Julian once again

Aria's POV

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My throat bobbed as the horrific sight filled my eyes. I turned to the woman. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” I shook my head. There’s no way I could take part in such a horrible act.

About to move, when the woman blocked the exit, planting her hands on the doorframe. “Where the hell do you think you are going?” A thick frown burnt on her face. “You’re going anywhere until your job here is done,” she snarled.

“Who?” I folded my arms, my voice barely thriving beneath the loud music.

“Barley, Alvero,” The woman yelled.

Two burly men clad in black polo shirts and trousers began approaching us. The stare in their eyes was as threatening as the tattoo that crawled up their neck.

My heart thudded in my ears, drowning out the loud music and my hands clammed. I shoved the woman aside.

Weaving my way through the crowd, I scurried towards the exit of the club. The men trailed right behind me like a predator marking its prey.

I burst out of the club through the door and into the dark alley. The disgusting smell of throw-up and stale alcohol wafted into my nose brewing nausea in my stomach.

With my heart in my mouth, I sprinted down the road. My barefoot slapped hard against the pavement. The icy rain stung my skin as it washed the earth of its dust and warmth. My drenched auburn wavy hair clung up to my skin as I clung to dear life. Although my life was pitiful, that doesn’t mean I should throw it away. My soaked white shirt and black skirt hugged me as though I could save it from being ripped by the two men who chased behind me.

Lightening rumbled, offering a flickering light that brightened the dark alleyway for a second. Aside from the parked cars, there was no one, no living thing in sight, to witness my death if those men caught up to me.

I took the left turn, and it introduced me to the car park at the front of a supermarket. Oh great, one more empty car. I glanced around, searching for where I could hide. Their vile footstep that pierced through the clatter of the rain drew closer with every passing second.

“Oh sh*t,” I mumbled.

A red Ferrari on the other end of the car park caught my eye, its boot was slightly opened. Without hesitating, I slipped into the narrow booth. My breath and finger trembled as I attempted to close it enough for it to be thought to be closed. But my fingers slipped, and with a metallic clink, I knew I had trapped myself in the dark booth of a stranger’s car.

The wails of the rain dwindled as it neared its end, its heavy drops morphing into light ones.

“Find her,” one of my chasers said, muffled but discernible. “There’s no way she could have gone far. Check beneath the car.”

I stifled my mouth, but my heartbeat was still loud.

“What are you doing around my car?” A man’s voice filtered into my ears, one That sounded familiar.

The rain I had thought was near its end intensified; its harsh drumming sound muffled the conversation going on outside.

Aside from the rain, I could hear nothing.

Aside from the darkness inside the booth, I could see nothing.

My chest tightened, attempting to constrict my racing heart. The car engine started and it moved.

Every inhale filled my lungs with fear and faint traces of musky scent.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally came to a halt. I should feel relieved, yet I felt worse as my heart thudded in parts of my body it shouldn’t.

Should I bang the car? A part of me wanted to remain hidden in the trunk, but with the little knowledge I knew, I was bound to run out of oxygen and still die. So I took my chances and banged the booth. “Help!” I screamed, straining my poor vocal cords.

Moments later, the door creaked open, flooding the trunk with a sliver of light and fresh air.

I dashed out of the trunk and my eyes fell on Julian.

“Look who we have here? If this isn’t fate, I don’t know what it is. ” A satisfied grin played on his lips, and his eyes darkened as they trailed my frame.

My hands flew around my chest as my palms itched to slap the smug smile off his face. It just had to be Julian’s trunk I entered

Julian shielded me from the rain with his umbrella. “It’s another late rainy night. You have to spend the night in my house.” The smug smile still burning on his lips, like seeing me in this state amused him.

I wanted to reject his offer as I hated his cockiness. But once again I was outside without any cash or means to get back home. So I had no choice but to accept. "Thank you." I clenched the rim of my black skirt, which was torn a bit from all that running.

We headed towards the entrance of his house. Like its owner, the house stood tall majestically, A white three-story building that competed with the towering trees that adorned the compound. Unlike its owner, it was warm, the lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows that melded with the external lights that prevented darkness from enveloping the house. The soothing trickling sound of water struggling beneath the now soft drums of the rain, notified there was a water fountain nearby.

My eyes widened as I entered the living room. It was so huge you could fit fifty of my small, scrawny apartments into it. The white walls, the white sofas, the golden chandeliers that cascade from the towering ceilings, the way they glistened—everything about the man seemed so heavenly.

“A real-life doll.” A child’s voice drew my attention

My eyes fell on a young girl, her face was as lively as her voice. But, the woman beside her, stood with the most horrible and coldest frown I had ever seen etched across her face.

“Daddy!” The little girl dashed towards Julian. I never knew he had a daughter.

With his many failed marriages, it was hard to tell who her mother was.

Julian squatted and scooped the girl into his arms. “It’s rude to call people dolls. Don’t do that again,” he scolded with a soft voice. Julian turned to me. “Sorry about that, she didn’t mean it.”

My body tightened as I never expected his apology. He always acted high and arrogant. Our last encounter didn’t leave a good impression on me.

His daughter's eyes locked with mine. “I’m sorry. You are so beautiful like a doll.” Her eyes rounded.

I nodded.

Julian turned to the lady. “Please show her to her room.” He swung his gaze to me. “After changing, come down for dinner,” he said before carrying his daughter upstairs.

I trailed behind the lady and she led me to a large room.

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After dinner, the maid came in and cleared the table. The sweet taste of the food still lingered on my tongue as I leaned in and patted my full stomach.

“How’s the meal?” Julian entered the dining room, his black silk pajamas wrapping his toned frame. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, exposing a sliver of chest. His slightly wet hair was tousled and a few strands fell across his forehead in the most sultry manner.

“It was nice. Thank you.”

Plopping onto the seat across from me, he began. “I’m not a man who likes to beat around the bush, so I’ll jump straight to the point.” He leaned in and clasped his hand on the table, his muscles teasing my eyes from beneath his pajamas. “I watched Adam's interview and it turns out he is still in love with you.”

I rolled my eyes. A subtle metallic tang burnt on my tongue as I remembered how Ethan treated me. If only he knew Ethan just said that to make me the bad guy.

Julian eased up from the seat, dipped his hand in his pocket, and strutted towards. “Ethan And I went way back and he always had eyes for things I love—my position, my friends.” His musky scent with a cedarwood undertone wafted into my nose as he stood before me. “My woman.”

I had no idea where this was heading, but my stomach twisted and his dominative presence stirred up a feeling in my chest, one I couldn't yet discern.

Those blue hazel eyes locked with mine, burning a scorching heat into me. “I have a score to settle with him. So I’m going for everything he loves.” He lowered his head until his face was mere inches away from mine, his warm breath mingling with my shallow breath.

“Starting with you.”