*Lucia* It took about thirty minutes to give Bruno first aid treatment. I couldn't help but wonder where he got the injury from. Did he get into a fight? But he didn't seem like one who could easily be beaten in a fight. I could feel his eyes on me all through, and I stopped myself from looking at him. I didn't want to make mistakes. When he kissed me, it was unexpected. His soft lips met mine, and he sucked on my lower lips gently. This wasn't the first time we kissed, but everything seemed to stop like we were the only ones in the world. He didn't stop, and slowly, he wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me closer to himself. I kissed him back with the same intensity. I hated to admit that I enjoyed it. I liked it when he kissed me. And that was when it dawned. Shoot, what was I doing? I scolded myself internally. I pulled back. His hands slowly moved away from my waist. "What do you think you are doing?" I asked him, wiping my mouth with my hands. "What does it look l
*Bruno* Lucia stood in front of me in my office in the club. To think she would be standing there was something I had never expected as I always wanted her away from such places, away from men. But there she was. I did not want something different. After our kiss last night, I decided I wanted her to always be around me. Immediately, I told her about my plan. The door pushed open, and I gritted my teeth in anger when I saw Natasha walking in. Some bad timing she got. I could see the look Lucia gave her, like she shouldn't be here. She didn't seem to like her, or was it about the clothes Natasha was wearing? I squinted my brow. She wore a very short red dress which exposed so much skin. Her hair was packed to the side, and her face was adorned in heavy makeup. I took a quick peek at Lucia to see her staring intently at Natasha as she walked in. The room seems to become quiet. Natasha's step echoes in the room. She walked steadily towards me. All this while, I wondered what went o
*Lucia* I felt a pang in my chest. Why did it feel so bad to see Bruno with another girl? And she was throwing herself at him while he made no effort to throw her off. And when she referred to me as a not-so-important person, he could stand up for me and defend me. He couldn't shut her up and tell her how important I was to him. Well, maybe I thought too much. Maybe I wasn't really important to him. If I were, he would have walked after me. After closing the door behind me, I rested my back on it. Come to think of it. This wasn't the first time I was visiting this club. I tried to distract myself by walking around. My chest still feels tightened. I stood a few feet away from the closed door. I could hear the music resounding from the speakers. Thinking about it made me feel like a fool. Bruno never said he liked me, and I, of course, felt nothing for him, so who hugs him doesn't matter. He could go about hugging whoever he wanted. I walked out of the little hallway. There were tw
*Bruno* It felt nice to always see Lucia with me at the club. I made sure she was with me most of the time. I started to wonder if I made a mistake. Maybe she should have been my secretary. It wasn't too late to make her one, but I didn't want to seem like I was ordering her around. We spent a lot of time together, alone. We made out more, too. Her defense and resolve grew weaker and weaker with time. She likes me more than she thinks she does, though she is too headstrong to admit this. It was time to walk around the club for my usual inspection. I walked out, closing the door behind me. As I walked out, I looked around. Taking note of everything in the hallway. When I walked out, I noticed a small crowd gathered. The music was still on, but most people seemed more interested in whatever was happening there. And that was the receptionist position. I furrowed my brows. I walked towards the small crowd, wanting to know what was going on there. I placed my hands on the shoulders of
*Natasha* When I saw Bruno attack a man because of a girl, I knew something wasn't right. This was so unlike him. The Bruno I knew would be quick to fire the girl even if she was in the right. But he was doing the opposite, protecting her. I felt a pang in my chest as I watched him lead her away. The Bruno I saw was one I had never seen before. His eyes had a fierce look, but when he looked at her, his gaze was as calm as the sea. I recognized the girl as the girl I had seen in his office the other day. When I entered the room, I saw the disappointment in Bruno's eyes, as if I shouldn't have been there. Like he didn't want me around, he almost went after her if he wasn't stopped by me. Seeing him protect her today, I knew my assumption was correct. He has fallen for her, but this was something I couldn't accept. No matter how hard I thought of it. I didn't want him looking at any other woman. I wanted Bruno all to myself. I don't mind having a relationship where we could only
*Lucia* As I watched Bruno leave with Natasha, I felt a thug of pain in my heart. I didn't want him to go. I wanted him to stay. I wanted to speak with him. I am at war with myself. This is a man I should be hating on. This is a man that had bought me. I sigh. He was making it hard for me to hate him. I reflected on what Bruno had done earlier. He had beaten up that old lag. He didn't care if he was a VIP in the club or anything. He didn't care to find out what had happened, who was in the wrong, or anything. I had seen him fire some of the staff for their slightest mistake. But he was different when he got to me. I couldn't stop replaying the scene, and couldn't stop revisiting the moment. For a moment, I felt bad about hating him. Maybe he didn't deserve my hate. Or I didn't deserve his kindness. I knew this wasn't the first time Bruno had saved me. This wasn't the first time he had stood up for me. I remember how he saved me from death. Thinking back to that moment, it occurre
*Bruno* "Am I just a plaything to you?" Lucia asked me. I was shocked at her question. And that was when it clicked. She must have overheard my conversation with Natasha. But I made it clear that wasn't. She pressed her lips together. Though she tried to keep a straight face as if she didn't care about whatever response I was going to give, her eyes gave her away. "Did you stay to listen to me after listening to Natasha?" I asked her. I wanted to confirm. She moved her eyes from side to side. "What was the use?" She asked instead of answering. "Is that even important right now? Why can't you just answer me? Is it because she is right? I'm a plaything, after all. And here I thought we were friends," she said, trying to look nonchalant. But I knew it was the opposite. And here I was thinking she thought we were lovers or something. "Your silence already says everything," she said, making the move to stand, but I held her hand and dragged her back so she would sit back on the chair. "
*Natasha* I couldn't believe what I saw. Bruno had kissed Lucia. I dug my fingers into my palm. I was more than angry. This wasn't the first time Bruno had kissed a girl, but it was the first time I feared that this kiss wasn't just any kiss. I have lost Bruno. The thought didn't sit well in my heart. It was bitter in my mouth. I dug my fingers into my palm. I was hurt but more angry than pained. I couldn't lose Bruno, especially to that type of girl. She wasn't worth him. She wasn't worthy of standing beside him. I watched as Bruno pulled away and brushed some hair strands away from her face. It was evident that he was attracted to her and attracted to her in the wrong way. I saw the way he treated her with so much care. I wanted him to care for me in the same way. I wanted to be in Lucia's place. I wanted him to look at me with so much warmth and not just want me in bed.’ I don't know when It happened, but I had fallen hard for this man and wasn't sure I could stand it. No, I
*Lucia* Three weeks passed by in the twinkle of an eye. Everything seems to be a dream. Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn't for Steve's unwelcome visit and me getting kidnapped. Sigh. It was a tough one. And I think I was affected by the kidnapping. We had decided to push back the time for our wedding. We haven't discussed the particular date but I hoped it was soon. I twitched my lips, staring out my bedroom window and getting lost in thought. It seemed like it had only been yesterday when Steve had stormed back into our lives and I'd been kidnapped, Bruno and I would have been married if it wasn't for Steve. I shivered just remembering everything I'd gone through being away and alone for so long. I couldn't even walk around the house without looking to see if anyone was walking behind me. Not to mention, I've also been feeling extremely nauseous lately. And I wasn't even on my. . . My breath stopped. I felt my heart pound as I rushed to the nightstand to pick up my
*Bruno* It was the longest night of my life. I was finally able to bring Lucia home. Looking at her as she lay on the bed, her eyes closed, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I hate the fact that our wedding was interrupted. If Steve had not interrupted our wedding, then we'd have been in each other's arms. I squeezed the water from the small napkin I held and used it to wipe her face. Her white wedding gown was now brown. She had been in that dress all day. I helped her out of the gown. I didn't want her to be lonely, so I stayed with her all night. She kept tossing and turning. She couldn't sleep comfortably. That I notice. So I took her to the bathtub and placed her in it. She didn't wake up. She must have been so stressed, tired, and hurt. I had failed to take care of her. I dressed her up and placed her on the bed. My hands ached. It was past 5 am when I finally woke up and went downstairs. I had lost three men in the fight yesterday. I was hurt and wished I could go back a
*Lucia* I had given up. I didn't think any miracle would happen. I just realized that this place I was in with Steve may be very far, a place Bruno would never have been able to figure out so easily. Steve had unexplainable joy in his eyes, as if the world was doing him the biggest favor by allowing him to wrap his hands on me. His grip around my neck turned tighter, and air seemed difficult; strength seeped away from me with each minute. But I never stopped struggling, even though it seemed fruitless. Just when I thought it was all over for me, there was a thud; Steve was distracted for a while. He turned to the door quickly, but that thud wasn't enough for him to let me go. But he didn't need to ask, he was soon wrapped and thrown away from me. Bruno. I felt I was seeing things; Bruno was here. Steve's grip around my neck loosened, and I fell to the ground. My hands wrapped around my neck as I struggled for air. “Lucia, are you alright?” Bruno asked, walking to me. I tried to s
*Lucia* He sensed me coming with the rope, but it was too late to duck as I wrapped it firmly around his neck. He wiggled, trying to turn the table, and sure, he was strong, but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of seeing me weak or thinking he was stronger. The light dimmed. “How do you feel now?” I asked. He was low, and his hand was on the rope. I held him tighter. If I allowed him to overpower me for just one moment, I didn't know what he would do. He stopped wiggling. “Having fun?” He asked. His hands were still on the rope. “You bet,” I responded. “You may have to tighten this rope to kill me,” he says, struggling a bit. I liked the fact that he was struggling. “Okay, fun time is over,” he said. His hands moved to mine, and he pressed my hands. His grip was tight and solid. Then, one of his hands moved to the rope, and he easily moved it over his head. I put up a fight. I wasn't going to allow him to get away so easily. So, I quickly wrapped my hands around his ne
*Lucia* His hands fell on the side. He ended the call before Bruno could ask for the location. I struggled on the chair where I was tied. “How did it feel to see your love? I know you've missed him, but don't worry, I'm sure he does too and will soon come to pick you up,” he said. His voice rang in my head. “I never knew your voice could be so irritating. Do you think Bruno is stupid? He will come for me, and you better be prepared,” I said, one side of my lips lifting to the side as I stared directly into his eyes. He didn't react to what I said. He tilted his head to the side and then straightened it. He burst out laughing, his laugh piercing the air. He flung his head from side to side, a big, wide smile on his lips. He was indeed a psycho. “You are being delusional. I wish there was anything I could do to help you. You think Bruno will come for you?” “He will. He always has,” I said, puffing my chest out despite the rope he tied me with. “Don't tell me you are scared of him com
*Bruno* I furrowed my brows when I saw his message. This bastard, my grip around the phone tightened. “What does he want?” Rave asked, stepping close to me to take a look at the text. I extended the phone, giving him a better view but not leaving it completely. “What? He wants to talk over a video call. The nerve of him,” said Rave, his voice a little bit over the top. I dropped my hands to the side. “Let's give him what he wants,” said Jason, standing at the side. It's just a video call; it shouldn't change much.” He sounded sure that there would be changes or that the call would lead us somewhere. The curtains by the window on the other side danced in the air. “Do you even know what you are saying? You want us to agree with his terms, no. We are not going to make him feel superior. He won't tell us what to do," said Rave at the same time. He was facing Jason, who didn't seem to want to stop. “So you say we ignore his message and keep searching for Lucia ourselves?” Rave raised a
*Lucia* My body felt sore all over. The last thing I remember was that I was hit on the head with a gun. Where the hell am I right now? I was laying on something hard and rough. I turned slowly; my body felt trapped in the white gown that I was wearing. I wanted to get rid of the gown. I opened my eyes slowly. It was dark. Wherever this place was, there was no single light. It was pitch black—that dick. I'll skin him alive. I cursed through gritted teeth as I tried to sit up. And the gown was making all my movements uncomfortable. I may not know where I was, but one thing was clear: it wasn't somewhere I'd like. And the smell. It smelled so much like rotten meat in condemned kitchen water. I almost threw up but held myself. I'll kill this idiot. He should wait and be patient. I won't end up here. I refused to give up. I believe that Bruno would come for me. I am confident. Bruno. I sigh at the thought of him. I sat, holding my legs to my chest and laying my head on it. I can
*Bruno* I felt sore all over my body. I was lying on something soft. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't. Opening my eyes felt like a chore. I moved my fingertip. From the smell of the bedsheets, I knew I was in my room. I had a hard time trying to remember why I was lying here. Fuck. My memories came flooding back to me. I was supposed to get married to Lucia. We didn't get married. I opened my eyes. It wasn't as hard as it was before. It was as if I was filled with a different energy. The room was bright from the bulbs that hung in the middle of the room. I blinked twice in succession, adjusting to the light. Lucia Where was she? Why was I here? The last thing I remember was being shot and Lucia; I couldn't see her; I didn't know what happened to her. Did Rave come to save her? And that bastard, Steve, I'll rip him limb by limb. I sat up slowly, my shoulder aches to my hand. My hands were bandaged. This wasn't the first time I was shot; it wasn't much of a big deal to me
*Steve* Since I watched Sarah die in front of me, I have always envisaged how Lucia would die. Although I had gotten the report from the autopsy done on Sarah, and they claimed that she had died from something other than the stab, I still couldn't bring myself to accept it if she hadn't met Lucia that evening if Lucia hadn't stabbed her. If she had not been pushed by Bruno, I believe she would still be alive. Someone needed to be blamed for her death, and Lucia would. I left Jason. Once he knew that Lucia didn't kill Sarah, he would surely take a step back and refrain from helping me. I didn't know what I wanted from him yet, but all I knew was that he was still very useful to me, and I didn't want to lose him yet. I bid my time. I was waiting for the perfect time to attack them. When I heard about their wedding, I thought that was the best place to visit them and settle the scores, so I went to the wedding. I didn't need to be invited. It was sufficient that I knew the venue. No