Chapter Two

Hazel Pov

10 minutes

I set the timer for ten minutes in the oven putting the only piece of marinated salmon I had in my fridge. My stomach growls while I search through the kitchen cabinets for something else.

I sigh frustratedly.

Only a piece of salmon for dinner tonight?

It's been so long since I had gone shopping for my groceries and this was all that was left when I was back at home to make my dinner.

I will have to get some groceries tomorrow

The ringing of my phone distracts me from where I had left it early, on the couch, when I came back home from work. I tie my chestnut hair into a ponytail and stride to pick up my phone.

Who was it now?

It was night eight-thirty. The environment had a gentle breeze outside, certainly cold. The moon was on high. The smell of fresh pineapple, from the new air freshener, which I retained from an online site, strikes my nose when I enter the hall barefoot.

Scratching the back of my neck I pick up my phone.

"Hey, Pebblybutt!" voice booms piercing my ears.

It was Bailey one of my best friends. She was a humorous, crazy and courageous girl. We were close since kindergarten and went to high school and college together.

Bailey's parents were in Texas while she stayed in her apartment in New York with me. Bailey was very independent and she wanted to be a successful woman. She presently works at Saint Louisville hospital as a doctor while I on the other hand got a job at a fashion company,' The Brilliance ', a company that was currently arising in the fashion industry.

"Hey, Whatsup?"I ask slowly.

"Did you learn about it?"Bailey inquires astonished. "Did you just hear what's on the news?".

"Hear what?"I retort confused, holding the phone to my ears I slump to the couch.

"Are you crazy?'' she exclaims bewildered. "Don't you seriously know about that?".

"That what?".

" Check the news first dude!" she sighs annoyed.

Uncertainly, I hunt for my remote around the table and couch to turn on the television.

Finally getting the hidden remote in the mid of the couch sponge I turn the television on.

"The Brilliance has been taken over!" Bailey blasts all of a sudden shocked by the presence of the news tonight.

The Brilliance....taken over...

I was not at all surprised by the news, after all, I got to know the old news from my assistant Anna Elizabeth, while I was roaming around the inside of my drawers searching for new pair of stockings. It was my bad luck that I stumbled over a rain puddle early in the morning.

Anna tossed the daily newspaper along with the week's 'My Empire' magazine. I stare bewildered unable to utter a word when the large white letter along with pictures of our company on the front page said 'Brilliance to be taken over by the big billionaire brothers'.

My heart sank with a tingling in my chest.

"It's all over the news!" Anna informed me.

But, I could not believe it. I could not assume anything that was in the morning newspapers or the gossip that was running around like wildfire between my co-workers. I pushed myself hard to avoid the topic by keeping me occupied with the work Mr Billy handed over to me last week unless I was back home.

I could not digest the information. I was utterly flabbergasted. My mind was blank and wanted proof even though the rumour and the daily news had provided it to me already.

And here it was.

The only thing I wanted.

Proof

On the news tonight.

So it was all true?

I blink my eyes my mind blank and my soul empty.

It was for real then? my company being taken over by some avaricious brothers?

The thought just hurt me, ripped off my soul.

"Are you on the phone or did you just have an attack?".

Taking a deep breath I respond " Just starting to have an attack".

"Girl, this is over," she tells. "The Brilliance is already snatched and nothing could save it".

I swallow hard with a loss of words. Everything was quite blank to me. My heart felt heavy and I was numb all over.

It was only six months since my association with the company and now everything was upside down in a crisis, a vast storm wrecked my smooth journey.

I desperately needed this job to save some money.

What will I do now?

I had to attend so many interviews to finally get this job and here it was, my dreams and career destroyed by some greedy billionaires.

"Pebblybutt?" Bailey's voice diverted me.

"Yeah tell me Bai's"I sounded like a wounded animal.

"Matthew is glad," Bailey continues."He is extremely happy that he was accurate about the aspect you know?".

"What aspect?"I begin the question but pause when it hits me harder.

Matthew my other best friend, a guy with a business mind and husband material, who worked for 'The Stewart's and Co', the avaricious corporation that has currently taken over my company, challenged me once when I invited him to our success celebration, that our company would be the next to be taken over by his and the employees here would go for fishing with their butt out, including me.

A surge of tiny anger started burning in the pit of my stomach.

" My foot, if you find him," I warn."Tell him that I will pour cement in his mouth till he chokes".

Bailey laughs at my threat.

"Don't laugh, I'm seriously saying that," I let out annoyed." I will do it, I'm so wild on him, tell him not to meet me for the next years in the rest of my life!".

*Beep, Beep, Beep*

The smoke alarm in my house wails louder piercing my ears, throwing off our conversation.

"What the heck!?" Bailey shrieks from the other side while I duck my head and cover my ears.

"The oven!" I shout suddenly remembering the Salmon.

Mounting from the couch I run to the kitchen which was replenished with smog. Coughing and gasping, my lungs were blocked by the smell of the burnt Salmon. I hustle to the windows waving my hand in front of my face to make my view clear.

"What happened?" I hear Bailey on the phone in my hand.

Coughing, sneezing and choking I put all my effort to open the rigidly closed window.

"Are you alright?" Bailey's voice pops again in an anxious tone. "Pebblybutt?".

Finally capable to open the window I clear my throat before I put back the phone in my ears.

" I'm just fine," I declare hardly coughing."I just burnt my dinner"

*The only salmon I had for dinner*

---------------

The night sky was such a welcoming sight, appearing like magic, stars filled the velvet black sky. The cool breeze sent goosebumps on my skin.

Here I was, walking four kilometres away after my scooter had given up. My legs and knees stung like there were thousands of thorns pierced into my flesh.

I stop by the pavement and sigh.

"Holy crap" I whisper into the thin air.

Gasping shortly for breath I glance at the beautiful bright city lights far away. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky. The lane I was standing in had a line of shops which were already closed except for the supermarket I usually arrive at every Sunday to pick up my groceries, the big mart.

"Finally" I mutter under my breath. "My fate detests me to hell that I'm hit by spears all over the place I step in my life".

Murmuring to myself I scan for any crossing vehicles before I ahead to the opposite side of the road, where the big mart was open for me.

I wouldn't have needed to walk this far if my scooter had been working at the right time. I couldn't identify what went wrong with it, the scooter was alright when it drove me home in the evening.

Big mart was a normal-sized supermarket which gave you all the essential amenities for a household. My mother used to purchase here when I was a kid. I stop my pace at the door to the market when the thought crashes into my mind.

*Mother*

I swallow hard, memories flashing into me. The laughter echoed in my ears. How joyful we lived together. Her happy smile, her Hazel brown eyes. A picture of her flashed in my memory and vision. It was like today she kept me inside the trolley while I drove it like a car sitting inside with my pink teddy which my uncle had got me for my sixth birthday when she did her weekly shopping.

We brought sour gummy bears, things I loved for my colouring and red velvet roll cakes which were her favourite.

A ding on my phone draws me away from my thoughts. Heavily sighing, I jerk my phone out from my back pocket.

*Loser has to take six shots or dye their hair green*

Another message pops on the screen.

*Remember?*

I groan.

A message pops up again on the screen it was from someone else.

*Matthew is serious about the bet*

I quickly type a response to Bailey.

*I hate that idiot*

*Tell him to stop annoying me with his texts, I'm not obliging his stupid request*

After I check the time on my phone I slid it back into my pocket. It was almost twelve-thirty. Late night and I had to hurry up.

Sliding the glass doors, I stride into the store, which was empty of customers. No one was noticeable around including the man who used to stand behind the payment counter.

Unconcerned, I walk swiftly toward the trolleys and pick up one.

It was cold inside the shop and the aroma of fresh veggies hit my nose when I entered the vegetable sector to grab some ingredients for my creamy chicken tortilla soup.

" Okay now, "I straighten up glaring around the rows of vegetables." Tomatoes and -"

I fill my trolley with onions, garlic, jalapenos, tomatoes, corn and black beans. I needed Chicken which was in the meat sector. I push my trolley out of the vegetable section and drive it through the rows and rows of stuff towards the meat compartment.

Once I got in, I grab one kg of a huge frozen Chicken and flick it into my basket.

"Do you want something else?" a voice from behind startled me.

I turn to see a snorting guy with hard features. He was tall and slender and seemed like a hooligan with ugly blonde hair, a sullen face and yellow teeth.

He wore a dishevelled brown t-shirt and filthy jeans. The two-three chains around his neck confirmed he was a rascal from some street.

"Excuse me?" I say trying to confirm he was exactly talking to me.

He steps forward and touches the trolley with his bony fingers, his grey dull eyes scanning me. I also notice a cut on his eyebrows.

"Excuse me? what do you want?" I try to move my trolley from him but he walks to stop me.

"Where do you think you are going?" he asks with a smirk.

My blood runs cold and my mouth feels dry.

"I need to go, "I declare."Leave me alone".

I push my trolley the other way when he blocks my way once again with an ugly laugh.

" Who are you and what do you even want?"I ask anxiety swirling around me.

"You seem in such a hurry," he says." Don't bother going back home so soon tonight, we can have some fun, what do you say?"

He walks forward and reaches to touch me, I withdraw my hands from the trolley and step back.

"Stay away from me!" I shout threatening him, fear surged in the pit of my gut "I warn you!".

He chuckles.

" Oh come on," he raked a hand through his hair. "Nobody is here, it's only you and me".

" Touch me again I would -" my sentence is barely broken by another male voice.

What's going on in here?"I glance behind him to see another guy similar to him with filthy jeans and a black vest, he was plump with black spiky hair and had tan skin with an icy face.

Chills ran down my spine with the presence of two unknown men.

"What are you doing here Ruthfur?" the fat guy asks the other.

Ruthfur chuckles before answering "Having some fun with a darling in here"

*Darling?*

"Oh, then I would like to join too," the fat one smirks."We can have a great day together".

My face turns pallid, bewildered panic overdoses me with a tingle in my chest. I stare between them, my heartbeat racing inflicting pains in my chest.

What should I do now?

Who are they?

What do they even want?

Both of them laugh before the tall one known to be Ruthfur regards me with some interest.

"Who wouldn't love to taste fresh stuff right, Sherman?" he says and the fat guy agrees with glee.

"I said leave me alone!" I exclaim my veins beating a visible pulse beneath the skin.

"Not so immediately" he retorts.

My heart stings, sending chills down my spine as I wanted to shout out for help. My mouth was dry and tasted sour. I expected to run but my knees were locked.

"We should get Lucas" the fat one suggests eagerly and Ruthfur's face turns red.

"Not him always!" He shrieks at the fat one startling me ." She is mine tonight if you want you can stay or stick to that Lucas like a pigtail".

Sherman seems to be taken back and he forces a snort guilty smile. "I- I will stay with you".

Anxiety overpowering, I try to concentrate focusing on my sanity.

Leave it, "Ruthfur says. "Come on, let's take care of the girl now".

He walks forth while I stand on the spot like a horrified puppet. My heart beats faster and I could feel the blood rushing in my body.

He walks excitedly rubbing his hands together, with a mischievous grin.

A wave of terror passes me.

"Stay away from me" I stammer an order to him taking a step back.

Fear spreads through my body, and tension hangs in the air.

Ruthfur stops his pace and smirks mischievously. "You are lucky today," he says." You won't be getting an offer like this again, so stay calm and come to me now".

He pushes my trolley aside which sways loosening from my grip.

Heart hammering against my chest and unable to think straight I stare bewildered.

"You have beautiful skin," he continues."I can draw tattoo's on it with my tongue"

"Stay away!"I shriek. "Leave me alone!".

Ruthfur grabs my hand and I try to get it from his rigid grip.

"Please, what do you want?"I say. "Leave me alone".

"We want you," the chubby guy behind him responds arrogantly. "Just for a while, behave well you will be treated well if not, you will be forced to do certain things!"

"Leave me alone," I exclaim. "Or, I'll call the cops!".

"You can't do that - " Ruthfur demands in a husky voice and tries to get closer.

My body shivering with fear I struggle with his grip, I force all my effort and energy to remove myself away from him.

"Leave me!" I scream.

Everything happens so quickly that I had no idea about what was going on. Afraid but, taking my whole courage and effort, forcing all of my energy I push Ruthfur severely. Lost his grip on my hand unable to control his balance he knocks onto the vegetable rack behind and falls with a goan.

Without thinking furthermore, I grasp the chance for a nice escape. I pull the trolley and push it forth instantly, whimpering and gasping hard. My heart beats faster against my rib cage.

"Hey, you wait!" I hear the fat guy shout at me.

*Get going Hazel!, get going.*

"What are you waiting for!?," I can hear Ruthfur's outraged yells. "Get that slut!".

*Hurry up, Hazel!*

I constantly remind myself not to look back and hurry up until I reach the payment counter.

A relief crosses me when I notice a man in his mid-fifties behind the counter. It was not the man who usually used to be around here whenever I come to collect my groceries earlier but, I had no time to suspect what happened to him, I have to save myself first from these horrifying scoundrels.

Shaking I pick up all the stuff in my trolley promptly and place them on the countertop.

" Please hurry up" I insist to the cashier straight away, trembling.

It was a great escape from the creeps, I did not want to get with them again. I wanted to rush and leave the place quick as possible.

Chills in my veins I notice a weird expression on the cashier's face, he stared at me with his gaze fixed in confusion.

*I was yelling the hell out there, didn't he even hear me for once?*

"Just give this to me quickly" I demand panicking."Hurry up, please".

But nothing seems to work to avert his gaping eyes on me.

What was wrong with him?

Frustratedly, in absence of the running time, I make a haste move, dashing to grab a bag from the corner of the counter and stick all the items inside by myself.

"Don't be bothered, "I say."Just take this -"

I haul the money from my pocket and place it on the counter.

"Pretty bitch, where do you think you are hustling?"I hear a familiar voice and my heart starts to run at a pace when I recognised it was Ruthfur."Don't waste your time talking to that old ass!".

Sherman makes a weird hooting noise.

Weird thoughts ran into my mind panic overwhelming along with terror.

What if they took hold of me?

The ideas made me sick. Keeping my gaze off them I scurry out of the store and exist rapidly without looking back.

The instant I step out of the door I bump into someone and step back to look at an ugly face with a wide smile crossing his bruised lips when his dirty green eyes lock on mine.

" Where do you think you are escaping?".

"Lucas!" I hear Sherman the fat guy shout behind me and my blood turns cold.