While her mind reeled, a voice chuckled in the darkness. "Are you surprised?"
It was a masculine voice. She wondered why there seemed to be something familiar about it.
"You remember me, don't you?" He said as the lights came on simultaneously. April shut her eyes, as the intensity of the light seemed to blind her vision. It was till she was able to adjust her eyes to the light she looked up. She recognized him. He was the bald guy from yesterday. The one on dark shades who had stopped the car in front of her, asking dumb questions.
"Oh. Sure, I remember you." She flashed a fake smile. "You felt pity for me yesterday when you saw me alone, and offered to help. You were so cool and kind, and I couldn't stop thinking of how considerate it was of you to stop your car in the middle of the road, just to help." she rambled on, while working her finger around the rope that was used to tie her. She figured it wasn't so complicated as it seemed, and all she needed was a bit of time, and patience on her own part to be able to loosen it up.
"I see... So you can talk. You refused to say a word to me yesterday. All you did was shake your head and smile, like a startled rabbit." he broke off into a laugh that reminded her of a crow.
She half grinned. "Yeah, right? You know the road was dark and lonely that day, but still, it was a good thing to see someone to talk to and keep me company." she replied.
"I see... Never mind. You would never lack company now." He said with a wicked smile, walking away as he turned off the lights.
Though panic welled up in her being, she couldn't help wondering what he meant by what he was saying. She desperately wished for help. Who was behind this scheme? What was the aim? To kill her?
Well, she didn't have to wonder for long before she heard a scuffle outside. It went on for a little while as she listened, and then before she knew it, two men brawling amongst themselves, barged into the room where she had been captured and from the tiny reflections from the lights outside, she sensed it had to be Adrian. He again? Why?
She suddenly felt something was odd about this. Since the incidents kept repeating in a row, and he kept showing up to save her, didn't it mean something? That he must have probably been the one who planted them at strategic places, while he played the role of a saviour to draw attention to himself.
He succeeded in overpowering the bald head guy, and two other accomplices, turned on the light, and loosened her immediately. She stared at him, unable to say a word all through. He drove her to a small private apartment, somewhere unknown to her. She followed meekly. It was still dark and not daybreak yet.
"What place is this?" she managed to find her voice. She could not believe she was a victim of kidnapping about an hour ago.
"What you think it is." he replied stiffly as she followed him to the elevator. The apartment was on the tenth floor. The last floor of the building.
After they stepped inside, she decided to ask the question lingering on her mind. "You planned all of this, didn't you?"
He shot her a sharp look. "I did what?"
She nodded. "Yeah. You planned it, I'm sure. Except the part where the chairman tried to hit me. But I am pretty sure you must have planned the rest. The street bums, this bald guy from yesterday when he played creepy and tried to talk to me, and now this. Why do you so desperately want to be that knight in a shining armor?"
Adrian glared at her with hate. "I can see you are such an ungrateful being. I know I have wronged you deeply, and only trying to make amends, but apparently, you appear to be insatiable. What else would I do to show I am sorry?"
"Leave me alone."
He shook his head as he edged closer to her. "Well. I'm sorry, but that is too late. You should have said it earlier back there, and I would leave you alone. Stop trying so hard to pretend you hate me, April." He touched her hair and smoothed it. She could feel the strong scent of his powerful cologne, which she could bet reeked of a lot of money. It made her heart race. He took her face in his hands. "I know you want me too, don't you? So what if we stop this game between us and just do the next thing?" He didn't give her time to reply as his lips enclosed hers and they slumped down on the large couch. April shut her eyes and didn't resist.
The next morning, her head ached as she opened her eyes. She felt different and wondered why as she tried to adjust her eyes to this new place. Then she remembered it was Adrian who brought her here the previous night after she was held hostage. She was about to get up from the couch when she noticed she was naked, beneath the blanket that covered her. Her heart thumped. Had he disvirgined her? She looked around and saw her clothes in a heap by the corner of the next couch. There was no way she could have surrendered to him so easily, or was she drugged? She couldn't remember taking any drink or something before then. She looked around as her mind spinned. Adrian emerged from the bathroom then, shirtless, on a pair of jeans. He had the perfect abs and muscles any lady would be willing to die for, and any brand would be seeking as a model for their products. Well, to her right now, he was nothing but a total jerk and a wacko.
She became more conscious of herself and wrapped the blanket round her body. He stared at her with a lopsided grin.
"You are beautiful. Inside out." he said, coming closer to her, but she kicked him in rage.
"Don't you dare!!! You are more evil than I imagined!!" she cried.
He shrugged as he took a step back. "Well, you are the first person ever saying that to me. But let me remind you of something. About what you overheard back then at the office; I am referring to my discussion with the chairman concerning me and Lana, the baby talk, remains between the both of us, else..." he paused, picked a remote from the table and flicked on the TV. April watched the video and shrinked back on her chair in total shame.
The video was a total replay of what happened between them last night, and she turned her head away in tears, unable to watch it. He had really touched her.