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25

"I want t-to go home." I sobbed into the nook of his neck, my tears soaking his black suit. "Please take me home."

"I need you to come with me."

"Where?" I pulled away, wiping my tears.

"With me. I can keep you safe."

"I just want to go home, Leo. It's been one hell of a day and I'm tired."

"What makes you think I'm asking?" He crossed his arms across his chest trying to make his point clear with an arched brow. "You're going to come with me for your own safety, and I don't want to hear any of it."

"You're not the boss of me," I spat, exasperated. "You don't get to tell me what I can or can't do. I'm going home. Not with you."

"Arie, try to understand!" He grabbed my wrist and spun me around as I tried to walk away. "I'm trying to protect you. What makes you think whoever is sending these assassins won't send them to your house?" His face was so close to mine, I could feel the heat radiating off his cheeks.

"I'm not in the mood to argue right now. I just wa-want to go home." I choked on my words as my bloodshot red eyes looked into his while a tear rolled off my face and dripped on the marbled floor. "Please," I pleaded.

I wanted to hide in a corner forever after what I did. I couldn't withstand the small puddle of blood that was lathered on the floor and covered my bare feet which made me realize that I almost killed that woman. What was I becoming? I couldn't be this girl. A girl who cried watching cartoons now had blood on her hands.

"I can't let you put yourself in danger again, so you'll be coming with me whether you like it or not," he commanded.

"No! I need to find Aunt Wendy and go home. That's it," I rebelled.

"Well, I guess that's one point for you then," he shouted from behind me as I picked up my heels and began walking away.

"Excuse me?" I turned around and looked at him in utter confusion.

"Remember our little deal?" He looked at me before sighing when he realized that I was completely clueless to what he was referring to. "I persuade you to do anything, then that'd be a point for me and if you are stubborn enough to not do it, then a point for you. Remember now?".

"Indeed a point for me." I forced a sad smile onto my face and resumed walking away.

"Have some water," he scurried next to me, holding a water bottle in front of me.

"Thank you." I chugged the entire bottle down in one take, quenching my thirst and swallowing the huge lump stuck in my throat that was beginning to suffocate me. I wiped my mouth and handed the bottle back to Leo who was staring at me in surprise. "What?"

"Nothing." He threw the bottle to one of his men behind him and put his hand on the small of my back. "Let me escort you to your Aunt."

I let him lead the way, but instead of going back onto the field, he ushered me towards the exit. I tried to revolt, but my body started to give out. "What the hell?" I looked at Leo, trying my best to keep my eyes open. My lids were getting heavy by the passing second and I couldn't stand straight anymore, compelling to sink into Leo's arms slowly.

"I'm sorry, love. I had to do..."


Fluttering my eyes open slowly and squinting at the sunlight penetrating from the large sliding glass double doors on the left side of the room, I looked around and basked in my surroundings. A beautiful chandelier was suspended from the ceiling right above me with impressive fresco art painted around it. I noticed white walls covering the massive room as I sat up against the headboard of the huge bed that I somehow was tucked in. I didn't recognize this place at all. This definitely wasn't Leo's penthouse. Had I been kidnapped? The last thing I remember was that I fell into Leo's arms. That bitch!

A white dresser was aligned to my right with a picture frame mounted on the wall next to it. I could tell it was a man, but in order to make out the face, I had to get closer.

I removed the silky sheets from me and revealed my legs that wore red flannel pajamas and a black tank top covered my upper body. He changed my clothes too? Anger and betrayal jolted through my body. I didn't care if he was a mafia leader, I was going to kill that fucker.

My feet hit the cold marbled floor and walked me towards the picture. Leo and a little girl were framed in. He almost looked so innocent and angelic, but I knew what he really was. A kidnapper. A fucking kidnapper and a murderer.

A knock on the door startled me, followed by a woman walking in with a tray in her hand. "Good morning, ma'am!" The petite woman smiled at me and strode towards the glass table next to the sliding door in front of a cream-colored recliner.

"Who are you?" I asked warily.

"I'm your personal maid for now, ma'am. You can call me Zaya," she said, putting a strand of black hair that escaped her top knot bun.

"Okay. Umm... where am I?"

"In the estate, ma'am." The smile was still plastered on her face.

"It's Arie. Just Arie. No ma'am or anything else."

"Ok ma'am... I mean Arie."

"Great." I moved closer towards her, fiddling with my fingers. "Since we are on first name basis now, where is your boss?"

"He's downstairs. He'll be here momentarily. Meanwhile, he asked me to deliver your breakfast." Downstairs huh? I'll beat his ass downstairs. I began walking towards the door when Zaya yelled at me. "Where are you going?"

"To meet your boss," I shouted over my shoulder not bothering to look back. Suddenly, she appeared in front of me, blocking the door with her body. "What are you doing?" I narrowed my eyes down at her.

"Stopping you from doing something foolish." She lightly took my hand in hers and ushered me towards the bed. "He's in the middle of something and interrupting him isn't a good idea." She pondered staring at the headboard, then finally spoke up again. "Take it from me, you'd regret it."

"Okay." I tried to study the girl who was still standing and looking down at me. "Why don't you sit down?" I patted the bed, motioning her to sit next to me.

"I can't," she said immediately.

"And why is that?" I cocked my brow at her.

"Because I'm a maid and this is Sir's bed."

"So what? I'm sitting too."

"You're not a maid, ma'am."

"Arie," I corrected her.

"Oh yes. Arie," she said rather sweetly. She seemed so innocent and young, wonder how she got in this place.

"How old are you? If you don't mind me asking."

"I'm twenty and you can ask me anything ma... Arie," she chuckled.

"You're really young." I knitted my brows, frowning up at her. "How did you even get in this place?"

"I..." she stopped immediately when the door creaked open slowly, letting Leo in. He was adorned in a crisp suit as usual with his hair slicked to the side perfectly.

"Leave," he glared at Zaya. "Now!"

"I'm sorry, Sir," she bowed and scurried out of the room hastily like a scared dog, shutting the door behind her. Leo turned his gaze to me with guilt in his eyes and a little sympathetic smile on his lips.

"You want me to bow too, your highness?" I spat through my teeth that were clenched together tightly whilst placing my hands on my hips.

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