Chapter 3

I followed the address and when I arrived, i was directed to where I'd meet the CEO. 

"Shit!” I cursed as I recognized him as the man I bumped into back in the event hall. 

"He was nice back then. Does that mean he'lol be nice to me now?" I asked myself to calm my nerves as I walked towards him, but that wasn't the only thing. I felt drawn to him for some unknown reason.

"Mr. Brown," I began, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. He couldn't be my mate, could he?

"Take her away!" He ordered, not sparing me a glance. I ran to him, dodging the hefty men approaching. I bowed and held his feet, tears streaming down my face.

"Please, Mr. Brown, I beg of you. Pardon me. I didn't mean for my team to serve the drink. It was a mistake. Please forgive me," I begged. 

His loud voice rang in the room, thundering in my ears, "Vivian or whatever it is you're called! Tell me, why should I not kill you? You poisoned my woman!” He roared and stood up, towering over me like a skyscraper. "Someone close to me! Someone whose life is more valuable than that of everyone in your wretched group combined! Do tell me, why on earth should I not kill you?!"

"I didn't do it!" I cried. "I didn't serve her the drink. I was framed!" 

"Framed?" So you are saying your boss lied? You are saying all the high-ranking members who attended the events are liars?!" He lashed out. 

"No. I mean…" I stammered, not knowing what to say that wouldn't land me in more trouble.

"Quiet!" He roared, hearing my mumbles. "You're going to suffer for what you did!" He faced his men. "Take this filth away from my sight!" 

"What are you still doing there? I ordered you to take her away! Or do you want to join her in death?" He growled again, and the men walked forward, each man holding my drenched arm, dragging me away.

"Please, Mr. Brown, you can punish me as you see fit, but please my family, help them. Please, don't let my poor sister and grandmother suffer. I'll do anything you ask for, anything at all," I begged as they were dragging me away.

Mr. Brown stared at his phone as I shouted, not giving me any attention. As they were about to close the door, his voice boomed again, and I could swear I felt the hefty men shiver from its impact. 

The men set me free as Mr. Brown ordered, and I ran to him, falling and picking myself up as my wet body stained the floor, but I didn't care. 

"What did you just say?” he asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Without thinking, I spurted out the same words I said earlier, "I would do whatever it is you want, but please save my grandmother and poor sister. Don't let them suffer for my mistakes, I am the only one they have left." I explained, hoping he would consider it.

"Help your family?“ he scoffed. "Why on earth should I do that? If your family deserves to get anything, it's more punishment because of your mistakes! Nothing less, just more suffering!" 

"Please don't do that," I begged. "I'll serve you. Take double punishment because of my mistakes if that's what you wish, but please spare my family."

"Your mistakes huh? Are you finally admitting to poisoning her?" He roared, and I gulped, not knowing the answer to give. 

Poisoning? First, it was an allergic drink. Now they made the CEO believe it was poison? I obviously didn't do it, but if I had to take the blame for it to save my family, so be it. 

"Yes. I did."

"Then why did you lie, little wolf? The drink was meant for me, right? Why did you want to poison me? Who sent you?" 

"I-" I stammered, trying to look for a believable lie. "I didn't know she'd be allergic to the drink served to her. We just wanted her to have a sip so we'd know if you'd like it. It wasn't intentional, I swear."

"Hmmm," he groaned and cupped my cheeks, tilting it up so I could stare into his eyes. "Is that the truth, Vivian?"

I nodded, squeezing my clothes as tears dropped from my cheeks. "Yes, it is. Now that my life is in your hands and the fate of my family is in your care too, what's the use of lying?" 

Surprise flashed across his eyes, a wicked smile playing across his face, "Back to why I called you here, I like your suggestion, you can punish yourself. It would be fun to watch." He said with a devilish chuckle and I gulped so hard. 

"What about my family?" I stammered, not daring to look into his eyes. 

"If you want me to save your family, you're going to have to do more than die a simple death, little wolf. Can your weak body handle it?" He asked, walking back to his seat.

"I don't have a choice," I mumbled. "I couldn't let my grandma and sister suffer for my mistakes."

"What is your family name?" He asked, tapping on his phone, and I quickly answered, "Anson. Anson Family."

Through the corner of my eye, I saw him place a phone call to his men and ask, "Are you at her house?" The person on the other line seemed to respond, "Yes" and gave him some other information. "Take them and await my further instructions." He said and hung up. 

"Are you going to help them? My grandma is very sick, and they don't have a place to stay…."

"Whether I help them or not depends on how useful you are to me, mate," he confirmed my suspicions, still smiling wickedly, and with a wave of his hand, the two men came and dragged me away, but not towards the door. 

They dragged me in another direction, and it looked dark and eerie. Despite the cold weather, beads of sweat formed around my head, and my heart pounded in my chest. Fear gripped me tightly as I tried to comprehend what he meant by being useful. Where are they even taking me?

As we entered the dimly lit corridor, the air grew heavy. The walls were adorned with sinister-looking portraits, their eyes seeming to follow my every move. It was as if the very atmosphere conspired against me, amplifying the terror that welled up within.

"Where... where are you taking me?" I managed to stammer, my voice trembling with fear.

The two men remained silent, and their grip on my arms tightened, urging me forward, deeper into the darkness. Each step I took felt like a step further into the unknown, into the clutches of an unpredictable and merciless fate.

My mind raced, desperately searching for an escape plan, but the corridors twisted and turned, disorienting me. "Where are you taking me?" I asked, crying, but the only response I got was my creepy echo.

Finally, we reached a heavy metal door at the end of the corridor. It creaked open slowly, revealing a dimly lit room filled with unsettling shadows.

As I was pushed inside, my eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness, but I could make out the vague outlines of objects that sent shivers down my spine.

Then, I heard a chilling voice emanating from the darkness, a voice that seemed to echo with malevolence. "Welcome. Just stay still and this won't hurt much," he said with a few musical equipments in his hand. 

"Stay away from me!" I yelled, pushing myself away as he neared me. "Who are you?! Where did you bring me? What do you plan on doing with me?" I yelled again, but he didn't respond.

Sensing danger around him, my survival instincts kicked into overdrive as I frantically searched for any means of escape within the confined space, my eyes darting around in desperation. But the room seemed designed to trap, with no visible exits or avenues for escape except that one door I entered with.

The man just shook his head at me, telling me all this was pointless. I was wiling to comply if I knew what he wanted to do, but he didn't respond.

The silence made my heart drop more. Summoning the strength within me, I lunged at the man, but he was prepared, sidestepping my attack with ease and swiftly countering, his grip tightening around my arm.

"No use resisting," he said coldly. "Don't be like the others. Just let me do my job, and we'll all go our separate ways, okay?"

"Others?" I mumbled in fear and just as I was about to break free, I heard him.

"Stop!" Mr Brown's voice echoed and I froze mid-air. "Fight him, and I'll make sure you watch grandmother and sister on the streets. Resist him, and you'll join them too," he said, holding his phone out towards me, his hands merely inches away from tapping the call button that would ruin everything I came here for.

"Vivian Anson," Mr. Brown called with an ice-cold voice, "The ball is in your court. What do you decide? You should know I wouldn't hurt my mate..."

The room fell silent, and as I looked around, I saw the other man smiling, knowing I didn't have much of a choice. 

With a hard gulp, trembling hands, and a racing heart, I dropped the metal and faced Mr. Brown. "Okay. I agree..."

With another wave of his hand, his men came inside, carried me, and threw me onto the bed, but this time their actions were a bit softer than earlier. Seeing as I didn't struggle, he placed a call to his men.

"What's their status?" He asked and after a few minutes, he responded. "Rush them to the hospital quickly, then settle their bills and make sure they both have more than enough to give them a good life," He said and hung up.

"Thank you," I choked out, feeling the weight on my shoulders lifted, knowing that my family would be taken care of.

He chuckled. "The kind of help your family will receive and how long they will receive it depends on how useful you are to me, little wolf." He said before backing away for the other man to come closer.  '' But trust me, I won't hurt you.''