long array of extravagant purchases, like the diamond studded of life-like bust of Medusa, they turned to a narrow corridor. The eyes of the snakes on its head were glittering menacingly. An invisible door opened when Arnault touched the wall."Come in, Mr. Schmidt!" a booming voice called from within.There were no windows. The walls were lined with books and magazines. There was one wall that had several television screens with black and white images.Gillian glanced around impassively. There were a handful of balding m
Gillian knew a brief respite from hell when Lupo was imprisoned.After Arnault died and Lupo was caught by the authorities, Genova was able to find Gillian."Li-an, you are four months pregnant. You must be strong." Genova was crying every time she talked to Gillian.Gillian remained silent. She was in a state of shock. She did not recognize anyone. She ate, slept, and woke up. She walked when Genova urged her to go to the health center.The bruises on her body had healed but her mind remained on the white beach and white waves... Until Gillian gave birth to a baby girl. She looked at her child disinterestedly."Li-an, here's your baby! What a beautiful girl!" Genova had named the baby 'Genevieve'.Ginny had been six months old when Gillian woke up from her trauma."Mother, there's a baby!" she croaked happily. "She looks like you?""Yes..." Genova thought Gillian had gone to so much sufferings at a young age. She would tell the truth to her distressed daughter at a later time.Genova
"Gillian?" Her mother called out her name groggily.Gillian was startled. She was suddenly aware of her present surroundings. She had looked back on the dark part of her past with a new perspective. And she felt revived and reawakened.Wiping her wet cheeks, Gillian smiled tearfully at Genova.
Rye held Gillian in his arms. He let her cry on his shoulder. All movements ceased. Only their breathing shook their bodies gently."Did I hurt you?" he murmured thickly."N-no, you didn't..." Gillian raised her head to look at him. They gazed at each other. "I'm sorry. You must think of me as a cry-baby.""You are brave and strong. I admire you, Gillian. You are untouched by the venom of the underworld." His hand cupped her cheek. His thumb crushed the teardrop which was about to flow down.The gesture was tender but she did not want to talk about her past.Gillian twirled her tongue on his flat nipple. "Gillian!" he groaned his surprise.She was kneeling over him. "I don't want to waste our time together, Rye.""You recover fast!" He observed while his hands cupped her breasts."I want you, Rye!" Her palms worshipped his wide chest and muscular shoulders. "I don't deserve you but I will take this night for us!" she declared throatily."Oh, Gillian!" he moaned aloud when she kissed t
"Sir Rye, I submit my resignation to you today," Nurse Sanchez expressed her intention honestly."I accept it," Rye replied distractedly."I had submitted all your medical reports to the doctors.""Thank you very much for an excellent service, Nurse Sanchez! I'll send your c.o.e. an
Gillian knocked on the door of her parents' house.The structure was made of six container vans. Four vans were attached to each other. Two vans were the living area and the other two were the office and bedroom of Jamil and Genova. The makeshift house was painted with colors: pink and sky blue.There were two small container vans on each side, painted simply in white. One was occupied by Tita Chedeng or Nurse Sanchez and the other by Ginny. The nurse left Rye's employ to be a companion to Genova.Presently, Ginny was staying-in at the hospital with Gillian. They were both working as physical therapists. Ginny was just an internist. She enrolled at the nearby university."Come in, Li-an!" Her mother and the nurse were in the garden at the back of the structures."Hello, Mother! Hello, Tita Chedeng!" Gillian greeted cheerfully. "I brought grapes and oranges." She raised the bag of fruits."You need them more." Genova kissed her cheek. "How's the baby?""My monthly check-up and ultrasoun