Ten: Daughter-in-law

His body seemed to have frozen, as his eyes shot irateness and hatred at me. Though his dirty look was so threatening, not a bit did I feel the need to release his sister from my capture. He had been telling me how well this lie had helped him, so what happened to him now? His throat got cut? 

"How did you get my sister?" The way he glared at me, was as if I had murdered his entire family in the past. I wished I could do that. 

I sucked my teeth. "Since I'm kind of influential, I managed to get quick information about your family. I heard she owns a boutique, so I went there to get her." 

"Did you kidnap her?" He squeezed his face at me, seeming irritated, and snorted. 

I shrugged. "Maybe. But, not really. Kidnappers always ask for ransom, but all I need is for you to clarify all that's going on on social media."

He clasped his teeth. "Is this a threat? Holding my sister captive?"

"Come on, Seth!" The way she cried made me snap my neck around. "Don't make these big dudes harm me. I've got only one life. Please, do what she wants."

I would say she was being pretty dramatic. All Neo and Leo did was to hold her by her arms. So, what was making her cry this much? In fact, it felt like she was squeaking, not crying 

Uninformed, Seth grabbed my arm, towed me to him. "Hey, don't play this dangerous game. I don't joke around with my family. Release her, and get out of here immediately. Don't forget I've got my own men out there."

"Really?" I sneered. "Do you know I can also send your men away from here? And, trust me, if I should try to do that, they'll all leave here without even thinking about you. I can tell the type of workers you've got, so don't brag, man," I blurted out. Obviously, my words had aggravated his anger. 

He scoffed. "My workers are loyal to me."

"You might be the richer one here, but you don't have the upper hand," I stated. 

He creased his eyebrows as if he was confused, pulled a puzzled look. "That's… crazy."

"It seems to me like you've always been rich. That means you might not be as experienced as I am," I clarified. 

Finally, he let go of my arm, wrapped his arms around his chest. "What makes you think I haven't been experienced? Being rich isn't freedom, you know?"

Okay. This unnecessary conversation had to end. This wasn't what I had come here for. 

"Don't try to divert from our topic. Don't forget why I've kept your sister captive," I reminded him. 

"Seth, please! Do something!" Tanya whined further. 

He only continued to frown. "It's not nice to touch a fire on purpose. In case you don't know, I'm a fire that shouldn't be played around with."

"In case you don't know…" As if I had been expecting him to say that, my words came out straight and sharp. I glowered. "I'm a more dangerous fire. The thing used to quench a fire is water. That means, if you aren't careful, you'll make the fire in us light up. Just tell the Media the truth, and I promise to never set my eyes on you."

"I still won't do it. Leave, or I ask my men to take you away," he menaced even harder. 

My hands balled in another crazily, tight fist. So furious, I walked to his table, ignored the Celina who had her eyes on me, took the heavy ceramic vase on the table, and stormed back to him. 

"Wh-What're you trying to do?" He seemed a little bit scared, and maybe confused. 

I huffed. "What you deserve." 

"Woah, are you gonna hit that thing against my head?" He threw his hand up a bit, seeming as if he was surrendering to me. 

"I wish I could. But, I'm not a murderer, stupid!"

He sighed like he was relieved. "Good Lord."

Ignoring him, only frowning at myself, I trudged to his door, jerked it open. I couldn't believe I was about to do this, but if it would save my reputation, it was worth it. I snapped my neck right and left, sighed hard. 

In the hallway, there were about ten men standing by the doors. Obviously, they were guarding Seth's office. I only hoped my awkward plan would work. 

Not hesitating further, I raised the ceramic vase above my head, and threw it hard against the floor. Hard to the point it almost sounded like an explosion had occurred. Doing that, all of Seth's men began trying to escape the proximity. Truly, they proved to be the dumb and unfaithful workers I had expected them to be. 

Walking back into his office, I was surprised to see him standing close to the door. How hard the vase had broken, had probably startled them all. Neo and Leo were inclusive, but they still held Tanya. 

He glared so much, and pulled my arm. "Are you crazy?! Why would you break that?" He released my arm, raked his fingers into his hair. "Gosh, what am I gonna do now? That vase was—"

Not wanting to listen to his very boring story that absolutely disgusted me, I strided past him, went to his table. He walked behind me, probably wondering what I was about to do. At this point, I would admit, I was insane. 

First, remembering the way he had stayed close to me, I hated him even more. I had been a bit nervous that night. My heart had skipped a beat, which wasn't what would happen to me on any other day. 

Also, men weren't in my dictionary for the meantime. I still had to attain greater heights in life. Every woman had to be independent. If mom hadn't been dependent on dad, she would have never been on the Streets the moment he had kicked her out of his house. I wouldn't have suffered as much as I had done. 

All of those things were the reasons I needed him to tell the media the truth. I didn't want to be in a real relationship, speaking of a fake one. I just needed my life to be overwhelmed with work. Work, and nothing else. 

More furious, I took another vase, threw it against the floor. I wondered why there were four vases on the table. Maybe I just needed to break some more. 

Attempting to break the third one like the lunatic I presently was, he grabbed my wrist, tried to stop me at all costs. And then, what we did was to struggle with each other. I didn't want to let go of the vase, he wasn't ready to let go of me. 

"Seth, calm down, just call the police." That was Celina babbling.  

Hearing her say that, I felt the need to break the third vase against her forehead. "It seems like you've never been beaten before. I'd handle that if you aren't careful," I threatened, breathing hard, still struggling with Seth. 

She scorned. "Moron. Do that, and go to jail."

Since Seth was struggling with me so much, the vase kind of hit his forehead, and that part of his skin turned red. Oh, what a pity. I hadn't Intended to do that, but I guessed he deserved it. Next time, he wouldn't dare to lie to the media. 

"Ash…" He groaned at himself, rubbing his palm against his forehead. 

I hopped on his table, crossed my legs over each other, simpered hard. "Have I not caused enough trouble for one day? Why don't you give up, and say the truth? Or, you want me to deal with Celina?"

She darted hard scowls at me. "You won't dare."

"At the count of ten, take your phone, and make a post on your social media," I ordered. Staring at my fingers, I couldn't help but keep smiling at how proud I was. This was why I would ever be bossy. My craziness was going to help me get rid of him. 

"You'd better leave now. If he calls the police, you'll be doomed," Celina warned. 

I didn't know if that was supposed to be funny, but it kind of made me laugh. I just turned away from her. "Ten, nine, eight…" And started to count. 

"That's enough!" Seth cut into me. He walked to me, still glared. It seemed like the vase that bumped against his head caused a little bump on his head. What a perfect bump. "Fine, I'll tell the truth. And, the instant I do that, I want you to leave, and never return."

"Deal, Mr. Lee," I affirmed. 

Violently, he jerked his phone from the table. Soon, his hands were typing something on its screen. To be sure he still wasn't playing around, I quickly went through his Twitter account, waiting patiently to see a new post from him. 

After a while of refreshing my news feed, I saw a just-now post from the dude called Seth Lee. Yeah, from him. What a relief. Also, the post was well composed as if I had threatened him to post it at gunpoint. 

I stood up from the table, smiled, literally being sarcastic. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Lee. So, now that my mission has been accomplished, I'll leave here."

"Just get out!" He roared. 

Raising my shoulder high, about sauntering past him, I halted, and glimpsed at him. He stood beside me, being an angry Lion. Who cared about how angry he was? Crazy. 

"A piece of advice to you." I smirked at myself. "Get new workers. Those dudes out there, are inexperienced."

He took a step close. "That's none of your business, ma'am."

"Thank me later," I added, and headed straight to the door.

Before reaching the door, I snapped my fingers at Leo and Neo, and they walked behind me. Opening the door, ready to leave here, I bumped into someone. Shit, I hated to bump into anyone. 

The moment my eyes caught the oldie in front of me; the person I had bumped into, I raised an eyebrow. His mouth was widely open, which made me even more confused. For some reason, he pulled his hands over his mouth, gasped. Was he a fan or what? 

"Ex—"

The moment I wanted to speak, he threw his body against mine, hugged tight. Gosh, I hated hugs! This man would make me explode! 

"Oh my goodness! My daughter-in-law!" He hugged even tighter, almost choking me. 

Wait, had he just said daughter-in-law?