Tell me

"Here, wear these clothes. Mr. Knight is waiting for you downstairs. I will wait for you outside. Come out when you are done. I will escort you to Mr. Knights Office" a very kind looking lady handed over some clothes to Ivy.

Ivy took the clothes gratefully. She immediately disappeared into the bathroom and locked the door. She quickly took a much needed shower and got dressed up in the jeans and t shirt that was given to her.

She didn't try to escape or she didn't dwell on how perfectly the clothes fit her. All she needed was to beg Nikolai to spare Jason's life. Each minute she wasted here might cost Jason his life. She saw first handedly how heartless Nikolai became. He wouldn't hesitate to kill Jason for even a second.

After she was done, she was escorted to Nikolai's office. He was found sitting behind the large oak desk in his black suit.

"Sit" he pointed to the chair directly opposite to him.

Ronda left as soon as She handed over Ivy to Nikolai.

Ivy is trembling with fear. She sat down in the chair obediently like he told her to do. As long as she is obedient, she can save Jason. So she didn't dare to do anything to upset Nikolai.

"You said you can recognise them if you see them. Right" Nikolai reminded her what she told him an hour ago.

"Yes, Mr. Knight" she whispered softly. She didn't dare to meet his gaze with fear. She kept her eyes downcast.

"Was your father with you when that happened" he asked her calmly. But she knows that a Strom is brewing under his calm exterior.

Ivy did not dare to speak the entire truth. Because she knows what would happen if the truth was revealed. So in order to save her father, she kept him out of it entirely.

"No, he told me to wait for him in the backyard when he went to fetch the lawn mower. But he didn't come back. Someone locked him in the storeroom. I was alone" she half lied.

What she said is true, but not entirely. She saw the people who molested his mother and tortured his father.

Nikolai watched her closely to see if she is lying. So far, he didn't see anything to convince him that she was lying. But, you never know.

"You know I would kill you and your lover boy in a second if you try to betray me" he reminded.

That's when she lifted her head and met her green orbs with his pitch black ones. There is fear and desperation in her eyes.

"No, I swear on everything I hold dear. I am telling you the truth. I saw them with my own eyes. I am still assaulted by night mares of that night" she spoke honestly.

He looked away from her. He couldn't sleep for that long to get nightmares. He developed sleep disorder after that night. He remembered that she was still so young when the last time he saw her playing in his backyard. He can imagine what she must have been through after witnessing something so grusome.

A hint of guilt bubbled in the depths of his heart for treating her like this. But he is driven by his revenge. He squashed his guilt and hardened his heart again. Going soft is the fastest way to be buried ten feet under. Just like his parents. Good people will be killed while bad people will be on the top. He learned it the hard way.

"Tell me everything you remember about them" he demanded.

Ivy tried to recall everything about those men. It was hard for her. Because those men still gives her nightmares. Intentionally remembering them is not only hard, but terrifying.

Her palms started sweating when the images of the night started playing in her head. Screaming of a helpless woman and the maniacal laughter of those men were still ringing in her head.

She doesn't know when her eyes became wet and tears started to stream down her cheeks. What happened that night was bad, too bad. And she is the witness.

Nikolai saw the girl struggling to remember the murders. His jaw became tight when tears welled up in her eyes. He can see that she was crying because of that night. He looked away from her. He never cried for his parents. His pain morphed into anger and turned him into a monster. But to see someone else feeling his pain in their own way, something stirred inside his stone cold heart.

"I saw them visiting the Knight mansion several times before that night. Your parents used to trust them. I think you know them too. I don't remember their names" Ivy spoke up with a troubled frown.

She had his full attention now. He looked at her closely. Every frown, every twitch, and the tears streaming down her cheeks. For some odd reason, he felt like he wanted to wipe her tears off.

'What are you thinking? This was what you wanted. This is what you were searching for the past ten years. Now that you almost near, why are you allowing your useless heart to react? It's useless. All it gave you is pain. Use your head and ignore your heart ' he scolded himself.

"It's my parents death anniversary next week. Usually friends and family comes to meet me that day. I want you to stay with me until then and show me who they are" he told her.

Ivy looked at him with shock.

"But, what about Jason?" she asked tentatively. As long as she can save Jason and get out of this alive, she will do everything he asks of her.

Nikolai snorted sarcastically.

"Your obedience can save his life. Be obedient and give me what I want. After this is over, you can take your lover boy safely from here" he promised with an underlying threat.

Ivy nodded silently. Her heart is pounding.

'He is this cruel when he is demanding answers from me. What will happen if he finds out the complete truth ' she shuddered with fear, just thinking about the possibility.