LIATurning my gaze towards Grumpy, I tilt my head slightly, my eyes narrowing. "What was that for?" "You had your phone on all this while?" A low growl rumbles his chest, making the hair on my neck stand. I blink, confused. What does having my phone with me have to do with anything? "Yes?" I say but it comes out as a question. He gives me an incredulous look as if I am supposed to understand his confusing question. The ache in my head intensifies. I open my mouth to defend myself then shut it back. He sighs—hovering between disappointment and frustration. My inside twists, I hate letting him down, or anyone for that matter. "The reason the men were able to find us was because of your phone is on." He explains to me with a strained voice. Understanding dawn slowly. I blink once and then twice, feeling very stupid. Well, how am I supposed to know that? I'm not some tech-savvy girl. I don't look at him as I say. "I..." I trail off. "I had no idea. I'm sorry." I promptly switch o

LIABefore my panic can fully consume me, he adds. "I will be back soon." Only then do I come down from the mountain height of fear. I thought he meant he was leaving me here all by myself. I nod my head. "If I ask you where you are going, will you tell me?" He replies curtly. "You don't need to know," and I repress a sigh. What was I expecting? A loud, jarring sound that has me clutching my chest infuses itself into the air. My eyes move towards the origin of the sound before Grumpy sweeps a flip phone on the wooden table just by the door. No wonder the ringing tone is so loud. He barks a single, "Yeah." A bit of silence then a curt. "On my way." Then he snaps the phone shut.Without a glance in my direction, he tosses a sentence over his shoulder. "There is a gun in the table's drawer. You know the rules, Heiress. Don't open the door until you confirm it's me." Then he is gone leaving me in a deafening silence. "Be safe." I let out in a whisper but he is already out of the ro

The chilling tremor still ripples through me six hours after the incident. Everything happening around me seems like a page ripped out of a horror movie. Seeing a decaying, dead body wasn't on my list of anticipated list when this year started. Frankly, a lot of things that have happened three months into this year. To be more specific two weeks up to this moment wasn't what I envisioned my year would be. I started this year with places I want to go and things I want to do with Karl. But right now, I'm just glad if I make it through the next morning. I held the old lady, Sarah as she cried and twisted over her daughter's already decaying body. It was an unpleasant, gruesome scene and my heart broke into tiny pieces for her. Seeing a dead body is one thing. Having to see a mother grieve over her child is a torment on its own. I can never console her no matter how much I tried. My small time slip in and out turned into hours. As the crowd started to form in from of the apartment

For once, I yield to Grumpy's instruction. I don't move. I don't make a noise. I just stay where I am while I pray to whoever god is out there that Grumpy makes it back to me. I don't let my mind wander and think the worst-case scenario like it usually goes. I just stay crouched into a ball as time goes by. Even when my leg starts screaming in pain, I don't lift myself. The pain seems to work wonders on my mind because it doesn't do its usual haphazard, utterly draining thoughts. It zeroes on the pain I feel in my ankle and my leg. Still, fragments of these thoughts slip into my head. Is he dead? Is he alive? Is he coming back to me? Is he able to successfully cut the tail off their back? Perhaps, he's gotten tired of my stupidity and decided not to come back for me. He can't deal with me anymore so he left. I don't blame him if that's the decision he takes. My mind keeps going back and forth. My lips trembling. My body shaking with silent cries I wrap my arms my arms around my leg

I briefly close my eyes, inhaling deeply before I turn around. What's wrong with you?" Gareth asks. He doesn't wait for my answer before he continues. "They are about to announce Father's will." He says, smiling momentarily when a camera swindles to us. Unlike me, Gareth has been thriving pretty well with the commotion going on. He's been having countless meetings, preparing to take the mantle of the new CEO of Rodriquez Brands. A position that I don't care for. I just want to be out of here as soon as possible. "Okay," I say tightly and head to the room where Father's will is to be announced. I manage to enter the room before my legs give up. My breath comes out in a labored gasp. My head spins and I feel like a weight is lunged into my chest. I am on the brink of breakdown with the myriad of emotions overwhelming me. It's too much than I can take. Too much. "Are you okay?" A voice cut through the stillness and my spine straightens