Saviour?

Donna's POV  

I regretted stepping out for a freedom I didn't deserve, and now, I was somewhere locked up and ready to be sold to some smuggler.  

My stepmother had been comically right about me getting kidnapped if I ever stepped out of the house. I always assumed they were lies to keep me indoors.  

The door got knocked on and I quickly stilled my breathing and acted unconscious. Someone walked in, moved around for ten seconds, then walked out. This had been the third time they had moved in here. What if they had discovered I was awake?  

"What will I do now? It seems I can't even escape from this place by myself. And would I just return home to that awful marriage contract?"  

Could I marry him then divorce him after I get a bit of freedom? Many things could go wrong, but many things might still go right. I was divided.  

I rose from the bed and my eyes noticed the mirror by my side. My eyes lingered on the mirror for a long time as a realization crept into me.  

I looked hideous. My hair was sparse and greasy. My boobs dropped and I had lost a lot of weight. I realized my sweater had been taken off me and I quickly wore it back to hide it all.  

That old man wouldn't want someone as unflattering as I was but I was all he deserved. It might be my fault that I was treated like trash by my stepmother's friends and I probably disgusted the guests.  

My hands dug into my hair as that realization ate me deeply. I should never have gone out. That old man was the best marriage I could get.  

A cool husband was a fantasy. Maybe I should accept everything. With or without my father's will, I was an unattractive, unlovable girl.  

As my head remained buried in my hands, I heard footsteps coming towards the door. I didn't have the time to fake being unconscious and just waited for it to open. I still wanted to hold onto a sliver of hope.  

Panic and interest flashed on my face when the door slammed open and we locked eyes. He hovered near the doorway, like he wasn't sure how close he was allowed to get. And I appreciated that.  

Now I finally got a clear look at him; broad shoulders, dark hair, sharp features… he was more likely a kidnapper than a familiar person because I didn't know good-looking men.  

I noticed he breathed heavily like he had run a marathon to this place. "Miss Draven, are you alright now?" Someone spoke behind him.  

I looked away, wondering if I should play victim to spend more time away from my stepmother or just find a way to get home and face them head-on.  

The young man at the door moved towards me, easily towering over me. His brown eyes stayed on mine for what felt like eternity. The moment I looked away, I felt his palm on my forehead and warmth crept into me. I relaxed.  

He exhaled softly. "She might've lost cognitive thinking, but her brain and consciousness is still intact."  

I recoiled from him. "What?" Odd words to say to me meeting him for the first time.  

He stepped away with no explanation to what he said. "Get dressed. We're going to your family…" my breathing hitched and he tilted his head. "Rufus was right. You ran away from them. Well, hurry and get dressed. You've got a surprise waiting."  

He wasn't my kidnapper but he didn't seem like a liberation either. Could this be related to contract 21? "You brought the letter to me, didn't you?"  

"No, but we know about it." The other young man replied. I glanced at him and my eyes widened. I definitely recognised him.  

He was the Model of The Year, two years ago. Wait, was I about to get drafted to a modelling agency? "I-I don't understand what's going on—"  

"Just get a shower and get downstairs, Donna-Belle." The mean one interjected and walked out. "I won't wait an hour for you."  

I hissed. No matter how good-looking he looked, manners went a long way.  

"Take your time. I understand he crashed into you so don't strain much." The model continued calmly. "I am Rufus by the way. We'll be working together from now on."  

Working together? I had no idea what that meant but I believed it would make sense soon enough. "Thank you." I left the bed and found the new clothes I was to change into.  

The one coming in earlier must have dropped it because it wasn't there when I woke up the first time. "Does he feel a bit of guilt that he hit me?"  

"He does. A lot more than he shows." Rufus said as he closed the door after himself.  

I stood there motionless, before nodding. Someone felt bad for their actions around here. I could definitely 'work together' on whatever they wanted. Of course, as long as I wouldn't be losing.  

I sat in the bathtub longer than I should have and when I came to my senses, I hoped an hour hadn't gone past already. The dress was a size bigger but I appreciated whoever picked them out because a bodycon would shame me.  

There was a lotion and body spray on the table but I avoided them. I didn't even have an idea whose room I had taken over during the past few hours.  

"Finally done? Let's go out."  

I scowled and glanced at the young man on a closer scale; silky brown hair, lean muscled, nice stature, and gorgeous gray eyes. But those eyes were dead.  

I didn't walk out when he did. Rufus walked into the room and grabbed some keys. The friendly smile he had made me smile back.  

"Will you come with me then?" He asked.  

I nodded, and he walked me out. That brunette could ride along with his bad manners. "Where are we going though…?" I asked.  

I had the faintest idea that it was to my place but I didn't know why. "And how do you all know me? Business partners with my father?"  

"In the letter," Rufus started immediately after I stopped talking, as if it had been at the top of his tongue.  

"Contract 21 is you. Your dad asked my grandfather to assist you take over his company at twenty-one. Those were my grandfather's dying words. He left it to his oldest grandson, the grumpy fellow you met. Theoden, heir to our conglomerate." He smiled at my shocked expression. "That's what we'd be doing today."  

What stroke of goodness was this, that I'd stumble upon people that had been asked to assist me? There was definitely a catch but I didn't want to know what it was right now. As long as my stepmother doesn't win my rights.  

I felt a little let-down that the gentleman who my father assigned to take care of me was dead, and now, I was left with that grandson of his.  

I looked around the place, remembering how I had to be stuck in the room when I woke up.  

What kind of conglomerate did they run that they couldn't even take their victim to the hospital? I could think of many things.  

~~~  

The Bentley carrying Theoden stopped in front of our apartment. I left them to walk to the door, and only walked out the door Rufus held open for me, when Theoden had knocked on the door.  

Another gentleman walked out of the car, the front seat which had been blindsided the whole ride. My jaw dropped. "Mr. Quinn?" That was our lawyer!  

He grinned and threw a salute to me. My heart warmed and made me feel safer.  

I had a fond memory of him showing me his badges from the military and bragging to my father about being able to pursue law after passing through the military.  

It seemed it was really happening. Getting back at my stepmother. I hurried over to where Theoden stood. I wanted to be at the forefront of this.  

I needed to see the look on my stepmother and Chris' faces when everything they thought they owned would be taken from them.  

My joy was short-lived when the nanny walked out the door. No one was home. That's the only reason she'd be here because Chris didn't like her, feeling uncomfortable because her daughter was his ex.  

"No one's home?" Theoden spoke sarcastically. "Or are they hiding?" He kicked the door open with one foot. Three men in black walked in with him. "Do you need to be beaten out of your hiding places?"  

"No, they are actually—" I wanted to speak, but Rufus tapped my shoulder. 

He had a small smirk as he pointed upstairs. "They're truly hiding. Your lawyer must've told them about this, but we won't blame him. He probably had to tell them because of their past relationship."  

I snapped my head to Mr. Quinn whose confident grin had faded to a nervous smile, his eyes darting around the house. How could he do that? I thought he was on my side. 

I looked back at the ceiling, and my fist clenched.  

Theoden’s hand settled on my lower back—my heart stopped racing, and my fists loosened—I wasn't facing them alone. 

I stepped away from him, glaring at the ceiling. 

"Chris, you bastard! Come out here!"