Chaoter 7

LAURA

"What's happening here?" Laura wondered, noticing the chaos outside the Miller Estate where police officers had just arrived.

A police officer approached her. "What's happening? And what are you doing here?" She asked almost consecutively as the officer drew closer, and she couldn't help but furrow her brow as she looked at him.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am," the officer greeted her. "I'm Lieutenant Corpuz," she introduced herself. "The Miller Estate owner contacted us, claiming there are illegal settlers living on his property," he informed her.

Her expression still hadn't changed when she spoke. "I'm the owner of Miller Estate, Lieutenant Corpuz. I'm Laura Miller Williams," she introduced herself.

"Oh," he said. "Mr. Smith called me, Ma'am Laura. He claimed he's the new owner of the Miller Estate and showed us documents proving he's the rightful owner," he explained.

He handed her a folder, which she took to examine. Her face contorted as she browsed through its contents. "And you're one of the alleged illegal settlers living on his property," Lieutenant Corpuz added.

"This is my property, Lieutenant Corpuz," she insisted.

"Do you have documents to prove it, Ma'am Laura? The documents Mr. Smith provided us seem legitimate," he added.

Laura's lips parted, then closed. She had no documents to show, as they were with her father. And it seemed the man was right; the documents he showed her did appear legitimate.

It seemed Lieutenant Corpuz read her mind, as he spoke again. "And I'm sorry, Ma'am Laura. We're just following the law and the owner's orders. You need to leave, along with the others," he added.

Laura's fists clenched at what she heard. She glanced at the workers present, seeing a mix of fear, anxiety, and sadness etched on their faces. She understood them, understood why they felt that way. Because if they got evicted? Where would they go? They would surely end up living on the streets.

Has Draco really become that heartless? Hasn't he taken pity on these people, dragging them into his anger towards her father? Even innocent people with no involvement are being dragged into this.

Laura clenched her fist in anger towards Draco. "Just stay here and please don't touch them. I need to talk to someone," Laura said in a cold voice.

She didn't wait for him to speak further, turning her back to enter the mansion. Her hands were clenched into fists as she walked towards where Draco was. She knew where he was because she had seen him earlier peeking through the window of her room, which he had taken over.

She stormed into the room, her nose wrinkling in distaste as she caught the whiff of cigarette smoke.

She looked up to see Draco already watching her, as if expecting her arrival. He seemed to know she would come after him. She noticed the cigarette in his hand.

So, Draco is smoking.

"Do you really have no heart?" Laura couldn't help but say to Draco.

Draco took a drag on the cigarette and then exhaled. "I already told you, Laura. You witnessed how ruthless and heartless I can be if you don't follow my orders," he reminded her. "But you still didn't obey. So, take the consequence of your decision," he added.

Laura knew what Draco was referring to - her refusal to follow his order. Earlier, he had told her to prepare lunch for him, but instead of obeying, she had defied him. She wasn't his servant to be ordered around.

"Get the fuck out of my room and my territory now," he ordered her after a moment.

"I'll leave. But let them stay," she told Draco. Even though it pained her to leave the Miller Estate, she would do it, as long as he didn't evict the workers.

"No," he said in a firm voice. "If you leave my territory, take them with you. I don't need them here."

Laura's shoulders slumped at his words. It seemed she was the one who would lose out on her stubbornness, facing a man with a heart of stone, no conscience, and no mercy. If she continued to defy him, she and the Miller Estate workers would be the ones to suffer.

Her shoulders slumped again in defeat. "F-fine," she said finally, her voice trembling despite her efforts to control it. When Draco noticed it, she saw the corners of his lips curve into a smirk. "What do you want me to do so you won't make them leave?" Laura asked, submitting. She thought that continuing to defy him would get her nowhere.

Instead of speaking, he stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray. Then, he took a step closer to her. As he walked, his gaze locked onto hers. He halted in front of her. She could smell the expensive cologne mixed with cigarette smoke.

She looked like trapped prey again, vulnerable to his predatory gaze.

Unconsciously, Laura's tongue darted out to moisten her lower lip. And it seemed like a wrong move, as she noticed Draco's gaze drop to her lips.

And her lips parted slightly as he didn't look away. He noticed the subtle movement of her Adam's apple as he gazed at her lips.

"You're asking me what you need to do to keep them from being kicked out?" he asked, his deep, baritone voice low and husky.

And Laura swallowed hard repeatedly when she saw the darkness in his eyes as he looked up, their gazes meeting.

"I want you to kiss me," he replied, his gaze never leaving hers.

"What?" She couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes widening slightly.

"I'm giving you five seconds. If you don't do what I want, I'll kick out all the workers here," he warned her again. Was he losing his mind? "One," he counted. She had no idea what was going through his mind to make him think of such a thing. "Two." Why did he want her to kiss him? "Three." He was angry with her, but why did he want a kiss from her? "Four." Shouldn't he feel disgusted with her, given that he believes she's the daughter of the man he hates the most? But before Draco could reach five, her hands grasped his shoulders.

She stood on tiptoes to reach his lips, as he wanted. She kissed him on the lips. He just said to kiss him, he didn't specify if it was a simple peck or a passionate kiss.

So she just gave him a quick peck. Their lips had barely touched for two seconds when she pulled away. But her eyes widened enormously when Draco chased her lips. And instead of just a peck, he gave her a kiss that was a mix of passionate and deep, his tongue tangling with hers.

Draco bit her lower lip before quickly slipping his tongue into her mouth, and she couldn't help but moan as his tongue explored every corner of her mouth.

When she recovered from the shock, she pushed him, but it was like pushing against a wall, as he didn't budge even an inch.

But she didn't give up. She tried to push him harder, but she didn't succeed. And it seemed he didn't like what she did, and as her punishment, he kept kissing her as if there was no tomorrow. She felt breathless from the way he was kissing her, but Draco didn't care. He continued kissing her the way he wanted to.

Passionate, deep, and punishing.

And just when she was about to lose her breath, Draco finally released her lips. She was almost gasping for air.

"That's the kiss I ordered. Not that lame kiss of yours," Draco said in a deep and baritone voice.