I wasn’t a weakling. Syl had reappeared in my life again and again to hurt me, but that didn’t mean I had to take it lying down. Those two times he had come to me as a client. This time, I knew there was no next time.
What Gri intended to do was to record a video of me having sex with Syl, because she knew our relationship. That video was simply her evidence of me ‘cheating’. I didn’t understand why she had to stoop to such a level. Maybe she was blinded by love, but it didn’t mean I had to let her do what she wanted.I looked down at my feet, which they hadn’t bound. Syl had used his weight to pin down my upper body, and the moment he got up to unzip his pants, I retaliated.It had been some time since I ever had to go physical on anyone at all. My legs were faster than he expected, and he didn’t anticipate what was coming. I kicked him squarely in the balls, making him reel back painfully on the floor. I jumped up naturally, ready like when I was performing karate. I pWhat did he mean, he made a mistake?“Did you come back for me?”“Maybe.”He was not the type of person who liked to use excessively flowery language. Nor did he bother about pleasing anyone. Kaiser Klef feared no one, not even Lenard Lee. And he always got what he wanted.My thighs were still sticky with the load he had just ejaculated between my legs. I couldn’t even bring myself to get up to go to the bathroom after how he had taken me in that position.“Piper, you’re just too trusting of others. Nobody, I repeat, is worthy of your trust. Not even me.”“Not even you?”He didn’t explain himself further. “I don’t deserve your trust, but other than me, nobody can have you, Piper. This is final. I hope I don’t have to repeat this.”“Are you talking about what happened earlier?”I didn’t even have to ask how he knew. He probably planted spies over the entirety of City X. “Although, I’m proud of you for putting them in a tight spot. This sh
Being in the Strauss was unlike in the villa, and everything was the rather high class for me. I was amazed when he linked arms with me, leading me deeper into this very unlikely dream.Was I still awake, or was I dreaming of being with Kaiser in such a place? I wanted to pinch myself hard but I feared I would wake up. Everything was too good to be true.“What’s wrong, Piper? Don’t you like it here?”I hesitated, scrutinising the beautiful painting-laden walls of the majestic hotel. Never once I had ever dreamed that I would set foot in such a place. Neither had I anticipated that Kaiser who I held deep feelings right now, could afford to live here. Even the true reason for him moving us into another country where I was feeling alienated was beyond me. From the foreign looks, the passers-by gave us to the language barrier made me think twice about our life here.But then, this was Kaiser. He was the only man after Syl, that caused feelings
Five days later, I calmly entered the venue of the party where Carson Gao was due to attend as its esteemed guest. I almost felt naked in the thin silk material of the pure white dress Kaiser had got for me. The material tickled every time it came into contact with my bare skin. Shrugging away the feeling of nakedness, I was confident I would be able to carry the elegant yet scanty dress. For Kaiser and the ultimate revenge in my hands, I would do it, even if I had to cheapen myself. I was that determined as a person. “You’re Shea Tay? The guest introduced by Kent Kai?” Kaiser had even come up with a false name for me, as well as for himself. I went with it. With my fair looks and minimal Asian roots, I would be able to convince a crowd of my fake persona.
At the right moment, the lights went out, and I presumed Ice had done his work. I pretended to reluctantly follow the man out of the party venue as he sneaked us out through the back door.A feeling of not playing by the rules streaked through me. Carson seemed to be a person who did not play by the rules. This made me wonder how easy it would be to gain his trust while I was doing what Kaiser wanted of me. Furthermore, he seemed to know Kaiser.The night breeze teased my bare shoulders, chilling me slightly. I expected a splendid-looking Mercedes or some other luxurious car, but instead, Carson led me to a motorcycle.“Is it right to leave Oscar like this?” I asked innocently in pretence.“Girl, haven’t you ever cheated during exams?”
“Reached.”I got down from the motorcycle, hugging myself tightly against the cold wind. In my ears, Kaiser’s voice reminded me not to let down my guard. But right now, my heart was betraying me.All over a man who was Kaiser’s brother-in-law, and moreover, on our first meeting!Just minutes ago, I had gripped his shoulders tightly to counter the fast speed of the motorcycle. It became clear to me what I missed out on in all the men I had been with.Especially with Kaiser. Not only was it arduous to read his mind, but with his coldness, I didn’t know my place in his heart.We were standing just outside a cabin on the outskirts of town, which undoubtedly was his property. However, instead of feeling how I normally felt when serving a customer, I felt like I was a neglected wife ready to experience the sins of cheating on her husband. I didn’t know what to think, other than being drawn in by the moment.“Shea, is there something bo
“You’re here.”I was sitting by the swimming pool, running the chlorinated water along my legs, when I heard Kaiser’s icy voice, followed by his familiar figure approaching.Three days had passed since the one-night-stand incident with Carson Gao, and I wasn’t able to catch hold of Kaiser at all. He had ditched me in the luxurious hotel where I was all alone, but that was not what I was most concerned about.Firstly, there was the question of whether he was married. Kaiser never spoke about his personal affairs with me, and if he was indeed married, I knew this would be hard for me to accept. It was not the first time for me to encounter such a problem, because, in the past, Syl was married, rather unhappily, when we got together. But Kaiser…Kaiser was a different situation altogether. He was that light of hope I had to get my revenge, and without realising, I fell for him entirely. He negated my pain even with his coldness. I didn’t even see tha
A week laterThe next time I met with Carson was at a supermarket. I was pushing along a heavy trolley and picking out the groceries that I knew Kaiser would love most. Air-flown Australian strawberries, New Zealand grass-fed butter, the best cuts of red meat, some additional protein shakes from the healthy section, and so on. Recently Carson had been intrigued by testimonies from athletes on the ketogenic diet that he was determined to do the same. While I had a superb metabolic rate and didn’t need to go on any diet, I was spurred to accompany and motivate him on his journey.I had travelled around the area to other supermarkets to procure all the required items on my shopping list, knowing he would be away for a few days for business. Or more, considering he never told me about his agenda. He had taken his passport and a few clothes, so I presumed he would be travelling for quite a bit.The last tub of whey protein was located all the way up on a rack w
“How do you like it? Burgers and movies are my plans for a Friday night.”I munched gracefully into the burger on my plate. He had me sitting on the sofa with Netflix turned on, not allowing me to enter the kitchen while he put on an apron and fried up a burger and some snacks. I had to admit, his cooking was excellent. He should have opened his own diner.“The burger is delicious,” I admitted. “But I stopped watching movies a long time ago. I was hoping, that we got to know each other more.”“Oh?” He glanced at me for a few seconds and smiled. His smile was so enticing that it gave me goosebumps each time. “Tell me, Miss Tay, how do you want to do that?”“Let me finish eating first,” I said. He put some distance between us and finished his burger as well. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was alone with my target inside his abode, but I couldn’t wait either to perform what Kaiser wanted of me.He refilled my glass of water, surprising me with his excellent hospitality. Unconsciousl
I thought about Jacques’ words to me as I spent the next three days in seclusion at the safe house. Lenard frequently sent people to visit me and ensure I was fine, and knowing he wasn’t coming, I just felt gladder. The discomfort in my body from sharing a bed with the person who hurt me in the past, plus how I was being used by Kaiser for his needs and then, slept with my ex, tended to make me dizzy.I had to strike eventually. Lenard and Lee Jung were why I was in this sorry state. If not for what happened to me, I would be living a happy blissful life with Syl now as his woman. Thinking of Syl, I recalled his dismayed face after we had intercourse. He wasn’t in love. I was just a fragment of his past affection for the easygoing and spirited Piper who was the best buddy of Sherry Summers.Not to forget that I now wished she was dead.
“What happened? Why am I here?”I fought the blanket, struggling to move from the bed. I don’t remember what happened after Lee Jung threatened to record the video. All I wanted was to get away from him, to escape. He had pointed a knife at my neck to make me do his bidding, gloating at me like how Kaiser Klef used a gun to force me to have sex with him.I am now in an unfamiliar bed. Some young men and women are attending to me. A girl wipes my forehead with a damp cloth and another scans my temperature with an infrared gun. Some are watching over me, and two men are guarding the door.“Is anyone listening? Why am I here?” I raised my voice, wringing my hands to get attention. The girl wiping my forehead cowers and retreats, stammering nervously from a distance.“Miss Piper, please don’t get mad. You were found in a disarray in a ditch, soaked to the skin and unconscious. You were also running a high fever.”I scrutinised the girl, unsure whether to believe her words. Lee Jung had us
Syl looked at me sympathetically as I told him about the agony I suffered at Kaiser’s hands, starting from the interview up to bedding his brother-in-law and then being sent to serve Lenard Lee. “I shouldn’t have trusted him.” I said, not allowing myself to shed any tears. “But I did, and I made the wrong choice.” “Piper,” he heaved a long sigh and took me into a bear hug. “I thought you were going to hate me for all I did to you then.” My heart numbed. If only I knew the truth, would things have turned out differently? I was still infertile and could never give him biological children. This was why I had left him in the first place, and things could never go back to the past. “I don’t hate you, Syl,” I answered after a short pause. “I just know we… can’t.” “Why not, Piper? After how I opened up to you about my secret of being an undercover agent? You still can’t trust me? Are you still mad about how I treated you then?” “It’s been so long, Syl. Of course, I can’t be still angry a
“What’s up? You’ve been quiet all day.”Lenard Lee glanced at me as I finished my food silently. My lower abdomen hurt like hell. I don’t know what beast the man I loved before had turned into after he consummated his relationship with Erica Gao. I regretted moving here, even though it was where Kaiser was allegedly from. What I thought to be a new start between us, turned out to be a total nightmare.Even my tormentor had turned into a different person overnight. I was clueless about what was happening, and why he had a strange side to him, but it wasn’t until the last two months that I discovered his considerateness. He had been rather harsh when Kaiser sent me there, but it wasn’t until I discovered he was seeing therapy himself, that I realised what was the reason behind his change of personality. His sweetness was starting to dissolve the hate I had for him, although I still feel inclined to have my revenge. I felt lost like I no longer had my sense of direction. From the day Ka
I was discharged over the weekend. Lenard sent his men to get me, and I reflected on Kaiser’s words during the silent car journey. “We can torture her further. You just need to know you’re worth more than them. And how to execute your plan right.” Would he say the same about his wife? I watched the man guarding beside me flip his newspaper. There was an article about Kaiser Klef and Erica Gao. On the outside, they looked like any happy couple. But Kaiser hadn’t been going home for weeks now, and Erica probably was sick somewhere. I hoped that she was being kept at some mental institution because she deserved it. Not that I was any happier doing what I did. Lenard had been nice to me while I was in hospital but it didn’t change the fact I was not going to be his wife. I was his possession and sex slave. A lover was just a fancy word considering it was with someone who raped and broke me. I could never bring myself to be a lover of that monster. “I hope you’re better now that that j
After Kaiser left, I stayed for one more day in the motel, staring aimlessly towards the ceiling before I finally found the courage to return. It didn’t take me long before Lenard Lee’s men captured me and took me back to see him.I didn’t say a thing. They were very polite, but when I passed the main hall flanked by his best guards, what bothered me was not the sight of blood, but a woman being disrespected. The irony was this was the same woman who had lost me in the streets, Freya. Some cuts ran over her thighs and dried bloodstains over her back.But noticing how the men pleasured themselves with her body was more than I could stand. It was bringing back the traumatic past in me. I whirled around, screaming as I relived how Lenard’s men had used me like an object three years ago. How they shared with me and treated me like I was garbage like I deserved it. I hadn’t asked to be captured. I hadn’t asked to be raped. I just couldn’t fight back at that time because of the weakness in
I was in a daze when I woke up the next morning. Our clothes lay on the floor in a crumpled heap, and there were glasses of beer. I couldn’t remember when either of us left the room to buy the beer, because I was suffering from a tremendous hangover.Kaiser handed me a glass of warm water and some pills. It was already the second day that I was hiding with him in the love motel, and it couldn’t get any spicier. However, the fact that Kaiser didn’t have his phone with him, since he left it at the coffee shop, and that he wasn’t concerned about his businesses unlike before, aroused my suspicion.I laid back with my eyes closed, my back hitting the headboard of the flimsy bed. Honestly it was a horrible place with a weird stench and I doubted they had acceptable hygiene practice in handling food and water, but this was a place that didn’t hold records of the guests who stayed. It would be hard for them to track us down. The medicine started to kick in, offering instant relief from my m
We were gone for some considerable distance when Kaiser stopped me in a dark alley. There were a few shady love motels nearby, but they didn’t deter me. After all, if I murdered him in cold blood, his corpse would be barely noticeable. I clenched the knife closer to his throat and urged him to move faster.“Piper, it doesn’t have to come up to this.” His voice bore some emotions, playing with my mind. I didn’t want to listen anymore, but he still went on and on about our past and how he deemed me his woman. He just didn’t mention the word love, although I know that he had sacrificed me for some unknown gain. If it was the work of that b*tch, all the more I didn’t want to show him any mercy.“You f*cking played me, Kaiser Klef!” I roared at him, but my hand didn’t budge. I was scraping his neck lightly. He suddenly moved, pulling the knife and pointing it to his chest.“If you don’t believe me, Piper, then kill me now. The reason you haven’t made a move to do so is that you still love
The traffic lights flickered with a bright colour. Clear luminous digits appeared, indicating the countdown. I stared at the crowd outside. A beautiful young teenage mother with bright red hair, pushing a stroller, crossed in front of us, and the driver hummed. Pedestrians that took their time were infringing on his patience.Then, I focused on the door handle to my right. The doors of the car were unlocked. All I had to do was open it while they were not paying attention, and run out as fast as my long legs could take me. It wasn't even a plan, it was survival.'Piper, it is now or never,' the voice in me spoke. I mustered all the energy I had. Freya had her head turned to watch the young lady, mumbling something inaudible under her breath. Before she noticed, I had opened the door quietly, before I slipped out, making a roll on the ground. Then, I dashed out as if my life depended on it. Who was I kidding, of course, it did!I took shelter among the crowd, catching my breath. From a