Chapter 5

"You are really here, my dear..." Leith muttered, his voice laced with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He stared at me, his eyes wide, as if he'd just woken from a nightmare. "Are you really sure you want to sleep with me? I'm still a man," he added, a playful smirk playing on his lips.

I ignored him, barging into his condominium, my mind set on escaping Gideon's watchful gaze.

Leith knew I wasn't uncomfortable around men, but he was an exception. And this was better than staying at my place.

Gideon was probably waiting for me there, his presence a constant threat.

"You could rent a hotel," Leith said, his voice a touch too casual. I heard him close the door and walk behind me. I let out a deep sigh, collapsing onto the sofa.

"Don't neglect me," I said, my voice a low growl. "You know what happens to you if I do the same." I kept my eyes closed, refusing to meet his gaze.

"I'm not neglecting you," he said, taking a seat beside me. "I'm just giving you a better option, my dear."

After visiting Hoven and talking to Miss Lawrence about the incident on set, I'd called Leith, my manager.

I'd asked if I could stay at his place. He hadn't been thrilled about the idea, but he couldn't very well turn me away when I was already standing on his doorstep.

I wasn't afraid of facing Gideon, but I couldn't risk myself after the words I'd thrown at him. I knew he was a threat, and my defiance wouldn't spare me. He was probably watching me right now, but he deserved it. Besides, those words were the truth.

Leith let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping.

"I'll clean my room for you," he said, his voice a low murmur. "You can stay there, and I'll spend the night in the living room." He didn't seem annoyed, just resigned.

I turned to him, my lips forming a silent "thank you" before he left.

Frustration gnawed at me as I looked around Leith's condo. It was small, perfect for a single person, but surprisingly comfortable.

This was the first time I'd been here. We'd worked together for years, but I'd never spent time in his space.

I hoped this night would go smoothly.

I let out a deep sigh, sinking into the sofa, my body aching with exhaustion.

The events of the day replayed in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. Years had passed, and Gideon hadn't changed.

He was still the same controlling, possessive man he'd always been. I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. How had he found me? How did he know where I was hiding, where I worked?

This country was miles away from my hometown. I'd chosen it specifically because it was far from Gideon's reach, but I'd miscalculated.

"A man like him will do anything, even if it takes years..." I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.

These things wouldn't happen without a reason. He wouldn't be able to track me down if there wasn't a reason for us to be reunited. Whatever was behind these events, I wasn't ready to reveal it.

I craved peace, a moment to breathe, but it seemed fate had other plans. My brief respite was already coming to an end.

...

"Do you want me to fetch your things from your place?" Leith asked, scooping a spoonful of porridge. "I'll drop by there later after my meeting about your upcoming appointments." He took a bite, his gaze fixed on me.

I took a sip of my tea and shrugged.

"Thank you for considering it, Leith, but it's fine." He stared at me, his brow furrowed, his expression a mixture of concern and frustration.

"Greer, I don't know what's happening," he said, his voice laced with worry. "You've kept me in the dark about why you're here, and I can't help but stick my nose into your business. I'm your personal manager, and it might be your personal life, but it's still my job to make sure you're alright."

I didn't respond, my cheeks burning with a mixture of guilt and shame. I tried to look away, but his gaze held me captive. I couldn't tell him about Gideon.

Once Leith knew, he would freak out. He had no idea about Gideon's existence, about the ruthless mafia boss who still claimed me as his wife.

If he knew, he would bombard me with questions, with demands, with a torrent of concern that I wasn't ready to handle.

"Greer?" I turned my gaze back to him, my heart sinking. He let out a deep sigh. "I won't push you anymore. Whatever it is, just stay out of trouble. Promise me, okay?"

I stared at him, my heart heavy with a mixture of guilt and defiance.

"I can't promise..." I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper. I couldn't promise him anything. I'd already gotten myself into trouble by defying Gideon, by doing stupid things. "But I promise to stay safe."

Leith stared at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before he nodded, a silent acknowledgment of my words.

It was past three in the afternoon when Leith finally left. I stayed restless in his condo, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out how to pass the time.

I decided to go out and buy some things I could use while staying here. I didn't plan on spending more than a night at Leith's place.

One night should be enough to give Gideon time to leave my condo. I wasn't even sure if he was still there, but I knew he wouldn't give up easily. He wouldn't let me get away with my actions without confronting me.

Years had passed, but my fear of him hadn't faded. The day of the wedding, the day I'd run away, was forever etched in my memory.

That day, my only choice had been to escape, to run as far as I could, to get out of Gideon's reach. I knew I couldn't achieve freedom without facing my fears, but I couldn't bear to face Gideon, not after the slap, not after the words I'd thrown at him. Reconciling with that man was not an option.

My nostrils flared at the thought of being friendly with Gideon.

"Never!" I muttered to myself.

A car horn blared, jolting me back to reality. I hadn't even realized I was walking down the street, my mind lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

I stopped, my eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Oh..." I mumbled, realizing how lost I was, how much my mind had been elsewhere. I looked down at my hands, clutching two paper bags: one filled with bath essentials, the other with temporary clothes for the night at Leith's and tomorrow's schedule.

I started walking again, and as I approached the crosswalk, a black transporter screeched to a halt in front of me.

Again?

Before I could react, men emerged from the transporter. One of them clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling my scream. They shoved me into the transporter, slamming the door shut and locking it.

The car sped off, leaving my bags behind on the sidewalk.

I kicked at the door, trying to force it open, but they were faster.

They bound my hands and feet together, the ropes digging into my skin.

"What do you want?!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with fear.

The car swerved, throwing me against the seat. No one answered.

Was it Gideon?

No. If he was behind this, he wouldn't let his men rough me up. Who were they?

"If you don't do anything stupid, you won't get hurt," one of the men said, noticing my struggle to loosen the ropes. I was right. They weren't Gideon's men. But what did they want?

"Make her sleep," a man in the front seat said, his voice a chilling whisper. He was referring to me.

"It's still early for that."

"Just do it! Don't underestimate Valois' wife. We don't even know what she's capable of." Valois? Gideon Valois? Wife?

I frantically scanned the car, my mind racing. Why was I being dragged back into Gideon's world?

I felt a movement behind me. Before I could turn, something struck the back of my neck, a sharp, searing pain that sent waves of dizziness through me. My consciousness began to fade.

"We'll be dead meat if Valois finds out we laid a hand on his wife!" The words echoed in my ears, the last thing I heard before darkness swallowed me whole.