Chapter 8

MELISSA’S POV

My heart raced heavily against its cage as I exited the forecourt of Saint Glory. I turned left to join the main road, my car almost hitting someone else's.

It was the honk of incoming cars that saved me from the commotion I was about to create. I couldn't think straight. My mind was only filled with the urge to run from him.

“I have to get out of here” I whispered and sped off.

But as I drove through the vibrant city, a series of unanswered questions lingered in my mind. I couldn't help but whisper them aloud.

Why did Listowel pull me tight to his chest like he'd found a lost treasure?

Why did he follow me to the parking lot?

What did he want to tell me?

Does he still think of me as the naive woman he met seven years ago?

Maybe I should have stayed. I shouldn't have run away. I should have let him know that I’m no longer the 23-year-old girl he toyed with.

I bit my lower lip in regret as memories of the past rushed in.

*Flashback*

I vividly remember the day my life took a drastic turn. I remember how the loan sharks had ransacked our house on the day of my father’s funeral, searching every nook and cranny of our studio apartment in an attempt to find something valuable to settle his debt.

But they found nothing. They returned a week later with a calculated invoice for the loan. My eyes widened in terror, almost bulging out of its socket as I saw the total amount he owed.

Ten Million Dollars!

My knees wobbled in shock, sending me tumbling down to the ground. Although I had the evidence in my hands, I still couldn't believe it. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pleaded with them. But they didn't waver. They did not consider the fact that I was only an 18-year-old girl, trying to get into college. They demanded that I repay them.

I had no other choice than to take on several part-time jobs to fend for myself while paying off the loan.

I had worked for almost two years, each penny from my severance pay was paid directly to the loan sharks but the interest kept growing.

Gradually it became an inevitable debt until I met Listowel.

*****

I was still sunken in my thoughts when something in the rearview mirror of my car caught my attention. I wiped the tears that had halfway blinded my vision to check properly if I was seeing right.

I realized a black SUV had been following me closely since my departure from Saint Glory. From the look of the car, I could tell immediately it belonged to someone prominent and well-to-do.

“That's suspicious” I muttered while stepping on the gas to speed up.

Just as I suspected, the SUV driver also stepped on his gas to keep the same pace. “Who the f***k could he be?” I snapped while trying to change lanes but the driver also changed, following me closely.

“Why would someone openly tail another like that?”

Before the last word left my lips, it suddenly dawned on me!

It could be none other than Listowel! He's the only prominent and daring person I know.

But what does he want from me? Did he leave his fiancee, wife, or whatever all by herself just to tail me? But for what? Talking with him would be the last thing I would do. Not today, or the next, the next or forever.

I lured him to the infamous interchange at the heart of Aphrodite city, where the roads disperse in different directions. I plan on losing him here.

Before we reached a Y-Intersection ahead, I threw him off using the road that goes up while his car trailed down the road at a down bypass.

“Yes!” I exclaimed in excitement and headed to my apartment.

After a long ride of finding my way back home, I slammed on the brake in front of my apartment. A heavy breath escaped my nostrils as i stepped out of the car.

I banged the car door shut behind me and headed towards the elevator. I could feel my heart racing from the unexpected encounter. Never in a million years did I envisioned the best day of my life, the day I've anticipated for such a long while would turn into a complete disaster.

The elevator door ding opened on the 50th floor, and I walked up straight to my room. As soon as I removed my heels, I headed straight to the bathroom. I needed something to cool my temper.

I hurriedly took of my clothes, threw them into mid air, not minding wherever it landed. Afterwards, I slipped in my jacuzzi, the coolness of the water, calming the storm brewing inside of me.