I freeze on my spot near the couch. Feeling panicky, I try to tear the parcel out of his grip, but he withdraws his hand, curiously going over the details on the box. “Why would anyone send a nameless parcel with no return address?” Denzel gazes at the box like it's a mystery that calls to be solved. “I have no idea.” I try to appear as cool and aloof as best as I can. It’s terrifying to imagine what could be inside the box this time, but it’s more worrying to let Denzel find out about it. My heart is ready to explode out of my broken ribs and my nerves are on edge. I need that parcel in my hand like a drug addict who needs a dose of his favourite cocaine to calm down. But instead of just handing over the parcel like a decent man, Denzel proceeds to make my nightmare come to life when he successfully tears off the tape on the box. Not being able to hold back anymore, I sprint and knock the brown box out of his hand. The parcel flies off and lands in front of the door. I remain
Bolting the main door in the hall, I abandon my car keys on a nearby stool. I’m exhausted and in great need of a nap. I remember leaving the apartment around five and it’s already eight in the night. The cops did a good job investigating the hell out of me. Turns out filing a report isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially when you have no one to suspect. The apartment is unusually quiet, so I guess Ben must be already in bed. And there’s no sign of Denzel lurking in the shadows as well. “You’re back!” I raise my head to see him leaning against the doorframe of his room with dark bags under his eyes. Speak of the Devil. “Were you thinking of me, Miss West?” He smirks. I try to laugh it off. “What makes you think so?” “You just turned red like a little rose.” He points at my cheeks. If only blushing was under my control. “Fine. I was thinking of you, but guess what? According to a legend, if you think of someone and that person appears before you, it is said to indicate that they
The bodyguard is a man in his early thirties with muscles that can rival a gym trainer who hasn’t had a day off in years. The tech guy imprisoned me and Ben in my room. First, I had a doubt, but now I’m hundred percent sure that Denzel left the two of them here to keep an eye on me. Guess he does know me well. It’s been ten minutes since they’ve left, but the muscular guy hasn’t trained his eyes away from the both of us for a second. If he wasn’t Denzel’s man, I’d be super creeped out. I’ve got to find a way. “Mommy,” Ben nudges at the sleeve of my shirt. “I need to pee.” A bulb glows in my head. “Let’s go then!” I enthusiastically drag Ben to the bathroom when the guy blocks my way. “You heard him, mister. My son needs to use the loo.” I even gesture to him using my pinky finger, but he stands at the threshold, blocking my view. “Step aside.” I try again, but to no avail. His expression is as stoic as a corpse’s. “I believe he can go by himself, ma’am.” His voice is as gru
The moment seems to be frozen in place. I can’t budge from my position at the end of the staircase and my eyes are glued shut. The gunshot still reverberates in my head, but the sound is gradually fading out. Startled hearing the sound of footsteps, my eyelids lift and his face comes into my view. Chiselled jaw, lips thinned in anger, and his electric blue eyes staring into my petrified ones. He crosses the few inches between us in a long stride and grabs my forearm. He drags me behind him upstairs without care or concern. “Stop!” My voice breaks. Is he really a murderer? Did I just witness him kill someone? Will he kill me too, to erase the evidence? He turns around and faces me in a swift move. My arm in his grip hurts. He’s sure to leave his hand imprint on me. “What are you doing here?” He yells at the top of his lungs. His high-pitched tone makes me tremble and turn into a puddle of scared mess. Gone is the calm and easygoing CEO Denzel Flynn and the man who stands before me
Denzel Flynn ****** I’ve just been done with the cops when my phone rings up. At first, I don’t bother to pick it up, but one glance at the caller ID and I don’t hesitate. Bringing the phone next to my ear, I speak out calmly, despite feeling the tug at my heartstrings. Little rose’s harsh words live in my head rent-free. “How have you been?” No reply comes from the other side. I wait patiently until I hear audible sobs in the background. An invisible force fists my heart and panic rises in every corner of my body. “Chloe?” I said, alarmed. Again, no response. “Chloe, can you hear me?” I ask again. Maybe it’s a network issue. Maybe someone else was sobbing in the background and she went away to soothe them. Maybe... “Den...” The sobbing continues in her voice and they only rise louder than before. “Are you at home? I’ll be there soon.” I cut the call after acknowledging a feeble affirmation from her. I spare a glance at the officers arresting the woman and little rose loo
Chloe looks at me, dumbfounded. Her countenance looks similar to a child who was told that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. I can tell she’s having a hard time believing what I just said. None of us thought in our dreams that I’d ever deny her of a wish. But I suppose that’s what you get when you put faith in your sibling with your eyes closed. “Wh-what do you mean?” Her eyes turn glossy and red from all the crying and disbelief shines in them like the moon on a Purnima night. I won’t fall for them anymore. “Do you know who this kid is? About his family and relatives? His name?” “His name is Benjamin, and he’s a fatherless child. After learning about his tragedy, I have a stronger will to take him in.” “Why do you think he needs someone else? Maybe he’s happy with his mother alone.” “C’mon Den! The world is so cruel to orphans. Have you forgotten how we’re treated? Without a father, Ben’s basically an orphan like us!” The rage in her voice propels me to take a step back. However,
Unknown POV ****** The woman watches over the house with an eagle eye. For fear of what happened in the past, she doesn’t dare show her face in the villa as long as Denzel and his lapdog remain inside. She mentally scolds the dumb blond for not giving her a heads-up. If she had been a minute earlier, she would have bumped into him and all of her efforts have been ruined. Of course, she’s planning to approach the young heir of the Flynn’s Enterprise soon. However, the conditions for their first meeting are too specific. Despite her rebellious form, she won’t do anything mischievous and risk shouldering the wrath of Big Fox. As soon as the woman’s predatory gaze falls on the two familiar young men walking out of the villa, she heaves a sigh of relief. However, on closer inspection, she finds one of them wearing a troubled expression and the other shaking with fury. The hair on her neck rises and her body plunges into alert mode. After double-checking that their car has driven off,
Naomi West ****** I arrive at the cafe in my neighbourhood after receiving Myra’s text. It’s been a while since we got together and chatted like old times, so we decided to make up for it today. I was the one to approach her, of course. With Ben being with her kids and husband at home and Denzel being out of state, I guessed it’d help kill my boredom. He left a day ago and I’m already out of ways to indulge myself without getting bored. It’s one of my flaws. I get fed up quite easily. Of course, with a bit of determination, I could stay at my apartment and write the next chapter of my novel. Yet here I am, leisurely scrolling through the reels on Instagram—laughing at silly cat videos and relating to the miserable life of a full-time author and sometimes googling the meaning of random words. “You’re early.” I lift my view from the phone screen and stare at my high school friend. Yes, Myra and I’ve been friends since high school. She’s the only one I’ve been in contact with eve