CHAPTER 13MICHAEL “Repeat what you said, Fernandez. Taylor left the house alone?” I asked my bodyguard in disbelief over the phone and I heard him sigh loudly. “Yes, boss. I returned from my assignment only to see that she and the car I left behind were both gone” he replied and I quickly inhaled sharply to control the anger that took over me. I was fighting the urge to slam my fist against the table before me.I warned her. I warned her not to make the mistake of thinking she could escape me and not only did she run away, she did so along with my car. I was going to find her and when I did, I was going to make her regret what she'd done.“I can find her though, boss. I'll track the car to figure out her whereabouts because I know she can't be that far yet” Fernandez said and a little of my rage dissolved when he offered a solution.“Then do that immediately and get back to me once she's been found. Do not take too long because I don't have the patience” I ordered and I could visua
CHAPTER 14TAYLOR Minutes passed since the shooting began and it still hadn't stopped.My fear was starting to eat too deeply into me and it made me wonder if I was going to leave there alive.While I had thoughts of regret, a bullet suddenly hit the car and I screamed in horror as I stared wide eyed at Michael who was outside and had his back facing toward me.I watched him grab another gun from beneath his jacket before he began to shoot even faster than he did before in different directions and less than a minutes later, the whole place went silent and I wondered what had happened.The door to the car’s backseat pulled open at that moment and I flinched in fear before realizing it was Michael and I sighed in relief upon seeing he was okay. So I scooted over to the other side as he came inside and sat beside me and a dreadful silence filled the car for a moment.I opened my mouth to ask him what just happened out there since my curiosity couldn't help it anymore but then he snapped
CHAPTER 15TAYLORImmediately the car came to a stop in front of the mansion, I pushed the door open and rushed out to get some of the fresh air into my lungs and I struggled to calm my racing heart while I relived through every scary moment that I spent back at the cemetery. The bodyguard who drove us back got out of the car just as Michael got out too and all I heard was Michael dismissing him so he left and it was me, him and Fernandez left.The thought of knowing my life was now in danger because of the same man who bought me against my own will made me sick to my stomach and acknowledging the fact that he killed those assassins made me even sicker. I couldn't breathe. Neither could I even vomit it out so it suffocated me and my face got hotter while I ran my hand over my neck.While I knelt on the ground and struggled to get a grip, a pair of glistening shoes stood before me and while I still gasped for air, I raised my head to see who it was and I saw Michael staring down at
CHAPTER 16TAYLOR“I'm sorry I messed your shirt up. I didn't mean to” I apologized while wringing my hands again and to my surprise, all he did was shake his head as he returned everything he used back into the first aid box. Then he locked it shut and looked up at me.“You don't have to be sorry, Taylor, it's fine” he replied calmly and my eyes widened.“Really? you're not mad at me?” I asked in surprise and he shook his head.“Why? should I be?” he asked me and I looked away for a moment.“What did I say about eye contact?” he asked and I quickly looked back at him.“I'm sorry” I said and he tilted his head to the side as that studious look in his eyes returned and it became hard for me to keep eye contact with him but I had to… even though he made me feel like he could see through me.“Why are you always apologizing?” he asked and I sighed while rolling my eyes. Did he always have to ask me such difficult questions?“Yes, Taylor? I'm going to always ask them. So give me an answ
CHAPTER 17TAYLORWhen Michael said he was going to work on the fear I felt around him, I should have known it was going to involve me doing things with him. I should have known he was going to make it difficult for me too since he was a very difficult person.It started from the first night he spent in the house with me. Immediately I stepped into the kitchen, clad in my night dress with a hurting knee that caused me to limp, he handed me an apron and a knife and at first, I was too surprised to utter a word.“Fernandez did everything on his own without asking you to help because I ordered him to do so but he isn't here today and if I'm making dinner, you're going to help” he said while I stared at him in surprise and my mouth fell open upon hearing him say that.“You don't know how to cook, Taylor?” He asked when I wouldn't move yet and I shook my head.“I… I can cook. I cook a lot” I answered after recovering from my shock and he gestured toward the carrots waiting for me on a cho
CHAPTER 18TAYLOR “Congratulations, Mr Rover. I never knew you got married” Mrs Lewis decided to walk in on us at that moment and I was quick to take a step back from Michael even though on the inside, I missed the touch of his fingers against my face.“Thank you, Mrs Lewis. It was a private wedding” he replied and she nodded her head once she heard him say the word, ‘private’. I knew she had already figured out why no one knew about us getting married.“We'll be taking our leave now. My bodyguard, Fernandez, would take care of the bills for me” he told her while I stood beside him in silence and without warning, he grabbed my hand and together, we walked out of the store.He led us over to the car he brought and for the first time, opened the door for me. I looked at him while wondering why he was acting so differently and he gestured toward the passenger seat when he looked back at me.“Aren't you getting in?” He asked me and I shook my head before getting into the car and he shut
CHAPTER 19 TAYLOR “Hello, dad” Michael began the pleasantries with his father while I and this Miss Blair just stared at each other. Then he turned to the other man I saw back at the hospital weeks ago and his face looked even more stern as they both looked at each other too. “Hello, Carlos” he greeted, his voice cold and aloof and Carlos smirked just as I finally broke eye contact with Blair and looked at him. “Hello, little brother. You look very happy to see me” he said tauntingly and sarcastically and I looked at Michael. He had the usual blank look on his face while they did a stare off contest even though their father was right there and I knew I had to do something. It was my first night with the family so I couldn't let it start out like that. It could probably spoil their minds toward me and I didn't want that. So I decided to break off the tension in the air. “Hello, family. I'm Taylor Fitzroy. Nice to meet you all” I said out loud with the most cheerful voice that I
CHAPTER 20 TAYLOR I couldn't speak. I also couldn't move an inch or fight back because what if Michael ended up scolding me for retaliating back at Blair? I wanted to hit her so bad though. I wanted to make her pay for getting me all wet with juice but what if she also had a gun too? I couldn't take the risk and end up bearing the consequences so motionless, I just stood and stared at her since I had no idea what to even do and she just enjoyed the view. “This should teach you not to speak to me the way you like” Blair taunted while she held the empty glass in hand and right then, I started to hear footsteps from behind me. So I looked back and after seeing that it was Michael, a sense of relief took over me because I believed that he would defend me and scold Blair for what she did to me. I waited on the same spot for him to get close and once he did, he looked me over in silence. Then he turned to Blair with a gaze that was quite hard to explain but at the same time,
CHAPTER 76TAYLOR Deflated, I placed the schedule on Michael's desk before I left his office and walked back to my desk. Then I packed up my things to leave for the day and reaching the elevator, I saw Fernandez waiting.“Didn't you leave for a job?” I asked, surprised to see him.“I was told to take you home” he replied and I adjusted my bag on my shoulder. “Alright then. Let's go” I said and with that, we both got into the elevator and stood in silence as it went down to the parking lot.“What about your boss? Any idea where he rushed off to?” I asked and I felt his gaze on me while I stared ahead.“He left for an event. He was in a hurry because he's part of the hosts and he has to be there before it begins” he explained and I nodded as little of the hurt I was feeling started to go away once I knew why he ran out so fast like that.We arrived at the parking lot and Fernandez led me over to the car before he got the door to the backseat for me and I thanked him before getting in.
CHAPTER 75TAYLORMonday morning came fast and I woke up with a heavy heart.I didn't want to leave my bed. In fact, I wanted to lock my door and keep to myself for the day along with Mane but I knew I couldn't do that.Selene was leaving and we were driving her back to the airport. It was going to be just me in that large penthouse again because even with Michael around, it made no difference… I was still lonely.With a sigh, I slowly pushed myself off my bed. Then I left for the bathroom where I brushed my teeth, took a shower and dressed up in a pair of flare pants along with a shirt which I had tucked in.Then I held my hair up in a loose ponytail before I applied a little makeup and once I was done, I wore my shoes, grabbed my bag and left for the living room to see Michael and Selene sharing a hug.Confused, I walked closer until they noticed me and I forgot myself when I made eye contact with Michael who was also looking at me.I didn't miss the way his eyes raked over my body
CHAPTER 74MICHAEL I walked into the penthouse only to be welcomed with a dark living room and I figured that everyone must be asleep already.With a sigh, I made my way toward my room to rest for the night. Then I began to hear shuffling in the kitchen.There was suddenly a loud clang as a cup fell on the floor and I paused as I heard a voice mutter in the dark. Immediately, my defenses were awakened and I wondered if my house had been broken into as I pulled a gun out from beneath my shirt and slowly made my way to the kitchen.I held the gun out before me to attack if I had to. Then I reached for the switch to turn the light off and immediately I did, I saw it was Taylor and she had never looked so pale and frozen as she stared at the gun I had in her face with pure fear in her eyes.Quickly, I returned the gun into my pocket before I could reach for her shoulders to see if she was okay but she quickly took a step back as I held my hands out and there was suddenly a cold tension b
CHAPTER 73TAYLORI couldn't meet Selene's teasing stare. She would stop smiling while looking at me and I knew what she was thinking already. I just didn't want to talk about it but I knew Selene. She was the sort of person who never took no for an answer and eventually had her way all the time.“So tell me… what was with the heated mood this morning? What happened between you and Michael while I was puking my insides out last night?” She asked, that same knowing smile still plastered to her face and I sighed as I zipped the first aid box open and took out the aspirin tablets there.I took two out of the packet. One for each of us and handed her one.“Michael told me to take care of us, so here. It'll take the headache away” I ignored her question and she narrowed her eyes at me before she took the tablet from my hand and swallowed after I handed her a glass of water too. Then she stood up and walked over to where I was to stand by my side and I sighed again. Couldn't she just let
CHAPTER 72MICHAEL “Woah! Slow down, Alan. I haven't told you everything yet so don't ask me that question. It's too early” I quickly told him off and he gave me a knowing look.“Or are you just scared to own up to what you feel and admit to it by answering me?” He asked and I sighed.“Just listen to what I have to say first, Alan” I insisted and he leaned back in his chair.“Alright then. Go ahead” he said and I took a sip from my drink before I went ahead to explain myself.“I had no plans of taking things further with Taylor when I met her because she reminded me too much of Blair. I only bought her from that auction to get back at Blair and Carlos and I'm glad it worked” I scoffed and Alan chuckled. “But then… I don't know how it happened, Alan but I found myself getting along with her more than I anticipated and in the process, she fell for me”“How do you know that?” He asked and I looked at him.“She confessed to me while she was drunk yesterday” “Oh shit! She did?” he aske
CHAPTER 71MICHAEL The guards standing by the door bowed their heads to me as I approached them and I nodded back at them in acknowledgement.“Is your boss in? I'm here to see him” I asked guard number one and he nodded his head.“He's inside and waiting for you, Mr Rover” he replied.Then he pushed open the door for me and I walked into the mansion which belonged to my long time friend and business partner, Alan Gustave. Taking a look around while I followed the butler who led me to where he was, I took note of the few changes he'd made in his living room and when we both reached the wine bar, the butler stopped.“Mr Gustave is in the wine bar, Mr Rover” the butler said before bowing his head and walking away and I entered the bar to see Alan seated by the island and drinking from a glass of wine.“Hey buddy. I see you're having a nice time by yourself. You're getting old already, huh” I teased him while walking toward him and taking a seat beside him and he scoffed at me as a smal
CHAPTER 70MICHAEL Leaving my cup of coffee on the island, I stood up and straightened my shirt while Selene's question still hung in the air. I didn't plan on answering her to be honest and even though it was a Sunday, I needed to leave the house.I didn't trust myself enough to share the same space with Taylor too considering what happened between us the previous night. So I was taking my space elsewhere for a moment.“You guys aren't saying anything… That's suspicious” Selene said while she still held onto Taylor's arm as I walked toward them and I eyed her.“Take your medication, Selene. I'm sure your head hurts” I told her dismissively before walking out of the kitchen and I grabbed a car key while I headed toward the door.Then I heard her scoff loudly. “I'll make Taylor tell me everything!” She yelled before wincing while grabbing her head and Taylor held onto her tighter before we made eye contact again.“Take care of yourselves” I said to her and with that, I walked out of
CHAPTER 69TAYLOR“You look like a mess, Taylor” was the first thing he said to me and I hiccuped. I was too shocked, embarrassed and scared to give a sensible reaction. “Are you okay? You look pale like you just saw a ghost” he looked me over with worry and I released a shaky breath this time before I began to wring my hands as I broke eye contact with him.“I'm… I'm fine” I lied even though my head felt like it was about to fall off my shoulders and he took a step closer to me, causing me to stiffen as he closed the small distance left between us.Raising a hand up, he pressed it against my forehead and I closed my eyes upon the contact. I couldn't for the life of me understand why he was acting so cool about last night when I literally pressed my lips against his.Then he pulled his hand away from my head and we looked at each other.“You're burning up. You need to take something to make you feel better” he noted and I wouldn't stop wringing my hands.It felt like he had an ulteri
CHAPTER 68TAYLOROur bodies molded against each other while we devoured each other's mouths. Then we finally pulled away to catch our breaths and when we looked at each other, I could see the hunger in his eyes but I told myself I was only hallucinating because Michael Rover would never look at me like that.Quickly, my senses snapped me back to reality and I gasped as my eyes widened while I covered my mouth in absolute shock.“I… I didn't mean to…” I began but I was starting to feel tipsy and found it hard to stand straight.So Michael reached for my hand to hold me steady and Fernandez walked into the living room at that moment.“I've put Miss Selene to bed, boss. Can I leave now?” He asked and Michael dismissed him before he fixed his attention back on me after Fernandez was gone.“You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Taylor” I heard him say, more like he was speaking to himself and with that, he picked me up again and carried me over to my room where he gently