On the third day of my abduction, I fear that I might be losing my mind. I know I'm all about solitude and all but the quiet has become too much. If anything, it has become pure torture to me.
Fear of the unknown. I don't know what to expect and the silence has been killing me. On the night of my abduction, I was tied up because I wouldn't stop struggling and then they dumped me in the back seat of an SUV as we drove off. I was seated in between two big men and the if-you-move-we'll-strangle-you look they gave me was enough to make me sit still. It didn't mean I stopped panicking though. I was a mess inside. I thought they would lock me up in an underground room, all alone during the day and then take turns abusing and raping me at night. Instead, we pulled up into the grandest mansion I have ever seen. The huge black gates opened to let the cars in on our arrival and closed behind us as soon as we had driven in. The grand mansion stood at the end of a long, winding driveway, surrounded by lush gardens I know would burst with colors during day time. Tall oak trees stood sentinel, casting dappled shadows over the manicured lawns. It was beautiful. When the car stopped in front, I spotted Javier saying something to Carlos and then he headed inside while Carlos instructed the men to take me to the back. That was how I ended ended up in this cottage like room. They didn't even blind fold me like I would usually see in the movies. Probably because they didn't see me as a threat. I've been panicking day and night, expecting the worst but nothing has happened since they locked me in here. Infact, I've been fed three times daily for the past three days. It's something I've been suspicious about. Are they trying to feed me enough so I can be healthy enough for trafficking? You can't blame me. My mind really has been wandering far and wide. It's night time now and I'm not hungry at all. I can't tell if I'm still very much full from the lunch I had earlier or its just from nerves. I'd like to go with the latter. The room is super cozy and neat, there are clean sheets and Javier's men we're even kind enough to bring my flannel bag containing some of my dresses and personal items. I should be happy that I haven't been whipped for a while now for doing nothing and they aren't chores to do, but maybe that's what has been making me feel restless. I've been too idle all this while. Back home, I would usually be cleaning, cooking, doing the laundries or running errands. I need something to keep me busy and because of that, I don't have an appetite. I get up from the bed to walk to the window but I mistakenly pour half of my plates contents on the floor from it's position on the stool. Shit. Looking around for something to pack the food with, I spot one of the pieces of cloth I used earlier today in wrapping my breasts. I pick it up and use it to gather the food before dumping it in the trash. But just as I've cleaned my hand and I'm resting against the window while staring out into the dark night, I hear the door creak open. My head instantly snaps up to the sound of the noise and I see the man who usually brings my food to me everyday. I'm surprised that he's here to take my plate tonight since it's usually during the next meal he takes it and replaces it with a filled one. Before I can ask what he's doing here, an odd grin spreads across his face. My blood immediately runs cold. Something isn't right. “What are you doing here?’ I ask carefully, but he ignores my question as his gaze flicks to my half filled plate of food. “You didn't finish your food.” I back away into the corner as he walks up to me. “How do you feel?” He stops right in front of me and sizes me up before he lifts some strands of my hair in his fingers. “You're a pretty little thing.” Just as he brings his face down for what I assume is a kiss, I knee him on his crotch and use the distraction of his pain filled grunts to get away from here. I don't get far at all when he seizes a fist full of my hair in his grip and pulls at it until I scream in pain. He picks me up and throws me on the bed . Next he rips the front of my gown and frowns when he sees my wrapped chest. I don't give him time to take off my chest wrap, my hand reaches for my abandoned plate of food and with all the strength I can muster, I land a heavy blow to the side of his head. When he sways from the impact, I push him off of me and run to the door, successfully this time around. “You bitch!” He growls and gets up clutching the side of his head. My heart is thundering rapidly from fright, I fear I might have a heart attack. When I open the door with shaky hands, I run face first into a hard chest. No! Don't tell me he came with back up. I step back when I realize I'm sandwiched between the two men but when I look at the face of the man I ran into, I see that it's Javier. He's looking at me as if I've run mad. Then his gaze goes to my frightened face and to my shaky hands clutching my dress to my chest tightly. Realization dawn on him and he pulls me behind him just as my attacker reaches the door. Peeking over Javier's tall frame, I watch the color drain from my attacker's face and just like I did, he takes a step back in fright. I shriek when someone appears behind me and slightly relax when I see it's Carlos. There's another man with him. “Take him to the basement.” Javier says to Carlos. Carlos lands a blow on my attacker's face twice and he instantly goes limp. I watch as the men carry him to ‘the basement’ until they disappear from my line of sight. While I'm still panicking, I'm now calm knowing I wasn't hurt tonight. At least not yet. What brought Javier here and at such a good time? As if he can read my thoughts, he says, “Take your bag, you'll be staying inside from now on.” “From now on?” Will I not be leaving anymore? I know living with my family is hell but I'd rather be there than to live here forever. The devil I know Is better than the devil I don't know. It doesn't matter that Javier saved me. He might be the one to hurt me next. He must hear the panic in my voice. “Until your father pays his debt. Get your bag.” He repeats. Seems like he doesn't like repeating himself. I skim past him, into the room to get my bag before joining him back outside. Still clutching the front of my dress, I walk behind him as we walk into the house through a side door. “Nana Guadalupe will show you to your room. Do anything she says you should do.” I follow the direction of his right hand as he gestures down the hallway to my right. Then he turns and disappears into the left hallway. Following his instruction, I walk to where Nana Guadalupe is waiting for me down the hall. She's an elderly woman likely in her sixties with jet black short hair. She's beaming with a smile and I'm wondering what exactly is making her happy. “Hello, my dear. Come with me. You must be exhausted.” I follow her down a different hallway, and then another before she stops in front of a white door. “This will be your room. Keep your bags so I can show you my room and then the kitchen where you'll be helping me out.” Her tone doesn't sound commanding at all and it eases me to be talked to in such a manner. I nod and twist the door handle to let myself into my new bedroom and I almost trip over my feet when I see the vast space. I look back at Nana Guadalupe in shock. “I get to stay here alone?” “Yes my dear. Now, come on. Hurry, so you can go to bed.” She stands at the door and waits for me to put down my bag so I can come with her. Javier called her ‘Nana’ so she must be his grandmother. There's a very huge contrast in their character. Where Javier seems a lot more rigid, Nana Guadalupe is a home full of bubbles. I instantly like her already.Stepping into my home office, I breathe a sigh of relief. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to let a male have access to the room I kept Richard's daughter in. Things would have gotten really messy if I hadn't gotten there in time. I have Nana Guadalupe to thank for that. It took her two days to give me reasons why the poor girl shouldn't be treated poorly because of her father's sins. I assured her the poor girl wasn't being treated poorly, but she wasn't having it. “It's dangerous to leave a woman out there by herself. Bring her in so she can help me around here.” She had said, and that was all it took to give in. They are very few people in my life that I usually take instructions from, Nana Guadalupe is one of them. I've known her since I was 10 years old. She was our housekeeper and mum's best friend. Even after my parents died, she stood by me. In her words, I was too young to be by myself. And ever since then, she has refused to go anywhere else even when I took
I'm awake and fully dressed for the day by 5:30 a.m on the dot. I don't know why I'm up this early, especially since Nana Guadalupe said activities usually started between seven and eight a.m. I can't tell if it's the aching of my head from yesterday's assault or the fact that this is usually the time I wake up at home. I'm guessing both.I had a good seven hours of sleep after Nana Guadalupe showed me the kitchen and the door to her room. Something tells me she would have given me something for my headache which started last night if I had told her, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. No one ever listened at home so I fear my instincts could be wrong about Nana Guadalupe. I'm not about to let this headache earn me a punishment so early so I'll rather deal with the pain silently.It's still dark outside and I can't spot any movements outside the windows. Putting my ears to the door, I don't hear any sounds in the hallway either. Am I the only one awake this early? I shouldn't be sur
Almost two weeks into being here, and I can swear that this is the most peace I've ever experienced in a very long time. All I do is to take instructions from Nana Guadalupe all day, which mostly involves cooking.It's almost usually a very small meal for us and Javier. And then, on some afternoons, we prepare meals in large quantities for Javier's associates. Nana Guadalupe is the one who serves them, though. I doubt my legs would ever successfully take me to that side of the house. Not like I've tried or anything, but they are usually so many men trooping in and out of the house, I fear running into them, so I stay as far away from them as possible.Nana Guadalupe understands this and only asks for my help in setting the table when none of the men are present yet. Other than that, I've helped her once when it was just Javier and Carlos.I haven't had any personal encounters with Javier since he saved me from being raped at the cottage and the brief almost encounter in the hallway. I
I have two laptops positioned on my desk before me. Both are powered on and are being in use. While I use one laptop to draft a coded filled email containing different routes to the team in charge of transporting my drugs, the second laptop displays the faces of two of my corporate standby team, arguing about what properties should be tagged for sale when my potential client for the day joins our zoom meeting in a few minutes.“Oh please.” Zachary's voice comes on. I'm not looking at the screen, but I can probably imagine him rolling his eyes. “Tell him, boss. The properties down south don't even sell at this time of the year.” “Zachary, I promise you that no one cares. Our client is a billionaire. If that's what he wants, then that's what he gets.” Laden says.“Why don't we just present any of the recently bought ones. We could rebuild it and sell it. I think it'll fit someone of his status.” Now it's my turn to comment. “That is entirely up to Mr Harris. If it's well within his bu
I've had embarrassing experiences. A ton of them. But someway somehow, last week's incident made the other experiences seem like a child's play. I don't know what was more embarrassing; walking into Javier's office without the confidence to state my request properly or the fact that he totally shunned me.Carlos hijacking me back to my room was definitely the least of my expectations. I thought and had set my mind to being whipped for making such an unruly demand. Getting shot at was also an expectation. If only the floor could open up and swallow me. What the hell was I even thinking, going to ask for my freedom. But that's just it. I wasn't thinking at all. If I was, I wouldn't have subjected myself to such embarrassment.I've been less busy throughout the morning that I decided to catch up on my drawings. I have my third art of the day sitting on my desk as I compare them with the ones I drew a very long time ago when my dad was still alive. I've come a long way and made so much
The following day has to be the busiest I've ever been since I got here. The errands Nana Guadalupe had to run yesterday were in preparation for today's family dinner Javier is hosting. She said they had it occasionally, and since Javier's the head, it's only right that he hosts it. So far, Camila and Daniel are the only ones who have arrived. Daniel and Javier are doing some work in the sitting room upstairs, while Camila takes a nap in one of the rooms and is also upstairs.Nana Guadalupe and I are already done preparing dinner. It's been hectic having prepared food for at least four picky eaters and the other guests, but I also find it fulfilling learning new recipes. I was only ever restricted to a few back at home. “Alright, that should be all for now. Help me take this to the dining room. Be careful so you don't fall.” Nana Guadalupe points to the chicken casserole dish on the table.Grabbing it carefully with a kitchen towel so it doesn't burn my hand, I lift and head for the
My uncle has to be the proudest man I've ever known, and that's saying a lot, considering I've worked with so many men of his status. No one else comes close for sure. I'm seated at one end of the table while he occupies the other end. As we eat, we all listen to him brag to Alejandro, Sofia's father, about his newly bought villa in the Hamptons. What he doesn't mention is that I was the one who gave it to him as a gift since he wanted a retirement gift to add to his collections. It's okay, though.“So…” Camila draws my attention from Uncle Juan's bragging session. “It's been ages since we last saw, Javi. How have you been?”I laugh at my little sister. “Since when did two weeks turn to ages, Cam?”“Still… two weeks is a long time. I've missed you.” She reaches for my hand, and I take it in mine, giving it a squeeze. She's sitting to my right, so it's not hard to maintain conversation without interrupting my Uncle's talk.“I've missed you too.”“So…” I look at her sly expression as s
“Do you need anything?” This has to be the first time in a long time since I was last asked this question. No one at home ever asked, including Oliver. It was me who only ever gave. Hearing Camila's questions directed at me, along with the concern etched on her face, is heartwarming. It reminds me of last night when Javier and Nana Guadalupe came to check in on me. I knew Nana would come, but finding Javier outside of my room was very shocking. I didn't think he cared. And to think I ran out to get the door with nothing beneath my dress. I only became more overwhelmed when Nana joined him and began fussing about me. It was more than I could imagine. More than I'd ever received since the death of my father. “No, I'm okay.” “I'm serious, Elsa.” “I really am fine.” I smile at Camila. While Nana acts motherly. Camila acts like an older sister. It's beautiful to watch, and knowing that these emotions are directed at me makes me feel really good on the inside. “If you do need anythin
I'm up bright and early as I stand in the last place I thought I would be after last night's encounter with Javier. Every action of his just screams to me to run the opposite way, but I never do. He has my stepfather, who is probably dead by now. I don't care about his death. Some part of me only wishes I could have been the one to somehow put an end to his life. The thought gives me an odd satisfaction which just makes me wonder the amount of mental fuckery being here has brought upon me. I hear approaching footsteps down the hall as Javier leaves his room. When he comes into view, he stops at the door and looks at me in surprise. This seems to be becoming a daily occurrence. He's dressed impeccably as usual, quality navy coloured coat atop his three piece armani suit fitting his tall and muscled form effortlessly. “Good morning, sir.” “Morning, Elsa.” He walks past me to grab the fruit bowl I brought upstairs for him and I turn and watch as he stabs a piece of watermelon and
I don't know how, but I feel the instant Elsa's presence dissipates. It's been happening more times than I would like to admit. Before I found her waiting for me in my sitting room, I sensed her presence right from the corridor. I usually know the feeling of when intruders are present. But unlike the cold sensation, which would creep down my spine, this one felt warm, and I just knew she was near, waiting for me. And that feeling followed me right after I left that room and got here. Up until now, that is. She left, probably because she caught sight of her stepfather and can't stomach what comes next. The man in question is knocked out, courtesy of Carlos, since he wouldn't stop shouting out his lungs. Another man lays on the floor, well out of view of the window Elsa was looking from. Unlike Richard, who is unconscious, this one is fully awake. Bloodied and missing a few limbs? yes, but awake nonetheless. He watches as I take closer steps into the room, life almost snuffed out
‘This changes things.’Of everything that happened last night and what I learnt of my family trying to escape without me… including Mom, that one sentence Javier uttered has been the one thing invading my thoughts. ‘This changes things.’There it goes again. In what way has things changed? Did he mean by killing my family or between us? My mind and soul tell me it is the latter, and some twisted part of me gets excited upon the revelation.But then another thought occurs to me. If Javier thinks that way, does he intend on still holding me captive? He did say he wasn't going to kill me. He could still do other unimaginable things to me. After all, he's the don for a reason.As my mind continues to twist and turn in a panicked state, just as it has all day, I decide that it's finally time to visit Javier's office. I need to know where I stand and… it saddens me to admit this, but I also need to know what fate has been decided for my mother even though I know I shouldn't care.I leave m
It's the wee hours of the morning. I think. I've been dreaming of none other than Javier Sandoval. Forbidden thoughts of my boss. My captor. It's fucked up, I know but It's almost like my consciousness can't help these feelings. I sigh into my pillow as I change position on my bed, trying to quieten the spiraling voices in my head. Or is it the voices in my dream? The voices disappear the second my eyes land on Javier's piercing stare. There it is again. Exhilaration. like epinephrine straight to the heart. How did the sight of him tangle my thoughts while unraveling my insides? He's sitting on a chair, leaned back, a leg folded over the other, hands on the arm rest while he stares at me. Even in my dreams he's still the most beautiful, and dangerous man I've ever seen. Not like I've met a lot of them if I'm being honest. “I was wondering when you would wake up.” He mutters, running the back of his fingers across his stubble, but I hear him loud and clear. I blink once, then twice
I can't exactly say I had the best of nights last night, but sleeping with the thought of Elsa made half of it bearable. The more she crosses my mind, the more angry I become with myself for acting like a teenager smitten by his crush. It's crazy considering our age difference. I'm not exactly sure of her age, but she shouldn't be more than 25.I've had women I liked in the past. But that was a very long time ago before I became the head of the cartel. Up until now. my love life hasn't been something to write home about because I never dated. If I had an itch, I found someone to scratch it, and that was it. There was always someone available for it. Of all I slept with, it's impossible to compare what I felt for them to what I feel for Elsa. And that's saying a lot because even I can't put a word to what exactly it is I feel.After much deliberation, I concluded that maybe I actually just need to fuck and get the thought of Elsa out of my system. Hence my presence in my Club Siago rig
I've come to realize that the more time I spend around Javier, whether alone or in the midst of company, my little brain gets fogged up and sends the wrong signal to… my heart. It even feels off saying it and I know why. It's because I shouldn't feel this way towards my captor. Yes he's impossibly attractive and what I think a man should be like but that's just about it. I don't even know him well enough like that. I might not have been the one to offend him to be taken as collateral but it doesn't change the fact that I'm still his captive either way. I'm not about to admit that I might be having Stockholm Syndrome but if I'm checked well, that's the exact name to call what I've been feeling no matter how much I don't want to. How else do I explain the weird thudding in my chest each time I hear Javier's voice even from afar? There's no mistaking that feeling for fear, because it's not.But It isn't right. By all ramifications, the man is possibly even betrothed to Sofia. Why else w
“I had different routes sent. What do you mean my drugs were hijacked?” I ask Carlos, leaning back in my seat. In as much as it has been a productive three days, it has also been stressful. I had to leave for China to finalize a pending deal with the president. On my way back, Carlos called saying that one of the routes I spent hours navigating to find wasn't safe. We were ambushed, my men were killed, and the drugs were stolen. Those were eight figures worth of drugs being transported to New york. Unfortunately for the fuckers responsible for the theft, all my trucks have trackers installed in them. It won't be long before I find the people responsible.“The team is tracking the truck as we speak. The others were delivered safely.” “While that's good to hear it doesn't change the fact that we might have a mole in here. How did they get information on that particular route?” His eyes runs down my laptops and I know he thinks I've been hacked. I know I haven't. “The firewalls were in
“Do you need anything?” This has to be the first time in a long time since I was last asked this question. No one at home ever asked, including Oliver. It was me who only ever gave. Hearing Camila's questions directed at me, along with the concern etched on her face, is heartwarming. It reminds me of last night when Javier and Nana Guadalupe came to check in on me. I knew Nana would come, but finding Javier outside of my room was very shocking. I didn't think he cared. And to think I ran out to get the door with nothing beneath my dress. I only became more overwhelmed when Nana joined him and began fussing about me. It was more than I could imagine. More than I'd ever received since the death of my father. “No, I'm okay.” “I'm serious, Elsa.” “I really am fine.” I smile at Camila. While Nana acts motherly. Camila acts like an older sister. It's beautiful to watch, and knowing that these emotions are directed at me makes me feel really good on the inside. “If you do need anythin
My uncle has to be the proudest man I've ever known, and that's saying a lot, considering I've worked with so many men of his status. No one else comes close for sure. I'm seated at one end of the table while he occupies the other end. As we eat, we all listen to him brag to Alejandro, Sofia's father, about his newly bought villa in the Hamptons. What he doesn't mention is that I was the one who gave it to him as a gift since he wanted a retirement gift to add to his collections. It's okay, though.“So…” Camila draws my attention from Uncle Juan's bragging session. “It's been ages since we last saw, Javi. How have you been?”I laugh at my little sister. “Since when did two weeks turn to ages, Cam?”“Still… two weeks is a long time. I've missed you.” She reaches for my hand, and I take it in mine, giving it a squeeze. She's sitting to my right, so it's not hard to maintain conversation without interrupting my Uncle's talk.“I've missed you too.”“So…” I look at her sly expression as s