CHAPTER SIX.

Chapter 6

LEO’S POV

The black sedan parked in front of a large storey building and I looked out the window of the car, staring at the red coloured house. ‘So this is the place…’ I thought to myself as I looked at the address and the picture of the house sent to my phone. Without further ado, I got down from the car and walked towards the house. I opened the door but there were numerous rooms in the apartment. However, the information I received from Fred contained the exact room number she stayed in, so I had no problem navigating my way through.

Upon reaching her front door, I knocked but no one answered. I knocked again but still, nobody answered. ‘Maybe she’s asleep. I shouldn’t disturb her.’ I thought to myself but after checking the time, I noticed that it was still 8:30 pm. Not many people sleep that early, except for kids. 

I tried to open the door but it didn’t open. Due to it being a key lock, I couldn’t tell whether it was locked from the inside or the outside. ‘Either she’s asleep or she’s in the club. I should go check her there.’ I thought to myself and returned to the car. However, I saw a young woman come from outside and entering her room. She turned to me and gave me a long stare.

“Good evening. You’re not from around here, are you?” she asked and I returned a soft smile.

“No, I’m not. I just came to see someone.” I replied, but this woman was a bit nosy.

“Who’s that?” she probed. However, rather than finding it annoying, I felt like I could gain information from her this way.

“Well, her name is Maya. Maya Rodriguez.” I said and her eyes widened a bit with realization.

“Oh, her? I don’t think she’s home yet. Have you tried calling her phone?” she asked and I smiled.

“I don’t want to disturb her. What time will she be back?” I questioned and she sized me up a bit.

“Hm… she should be back in thirty minutes. At most, an hour.” she replied and I smiled.

“Thank you so much. I’ll come back later.” I said before leaving. I returned to the car and decided to wait. Although it would be uncomfortable, I didn’t mind. I waited for a long while, my eyes peeled for any trace of the woman who made me happy for a night. However, I didn’t see her anywhere, even after an hour. 

I looked at my watch and noticed that an hour and thirty minutes had passed since I had been waiting. ‘This is awkward, where might she be?’ I thought to myself as I felt that something was amiss. Immediately, I faced the driver.

“Take me to the Eclipse Club.” I ordered and with a nod, he started the car and drove to the location. On the way to the club, I kept watch on the streets, hoping to at least see a sign of her or something. But to no avail. We reached the club and I stepped out of the car and entered. I noticed that it wasn’t as lively as I expected it to be, but there were still s few strippers around, and disco lights danced around like flashes.

I walked towards the bartender and told him my purpose here. “Hey. I need to speak to your boss. Is he here?” I asked but he shook his head. 

“No sir. He left a little while earlier.” he claimed and I sighed.

“What about Vixen?” I asked and he shook his head.

“Sorry, sir. But neither of them are around sir. She also just left with him.” he claimed and my ears twitched.

“Wait, they left together?” I questioned and he nodded before leaning closer to him and shielding his mouth with his hands, to block people from seeing.

“I can tell you something interesting, if you drop a tip.” he claimed and I sighed before taking out a dollar note from my wallet and discretely passing it to him, “I don’t know where they went, but I recall him carrying her to his car. She seemed unconscious at the time. She was admitted into the hospital about five days ago and got discharged earlier today.” he explained and my eyes widened.

“She was admitted to a hospital? Why?” he asked the bartender but the latter shrugged. Clearly, he had no idea.

“I’ve told you all I know.” he said and I couldn’t but feel more unease than before. 

“Thank you for the info.” I claimed before leaving the bar. He thanked me but I wasn’t bothered about him. I entered the car and called the Jared. Unfortunately, it went straight to voicemail.

“Hello, this is Jared. Please leave a message.” his recorded voice played and I quickly hung up before calling the next person in mind, Fred.

“Hello, Alpha Leo. Have you found her?” he asked.

“No. She’s not at home. Neither is she in the club. I heard from the bartender that she was taken away by Jared. His phone keeps entering voicemail.” I claimed and Fred sighed.

“What would you have me do, Alpha?” he questioned.

“Send your men to search for her. I heard that she was admitted to a hospital and just got discharged today. She was even out cold when I heard Jared carried her to his car. Search every hospital in the city. I want her found at all costs.” I ordered and Fred affirmed.

“Yes, Alpha!” he hung up the call and I sighed as I stared out the window, wondering what was going on, and why Jared was doing. Immediately, I turned to the driver. 

“Let’s go home.” I grunted and the latter obeyed, zooming off through the illuminated streets.

*************

MAYA’S POV

I slowly opened my eyes and like always, they lacked clarity. The first thing I saw what a bright light, making me close them again, and tears welled up from them. It was a little aching, and I couldn’t just get used to this white light which seemed to be glaring at me from above. 

‘What’s… what’s going on?’ I thought to myself as I tried to move my hands but to no avail. It was like something was holding them down. I looked down and as expected, something was holding me down. A brown leather strapping, tying my hands to the bed’s iron. Not just my hands, but my legs too.

“Nrgh.” I grunted, as I struggled to set myself free from the strappings that bound me, but I was advised not to by a voice.

“It’s no use, Maya.” the familiar voice said and I turned to the direction the voice came from. However, everything around was so dark, and only the lamp above me was the only lighting in the area. Suddenly, I heard footsteps echo around the room. The footsteps got louder and I suddenly saw a flicker to light and noticed the white smoke that followed as the person lit up his cigarette and took a long puff.  

I grunted as I suddenly remembered how I was betrayed by the person I called my friend and injected with a sedative. It all came back to me, and my expression changed from fear and confusion to rage.

“You! Where am I? What is this place?!” I yelled but he laughed.

“A place where no one can ever find you.” he claimed. However, I couldn’t believe that and I had to try what I could to get help.

“Help. Somebody help me!” I screamed at the top of my voice but he only laughed.

“It’s useless. No one can hear you over here.” he said before laughing even more. I gritted my teeth and struggled even more.

“Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?!” I cried but he smirked.

“What I want from you? Ha, how naive of you, Maya.” he said as he paced around me, “Did you really think that I’d let you go after coming this far with me? I remember a young girl in despair coming to me for help. I found potential in her and decided to help her. I gave her a job and even helped her with her father’s medical bills. In return, she worked for me and pulled in more customers. She became my ace. Unfortunately, she grew sloppy and made a mistake. Now… here we are.” 

Hearing his words, my heart sank. I knew all too well the young girl he spoke about it. Everything he said was true, as much as it pained me to admit it. After I was unable to procure a job in the commercial sector, I had no choice but to go to the entertainment sector, something I didn’t need a degree for. However, he didn’t want to take me before but I couldn’t accept the fact that I was completely useless to the point that nobody wanted me. So I begged him and even offered my body, which he used as a tool for business.

“But I… I worked off all my debt. I drew in more customers and got even more money for you. Why do you have to do this to me, Mr Jared?” I argued but he wasn’t convinced.

“Silence, fool. Are you so naive to think that I’d just let you go that easily when you haven’t even completed your debt, much less draw in extra money? Ha, surely you jest.” he scorned. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth as I was teeming with anger, but also regret. 

“You men really are scums of the earth…” I growled but he smirked.

“Men? You only have issues with men? What about your friend who betrayed you? Is she a man too?” he uttered and I gasped. That was right. Kelly too was in on this stupid deal. She stabbed my neck with the sedative.

“Hello, Maya.” I heard another voice from the side and I abruptly turned to the person. Turns out it was the same person who had stabbed me in the back. The person I called my friend, Kelly. Unlike what I expected, she had no shred of remorse on her face. On the contrary, she was even smiling and seemed happy with what she did.

“Why, Kelly. Why do this to me?! I thought you were my friend?” I yelled, tears trickling down my eyes. However, she gave me a look of contempt.

“Your friend? And what idiot would be a friend to a loser like you?” she replied and my heart skipped. Those words cut deep. Mr Jared appeared beside her and finally revealed his face.

“Kelly here was never your friend to begin with. I just told her to pretend to be so that she could stay close to you and keep an eye on you. She was basically watching my asset for me.” he explained and it all began to come back to me.

The moments we shared together, her first time in the club and how I taught her how to strip dance and charm customers. The way we had parties and had sleepovers. Was it all… a lie? Was it all just for her to watch me?!

“No… No no no NO! You can’t. This has to be a lie. Why do this?” I screamed as I failed to accept what was being revealed to me. It was like everything I knew for the past few months was being turned upside down. 

“Sorry, love. Nothing personal.” Mr. Jared laughed and Kelly chuckled before turning away to leave.

“No. Please… don’t do this…” I uttered but I couldn’t do anything but watch them leave me. “Noooooooo!”