Ashley’s POV

I glared at Marie when she pulled the blanket off of me.

I hated when somebody woke me up forcefully.

“It’s cold,” I whined. “You want me to get sick?” Marie threw the blanket on me in answer. I pulled my head out to scowl at her. “What is wrong with you? It’s Saturday, it’s the weekend. Why are you waking me up so early in the morning?”

“It’s eleven,” Marie sat down on the chair next to my bed. “We are going out.”

“Out? Where?” I sat up at last and stretched my arms above my head.

“Here and there” Marie replied cryptically.

“Means I will regret it later?” I said with a straight face.

“You will not regret it. Get ready and come down. I already made breakfast.” Marie stood up. “As soon as you are done, we are leaving.”

Marie walked out of my room all merrily.

I just shook my head and got out of bed to freshen up.

There was no point in arguing over it.

Everything was fine when we left for the mall. Everything, except for when Marie revealed her real agenda.

“Like seriously, Marie?” I glared at her murderously. I could not believe I got tricked again.

It was a simple shopping trip according to her. So, I went along with everything because I was also planning to ask her to accompany me to buy books.

Marie literally bulldozed the entire mall. We spent the entire day jumping from one shop to another.

I did not doubt her until she asked me to change by the end of her shopping spree.

If only I knew.

“Oh, come on!” Marie threw her hands up. “Live a little for once. I am here with you.”

“You were with me last night but still I ended up in trouble” I pointed out.

“It will be fine now because they won’t be here.” Marie reasoned. “Come out now.”

“NO,” I straight out refused. “I won’t while wearing this dress.” I pulled at the hem. “It’s uncomfortable.”

Marie forced me into a ridiculously short black dress. According to her, it was not short at all.

It had a heart neckline. The back was deep with criss-cross strings like straps. I couldn’t wear a bra under it because of the design. It hugged my upper body and was loose around my hips. The length of the dress didn’t even reach the middle of my thighs.

Marie forced me to wear stilettos with it. They were way out of my comfort range of heels.

According to her, I was looking beautiful but I was feeling more exposed than beautiful.

“It’s barely covering anything” I whispered and got out of the car.

“It is covering plenty.” Marie groaned. “Where do you want to take all this?” She pointed to me whole. “Loosen up.”

I walked closely behind her.

She was wearing a backless short red dress. It was full-sleeved and had a deep v-cut neckline. Every time Marie moved, the dress hitched up a little from the sides around her hips.

She was looking breathtakingly beautiful. She always did but she looked hot tonight. Her hair was up in a messy bun and she did smoky makeup for her eyes.

“You are going to kill someone tonight,” I shook my head.

“It is the intention in the first place” Marie winked at me.

“Good luck with your mission.” I huffed.

“You are looking ravishing.” My cheeks burnt at her words. Marie linked her arm with mine. “Don’t think too much and have some fun. Okay?”

“Promise we will leave soon,” I asked her.

“We will,” Marie agreed.

We passed the checkpoint and went inside.

“We just came, Ash. We are spending two hours at the least.” Marie said when she noticed my expression.

“You stay here. I will take the cab back home. You don’t need to come along.”

“Babes! You know my mom. She will come here with her shotgun to hunt me down if she finds out that I came here alone. Please! Stay for some time.” Marie pleaded. “I promise we will leave after two hours.”

I kept looking at her with zero expressions when she kept making puppy faces at me.

“No drinking and stuff, Marie,” I warned her.

“I promise, no fooling around.” She said seriously. I highly doubted her genuineness. “I am meeting a few friends. Do you want to join us?”

“I’ll pass,” I said with a straight face.

“Okay, okay. I got it.” She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Will you be okay?”

“You worry about yourself, Marie” I walked away from her.

“Hey!”

“Go, have fun. I will meet you in two hours and you better keep your word.”

I kept wandering from one corner to the other, sitting at times but when a few guys began to approach me, I decided to leave from there.

I knew the hidden motives.

I was not very fond of clubs and Red Lotus was not a place where I would ever want to come willingly.

I should just dump Marie here and go home.

I strolled through the corridors absentmindedly. I came upstairs. The music was buried in the background and it was quieter now.

I sighed in relief and rounded another corner only to stop dead in my tracks.

What kind of messed up joke is this?

I blinked out of shock and looked around. I cursed inwardly when I realised I ended up in a private lounge of some sort.

And the occupier was none other than Mr. Nathaniel Rothschild with twenty or more women with him.

He was making out with all of them. At the same time.

I didn’t expect him to be this big of a man-whore.

Move, Ashley. Just turn around and leave silently.

I turned on my heels and ran the way I came before he could have sensed me.

“I can’t believe it. I cannot believe this.” I kept muttering to myself. “How could I just walk in there? How could there be a man like him?”

I was glad I was alone. I didn’t want anyone to label me a nitwit.

“I need to leave now–”

I held my breath when someone snaked an arm around my abdomen from behind.

“Found you.”

I broke free of his hold and turned around wildly. I stepped away from Nathaniel when he took a step toward me.

He was in black slacks, a black shirt, and a grey waist jacket. The buttons of his shirt and jacket were undone and his inked chest and torso were on display.

Nathaniel held my arm in a tight grip before I could run away. I lost my balance when he pulled me toward him harshly and I ended up colliding into his hard chest.

“Hey–” I yelled angrily when he twisted my arm behind my back and pushed me further into him. “What are you doing?”

I knew he was not the type to be messed with but I was not sure if my mouth would be so cooperative.

“It is you,” his husky voice sent a chill down my spine. “I almost took you for someone else. You look rather–” he eyed me up with impure intentions.

Marie’s words rang in my head.

“You have a knack to be in the wrong places, don’t you?” He jeered. “What are you doing here?”

“It is none of your business.” I snapped back. “Ow! Let go! It hurts.” I cried out in pain when he increased the pressure in his hold.

“It is supposed to hurt, princess” Nathaniel caressed my face with his knuckles and dragged them to the base of my neck.

“Stop calling me that,” I kept pushing at him with all my might. “I was not going to tell anyone of your activities if you are worried about that.”

“What makes you think that I care?” Nathaniel mused. “You lost to me last night and left without paying the price. It’s good I ran into you. I was planning on hunting you otherwise.” I blinked in stupefaction. “I leave nothing undone.”

Seriously?

I was getting angry. He was crossing the line with me in so many ways. Scary or not, I was not going to tolerate his behaviour.

“I owe you nothing,” I said angrily. “Let me go or else.”

“Or else, what?” Nathaniel smirked.

We were close to the corridor that connected to the dance floor.

If I screamed, someone would surely come.

I closed my eyes and screamed at top of my lungs.

“Shut it” Nathaniel hissed. “SHUT UP” he warned but I continued screaming.

His steely orbs swirled dangerously, darkening and hardening in colour.

“Stop before I make you regret it.”

The threat was promising but I was as much stubborn.

Try me.

Nathaniel growled like an animal and shoved me against the wall roughly.

“What are you–mmph–”

My eyes widened in horror and shock when he smashed his lips on mine aggressively.

What the hell?

“I take what I want, princess, no matter what,” Nathaniel whispered and locked his lips with mine again.

My eyes burnt.

Tears?

I could feel them rolling down my cheeks.

I was crying? He made me cry?

I gasped when Nathaniel bit my bottom lip. His tongue invaded my mouth and the mere action kicked me back into my senses.

Nathaniel grabbed my hands on his chest when I tried pushing him back and held them against the wall on either side of my head.

He was assaulting my mouth in every way that I couldn’t have known was possible.

My struggles and whimpers were failing against his brutal strength.

He was being aggressive, rough, and dominating in every way.

He was showing who the superior one was.

My hands went limp in his hold when I tired myself out. My vision blurred and my knees turned weak.

Nathaniel held me by my waist when my legs failed to support my weight. I breathed loudly when his mouth finally released mine.

I never kissed anyone before but I was sure this was not the initial stage.

“Want to scream again?” Nathaniel whispered huskily against my parted lips.

“I can’t believe you!” I said breathlessly while looking into his emotionless pits. I pushed him away from me angrily. “How could you–”

“I take what I want.” Nathaniel cut me off. I fisted my hands at his condescending tone. “Consider yourself lucky that I even spare you a glance.”

This was the last straw.

“Lucky, huh!”

I slapped him without warning.

“Here is the luck returned to you.” I glared at his turned face. “Get your head checked, Mr. Rothschild. You are in serious need of help.”

His jaw locked in anger when he touched his cheek. I held my ground when Nathaniel turned his head slowly in my direction.

His attitude changed entirely but I could care less at the moment.

I was angry like hell.

His glare was murderous. His hands balled into fists and his body shook with anger.

It was best to leave now.

I ran from there without looking back. My heart was trying to tear out of my chest.

I could sense the danger.

For him, even the word was not enough.

I knew I should not have slapped Nathaniel but he asked for it. He thought I was like all those whores he was making out with.

I hope the lesson was learned.

Just as I grabbed the doorknob, someone grabbed my shoulder from behind.

I am dead.

I screamed and so did the person holding me.

“It’s me. Marie.” I stopped screaming and looked at her with wide eyes. “Blast it, dammit.” Marie palmed her heart. “Why did you scream?”

“Why did you scream?” I asked back. “Why were you screaming bloody murder?”

“Because you screamed.” Marie shot back. “What are you even doing here?”

“I came here by accident,” I palmed my head. “Can we leave? I know you said two hours but I want to go home. Please, let’s just leave.”

“Okay.” Marie agreed without any argument. “I was looking for you so that we could leave. Come on.” I nodded and we left. “I’ll get the car. Wait here.” Marie went to the parking lot and I waited by the main entrance of the club.

I took off my heels when I couldn’t bear them anymore. My feet were going numb.

“What’s taking her so long?” I went to the side of the club “Why–”

I heard hushed voices.

I unconsciously moved toward the narrow alley along the side that led to the rear of the club.

I shouldn’t be going but my curiosity got the best of me. As I grew closer to the voice that caught my attention earlier, I heard several other whispers too.

Was I imagining things?

The voice became a clear meow and I saw a cute kitten looking up at me. It was so adorable and it looked lost. I picked it up and it rubbed its head against my chest.

“Aww!” I couldn’t help the smile. “Let’s bring you home, okay?” I cooed to it lovingly and stood up.

“You sold us out and you expect me to spare your life for this treachery?”

I was not imagining.

“You know the price of betrayal.”

My heartbeat rose in fear.

There were not one or two people but a lot of them. They were circling someone.

It was not a pleasant gathering.

I stared at the hand pointing a gun pointed to the person kneeling on the ground. My eyes were glued to the gun because of the engravings.

It didn’t seem ordinary. It looked custom-made.

“Please!” the man on his knees pleaded. “Give me a chance, my lord.”

Should I call for help? Or should I just leave quietly?

I was in no position to help anyone and I was in the wrong place, to begin with.

“There are no second chances.”

The reality struck me the precise moment the bullet was shot.

I witnessed something I shouldn’t have.

For the second time in my life.

Their heads turned in my direction suddenly. My heart sank when a few men stepped aside and I came face to face with the one who shot the bullet.

I staggered back on my steps and ran full throttle.

He killed a person.

Nathaniel shot someone to death.

I witnessed a bloody murder.

The gate of my locked memories forced open once again and flashed across my eyes.

Memories of that night.

I was forced to stop when headlights flashed at me.

“Ash?” Marie rushed towards me.

“M-Marie?” I choked.

“What happened? Did someone try to hurt you? Tell me. Ash! Ash?” She was blurring out of my sight. “Ash?” I heard Marie scream.

I blinked at the person who prevented my fall.

Those cold steely eyes!

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

*****

“I am sorry. I am so sorry you have to go through all of this. I never wanted you to but-”

“Never mention it to anyone. Whatever happens here, you will never say a word to anyone. I love you. I will always love you. Tell this to your mom as well and tell her I am so sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.”

“Ash?” It was blurry when my eyes opened. “Can you hear me?”

“Marie?” I croaked.

“Yes, it’s me.” She helped me sit up. “How are you feeling?”

“Dizzy.” I closed my eyes and groaned in pain.

“You scared me,” Marie said grimly.

“Sorry,” I mumbled and massaged my temples. My head was aching so much.

“No, it’s me who should apologise. I took you there against your will. It is entirely my fault that you fainted.”

I froze at her statement.

I fainted?

It did not take a minute for me to recall everything.

“I’m so sorry.” I looked at Marie when she held my hand. “I promise I will never take you to places where you feel uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay,” I assured her.

I didn’t want to drag her into my mess. I didn’t even know how deep I was in.

“How did you bring me home?”

I noticed the hesitation in her eyes.

“That is not something to be worried about.” Marie dismissed my question. “You sleep for now. We will talk in the morning.” She got up to leave. “Call me if you need anything.” I nodded tiredly. “Good night, Ash.”

“Good night, Marie.” She closed the door after switching the lights off.

Events of the night came rushing back like a plague the moment I was alone.

“How could he kill someone?” I was still in denial and disbelief.

I knew Nathaniel was dangerous. But he could be this dangerous was not something I could have imagined.

Was he a mob leader?

The gun and men were enough justification.

But something felt off.

Why did this remind me of that night?

“No, it is not possible.” I shook my head and lay down. I pulled the blanket on top of my head.

I slapped him.

He was so coming after me.

“I am going to die. I should make up with everyone and apologise for all the wrong-doings.” I mumbled sleepily. “Yes, that is exactly what I am going to do”

I couldn’t get the look of his eyes out of my head.

Those cold pits of frozen steel!

They let nothing out.

Eyes were considered a pathway to one’s soul.

But Nathaniel’s were impenetrable.

I pulled my head out of the blanket and sighed deeply.

“Just leave me alone,” I mumbled in desperation when his face and haunting eyes kept on popping every time I closed my eyes.

I felt like I was cursed with his existence out of nowhere.

I turned to my side and buried my face in the pillow.

Nathaniel!

You will kill me one day.