Chapter Three

                 Her palms were sweating, and she trembled at the thought of what might happen. She kept her eyes fixed on the view out of the window. 

        “No tears, we’re going shopping. You’ll obey me if you want to see your friends alive.” He said menacingly, offering her his handkerchief.

       ‘ Did he kidnap me to have me again?’

        “ Forget what happened last n-ight. I’m no-not w-ealthy. You should f-ind someone else. I’m not your t t type. ‘’ She replied, accepting the handkerchief from his hand. 

         He came closer, his face impassive, “ I don’t believe in fucking types. I have more than enough money for both of us.” He said, his voice laced with anger. It was a clear warning for her to zip up her mouth and obey him. She swallowed hard from her dry throat. 

       “ Can I have some w w-ater. “ She asked reluctantly. 

       ‘ What an idiot I am! He’s threatening me and I’m asking for water! ’

        One of his men handed him a small water bottle, which he gave to her. She tried to twist off the lid. But it was sealed tight and she couldn’t manage it out of fear. He effortlessly worked his grip on it and opened it for her in a second.

         She avoided meeting his gaze as she took it from him. Bringing it to her lips, she gulped from it. 

   

                           His car pulled over at the city’s most upscale and luxurious mall. A place where Isha shopped with her mother. He climbed out of the car without inviting her to join him. She was relieved as she didn’t want anyone to stare at her in his shirt and assume nonsense. 

         A few minutes later, she was astounded to see him walking over to his car, his hands loaded with several shopping bags. She was nervously tugging down the hem of the shirt to cover her thighs. 

         “You look sexy in my shirt,” he said huskily as he settled into the car. 

         She wanted to open her mouth to snap but decided it was best to stay silent. They were back at the same mansion from which she had fled earlier that morning. He took her hand and led her out with him. His guard pressed the button for the elevator. It arrived with a ding, he placed his hand on her lower back, causing her to flinch. He didn’t allow her to move away from his hold. She glanced at the buttons to distract herself. She noticed it would stop on the fourth floor. 

        Doesn’t he have any family? She asked herself.

        ‘ I am adopted. I shouldn’t expect my family to help me. They wouldn’t make any effort to get me home,’ She thought sadly.

        It felt like she was out shopping with her boyfriend, accompanied by his bodyguards for protection. 

         ‘ Somebody should ask me. Hey! I’m here against my will. ’ 

         She recalled as she remembered running through the hall early that morning. Her gaze fell on him as he picked out a black gown for her. 

         “ Take a shower and put it on,” he said, shoving the dress into her hands. 

        “ I I don’t wear this k-ind. “ She replied, checking it. 

        “ Why not? You have a beautiful body. Your stomach is so small. “ he said, placing his hand on her belly. Instantly she recoiled back and bumped into his bodyguard. He shot his guard an intense glare. As she wasn’t allowed to be touched by anyone. The dress slipped from her hands. But his guard retrieved it for her. 

         He took it from him and flung it away. He picked up the new dress and tugged her toward him firmly, putting his hand on her back. She realized one thing: If she didn’t like any dress chosen by him. All she had to do was let it slip from her hands. 

         “ Your ‘No’ is making me crave for your body. Are you going to do it yourself or do you want to have our second time in the washroom right now?” He said huskily. 

         She trembled and dashed toward the door, fumbling with the doorknob. Her heart drummed in her chest. His hand closed around the knob from behind her and opened it. She stepped ahead into his room. But he yanked her back against his hard chest. 

        “ No tears,” he whispered and let her go. 

        She rushed in and locked the door, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. She exhaled a shuddering breath. She wiped them away quickly.

        She hurriedly showered with cold water to wash him off, which seemed impossible to her.

        ‘There might be cameras. What does it matter? He already has me.’ she thought in her mind. 

         Her daily used material was kept with his stuff. How could he have learned so much about her in such a short time? She stared at it in disbelief, her expression a mix of shock and frustration.

                        She didn’t want to put her family’s lives at risk since they had done a lot for her. She looked down at her dress, she noticed her high-waist jeans, mostly hiding her stomach but still, her midriff was exposed. She was feeling awkward. The top she wore was short but adequately covered her body, with its thin strips tightly hugging her skin. Suddenly, she got a knock on the door. 

         Hesitantly, she opened the door. She instinctively wrapped her arm around the parts of her skin that was visible. He glanced at her and gently grasped her wrist, pulling it away from her. With a smile, he took a step closer. Her struggle to get free seemed useless against his strength. He was very strong. 

         “ Adorable, you’re beautiful as always.” He smiled, “ Come.” He tugged her along with him. 

         What did he mean by always? She was confused by his comment as she barely knew him. She protested and tugged her hand from his firm hold. He effortlessly pulled her along and she was drifting with him. He plucked a yellow jacket and gave it to her. Immediately she put it on. As she reached for the button, he caught both her hands. 

         “ Smile for the camera,” he said. 

         “ What’s yours m m-ean? “ She asked, taken back by his sudden demand. 

         “ Just smile. “ he gritted his teeth. He wrapped his arm around her and drew her close to his chest. She was grateful for the jacket. His large hand was kissing her bare skin, giving her skin tingling. She was fearful of being so close to a stranger, especially someone dangerous like him. She looked straight at his guard behind the camera as he snapped a photo.

         “I told you to focus on the camera, not on him,” he said, in a cold tone.

         She glanced back at him with her mouth agape in surprise. The sound of the ringing phone interrupted her concentration on him. 

         “Sir.” His guard said, handing him his phone. 

         “Hello,” he said, attending the call. With this, he released her from his lock. But he still held her hand without a word, leading her along with him. As he spoke on his phone, they got back into his car, which soon pulled up to another expensive mall in town. He paced in the mall, without looking back. He was gripping her hand in his stronghold suggesting to onlookers a newly-married-couple-like bond that was hard to separate. He made her feel strange things in her stomach. His guard opened the door to a beauty salon. 

         Why did he bring me here? She thought, feeling frustration. She wanted to argue but she was never a brave girl.

         The receptionist greeted her with a smile as she looked up from the computer. She nervously returned the gesture as she did not want to provoke him in public, and didn’t want him to shout at her. She would no longer be able to control her tears then, they were stinging to spill out. She waited for him to finish his call. He stood close to the receptionist’s high desk. Her back was touching the same desk. His hand prolonged to rest on it. He was just two steps away from her. She found herself staring at his hand. With a subtle movement of his finger, his guard hurried over and handed a card to the receptionist. 

         “Yes, this way, ma’am, sir.” The woman instructed with a professional smile. 

          He held her wrist once more and stepped through the glass door. The beautician bowed her head, as if he were a king and ruled them, although he looked like a great king. People throughout the mall bowed their heads as he passed them. She found it strange and full of authority.

         “ I’ll be there,” he said, hanging up the phone. 

         He stared at her. His lips were in a straight line. “ Not a single word to anyone. “ He threatened her. 

         “Why are you d-oing this? If you’re kidnapping me, Why this? A ar are you s s se...... “ She started to ask but he put his finger on her lips. 

         “You wouldn’t be standing here with me then.” He said, his brows furrowed, “ Be a good girl. It’s for your own good as well as your swanky sister and stupid friend. “

         ‘How does he know about my friend and sister? Did Ana and Isha give him information? No! They can’t.’

        She pursed her lips and looked at him. 

         “They aren’t swanky and stupid. “ She whispered, fearfully. 

         He fixed her with his gaze but he remained silent. He left his one-armed guard with her. He strolled back through the mirror door they had entered. He didn’t look back at her. She watched him leave, her eyes fixed on his retreating figure.