Chapter 2

“Who are you?” Elena’s voice trembled as she saw someone right behind her.

A man stood confidently, well encased in a sleek black suit, his hands tucked casually into his pants pocket. He was undoubtedly the most handsome man Elena had ever laid eyes on. His bright, almost sleepy-looking eyes seemed to pierce into Elena’s soul, leaving her feeling both captivated and unnerved. He exuded an air of aloofness.

“What am I doing here? Please, can you let me out of this place?” Elena pleaded, her chest heaving as she felt suffocated by the situation.

The man, dressed impeccably in a black suit, remained composed, seemingly unaffected by Elena’s distress. A faint smirk played upon his lips as he moved closer to her, his demeanor remained exclusive.

“Elena Jackson,” the man’s voice echoed, resonating deep and commanding, akin to that of an alpha male. A shiver ran down Elena’s spine, causing goosebumps to ripple across her skin.

Elena’s surprised, contorted her face. “How do you know my name?” Her brows furrowed in confusion, her eyes dim and weak due to her health.

“I am all-knowing. There is nothing that is hidden away from me,” his voice carried the weight of his claim, his eyes shining bright and creating a more serious and mysterious ambiance.

“What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here? I am supposed to be…” Elena stuttered and rolled her eyes as she wondered how she was in the hospital fighting for her life the last time and then the next minute she was in a prison. “I was was supposed to be in the hospital, and here I am in a cell,” Elena’s voice quivered as dread mesmerized her even more.

“What I want?” The man broadened his smirk as his green eyes darkened.

“I want you! I want you to pay me all that you owe me,” he scoffed.

“Pay you? What are you talking about?” Elena’s eyes filled with shock and worry. “I don’t even know you, so how am I owing you? What do I owe you? What are you even talking about?”

“You owe me your life.”

“Do you remember this?” The man brought out a ring.

Elena stared at it intently, trying to fathom where she had seen it because it was not entirely familiar, but then it struck a chord in her head.

“No, I do not,” Elena shook her head after examining the ring adorned with diamonds.

“I thought as much. I should not expect someone with short-term memory to remember something from three months ago,” the man snapped and wriggled the ring back on his finger, leaving Elena in more awe.

“Three months ago? What happened then?” Elena furrowed her brows and rolled her eyes, racking her brain.

“The man you humiliated at the biggest party in the city. When I asked you to dance with me, you turned me down in front of everyone. You humiliated me in the whole of New York. You made me a laughing stock that night and for many weeks to come,” the man’s voice and countenance slowly changed, depicting his rising rage.

Elena’s eyes brightened as she vividly remembered who stood in front of her. “Oh,” she exclaimed.

“I guess you remember now, Elena Jackson,” the man gave an aloof gaze.

“Yes, I do,” Elena nodded. “But I did not want to dance with you. I did not want to dance with anyone at all, more so a stranger” Elena shrugged mildly, still puzzled about how refusing to dance could land her in a cell.

“How dare you not dance with me? How dare you turn me down?” The man thundered out of the blue, then unlocked the padlock that secured the cell.

As he stepped into the cell, Elena was engulfed by fear. Her face flushed red, and she recoiled, pressing her back against the wall, her heart battering incredibly in her chest.

The man grabbed her right arm forcefully, his grip tightening. “No one says no to me! No one at all,” his voice boomed, sending shudders down Elena’s spine. More fear washed over her, tears welling up in her eyes amidst the overwhelming terror.

“Please, you’re hurting me,” Elena cried out as the man continued to exert pressure on her hand. “Is this the price for turning you down?” she pleaded.

“No one offends me and gets away with it. I will make your life a living hell. I will make you regret why you refused me a dance and embarrassed me, even after I offered you a ring worth thousands of dollars. You still had the audacity to reject me. Who told you that you could reject me? You are only allowed to say yes to whatever I say or request,” the man’s words reverberated, causing Elena to tremble. She wondered how she had landed herself in this situation or if she was trapped in a horrendous dream after her surgery.

Elena gazed at the man, his eyes red with rage. She was at a loss for words, silently enduring the pain from his unrelenting grip.

“Not even death would save you from me. That’s why I didn’t allow you to leave, even when you decided to offer your organs,” the man declared.

Elena attention was piqued and her eyes snapped“You’re the one who paid for my medical bills?” Elena inquired, her eyes narrowing, momentarily distracted from the pain caused by the man’s grip.

“Yes. Not even death can save you from me.” The man pulled Elena closer, locking eyes with her. Her heart ticked even harder. The room’s atmosphere grew increasingly edgy.

“You refused to dance with me, right?” the man whispered into Elena’s ear, his breath sending chills down her neck. She froze, whimpering almost silently. “You’ll do something better.” He giggled and brushed the tip of his nose against her neck, causing her to stiffen further.

“Please, I’m sorry I didn’t dance with you. Please, I beg you, forgive me and let me go,” Elena begged, summoning the last shreds of courage, unable to make eye contact.

“Forgive?” The man laughed loudly, which frightened Elena even more. “I don’t forgive. I’ve never forgiven anyone in my life. People do things fully aware of the repercussions, yet you humans always plead for forgiveness when facing the consequences of your actions, and it truly angers me,” the man flared up.

“I promise I’m sorry. Please, forgive me,” Elena pleaded, her head tilted in a desperate attempt to appeal to him.

“Hush,” the man quickly placed a finger on the middle of Elena’s lips, halting her words. Their eyes locked, holding a steady gaze for seconds.

“Do not cry, Puppy,” the man used his thumb to wipe away the tears trickling down Elena’s cheeks. “Save your tears for later,” he chuckled.

“Please, I beg you,” Elena continued her plea, but her appeals seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“Calm down Puppy, I have a surprise for you” The man smirked and cupped Elena’s cheeks.