CHAPTER 3

FIORA

Alder saved me?

I can't believe a egotistic, sadistic billionaire will ever even think of saving me

For a second I think I'm dreaming, maybe this is just my brain's way of making me forget about this cruel incident..So I blink several times to make sure this is not an hallucination but he is still here…In the flesh!

Under the blue light, his eyes are blank, emotionless. So empty I'm afraid I’ll fall into their pits.

Dylan scraps himself off the concrete floor“who the fuck are you to tell me what to d–”before he can finish his sentence,Alder punches him in the jaw sending him flying right back to where he got up from

“Fuck off! the next time I see you anywhere near her I will not only break the bones in your fingers but I will also sever them off and feed them to my dogs”

“This isn't over”Dylan says before he finally exits the room

“Are you okay?”Alder asks with no emotions whatsoever as he finally focuses his icy gaze on me

Despite the dim light,I can still make out his features and how annoyingly handsome he is

His grey eyes are so sharp and intense,they seem to look right through me.He has this presence about him, broad shoulders with gorgeous dark hair that frames his face. And then, there were his thighs,thick and powerful, like every other part of him.

“Can you hear me?”he asks again but this time he moves a little closer and that cedarwood scent permeates the air around us which means he was the one watching me earlier..but why?

I try to take a step forward but my legs fail me and Alder catches me just in time before I hit the ground

“Hey, easy now,” he says softly,or as softly as Alder gets

Gravity seems to have left the building because I'm floating on air or rather Alder is carrying me in his arms, bridal style

Outside,the cold night air cuts through me like a knife and I shiver,trying to fight off the chill that has settled deep in my bones.We are headed for a black Range Rover which I’m assuming is his car.

I take deep breaths to clear the fog in my head.i probably shouldn't be following Alder to God knows where because he is a stranger and I've only met him once before tonight but in his arms,I feel–oddly enough–safe

“Why did you save me?”I asks finally finding my voice again

“Would you have liked it if I didn't?”he replies without sparing me a glance

“i thought you didn't like me”

“This isn't about whether I like you or not,it about doing what's right”

Emotions clog the back of my throat and I blink several times to prevent the tears from flowing down my cheeks.“Thank you for saving me,if it hadn't been for you I don't know what would have happened”

“I have no need for your thanks,what I did for you was a favour which I expect you to pay back in due time”

His words are sharp, but I can’t help the way my heart stirs. It’s like he’s intentionally keeping a wall between us, reminding me that no matter what, we’re not friends. We’re not anything, really.

I sigh"You could’ve just walked away, you know"

Finally, he looks down at me, those piercing grey eyes locking with mine. "If I’d done that, you wouldn’t be here now."

I can’t argue with that. Dylan was more dangerous than I realised. If Alder hadn’t stepped in, things could've ended quite badly for me. Still, the idea that Alder expects something from me in return makes my stomach twist.

When we finally reach the Range Rover. Alder opens the door to the passager's seat and gently places me on it. I hesitate, looking up at him. "What do you mean by paying you back? What do you want from me?"

He leans against the car, his tall frame casting a shadow over me."Don’t worry about it for now”

The vagueness of his answer sends a chill down my spine. There’s something about the way he says it,so matter-of-fact, as if he’s already decided my future for me,that makes me uneasy. But I also know I don’t have much choice. Not tonight.

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

I blink awake to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, my body heavy and my mind still tangled in the haze of sleep

For a second,I don't remember where I am but it all starts coming back to me,the Dylan situation,Alder rescuing me and the ride to his house.i must have fallen asleep in his car because I have no memory of walking inside

A headache creeps up the side of my skull and I wince.I may have drank a bit too much last night..okay..I definitely drank way too much.

Couple with the fact that that idiot banged my head against the wall and tried to assault me…I'm going to make him pay…dearly

I hear a soft knock before the door opens..A woman who looks to be in her mid fifties steps in carrying a food platter in hand

“Ah, I see you are awake” she says with a warm smile.“My name is Mrs Maple but you can call me Helen,I take care of the household. Here,I made you breakfast”

She places the platter on the table beside me, and the aroma of freshly cooked food hits me. Waffles, bacon, grapes, and a glass of O.J. My favorite breakfast combo. How did she know?

“Thank you” I say,offering a small smile before turning my attention back to the food,my stomach grumbling“it looks delicious”

“Go ahead,dig in”Helen says and I do so. The waffle is so fluffy,it melts in my mouth.

It’s taste very familiar,like I've had something similar before.

“You know this is the first time,Mr Kingsley is bringing a woman home,you must be really special”

I pause for a moment, the nostalgic taste of the food momentarily distracting me from my throbbing head. “Special?” I echo,unsure of what to make of her comment

“Indeed” she replies,arranging a few items on the bed.“He’s not the type to let just anyone into his life. You must have made quite an impression.”

I can't help but feel a blush creep onto my cheeks, “Well, it’s not like that," I mumble,suddenly feeling awkward. "He just… helped me out of a bad situation. That’s all.”

Mrs. Maple raises an eyebrow “Oh, really?”she teases “Well, I’ve worked here a long time, dear, and I’ve never seen him quite like he was last night. The way he carried you in his arms when he brought you in…” She shakes her head.“I’ve never seen him like that.”

I feel my face heat up again. “I think you’re reading too much into it,” I say quickly. “he was… just doing what any other decent person would do”

Mrs Maple chuckles again. “Dear, if you think Alder does anything out of the goodness of his heart, you don’t know him very well. He doesn’t act without reason.”

Her words echo something Alder said himself—about me owing him. “So, what? You’re saying he brought me here because he wants something from me?” I ask,frowning.

She tilts her head,considering me carefully. “I don’t know what he wants,” she admits. “But there’s something…different about the way he acts around you”

I swallow hard, unsure of how to respond. Are we still talking about the same Alder who barely said two words to me in the car last night?

“No,it most definitely not what you're thinking”I say trying to brush off the odd feeling in my chest

Helen shrugs her shoulders “if you say so...I’ll leave you to finish your breakfast”she stands up and heads to the door “Mr Kingsley is out for a meeting but in the meantime if you need anything just ask.. Make sure you get some rest”she flashes me a quick smile before closing the door behind her

I stumble out of the bed,trying and failing not to be impressed by the room or the view out the window.

A stunning lake stretches out before me, its glassy surface perfectly reflecting the softness of the morning sky. Nestled nearby is a charming lake house. Rolling hills surround the house, extending for miles in every direction, their peaks and valleys adding to the sense of endless space. In the distance, about two miles away, the sun is just beginning to peek over a mountain, casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape. The entire scene is like a living painting—breathtaking and surreal.

Oddly enough, it’s not the house that surprises me—after all, my family’s vacation home in Spain is somewhat similar. What truly catches me off guard is the owner. At first glance,he doesn’t seem like the type to appreciate such natural beauty. Yet, once again, I’ve been proven wrong. Alder is the perfect example of why you should never judge a book by its cover.

I take another bite of the waffle and it hits me. The familiar taste brings a flood of memories—it tastes just like the ones Dad used to make for Eleana and me every Saturday morning back home

“Oh shit,dad!”

I switch on my phone and facetime him

“Fiora!” His voice comes out in a rush, filled with a mix of worry and frustration. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all night!”

Dad never calls me by my real name,he must had been really worried

“Dad, I’m so sorry, something… happened. I didn’t mean to worry you”

He narrows his eyes,“What do you mean “something happened”? Where are you?”

How do I explain this? Dad would go berserk if I told him I was almost assaulted, saved by a stranger,and now sitting in his house.

“I’m…safe” I say, but even I hear the uncertainty in my voice.

“That’s not an answer” he counters. “Where are you?”

I take a deep breath. “I’m at Alder Kingsley’s house.”

Dad goes still as his face changes from concern to horror in a second”oh my God!!Fiora” His nostrils flare and I hear the horror in his voice when he says “Get out of there.Right now!”

“But dad I…”

“Listen to me this once Fiora!”dad… snaps??…he never snaps

“you are in grave danger! I need you to leave as fast as you can.. Plea–”

The line goes dead

Something is definitely wrong,I have never seen dad so afraid…ever!

“Get out of there, right now!”His words ring in my ears as I pack my things and rush to the door

“Where do you think you're going?”

I startle when I see Alder standing at the door,his face a map of colossal darkness

His eyes are filled with so much rage and hatred,it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end

My breathing sharpens, moving in sync with the flutters in my stomach.

“I..I'm going home” I try and fail to sound unalarmed due to his daunting presence

He pushes of the door,steps forward and I step back

He steps forward again and I brace myself,forcing my body to stay upright,though every part of me wishes I were a million miles away—from this place, from him.

“Is there a prob–”The words die in my mouth,as his fingers grab the sides of my throat. Hard. So hard that he’s practically choking me.

“You are not going anywhere”