~Adams Pov ~I leaned on the door after coming out with my hands in my pockets. I looked at the wall on the other side and felt a bit awful. I felt so uncomfortable in my heart and the only thought I heard was the words I heard her whisper while in the bathroom before I called for the doctor, “So Dirty..” Though I had expected her to be in bad shape and had even readied the doctors in case her illness popped up, I was glad it didn't but I know this had left a scar in her memories. I pinched the middle of my brows and sighed irritatedly before calming down.I looked back and saw the closed door, I furrowed my brows in confusion then walked forward toward the place where the others were waiting.“Go in now. Make sure you check everything.” I ordered and seeing them go in, I looked at Sean who stood with some files. On seeing me focus on him, he gave a small bow and walked to my side, “President! I got what you said I should. They are here!” He said as he gave me the files.I looked a
~Merina Pov~I stepped inside the house, the envelope clutched so tightly in my hand that its corners pierced through my palm. My breaths came out shallow and quick. My mood was so low that even now I could not force a false smile; the weight of the diagnosis felt like a stone pressed against my chest. I was so afraid.I had replayed this moment in my head a thousand times of how I would ask-how maybe, just maybe- they would care enough to help save me. But they would, wouldn't they? It's just a little money right? I had made more than that for this family.The low hum of laughter came from the living room—so warm, so carefree that I had to stop walking. I frowned. "Are we celebrating something?" I muttered to myself. The house had that kind of happiness a few times over the past years, though it had not let me in. Stepping inside, what I saw with my eyes made my breath rub right out of my chest. Never was I ever that shocked in my entire life. I really did, during that instance
~Merina Pov~The cold night air folded itself around me like a permanent grasp as I walked aimlessly through empty streets. My chest hurt, my breaths were shallow, and each step seemed to have become a task of greater effort to take. I held the test result in my hand, but it had been crumpled so badly. My mind was at a gallop with a thousand questions, none of which I had answers to.How had things come to this? How had my life fallen so utterly apart?Memories came rushing back, uninvited and merciless. I was such a bright and carefree kid who loved singing my heart out and the only encouragement I needed was my mother's warm smile. I had won little awards for singing and playing the piano, for just about anything of merit. As I grew up, the world seemed full of possibilities.But then, my mom got sick. I still remember how weak she held my hand and the whispered promises that it was all going to be alright. But it wasn't. She died. And With her went all light from my world, or
~Adam's POV~I looked into the girl's willful face, where the pale moonlight was planting dark shadows over her cheeks. Who in this world was she, and what had bought her up here?Her disheveled appearance, together with the bitter smell of alcohol on her, made me narrow my eyes. A prostitute? My lips curled in disgust. Whoever had drugged me thought they were very clever, sending me someone so young and presentable. But why send me drunk? It made no sense.I glared at her, my patience wearing thin. "Don't say I didn't warn you," I growled, my voice sharp as a blade, though even to my ears the warning sounded as empty as any such threat.She looked up at me with glassy eyes, lips parted, and I didn't give her the chance to answer. I was already moving, then drew her closer to me.I cupped her face, and the softness of her skin where my hands lay tempted me, as I crushed my lips on hers. The skin beneath her, impossibly soft beneath my fingers, there was a flicker of something wild a
~Adams Pov~Sunlight seeped into the room, warm and relentless, yanking me from my light sleep. My head throbbed vaguely, a residue of whatever had been dropped into my drink last night, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil in my mind.The events of last night played in my mind like a lunatic dream. The girl, Merina, stumbling drunkenly into my room, her idiot stubbornness, her soft lips…I let out a harsh breath and ran a hand over my face as I sat up. The room was silent now except for the soft sound of her breathing. I rolled onto my side to look at her more fully, my head twisted toward her as I watched her stir under the covers. Her hair was a tangle, her face smothered in sleep, but something in that pose seemed tranquil, lulling, to dispel chaos she had stirred with her.She stirred, eyelashes batting open to reveal cloudy eyes. She looked around the strange room, momentarily disoriented, and then it was as if something else clicked into place inside of her, perhaps the c
(Adam's POV)The car stopped in front of my house—a modest, modern house that stood tall against the city's mess. As the gates opened, I got out of the car carrying Merina in my arms. She was lighter than I had thought, with her pale and fragile body that looked like it would break if I tightened my hand.I scowled, how could she who had shoved me with such force last night, now looked as though the slightest wind could topple her? My assistant Sean waited by the door, his expression was wary, though he wisely didn't ask questions. He knew better.He bowed slightly, "All is in order, sir. The doctor will arrive shortly," he said, his voice even."Good," I said coldly, not looking at him. "Keep everyone else out of sight."He opened the door for me, and I carried Merina in, my arms instinctively tightening around her. The house was quiet, the usual staff gone, leaving only the butler and a couple of attendants. As I went up the stairs to the guest bedroom, my footsteps echoed elegan
~Merina Pov~I looked at the breakfast which was laid in front of me. There was no denying it looked sumptuous and if it was any other day, I would have grumbled it down but right now I have no appetite. I felt exhausted both mentally and physically and I just wished to escape from the eyes of this man who stood rigidly by the door as he fixed his eyes on me as if telling me he wouldn't go if I didn't eat.“I bet you haven't eaten all day right?” His calm voice asked, jolting me out of my daze.I rolled my eyes at him and ignored him. I felt so irritated just thinking about how he wouldn't let me leave. I wonder why mine is always so different. Other people have a one-night stand and forget about it, and some become friends or lovers when they find themselves fit. But in the case of I and Adams, like he had called himself—We don't fit! He chuckled. Then walked closer to me, “You need to take care of yourself more. Now, eat!” He ordered, but I wasn't focused on that, my eyes were on
~Adams Pov~I sat down back into my leather chair and stared blankly at the open laptop in front of me. Emails, reports, phone calls—I have lost count of how many hours I tried to drown myself in work, and yet my thoughts kept going right back to her. Merina.It wasn't a concern, I told myself. Just. Curiosity. She was a riddle I'd yet to find the answer to. Someone so beautifully broken, yet so infuriatingly stubborn.The curiosity eventually got the better of me. I stood up from the chair and off to her room I went. The house was so silent and it got me thinking if she would feel uncomfortable with the silent place. I got to her room and pushed the door open—then hesitated.Her bed was empty.My eyes scanned the room suspiciously, as I took it all in. I look at the glass of water that remains untouched and on the nightstand a blanket that was neatly folded on the bed. But She wasn't there."Merina?" My voice ripped through the silence, a whiplash command, cutting the stillness.No
~Adams Pov ~I leaned on the door after coming out with my hands in my pockets. I looked at the wall on the other side and felt a bit awful. I felt so uncomfortable in my heart and the only thought I heard was the words I heard her whisper while in the bathroom before I called for the doctor, “So Dirty..” Though I had expected her to be in bad shape and had even readied the doctors in case her illness popped up, I was glad it didn't but I know this had left a scar in her memories. I pinched the middle of my brows and sighed irritatedly before calming down.I looked back and saw the closed door, I furrowed my brows in confusion then walked forward toward the place where the others were waiting.“Go in now. Make sure you check everything.” I ordered and seeing them go in, I looked at Sean who stood with some files. On seeing me focus on him, he gave a small bow and walked to my side, “President! I got what you said I should. They are here!” He said as he gave me the files.I looked a
~Merina Pov~ All I see is darkness and even when I try waking up, I just seem to be trapped without a way out. I looked for a source of light but it seemed far away from me, and when I walked towards it no matter how far it was, something kept stopping me.“What would I meet when I see the light? My battered body? Maybe the cold body of mine? Or the disgust on people's faces as they look at me, or Sofia's disgusting face that makes me tremble with anger. So why not continue to stay here, at least I feel a bit safe staying here, I won't see anything, at least—“Merina, Merina…, Merina!” The call of my name pierced through me without any warning. The first call had been small, the second sounded like a plead and the third sounded like a command which I must obey, and even if I didn't want to, my subconscious reacted and then—The brightness attacked my eyes and for a moment I felt disappointed, why must I open my eyes? Why should I be alive to face reality? I don't want to know what w
~Sofia Pov~ I held my breath as I pushed my body very close to the wall, my eyes still had a trace of shock and I could still feel the fear that covered me after the man turned to look at the place I had hidden. His intuition was so sharp even if I had hidden so well. My heartbeat was erratic and at the moment aside from the fear, I felt jealousy and hatred. What went wrong? How come Merina knows someone of this caliber? I know just by looking at him, he must be a man from a rich family from his aura alone and his men, and he is so handsome! I had thought Liam was enough, but thinking of this man who held that bitch so closely like she was a treasure, I felt so irritated. The feeling was killing me.“I had wasted so much money and energy to plan all this and it still didn't work out. But what if those men confess and tell them I did it?” Thinking of this, all I felt at the moment was not only fear but terror. No! I can't just sit and do nothing, I have to make them shut up, but ho
~Adams Pov~ I watched them as they tried tracking where Merina was taken after the taxi had been abandoned. Yes! The problem Brain said we had was that they truly found the taxi but it was empty and had been abandoned. Now the problem is where Merina had been taken to and if she is safe.I couldn't help but think a lot. Who did this and what did they want, if they were just normal kidnappers who needed money, they should have called now, but we still haven't received a call or message. But what I fear the most is if this attack was meant to target me. But I haven't shown her outside and I can't think of who leaked anything about her. I know my younger brother won't do this as he is one to listen to me after being warned and the workers here know what I can do if I am betrayed, so if it's not them, then who did this?! I paced around the room in panic. This was the first time I had felt this way but I had no time to think about this. Merina is my responsibility as I was the one who
~Merina Pov~I felt something slapping my face gently which woke me up, I looked at the face in front of me in a daze, I felt lost and confused then my eyes went wide with panic. I remember leaving the house for the job, then taking a taxi and—The driver! I sat up immediately with my eyes filled with horror, my body trembled as panic filled me. “Oh My God!” “Hello, beautiful…No need to call the Lord, I think the Lord is waiting for you!” I looked at the man who burst out in laughter and then swallowed hard when I heard other voices.I turned with difficulties, and that was when I registered that there were at least six men in the room. Fear overcame me as I knew I couldn't fight them. I let out a sigh of helplessness.I bit my lips and bowed my head and then saw my legs bond together, but my hands were free. “Since my hands are free then…maybe I can lose the ropes used in tying me right? I can escape, right? I—” “Tsk tsk! Are you thinking you can run just because we didn't tie up
~Adams Pov~“Thank you so much, Mr Adams! I appreciate you reaching out to us.” I nodded at the man politely then stood up and shook his stretched hand. “Since I am done here, I will be leaving the follow-up to my assistant. I need to leave this in an hour.” I said politely to the old man, adjusted my suit, and then turned to my other assistant who stood next to Sean.“Mrs Catherine, finish up with this and book a flight back yourself. I trust you can take care of everything?” I asked with a calm tone as I knew I wouldn't receive a negative response and truly I got a strong nod from her.“Oh! President Nart, I had thought you would eat with me, but it seems you won't be able to. Well then, I will make sure I take care of your secretary!” I smiled politely then stood up and left the meeting room with the man trailing after me with his head bowed.I walked out of the company and into my car, which was packed in the parking lot and immediately I sat down comfortably. Sean started the ca
~Merina Pov ~I looked at her through the mirror with a calm face but it seemed to irritate her more which confused me more. I kept quiet so she could just say whatever she wanted and leave but I don’t know why it seems to make her more angry. Besides I am surprised the mention of Liam didn’t bring pain to me, though I won’t deny the annoyance and disappointment I feel hearing his name but I don’t just feel any pain. Maybe I just have a lot to worry about lately that I seem to have forgotten the pain.I sighed softly and looked at the lady who kept yapping away thinking it would make me angry, but I was in a good mood and didn’t need to do all this.“Can you hear me?!” She asked as she glared at me. I snapped out of my daze and looked at her with a soft smile, “Oh!” I replied then nodded my head even if I didn’t know what she said, but I needed her to leave immediately. She looked at me with arrogance, “Hmph!”She snorted then left. I watched her leave with an expressionless face,
~Merina Pov~ The man at the door who I had greeted looked at me with a surprised face then he smiled cutely and nodded his head in greetings, “Do you have your card?” He asked seriously which made me speechless. “What card? I didn't come to make a reservation but for the interview going on here for the position of pianist. I am a pianist.” I explained with a serious tone but he just kept looking at me with a confused face. Then his face lit up as if he understood what I was saying now, “Oh! Sorry, my bad…” He said scratching his head with an embarrassed smile he pointed at a place outside where I could see five people sitting around a table as they sipped from their cups and ate the snacks from the table elegantly, “Then you sit with them and refreshment will be brought to you. Those people are also here for the interview. I was confused because I hadn't seen your face on the internet and most of the people who come for the position of a pianist in the “Joeban Home.” are famous in
~Merina Pov~I was stunned by his question, but I immediately shook my head. I lowered my head and chuckled, why would I want to go with him? Besides, does this man see me as his possession? Why do I have to be wherever he is? I breathed a sigh of relief and then gave him a small smile.“Are you sure?” He asked with his brow furrowed in a frown and I felt speechless. I turned to look at his brother and felt awkward about all this. To be honest, I have always felt overwhelmed by his attention and care and the fact that whenever he looks at me, I see his Possessiveness which makes me uncomfortable and also comfortable at the same time. The feelings are so confusing and tiring.“I-I am fine. You can go on your trip and I will be fine.” I replied then smiled before digging into my breakfast without looking up again.He raised his brow, then replied with a “Huh!” which confused me but I am glad he didn't ask again. ************I faced the mirror with an indifferent look then combed my