CHAPTER 5

MIA’S POV

I stared in horror as I watched Denver sweep his cane side by side trying to reach out to me.

"A friend… it's… a friend. A friend from college…" I lied. I could feel my body trembling. Finding out about my Tyler would sabotage the contract.

"Now! I will say this once and for all" he seethed. " You belong to me, your body, your soul, all mine till I say otherwise you understand?

His cologne filled my nostrils and I found myself relaxing in his presence. “Weirdo”. Surprisingly, I found myself getting excited by his threats. 

“Ye… yes… “ I answered, trying to calm down my racing heart. Oh God! I was expecting a day like this to come but not so early. Tyler mustn’t know of this, not now. 

“Good! I won’t ever repeat myself again, is that clear?” He asked, waiting for an answer.

I gave him a curt nod but quickly whispered “yes” when I realized he couldn’t see me. 

“You coming with me to a charity ball tonight” Denver’s cold voice broke me out of my trance. “I’m not a patient man Mia. Time is precious to me and delay won’t be tolerated ” he finished muttered.

I glanced and shot him a withering glare. Who does he think he is ordering me around? I huffed but remained silent.

He sucked in breath with a look of annoyance laced on his face, he trotted towards the door but stopped abruptly. 

“I know you are embarrassed by my disorder but trust me, it will be over before you know it” he mumbled under his breath, low enough to be a whisper before quietly walking out of my room.

“It will be over before you know it”. I replayed his words over and over again. An ordinary word with deep meaning.

Why would a powerful man like Denver Angelo use those words? He could be referring to the party but that strange uneasy feeling in my stomach didn’t settle well with me.

It was afternoon which meant we were getting closer for the Charity Ball party. The overwhelming feeling of being in the midst of snobby rich people mixed with the fact I have been ignoring Tyler’s call all day, made me nauseous.

“ I’m hoping to hear good news Lynn, I want him dead in an hour” a man’s voice whispered. I stopped dead in my tracks but quick enough hid behind the closed doors that connect the hallway to the garden.

I pressed my ear against the door hoping to hear clearly while being as quiet as possible. Squinting my eyes in confusion, I tried hard to understand their conversation.

“I served him the food a while ago. Now out of my way before someone sees us together” the girl hissed in annoyance. “I told you I would do it if that old hag isn’t there to let us test his food before serving him”.

“Good!” Now let’s wait for confirmation before informing the boss.” The man whispered. “I can’t wait to break the news of Denver Angelo’s death to the boss”.

As soon as the words left his mouth, I froze in shock. They want Denver dead. Trying to steady myself from the shock, I subconsciously hit the door making it creak loudly. I halted immediately and shut my eyes tight, I ratted myself out.

I heard footsteps coming towards the door, I frantically looked around hoping to see a place but there was none.

The footsteps stopped “Tell me you heard that too” the man asked. “ because I sure did hear something”.

“Stop being paranoid Alejandro, it’s just the wind” she replied. I almost sighed in relief until I heard Alejandro’s voice again. “No! I don’t buy that.” He reached the doorknob and tried to open the door, I felt air knocked out of my lungs. My breathing became raspy, death was only a step away. 

Why the hell is this freaking hallway empty today? 

Just when he was about to burst the door open, his phone rang echoing across the quiet hallway.

“Damm it, Alejandro, fucking go outside” Lynn whisper yelled.

He hissed and walked away from the door while she rushed in the opposite direction. I could feel tears threatening to fall. I escaped death AGAIN. 

Wasting no time, I opened the door gently. Peeping through the wall that divides the hallway and staircase, I caught a glimpse of the lady’s hair and the tattoo on her neck close to the lower part of her ear. That tattoo looked familiar. 

I couldn’t see her face since she was opposite me. I sprinted towards Denver’s door which was at the far end of the hallway.

Reaching the door, I wasted no time in yanking it open. 

“Poison… don’t eat, your food…. I sputtered trying to catch my breath with tears streaming down my face. 

“Calm down butterfly, I know”. He answered calmly. I didn’t have time to react to the pet name. I looked at him with disbelief and confusion. 

Taking my silence as confusion, he continued “ I have a lot of enemies Mia. I’m a blind billionaire, do you for once think I will go a day without being protected?”

“I have no eyes but I see more than you do, sweetheart” he smirked. “ The boy’s name is Alejandro, one of my bodyguards, and Lynn, the lady you saw yesterday in my office”. 

No wonder her tattoo looks familiar, Denver was having his way with her yesterday. I became disgusted and slightly jealous replaying that scene in my head. 

Confusion was boldly written on my face and if he could see more than I do as he claims, he would see I was beyond confused.

“But….” I croaked out before being rudely interrupted by Denver. 

“Watch how I deal with those two. Messing with me was their biggest mistake .” He said through gritted teeth. 

His words dripping with threat. He paused for a moment before mumbling “You can go”. 

I frowned. Well, yes! I was expecting a “thank you for saving my life.” Whatever, being a jerk comes with an irksome attitude too. I risked my life to save his butt and what I get in return is “you can go” in his grumpy but sexy voice.

Reaching out to the doorknob, I hear him say “Thank you for looking out for me”. I turned back to see him staring at me. Not literally staring but that was what my heart wanted to believe. 

“You’re welcome Denver” I replied. My lips twitched into a smile and for the first time, I felt I was capable of saving a life. 

Suddenly, the door was yanked open and someone walked in. “I’m home motherfucker”. Wait! That voice.

Turning towards the door, I came face to face with the person I never thought I would see in Denver’s mansion.

My breath hitched and I couldn’t let out a word.

Confusion and shock were apparently visible on his face, he was stunned. We were both shocked to find each other in the same place.

“The most annoying cousin brother on earth, welcome home Tyler” Denver grumbled. 

My chest heaved up and down as I found it hard to breathe. I never saw that coming. Denver and Tyler are cousins?