Next update will be tomorrow, around 8:30 am IST. No. I don't usually wake up this early... it's just an act so my parents would be like, "Oh, my daughter's attending the online classes!" While in actual, the online classes keep running in the background while I write on Wattpad.

*grins*

Alfresca's POV:

Someone again knocked impatiently and Arthur pulled opened the door to come face to face with a furious looking Mr Searlus.

His jaw was clenched and his eyes focused on Arthur. "Where's--"

His eyes fell on me and his jaw clenched even more and he gritted his teeth. "What are you doing here?"

"I...I...um...sir..." I was lost for words.

"Arthur." He spoke coldly. "Leave."

No! Why is he making him leave?!

Arthur was hesitant for a moment but left eventually leaving me alone with him.

Mr Searlus stepped inside the room and shut the door behind him making me more scared.

"Mr Searlus...I am sorry...I..." I tried apologising as he walked closer to me making me take a few steps back.

His eyes glared into mine making me shudder under his gaze. He grabbed my shoulder in a firm grip and slammed me into the wall behind me, stepping even more closer to me until his body was almost pressed against mine.

He grabbed my wrists and pinned my arms above my head holding them with one hand while the other gripped my jaw firmly.

"Didn't I tell you to not let her go there?" He hissed.

His grip on my jaw was too firm and it hurt, I closed my eyes as tears formed in the corner of my eyes.

"Speak, will you?" He spat.

"I-it's...hur-ting..." I stuttered, referring to his tight hold on my jaw.

I opened my eyes and for a second guilt flashed across his face, his features softened and he immediately let go my jaw making me sigh in relief.

He gently brushed his knuckles against my jaw for a second before dropping his hand. I felt tingles spread where his knuckles brushed but I didn't ponder on it much.

His cold demeanor was back as his jaw clenched again. "Why would you let her go there when I told you not to?"

"S-she..." I contemplated whether to tell him the truth or not.

His eyes roamed my face and for a second lingered on my lips before he was back to glaring at me.

"She forced me." I admitted honestly.

He removed his hand holding my arms above my head and they fell to my sides. And he placed his hand beside my head on the wall.

He frowned. "What did you say?"

"Sir. I wasn't going to let her go there but she forced me. I'm telling the truth."

He ruminated for a few seconds. "Come with me." He said as he took my hand in his and dragged me out of the room.

Where is he taking me? To kill me?

I don't wanna die yet! God, save me!

His grip on my wrist was gentle as he took me up the stairs. Outside the door, he pressed his thumb against the scanner. And took me inside to his office as the door opened.

He made me stand in front of his desk and went and sat down on his chair before opening his laptop and typed on it.

"Come here." He spoke, his eyes focused on his laptop screen.

I went forward and he gestured me to come and stand right beside him. I took hesitant steps towards him and stood beside him.

I looked at his laptop screen and saw a CCTV footage of when Ms Aurora approached me asking me to let her in.

Mr Searlus watched the footage with a frown on his face. I saw his jaw clenching.

He better not be angry with me. It's not my mistake.

With his eyes still on his laptop, he picked up his phone that was lying on the desk. I watched his dial a number as he pressed it against his ear.

"In my office. Now." He ordered to whoever was on the other side of the call.

Hanging up the call, he placed the phone down on the desk and leaned back in his chair and sighed gently rubbing his temples.

I stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do or say.

His office door was pushed opened and in walked Ms Aurora with an innocent smile on her face. "Ruslan babe, what's wrong?"

She's a rapist! I wanted to shout. She raped Arthur!

Mr Searlus pushed back his chair and stood up and folded his arms. "What's wrong with you, Aurora? You forced Ms Leonard to let you in here?"

Ms Aurora turned to me and gave me a glare before turning to Mr Searlus again. "So, this bitch ranted it all out to you!"

"Have care how you speak of my staff!" He bellowed. Even though it was directed towards Ms Aurora, I flinched at his tone.

She was taken aback by his tone and her eyes widened slightly, her palms folding into fists at her side.

She gritted her teeth. "I just wanted to retrieve my handbag from your room."

Mr Searlus pointed at me. "She could have got that for you!"

"So, you trust her more than me?!" She yelled. "I'm your fiancee! And she's just a fucking maid and she has access to your area but not me!"

"What is she doing to get all this, huh? Is she warming your bed for all this?" She added.

And I gasped at her words. How dare she!

Mr Searlus took a threatening step towards her. "Watch your words, Aurora." He warned her in a dangerously cold and low voice.

His body almost shaking with anger as I watched his back. He was trying real hard to control his anger.

"And now you are defending her!" She accused. "I am your fiancee, Ruslan!"

"You are my fiancee just because you are mom's friends daughter! If not for her you would be no where near me." He growled.

Oh.

"And I thought you loved me." She said in disbelief.

Oh puh-lease. It's so obvious he doesn't like you.

"I never did." He told her.

She gasped. "Is it because I am not beautiful enough?"

"It's because you are rude and lack basic kindness and etiquettes. I don't care about your outer beauty." He spat.

She scoffed. "As if you are yourself a very kind person. You murder people, Ruslan. You are a monster."

His back was towards me so I couldn't see his reaction. But his tensed shoulders slumped as if he accepted defeat.

I had this urge to hug him.

No. What are you even thinking?

His fists clenched as she scoffed again and he took a few more steps closer to her and glared at her.

"I need just one reason, Aurora. Just one serious reason. And I will have you thrown out of my life." He threatened. "Forever. Count your days and watch your actions."

She's a rapist! What more reason do you need?

Oh. He doesn't know that yet.

"It's not gonna happen. You remove me from your life and I make your life a hell for you." She threatened back.

His lips tilted up in a smirk. "I would love to see you try."

Huffing and grumbling to herself, she turned around and stomped away from the office.

He watched her go away and sighed heavily before turning to me. His cold, scary demeanor fading away as his features softened.

He walked closer to me and took my hand in his and lifted it up. His eyes fell down on the red marks caused by Aurora's tight grip on my arm earlier.

He brushed his thumb against it gently. "Apply something on it, okay?" He said softly, his eyes focused on my arm only. It really surprised me completely and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Y-yes, sir." I stuttered and he removed his hand. "You can leave."

"Yes, sir." I mumbled again and quietly and promptly left his office.

.
.
.

I sighed.

I tried convincing Arthur to confess about Aurora to Mr Searlus but he is not ready. He is still not ready.

"You know, if you tell this to him, he is going to kill her. He already told her that he needs one serious reason to throw her out." I again tried convincing him.

He ran his fingers through his hair, sitting beside me on the edge of the bed in my room. "You think he will care about what she does to me? He's a Mafia leader."

"He will! So what he is a Mafia leader? I don't think so he is as heartless as he seems." I defended Mr Searlus.

He's not that bad, I guess...

I placed my palm over his shoulder. "He will understand, Arthur. Please. I won't let you suffer."

He smiled, a sad one. "Thank you, Alfresca. I just need some time to gather the courage."

"Take your time. But when you are ready, please tell me."

"I will. Thanks." He got up to leave. "Goodnight, Alfresca."

"Goodnight." And he walked out of my room.

I was about to lay down to sleep when there was a knock on my door.

Did Arthur forget something?

I got up and went and opened the door. "Yes, Arthur?"

My breath hitched on seeing Mr Searlus standing in front of me in a pair of sweatpants and a t shirt. His hands inside his pockets.

I took a step back in surprise. "Y-yes, sir? Do you need anything? You asked for a glass of milk...I already placed it in your room and--"

"No." He interrupted. "I don't need anything."

"Oh..."

He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Um..." He quickly cleared his throat and asked in a cold tone. "How's your arm?"

"Huh?" I said in surprise and disbelief. My mouth falling open.

Did he just...ask whether my arm was okay or not?

His eyes narrowed and he stared at me coldly. "Your arm, Ms Leonard. Is it okay now or not?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir. It's alright."

"Good." He again cleared his throat nervously. "I don't want you to lack in your work because of it." He added.

My face blanked at his words. Of course it's about work.

"Goodnight, Ms Leonard." He muttered before walking away.

And here I thought that he cared...

Wait...

Do I really want him to care?

Something is seriously wrong with me.

No. No. No. He's the bad guy. He's a Mafia leader for God's sake!

God! I am going crazy!

Chapter completion on: 2/9/21