Chapter 16

Aleta ran into the forest. She ran deeper into the forest without turning around. So many questions popped up in her mind. Ever since she met and saved Dave, her life had changed drastically. All kinds of nonsensical things always came into her life.

Among the tall trees. Aleta leaned back, trying to stabilize her labored breathing. Her energy was starting to drain, and sweat was pouring down her face.

"What happened to the bodyguards? And now what happens to me?" Aleta thought.

She had left her bag and cell phone at home. She couldn't contact anyone. Now all she could think about was him. Her only hope, hoping that he would realize her departure from the house and find her before he was discovered by the people chasing her.

"Dave... help me. I don't know what to do," Aleta muttered to herself.

On the other hand, Davian was in his office. Inside the meeting room the company officials were gathered. Davian sat while watching someone who was currently explaining something on the monitor screen about the development of the business they were building.

He seemed to be seriously paying attention to the explanation of the man in front of him. But his mind was wandering. Today, he suddenly had a bad feeling. She remembered Aleta, whom she had kept locked up in the house for the past few days. Yes, of course it was for her safety too. Davian clearly knew what was really going on.

"Dave... help me. I need you..."

And all of a sudden, Dave's senses felt tingled. As if something was bothering him. As if there was a whisper in his heart. The man's hunches went haywire.

Suddenly Davian got up and stood up from his chair, making everyone stare at him.

"All of you, just continue the meeting. I have other important business," he said as he left the room.

No one would dare to ask what was wrong, or prevent him from leaving. One rebuttal or refusal, and the consequences would be fatal.

Theo was one of the company officials who participated in the meeting. He noticed Dave's slightly strange behavior when he left the room.

Davian walked in the corridor of the building while taking out his cell phone from his pants pocket. He called Felix, hoping that Aleta was doing well at home.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Davian," Felix greeted as he picked up the call from his master.

"Is Aleta home? Is she okay," Davian asked.

Felix sighed. He knew that if Davian was asking for the girl's news out of the blue, then something must have happened.

"Miss Aleta left, sir," Felix replied.

"What!" screeched Dave.

"Aaarkhhhh, damn it! Where did she go?" asked Dave again.

"Miss Aleta picked up some things at her old house. She left with two bodyguards," replied Felix.

"You idiot! I told you not to let Aleta leave the house. I asked the bodyguards to keep Aleta from running away. Not to cooperate and accompany her to run away," Davian snapped.

Felix was speechless.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Davian," Felix retorted.

"Never mind!" Davian switched off the phone. He ruffled his own hair in frustration. His hunch was bad this time. He was sure something had happened to the girl.

Theo caught up with Davian who was currently looking upset. He tapped Dave's shoulder and made him jump a little.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" asked Theo.

Davian turned to Theo. The expression on his face was troubled. Theo almost never found Davian in this state.

"You, come with me now!" Davian ordered.

"What? Where?" asked Theo in confusion.

"We're looking for Aleta now," Davian replied with a very serious facial expression.

***

Aleta covered her mouth as she sat down and leaned back against the tree. She tried to breathe very slowly. Her heart was beating fast and her body was trembling. The sound of footsteps stepping on dry branches and leaves made her fear even more intense.

"Little girl..." A man with a loud baritone voice sounded so close.

Aleta was still covering her mouth, trying to stabilize her breathing, hoping she didn't make any noise.

"Come on, I know where you are. You want to mess with me, little girl," the man called.

Aleta widened her eyes. She really wanted to cry until finally...

"Binggo!" said a man as he suddenly stood in front of Aleta.

Aleta was startled and screamed quite loudly.

"aarrrkhh..." Aleta shouted.

"Shhh, what are you doing huh?" the man asked. He covered Aleta's mouth with his hand. A big man with scary bulging muscles. His presence here proved that the bodyguards who had come with Lita earlier, had lost.

Aleta was trembling, she started to cry out of fear. She didn't even dare to move her arms and push the man in front of her.

"Hey... don't cry. I look like the bad guy now. I haven't done anything yet," the man said.

Aleta was distraught at the sound of his voice. How could she be so casual when she knew that this man was one of the people who made a scene in front of her house earlier. Aleta's body was completely cornered against the wall.

"I don't know what's so special about you. But my lord wants to see you. It's an honor for you. So you shouldn't have to act so much."

Let alone acting up, Aleta couldn't even move her pair of legs to run right now.

The man removed his hand from Aleta's mouth. Aleta didn't scream but her lips were clearly trembling. And Aleta's frightened appearance made the man chuckle.

"Why does that fool Dave have a weak girl like this by his side," the man said.

Hearing Dave's name mentioned made Aleta confused. So it was Dave all over again. What was wrong with that man? Why were there so many problems that happened to her after she knew Dave in her life.

"What do you want?" Aleta asked. Finally after a long time she tried to muster up the courage and speak up.

"Aaahhh, you're finally talking. I looked like I was talking to a dead man before," the man retorted.

"Your weak bodyguard died at the hands of my men," he added.

Dead! A word Aleta did not want to hear. The two men who protected her were dead. Aleta's emotions were shaken violently. This was not what she wanted and she felt very guilty.

"You! How could you kill him!" Aleta snapped.

"Heh, stupid human. Who let you speak in such a high tone to me!" the man grabbed Aleta by the jaw.

"I'm being a little nice and you start acting insolent. You have no idea how much I want to kill a weak human like you!" the man said again.

Somehow Aleta was not so afraid of seeing this man after hearing about the death of her two bodyguards.

The man released his grip from Aleta roughly.

"You will come with me and meet my master!" the man ordered.

Aleta thought hard, who is this man's master. What is his reason for wanting to take me. And what is his relationship with Dave. There are so many questions.

"I don't want to!" Aleta refused.

"I'm not asking for consent." The man raised one hand and struck Aleta on the neck. In one fell swoop, Aleta was knocked unconscious.

The man squatted down to look at Aleta who was currently lying on the ground.

"Aaahh, Master will be pleased with my quarry this time," he muttered with a sardonic smile.