Chapter Four

Throughout the ride, Kayla was disturbed by the thought she'd landed in such a trouble she couldn't escape. She often ranted and raved at him, threatened to report him to the police, and questioned him about how he was Clinton and why he wanted to harm her. But the imposter ignored her completely. Even when he gave her an answer. “You should have known better than to betray me,” was all he said, and this pissed her off the more. She worried until they arrived at his house after a long drive.

Anthony's house explained he was well-to-do. It was a modern, glasshouse mansion that one could possibly prove it was worth millions of dollars. Colors were mostly white. Quite a fantastic, luxurious heaven on earth. No doubt it was a dream house for moneybags.

Anthony alighted from the car, leaving the rest to his driver. He knew Kayla would be stubborn about stepping out, so he ignored her and went straight into the house.

Kayla refused to get out of the car. How could she do so when danger awaited her? She sat reluctantly, her eyes following the driver, who just stepped out of the car. Seeing he was about pulling the door open to let her out, she grabbed the inner pull trim to avoid him from opening the door.

The driver realized that Kayla gripped on the pull trim to hinder him from opening the door, he moved to the opposite door to try. She left the door she gripped on, and grasped the pull trim of the opposite door with her full strength. They continued that way until the driver finally pulled her out of the car. Even so, she tried running away but the driver was long-limbed and he caught her before she could run any further steps from the car.

Kayla wrestled to wrench herself free but turned out the driver weighed some pounds, reducing her chance of breaking free to zero. The driver bent over and lifted her from the ground, slinging her over his shoulder, carrying her into the house.

“Put me down!” she squeaked nervously.

Kayla screamed and raved angrily at the driver, she feared what might happen the moment she got inside the house. She struggled with the muscular driver until they got to the living room and the drive set her down, shutting the door.

Kayla rushed to her feet and tried to bolt out of the living room — but the door was shut already. She pulled one of her pumps to break the door open. Idiot! She was an idiot for thinking her shoe could break such door, not even the glass walls could her shoe break. Idiot! That asshole had driven her insane. She put on the shoe and looked around.

The living room was quite mega with mostly white and dark gray color themes. It complicated Kayla's mind and made her turn here and there to figure a place to run into. Kayla was afraid, pained until it was writ on her livid face. She needed to make a call where Anthony wouldn't see nor hear her — where should she hide herself when she knew no place around the house? She took the right route and opened any door she came across. It was a gym behind the door she opened.

Right after she pulled the door shut, she reached for her phone which laid in the pocket of her trench coat. Her hands still quivered while she dialed June's number. She placed the phone on her ear, hoping June picks up.

June picked up almost immediately.“Kayla. Where are you, my love? Did that son of a b— hurt you? Tell me where you are, and I'll come and get you.” Over the phone, June's running footsteps could be heard, also the energy in her dreadful tone.

“Mom. I need you to come with the police immediately—” A hand wrested the phone off her hold. She shuddered and saw it was Anthony. How in hell did the asshole get in so suddenly? Confusion almost crept in but fear whisked it away quickly.

He placed the phone over his ear. “You don't have to come, June.” He shifted his glance to Kayla. “Kayla and I will visit your house tomorrow to discuss the marriage arrangement.” He averted his eyes from her. “Don't expect her tonight because tonight…” He glanced at her again, then concluded with conspicuous dark intention in his tone and in his eyes, “Will be a long night for your daughter and Mr. Anonymous.” He ended the call, giving her a cold glance. “It’s about time you got acquainted with my rules.”

Kayla ignored the implications that may come with her audacity and ventured to ask, “How are you even Clinton?” She knew his intentions were strictly deadly and he could hurt her, but no amount of his acrimony could stop her from being the outspoken woman she'd always been. “You’re an imposter. Clinton died years ago — everyone witnessed his death.” Pointing a finger at his face, she continued, “If you keep on with this criminality, I'll file a report against you. Now take me home—”

Angered by her audacity, he grabbed her by the hand she used to point at him, and whirled her so that she faced forward with her back to him. Then he pulled her closer, twisting her hand behind her back to wrench a pain-driven groan out of her. He grasped her face from behind and leaned over her ear.

“You’re right. Clinton died years ago —” He paused. “But Anthony Kings awoke.” His grip on her face tightened, wringing a moan off her throat. “If you cherish the life of every single person in your god-damned family, then you must learn to respect me.” With her hand, which he seized behind her back, he twirled her to make her face him.

Kayla cowered backward after he let her go.

“You can hurt me however you want, but don’t hurt my family. They'd done nothing to you, I’m the one who betrayed—” Kayla stopped. She almost said something that could make her angrier because this idiot needed her to believe he was Clinton. Now a shaft of fear surfaced in her guilty eyes as she gazed into his toxic, fierce eyes.

His silence made her think he did not hear her mention ‘betray’. Nevertheless, he heard her clearly, but for some reason, he controlled his feelings and took his leave. At least, she knew what she was being punished for. She gazed at him until he was out of sight. Such a mysterious man he was, an asshole!

For minutes, she sat on the floor, her legs curled up in her arms, and her head leaned over her knees. Her eyes often met the open door as the thought to escape stuck around her mind. But the fear he might be truculent than she believed made her reconsider the plan to escape. If there was one thing Kayla needed to avoid, it was losing a loved one. But obeying Anthony would be the hardest thing for her.

Seven o’clock.

Kayla found peace resting on her knees, at least her emotions abated a bit. Even when the door opened, she ignored.

“Miss Kayla Jonathan,” a warm, feminine voice called.

Kayla least expected to hear a woman's voice instead of Anthony's. Curiosity drove her attention to the door to see the woman who just called her name.

Standing at the door was a brown-skinned, gorgeous lady, thought to be in her late twenties. The azure shirt she wore, matched the tawny complexion of her smooth, glowing skin. She was slender but adorably curvy, no doubt she was about 5’4”. Her rose pink lipstick firmly held Kayla's gaze as a radiant smile contorted the corner of her cupid-bow lips. She wore a slinky black skirt which ended halfway her thighs, her shirt tucked neatly into her skirt. Her jet-black, bob hairstyle perfectly suited her diamond-shaped face. Kayla knew the lady's pump was typically a sought-after.

Kayla tried not to judge her appearance to believe the lady might be Anthony's plaything. Who would wear such a skirt in a man's house without getting touched up? Hell, why should Kayla care how the lady appeared?

“I’m Amy, assigned by my boss to assist you,” she introduced, unwilling to drop her smile. “Please come with me. My boss insisted I get you ready for the night.”

Boss. Ready for the night.

Those dirty words almost worsened Kayla's aggravation, she imagined storming to Amy to smack her across the face and send her back to Anthony. But where was the muscle? Since the audacity was missing, Kayla hoped that her glare was strong enough to scare Amy off. Anthony had bad intentions for her; therefore he stored something bad for her right then, so she'd rather not follow Amy.

“Miss Kayla. I'm afraid I must get you ready before 7:30. Please make it easier for the both of us and come with me.” Fear was plain in her tone; the smile on her face fell away.

Why did Amy sound like Anthony would discipline her if she failed to get her ready? Well— damnit. Kayla still ignored.

Amy could not force Kayla to follow her for some reason, Anthony might tell her off if she compelled Kayla. “If you decide not to follow me, that's fine. I'll just inform my boss so that he gets you ready himself.”

Kayla’s heart jolted, her eyes widened. Anthony getting her ready himself? Was Amy serious? That would be among the most terrible experience she would go through in her lifetime. She turned her big, frightened eyes to Amy, who had made to leave already.

Hesitation dealt unrelentingly with Kayla. Her mind plunged in fear and confusion, not sure if she had ever been in such dilemma. She hesitated to stop Amy from going to call Anthony, her mouth opened and closed without uttering any word. Her hand hung in the air, but couldn't motion Amy to stop.

She didn't want to stop Amy or follow her, because that would mean her resolve breaking. But she had the fear that ignited the urge to stop Amy from going to call Anthony — meaning she'd choose to follow Amy. That imposter would hurt her if he did it himself, but it would be easier if she followed Amy. Jesus, what kinda dilemma was it.