CHAPTER 3

OFF LIMITS

"Are you done yet?"

"Wait!" I yelled.

Rhyiuz and I has been fighting over while on the way to the Mansion. He is insisting that he'll be the one to drop me off. I got surprise when there's a helicopter on the tarmac near their golf course.

"Don't worry, Ystan can wait. Take your time."

I rolled my eyes and continue to put my boots. I went out of the room and saw him in a casual outfit which is not so usual. 

"So, you're the famous, Feinah Hererra? Or should I say the back-up?"

I look at the nosy captain using my intimidating face reaction. "And, you are a nosy guy, not so impressive of you."

"Cheese bro! I like her!" Ystan turned to me and smile, "I think you will be a nice company to my sister."

"Ystan..." Rhyiuz called his friend and the latter put his hands mid air.

"I know bro, off limits... Let's take off within two minutes."

I was so quiet during the whole trip thinking about the news I received from Rhyiuz. His guard is up and knows that I can destroy his family's reputation maybe that's why he always get his nose in my business. I am definitely his business. A bad bad one that needs to be liquidated.

I went straight to the unit and spend my time searching for leaked articles about Feinah. When the night came, I went to alone to The Lounge.

"Hey Feinah! Glad you recovered from your injury..."

I look at the woman. I don't recognize her at all.

I flashed a smile, "Thank you. Nice to see you here. I'm sorry but uhmn, I need to call someone..."

"Sure, sure, I'll tell Destina that you're here in the metro so that we'll hang out together soon."

"Uhmn, sure sure... Just beep up on my socials. Sorry... got to go." I walk fast as I can going up to the lower penthouse when I heard some noises at the private sky garden.

"Really? You saw my cousin in the province? When?"

It's the snake cousin of Feinah. I stopped by to get some more idea about the topic.

"Yes! She's in bad condition. She's on a wheelchair... Is she alright? I never got to say hello cause she was suddenly surrounded by guards..." a girly voice said.

"No way! She's not injured. She's pretty walking like a classic thoroughbred the last time I saw her. I'll call my mother to get some scoop about that but thanks for the info, girl... I'll tell Ethan about it."

When I step forward going to the crowd someone pulled me and dragged me out going to a private room.

"Are you nuts?!"

I look at the man with a gritted teeth. "Someone saw her..." I looked away.

"Don't worry about it. Call Feinah and let me speak with her. Now."

I swallowed hard, "Rhyiuz... I-"

"Call her, Shasta... now."

I pulled out my phone and tried to call Feinah.

"Hi! Is everything okay?" 

Feinah greeted me but I was so direct to the point about the call, "Yeah, uhmn, someone wants to talk with you..."

"Okay?..." she answered.

I pass the phone to Rhyiuz and he disappeared going to the room while I was left alone in the living room.

I was biting my lips the whole time of waiting and stomping my right foot while standing and sitting every after two minutes. The call lasted for about fifteen minutes and when Rhyiuz comes out he look at me without any reaction.

"Go back to the Mansion tomorrow morning. I'll let Ystan to drop you off."

"Why is that? What did you told her?!" I argued. 

Deep inside, I know that he confronted Feinah about buying me out of this curtain call. My hunch is telling me that he offered her something which I know that the woman will not disagree with.

"Just go back to the Mansion tomorrow. I'll handle the situation until the engagement party and you'll be out of the country that same day. Let Feinah be the one to face the guests..."

I tap my forehead. Here we go again. "Please, please, stop intervening. You're making it harder..."

"Care to tell me, are you not really thinking if the media will know about you? Tell me Miss Zerilla, aren't you afraid that they'll dig up all about you?" 

That hits me hard. I let out a crazy laugh, "Is that so? Tell me then, Do I have a choice?"

"I'll handle the situation and Ethan until the engagement day. My mother, I know you got an idea about her but she's manageable. The campaign is coming soon. I know you're intelligent and understand my point."

I nodded as my tears form. I hide my face to Rhyiuz and wipe my own tears.

"I'll go back to the unit then..."

"I'll let someone to accompany you. Left the car the parking lot..."

"No thanks, I can manage."

"No drunk driving on the street..." he said.

"I'm not drunk..." I insisted even though I can taste the strong alcohol scent every time I inhale.

Rhyiuz walk towards me that's why I step back until my back hits the wall. He put his right hand on my side. I close my eyes when our lips almost touch. "It's so challenging to baby sit you... Behave a little, okay? Still have a meeting later. If you want you can sleep here. I'll let someone to bring you clothes. Enough for today, alright?" and he distance himself from me.

I exhaled and catch up my breathing. Darn it!

He rolled up the sleeves of his button down polo while eyeing me.

"I hate you!" I spit out and walk going to the room but he pulled me and pin me on the nearby wall.

"Care to say why? Hmmn?..." he whispered.

"What did you told Feinah?"

"Just stuffs... I told her to be mindful of her activities. I arrange her a private therapy to limit her appearance in public or everything she and her mother planned will fail and you'll be dragged into the worst possible situation. Now, tell me, still not okay with you?"

I bite my lips. "Okay... and Ethan?"

"Stay away from Ethan. Don't ever try to disobey me over it..."

"I get it. I'm sleepy..."

"Go freshen up. Your things will be here in 10 minutes but don't let Ystan to come inside. Don't ever open the door when someone knocks after Ystan."

Is this room his? Is this why I saw some books and stuffs?

"Call me when you need something. I have to go..." and he disappeared leaving me alone in the room.

I waited for Ystan. He's polite enough to hand over the bags that Rhyiuz obviously buy for me.

"He's in the meeting now? So demanding of him. Letting me to be late..." Ystan said.

I invited him inside the room cause he said that he's thirsty. "I'm sorry for waisting your time."

He waved his hand, "Don't worry about me. They can't start the meeting without me. By the way, here's my sister's sns account. She knows about you a little, just being the hired one, call her when you need something, not Rhyiuz. He doesn't know girly stuff and I don't trust my friend... I need to go, nice to properly meet you."

"Thank you so much..." I smile as I received a message from his sister.

I look around the room. It's well maintained but screams so bachelor. It looks like there's no touch of woman in this space, so opposite to the cabin in their estate. 

I got so sleepy that's why I rested my back on the bed. The sheets are freshly washed that I can smell the scent of perfume used.

I suddenly got up when I felt so thirsty but as I am drinking. The door suddenly opened and I heard some footsteps. I got alerted and tiptoed going to the door but I got shocked when I saw Rhyiuz. He almost can't carry himself that's why I help him to sit on the couch and handed him a glass of water.

"I'm sorry, the boys got some after meeting party... Did I disturb you?"

"No..."

"I'll gonna sleep in the other room, I'll just get some stuffs..."

"Uhmn no need, I'll just reserve a room..." I tried to  suggest.

"No able rooms tonight, Gareth let the outsiders in again..."

The owner? Mr. Bracamonte? Are they friends? He seems to know him well to call him by his first name.

"Do you need, uhmn the shower?" I asked nervously.

"Yes, but I can use the one here. Just need some clothes..."

"No, I can wait, I mean, I can sleep here...."

He chuckled a bit, "No, I'll just take a shower. Stay  in the room."

He already stood up and walk towards his room. I waited for more than half an hour. When Rhyiuz comes out, it looks like he isn't as drunk as before.

"You can go back to sleep..."

I silently obeyed and when I reached his room. I locked the door and went straight to the balcony just to take a breath.

"Enough, Shasta!" I scolded myself.

A knock suddenly makes me run towards the door.

"I'm sorry... Forgot my phone..."

I opened the door wider for Rhyiuz. I feel so suffocated, I can't properly think everytime we are together in a tight space. Well his room is way, way, larger than my house in the province but it feels so small everytime I'm with him.

"Ethan will be be in Singapore until the day before the engagement."

I flinched when he suddenly speak and I think he noticed it.

"Afraid?..." he whispered as we look at each other.

"I'm sorry, I was thinking about something..."

"U-huh? So, you can have ample time to do some other activities..."

"Thanks, but is it necessary?" I chirped.

"Non-negotiable..." he said as he held my hand.

I swallowed hard and take back my hand. I don't want him near me. Not this time or days onwards. 

He nodded and seems to understand my behavior. "Don't you wanna go to Australia instead?..."

"Rhyiuz... Not this time again... I'm sleepy..."

He extend his left hand pointing the bed. "Sleep then, you look tired..."

Before he close the door I opened my mouth, "Don't worry, I don't like your nephew..." I said while looking sideways enough to have a glimpse of him.

He step back but only to walk straight to me pulling me by the waist. "I know, since day one..." he whispered and bite the sensitive part of my left ear as his other hand holding my waist tightly. 

A moan escape from my mouth. "Rhyiuz..." I called him as he rest his chin on my left shoulder.

"I'm sorry... Just a minute, Shasta, spare me a minute..." he whispered tenderly.

I close my eyes, "This is not right..." I whispered heavily but he is silent and distance him from me.

He leave the room without any word. He left his phone on the table. I locked the door and stayed leaning on it for I don't know how long until I yawn.

What had happened?

I tap my forehead and scolded myself for I don't how many times until I dozed off.