CHAPTER 10.

   Marchen let out a low moan of pleasure before pulling away from AnniBerry and lying beside her. AnniBerry quickly grabbed a blanket and covered her body, avoiding his gaze.

 "Leave," he ordered in a harsh tone.

  AnniBerry quickly turned to look at him, unable to believe what she had just heard. Was he talking to her or someone else?

  "You mean me?" she asked in disbelief.

 "Is there anyone else here?" he replied coldly.

  AnniBerry stared at him, her face filled with shock.

  "What?" she whispered. "After everything that just happened?"

 "Leave. Don't make me repeat myself," he said, his voice filled with intimidation.

  AnniBerry quickly picked up her dress, wrapped it around her body, and dashed out of Marchen's room with tears streaming down her face. She ran into her room and slammed the door shut behind her.She sat on the edge of her bed, her heart racing and her breathing uneven. Tears filled her eyes. "What is happening?" she cried in pain. "Why are so many bad things happening to me lately? What kind of person is this? How did I find myself here?" she asked in a trembling voice. She suddenly noticed a large shopping bag lying on her bed. Curious, she opened it and found it filled with new clothes and a few pairs of footwear. She noticed a smaller bag tucked inside. When she opened it, she was shocked to find a brand new phone. AnniBerry stood up and walked straight to her room. In her twenty-eight years of existence, she had met arrogant people, but never had she encountered anyone like Marchen. Merrilyn had told her stories about men like him, but she had never come face to face with one. She began pacing back and forth across her room, biting her fingernails in frustration. Her mind was in complete turmoil.

 "I can't believe I slept with him," she muttered to herself. "I have to leave this place and find Merrilyn."

 She picked up the new phone Marchen had bought for her from the charger and tried connecting it to the house Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, she didn't know the password. She wondered how she could get it without having to speak to Marchen. She thought about it for a while before convincing herself she didn't really need it. But the thought of her home and Merrilyn crept back into her mind, and she began wondering if she could gather enough courage to ask him.

 She stepped out of her room and into the sitting room. It was empty. She assumed Marchen had returned to his bedroom, and there was no way she was going to knock on his door. Instead, she decided to wait for him in the sitting room.

 A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.

 She looked toward the door, unsure of what to do. When the bell rang again, she walked over and opened it.

 Standing before her was a light-skinned, slender woman. She wore a very short black sleeveless gown that revealed her long, beautiful legs, paired with black high-heeled shoes. Her long blonde hair fell in elegant curls over her shoulders, while her red lipstick perfectly complemented her flawless face. A luxurious Birkin handbag rested on her arm, and the sweet scent of her perfume filled the air.

 The woman flashed a warm smile the moment she saw AnniBerry.

 "Hello," she greeted cheerfully.

 AnniBerry was momentarily speechless. She stared at the woman from head to toe, both mesmerized and intimidated by her beauty.

 "Hi," AnniBerry finally replied softly, still wondering who she was.

 "May I come in?" the woman asked with a pleasant smile and a polished British accent.

 AnniBerry quickly stepped aside, allowing her in. The woman gracefully walked into the sitting room.

 As AnniBerry closed the door, she was about to ask who she was when Marchen walked into the sitting room. Without even acknowledging AnniBerry's presence, he went straight to the woman and pulled her into a tight embrace.

 "I've missed you," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

 "I've missed you more," the woman replied with a smile, gently cupping his cheek with her palm.

 A genuine smile spread across Marchen's face. Still holding her hands, he twirled her around slowly, admiring her appearance.

 "You look like you're ready for me," he said in a low, flirtatious tone.

 "Oh, yes," she replied with a teasing smile, lightly biting the tip of her index finger.

 Without another word, Marchen scooped her into his arms and carried her straight to his bedroom.

 AnniBerry remained frozen by the door, unable to believe what she had just witnessed. She wiped her face with the palm of her hand, trying to convince herself she wasn't dreaming. Her feet trembled beneath her, and her hands shook uncontrollably.

 "What...?" she whispered under her breath.

 She slowly turned toward her bedroom door before looking back at the phone in her hands.

  "Is he bipolar?" she whispered, looking confused. "How can he be kind and cruel at the same time?"

  She wiped away her tears and quietly walked into the bathroom.

 Marchen sat naked on his bed when his phone began to ring. He glanced at the caller ID and immediately declined the call.

  He walked into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stood beneath the running water with a blank expression. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout."Fuck!" he yelled as he punched the wall in front of him.A few moments later, he stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around his waist before walking back into his bedroom. He stood in front of the small mirror, staring at his reflection, when a knock sounded on the door. "Come in," he said nonchalantly. Linx walked in, holding a white envelope.

  "Mar, the Boss is looking for Mr. Mars," he said, worry evident on his face.

  Marchen looked at Linx, concern flashing across his eyes. He strode over, snatched the envelope from Linx's hand, and quickly opened it. As he finished reading its contents, he crumpled the paper tightly in his fist.

  He looked directly into Linx's eyes. His own were bloodshot with anger. "Linx, we need to find him first," he said in a commanding tone.Linx nodded in agreement.

  "Mar, don't you think it's dangerous that the lady is here?" Linx asked, worry evident in his voice.

  Marchen let out a soft cough and walked toward his wardrobe, looking for something to wear.

 "Mar," Linx called again. "Aside from the fact that the Boss might find her here, what if you begin to develop feelings for her?"

 "Never," Marchen answered in a deep, firm tone.

 Linx nodded in agreement and left Marchen's room. Marchen turned and looked toward the door, letting out a heavy sigh of relief before finally getting dressed.

  After getting dressed, Marchen headed for the sitting room. He wondered if AnniBerry had eaten anything. The way he had dismissed her from his bed made him think she would still be feeling hurt. He considered apologizing to her, but quickly restrained himself.

  His thoughts shifted to something else. Why was there a search for a girl who didn't even know who she was?

  He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

  "Hello. Find Mr. Mars," he ordered over the phone before ending the call.

  Marchen walked into the sitting room and found AnniBerry seated on the sofa, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a singlet. He immediately remembered picking out those clothes for her. Swallowing hard, he sat on the opposite sofa, his eyes fixed on the television.

 "Marchen, I saw everything you got for me. I'm grateful, but I'd love to go back home now," AnniBerry said calmly.

  Marchen acted as though he hadn't heard her. His gaze remained fixed on the television.

  "Marchen," AnniBerry called softly.

  "Then who pays for the windscreen of my car?" he replied coldly, without taking his eyes off the television.

 AnniBerry fell silent. She had completely forgotten.

 "Was that six days ago... or seven?" she wondered in shock. The incident had slipped her mind. All she had been focused on was Merrilyn—finding Merrilyn and recovering her lost belongings. How was she supposed to remember that she still owed someone a debt? She let out a sharp breath. "I need to go back to my shop so I can raise the money to pay you," she replied calmly.

  Marchen finally looked at her, and she immediately looked away from his face. "I'll tell you how you'll pay me," he said coldly.

 AnniBerry stood up and walked straight to her room. In her twentyeight years of existence, she had met arrogant people, but never had she encountered anyone like Marchen. Merrilyn had told her stories about men like him, but she had never come face to face with one. She began pacing back and forth across her room, biting her fingernails in frustration. Her mind was in complete turmoil.

  "I can't believe I slept with him," she muttered to herself. "I have to leave this place and find Merrilyn."

  She picked up the new phone Marchen had bought for her from the charger and tried connecting it to the house Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, she didn't know the password. She wondered how she could get it without having to speak to Marchen.

  She thought about it for a while before convincing herself she didn't really need it. But the thought of her home and Merrilyn crept back into her mind, and she began wondering if she could gather enough courage to ask him.

  She stepped out of her room and into the sitting room. It was empty. She assumed Marchen had returned to his bedroom, and there was no way she was going to knock on his door. Instead, she decided to wait for him in the sitting room.

 A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.She looked toward the door, unsure of what to do. When the bell rang again, she walked over and opened it. Standing before her was a light-skinned, slender woman. She wore a very short black sleeveless gown that revealed her long, beautiful legs, paired with black high-heeled shoes. Her long blonde hair fell in elegant curls over her shoulders, while her red lipstick perfectly complemented her flawless face. A luxurious Birkin handbag rested on her arm, and the sweet scent of her perfume filled the air.

 The woman flashed a warm smile the moment she saw AnniBerry.

 "Hello," she greeted cheerfully.

 AnniBerry was momentarily speechless. She stared at the woman from head to toe, both mesmerized and intimidated by her beauty. "Hi," AnniBerry finally replied softly, still wondering who she was.

 "May I come in?" the woman asked with a pleasant smile and a polished British accent.

  AnniBerry quickly stepped aside, allowing her in. The woman gracefully walked into the sitting room. As AnniBerry closed the door, she was about to ask who she was when Marchen walked into the sitting room. Without even acknowledging AnniBerry's presence, he went straight to the woman and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  "I've missed you," he said softly, his voice filled with affection.

  "I've missed you more," the woman replied with a smile, gently cupping his cheek with her palm. A genuine smile spread across Marchen's face. Still holding her hands, he twirled her around slowly, admiring her appearance.

  "You look like you're ready for me," he said in a low, flirtatious tone.

 "Oh, yes," she replied with a teasing smile, lightly biting the tip of her index finger.

  Without another word, Marchen scooped her into his arms and carried her straight to his bedroom. AnniBerry remained frozen by the door, unable to believe what she had just witnessed. She wiped her face with the palm of her hand, trying to convince herself she wasn't dreaming. Her feet trembled beneath her, and her hands shook uncontrollably.

  "What...?" she whispered under her breath.