02.

Chapter Two

NaTHaLie

My eyes widen in fear and my heart thumps widely in my chest as I watch the scene unfolding before me. Who are these people and what do they want from me? These are the questions that run through my mind with no answer. The guy with knife walks to a car parked a few feet away and settles in the driver's seat while the guy covering my mouth removes his hand after shooting a warning glare my way. I watch in trepidation as he ties my hands together in front of me and puts a gag in my mouth. Unfortunately, I couldn't fool them with my little disguise but I'm somehow glad Betsy isn't dragged into this. I yelp as my hair is being yanked roughly and I am being hauled to the car.

I'm quite aware that once I'm taken into that car, my chance of escaping will be slim so without hesitation, I stomp my heel into the feet of the guy dragging me, pushing him away with all my strength. I hear him let out string of curses while groaning in pain as I break into a sprint. I tried running as if my whole existence depends on it—in a way it does—but I couldn't get far enough in my heels and to make matters worse, my hands are tied. I close my eyes, waiting for my fall as I stumble on something but it never came. Instead, I feel arms hastily wrap around my waist to steady me and before I know it, I'm resting against a hard, muscular warm chest breathing heavily with my hands trapped between us. I tilt my head back a little to have a look at who my saviour is but he shoved me behind him gently.

Seconds later, my two assailants ran into view both armed with a gun. It was then I noticed that my saviour also has a silver pistol.

Tears of frustration fill my eyes as I rest my head on his back panting through my gagged mouth.

"We don't know who you are and we have no business with you." One of them spits angrily. "All we want is the girl, hand her over."

I shake my head frantically gripping my saviour's shirt tightly.

Please don’t hand me over to them.

I chant in my head as tears stream down my cheeks. My fear doubled when I spot different men dressed in black suits appearing around my assailants until I could make out a familiar face...Zachary, head of our bodyguards.

"I may spare you if you decide to surrender now." My saviour finally says, his velvet but firm voice sending shivers down my spine.

I shut my eyes and let out a sigh of relief but that was short-lived, the sound of gunshots has my eyes flying open in shock. I try to peer over his shoulder but he was quick to obstruct my view. “You don't have to look." He mumbles.

"They could have made our jobs easier by telling us who they were working for but the idiots had to kill themselves," Zachary says, clearly frustrated.

I can now see who my saviour is, I'm surprised he is the guy I saw at the club earlier. How did he find out I'm here? Did he follow me here? I'm staring into his grey...more like silver eyes like I'm entranced, it's beautiful.

He removes the gag in my mouth and unties my hands, his thumb rubbing over the red spot around my wrists soothingly. I watch in surprise as he gets down on his knees and remove my heels, massaging my aching feet softly.

Martin, our family driver parks a car beside us and gets out to open the backseat door.

"Get into the car." He says standing straight.

"But..."

"Get into the goddamn car, I don't have all day." He repeats harshly.

I gape at him in shock. Charming until he opens his mouth.

"Whatever, jerk!" I huff, snatch my heels from him and get into the car. I was waiting for him to also get in but instead, he slams the door in my face and Martin takes off immediately.

I try finding out who he is and why he isn't coming with us but I'm ignored by Martin and one of my numerous guards in the passenger seat.

"Whatever." I huff again with an eye roll.

But I can't help but wonder who he is and why he saved me.

....~....

The tension in the dining room is so thick that you can cut through it with a knife. I haven't stopped feeling guilty since I woke up this morning. I can't forget the look in my parents' eyes when I came in last night.

Mom, who has been pacing around rushed to give me a warm hug.

"Oh, my baby." She sobbed into my shoulder. "Are you okay?" She took a step back, eyes roaming over me as if looking for a sign that I am not okay.

"I'm fine mom," I said, my throat closing up. My eyes locked with my dad's teary own across the room. Dad..." I started but he glanced away from me, clearly disappointed.

"Go into your room and rest darling, you must be exhausted," Mom whispered.

"But..." I glanced at dad who is still not looking at me.

"Go on." She repeated and nudged me in the direction of my room.

"Nathalie." My mom's voice brings me out of my reverie. "Why are you not eating?"

I glance down at my food which I have been pushing around my plate and at my dad who hasn't said a word since I came in last night.

"I'm eating mom." I force a smile.

"I had no idea you felt so suffocated by the presence of your bodyguards that you had to do what you did last night." Dad begins and I gulp nervously.

"I—"

"No." He shakes his head with his hand raised as a motion for me to stop. "No." He repeats calmly. "Let me talk." I sink into my seat in resignation. "There are people out there who are looking for my downfall, people who I have crossed that I am not even aware of, I was only trying to protect you. Take for example what happened last night, what if your bodyguards couldn't find you on time?"

"I'm sorry I made you two worried. I know you don't approve of my relationship with Ethan so I wanted to meet him without my bodyguards reporting back to you." I confess.

"First of all Nathalie..." He called me by my full name, he's pissed. "...your bodyguards are only there to protect you, they do not report any of your movements to us."

"What?" My mouth is wide open in shock. They don't make reports to my parents about my movements?

"Your dad is right Nath," Mom says softly. "We believe that you are old enough to make the right choices without any interference from us."

My eyes tear up. "I thought..."

"We know baby girl," Mom assures, eyes also tearing up.

"And about Ethan, your mom and I just felt like he isn't the one for you. When you brought him over, we noticed that there isn't any chemistry between you whatsoever. He acted like loving and caring for you was just some task he had to do. We are sorry for making you feel like you have no say in whosoever you choose to be with. And about you getting engaged to some guy, you won't understand us now but you have to trust us." Dad says with a sigh.

"Okay." I nod in understanding. "And you were right," I murmur, loud enough for them to hear.

"About?" Mom asks.

"Ethan. W-we—" I take a deep breath, forcing back my tears. "We broke up last night."

"Oh, my baby." Mom is by my side in an instant hugging me. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"He didn’t lay a finger on me but he hurt me emotionally.” I bite back my tears and hug her back. “But I am fine mom. He is just a jerk.”

"Do I need to hire a hitman?" Dad asks and by the look on his face I know he's damn serious.

"Maybe." I grin, wiping my tears. I can see that they are both anxious to know more but I’m not ready to tell the full story yet, I still feel so embarrassed.

Mom goes back to her seat and motions to the maids to clear the table.

“Least I forget, there is someone you should meet." Dad says after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

"Who?" I ask in curiosity.

"You'll see, let's go." He says instead and walks out.

I raise my eyebrows at mom, silently questioning her but she shrugs and makes her way up the stairs. I can't help but wonder who this person I am supposed to meet is.