CHAPTER 12 – HATE TO LOVE YOU.

🦋 FELIX 🦋

I struggled to suppress the thought that Benita could really be in trouble. “What if it wasn't a prank?”

I switched on my phone and tried to call the number back, but couldn't because it was a private number. Worried, I texted the number to one of my men, then placed a call through him, “I want you to track the number I just sent to you, it's an emergency.”

A few minutes later, he called back, “It's impossible to track the number, its location is somehow hidden like a big organisation is keeping it hidden. I might be able to track it down when you are on a call with the number. Do you have any information that might help us?”

“He sounded like an elderly man. I'm sure he's using a voice-changing device to manipulate us,” I announced.

“I'm sorry, sir, but whoever he is, is skilled at his job; we can't track him down.” He calmly stated, and I ended the call.

Worried, I picked up my coat and walked out of the office. Getting into the car, I drove straight home.

Getting home, I rushed into the mansion, scared that something might have indeed happened to Benita.

I ran straight into her room, but she wasn't there. I checked mine, but it was also empty. I ran back to her room and flung the bathroom door open, but there wasn't a sign of her.

Panic drove through me as I widened my eyes in horror, the thought that it might have appeared to be real, but I said what I said broke me.

I ran back into the sitting room and looked around. I checked all the rooms in that mansion, even ran out to check the compound, wishing I'd see her sitting somewhere or looking around, but she was nowhere to be found.

I ran into the sitting room again, and a smell of a freshly made meal filled my nostrils. I stepped towards the kitchen, my heart rising with each step I took.

Standing at the entrance of the kitchen, Benita stood there, cooking.

I puffed out a sigh of relief as she walked towards me with a tray of food in her hands. Without glancing at me, she walked past me, set down the food and began to eat.

I walked towards her, “Did something happen today?”

She glanced at me and glanced back at her food, “Nothing.”

I nodded and walked away. I was relieved that it was just a prank, but deep down, I felt something was off.

*** 🦋 ***

🦋 BENITA 🦋

“Kill her and bring me her dead body,” that word replayed in my head like a movie script.

How could he? How could he be so cruel? The thought that I was beginning to love him was what angered me more.

How could I have fallen for such a… that doesn't even give a damn if I was alive or dead?

I was lucky tonight, the bullet that rang out in the air was the last, so I had the opportunity to fight back and overtake my kidnapper.

If it were otherwise, I'd really be dead, and my corpse would really have been sent to him.

“I have no one in this world,” I whispered, taking a bite of the food I made.

I won't be distracted again, I'll focus on making money and getting out of this house.

*** 🦋 ***

The next morning was the usual; Felix had left for work before I woke up, but a car was waiting for me.

“Mr Felix asked me to take you to work and pick you up after work from now on,” he announced.

I nodded and got into the car quietly. I was on edge all night, and it extended to that morning, any little mistake would get me very angry, and I'm afraid I might not be able to hold it in.

I got to the office only to meet Mr William sitting in my office chair.

I faked a smile and greeted him, and he motioned for me to walk closer, which I did.

“Get me a cup of coffee,” he declared.

I looked around, “We have someone who does that, sir, my job is to attend to you so you can leave.”

“I want you to do it,” he growled, “Get me a cup of coffee.”

I nodded and walked out of the office to buy him the coffee. When I got back to the office and handed the coffee over to him, he poured it on the ground.

“Another one,” he commanded.

I slammed my eyes shut, walked out of the office and got another coffee, but he repeated the same thing.

It went on and on like that, and each time, I kept going back to get another coffee.

On the 12th time, he accepted the coffee, and I faked a smile.

“Can you please move from my chair and sit on the one that was gotten for you?” I asked calmly.

“What if I refuse?” He snapped back.

I nodded in understanding and decided to sit on his chair instead.

“On the ground,” he barked.

I raised my eyebrows in confusion, “Sorry?”

“I said, sit on the ground,” he repeated with a serious face.

Without arguing, I bent downwards and sat on the ground, everyone in the office stared at me, and I looked away in embarrassment. Then he handed me the signed documents.

After minutes of reviewing the document, I passed it to my colleague to complete the process in Felix's office.

Happy that I was done with the project that was linked to Mr Williams, I stood up from the ground and told him it was over.

“Thank you for your cooperation… You can leave now.”

With a grin on his face, he stood up and out of nowhere his hand fell on my butt.

I stood frozen, my mind reeling from the sudden touch. Shockwaves coursed through my body, leaving me breathless and disoriented. As the reality sank in, anger ignited within me, burning away the numbness. My heart pounded in my chest, and my fists clenched involuntarily. How could he do this? The injustice seared my soul, fueling my rage. I felt thrown to the ground, stepped on, spat on, hurt, and furious all at once. The room seemed to spin around me as I struggled to process the emotions swirling inside. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to make sense of it all. But for now, I stood there, seething, my anger and shock entwined like a living thing.

I clenched, not again. “I'm trying so hard to…” I paused, inhaling sharply as I tried to calm myself, “Please get your hand off me.”

“You are going to turn me down now because you have an office job,” he mocked, “Don't forget I can still hurt you, I'll always have the power over you.”

That was the end for me, I stood up calmly and walked towards my colleague’s desk, picked up the bottle of champagne he got as a gift, walked back to Mr William and without a second thought, the bottle came down on him with all the force I could gather.

 Mr. William went down spectacularly – his feet flew out from under him, and he landed on his face with a resounding thud. As he sat up, dazed, he probed his mouth with his tongue and spat out two front teeth. Everywhere went silent as Mr William struggled to pick up his teeth from the ground, with one eye injured, he crawled around.

Even if I was going to be questioned or jailed for hurting an old man, it was worth it, and yes… I feel so much better.

It didn't end there, I knew I wouldn't get such an opportunity again, so I fell on my knees and began to throw him slaps, slowly, one after the other.

The office was in chaos, and everyone had their hands on their mouth, frozen in shock.

Mr William’s men were by the car, and I was focused on dealing with him before they arrive to save him..

With every memory I had, my tears fell, and a slap landed on his face. I cried as I hit him; the memories flooded in, and I sobbed so hard and transferred that energy to him.

“For making my life miserable.”

His men rushed in after being alarmed about what was happening in the company. two men held me down and the rest rushed towards their boss.

I picked up my office chair, and it landed on the head of the two men holding me.

“You should have held him back when he was maltreating me,” I screamed.

They held their heads as blood rushed out, and I faced the rest of his men.

But this was all in my head, I stood there, with my blood boiling but able to do nothing, I simply slammed my eyes shut and pleaded with him to get his hand off my but, while embarrassment wore me a jacket.