Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 3: Xavier won't release her

Two Days Later

Her head banged as she gulped the last content of her drink at the same time, signaling the bartender to top it. The loud music that came from the bar was doing the perfect job of preventing her from thinking so much. That was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment, considering how much she had since she got back from Xavier's firm.

"Thank you" she muttered to the bartender, taking more than just a sip of the drink. The hotness of the drink could be felt at the back of her throat as she squinted her eyes in reaction.

The seat beside her was pulled and Racheal reluctantly turned to see who it was. It was Chloe with a worried look on her face. She had rushed down when Racheal texted her, saying her life was over. There was only one possible bar she could be, so finding her wasn't a problem for Chloe.

"Well?" Chloe snapped, dropping her bag on the bartender station, taking the stool, and drawing it closer to where Racheal sat, already drunk. "Can you explain what happened?" Chloe added. For Racheal to send her that text, indicated that she was indeed done for.

"Xavier" Racheal tried saying, but a chuckle escaped from her lips instead. Her drunk self was already out of control. "He isn't very friendly" she slurred and Chloe rolled her eyes. This wasn't working.

"Let's go" Chloe stood up, holding Rachael by the hand. "We can talk when we get home. Here is noisy as fuck" Chloe tried raising Rachael, but she quickly withdrew her hand.

"I don't want to go home. I don't... " She paused, breathing hard. "I don't want to face reality"

"Rachael, what happened?"

"Xavier won't release her"

"Why?"

"Because of the article," Racheal said in bitterness, rummaging through her hair with her hands. She took another gulp from her drink.

"Easy" Chloe held her by the hand, guiding the drink down. "Relax"

"He said he will only let her go if we both make a deal" she paused, pressing her lips together. " He wants me to take the article down and write another article saying the article was a lie and that I was compelled to do it"

"That's not a problem, is it?"

"It is. If I take the article down, Magnus will come for me"

"Oh God" Chloe bowed her head slightly, resting it on her palm

"I told you not to take the job offer. What were you thinking? Now Xavier is around your neck"

"I had no choice" Racheal shot back, angrily, drawing the attention of the bartender who turned to look at them, but continued his work afterward.

"I had no choice," Racheal said more quietly this time to avoid dragging any form of attention. "Magnus threatened me and the pay was too good to say no to. We needed the money"

"You have the money, now what?" Chloe asked and Rachael breathed hard.

"I don't know Chloe"

"Are you going to take the article down?"

"I have to. I don't care what Magnus does about it. I just want my mother back"

"It's okay" Chloe held Rachael's hand on the table, squeezing it tightly. "be careful" she warned and all Racheal could do was nod her head, ignoring the huge lump that formed in her throat. Her vision was already getting blurry because of the alcohol and also the fact that she had not gotten any good sleep for over two days. Her head slowly bent to the table, laying on it gently with her hands dangling freely under the table.

"Rachael" Chloe called out apprehensively, trying to alert her, but she turned a deaf ear. This was the only way she couldn't think and she was embracing it.

"Rachael" her name was called again and she stiffened. That voice didn't belong to Chloe. The husky, deep voice with a lot of mystery in it couldn't belong to Chloe. She sat up, peering her eyes to look at the person and just as she had presumed, it was Xavier Callum, bent to her level and watching her closely. Too close! Her narrowed eyes widened in shock and she instantly became sober. She sat up, tucking her hair underneath her ear. He was now standing up straight in front of her while Chloe sat perplexed by the whole situation.

Rachael couldn't even look him in the eyes. Not because she was unnerved, but because she feared being unnerved. One look at those gorgeous pale green eyes and she could be lost in them.

He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers with the first few buttons of the shirt undone, and Rachael couldn't help but marvel at his masculine perfection.

He didn't say anything, turning to look at the bartender. The way, the bartender rushed to get his order, gave Racheal a clue that Xavier was quite popular and influential in this bar.

He went over to the seat just beside Racheal and sat on it. Now Rachael was seating in the middle of Xavier and Chloe.

Gathering the last courage Racheal parted her lips to speak.

"Chloe let's go" her voice came out more raspy and shaky. Thanks to Xavier Callum who was gazing at her. Not out of admiration, but out of curiosity.

"Miss Anderson" he called out and she paused, not daring to look at him. Chloe was already up, waiting for the both of them to leave.

"Mr. Callum" she spoke, trying to act as courageous as possible. She turned to look at him, keeping her head up high and maintaining eye contact. Even if she felt intimidated, she couldn't show it. A smirk appeared on his face as he held his drink to his lips, taking a sip.

"Why leave so soon?" He shrugged

"I was going to leave before you walked in here and we don't have any business together"

"We don't?" he furrowed his eyebrows, speaking in sarcasm.

"I'm still working on taking it down"

"Working?" He scoffed. "This doesn't look like working" he pointed his finger at her drink and then at her.

"It's not that easy" she spoke.

"Then make it" he spoke in a serious tone, not sparing her a glance. "You have just 24 hours. Think about the safety of your mother" he said and a cold shiver ran down her spine.

Rachael turned to look at Chloe who had stayed quiet all this while.

"Let's go" she tried to leave, but the most surprising thing happened. Xavier held her by the hand, giving her the notion that he wanted her to stay.

"The last drink you had with me was a horror. I want to make it up" he said, then turned to look at Chloe. "It won't hurt anyone, would it?"

Chloe nodded and Rachael couldn't help but scowl at her.

"You see, she sees things from my point of view" he smirked, turning his bottle of wine into her cup. "Have a drink Miss Anderson"

What was he doing? Rachael's inner self screamed. But instead of refusing his proposal, she took the drink and took a sip.

She noticed how he heaved closer to her, but pretended not to. While taking the second sip, he reached for her hair and tugged it behind her ear. "Relax," he said calmly to her as he noticed how tensed up she was, but her body did the opposite of that.

Why did he always have to find her hair interesting? She asked herself inwardly.

The sparks that ignited her body as a result of his slow caress were insane. Probably he knew how much her body shamelessly yearned for his, that was why he continued stimulating her.

When Rachael couldn't stand the heat of the moment anymore, she stood up from her seat and grabbed her bag. "Have a nice day" she spoke in a raspy, unfamiliar voice. Xavier smirked and returned to his drink

"Let's go," she said to Chloe who trailed her from behind.

"Don't forget my business proposal" he yelled from behind, but Rachael turned a deaf ear. She couldn't stand him

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter