LIA POV
Since I stepped out of the academy, I could feel the presence of another eye on me. Someone was behind the scene, stalking me. The new guy, Miles Connor was too good to be true, I could not help but suspect him. My entire life had been a ride of running – hiding from men because they were the cause of the scars that surrounded my life. Out of the blues, a stranger suddenly confessed his feelings for me which only meant one thing. Pat and Fred were setting me up. They wanted to see if I was obedient or I'd grown rebellious and started dating men when I was strictly ordered to be of service only to them. I could not stand the man in front of me, confessing his feelings without batting an eye so I left him in the restaurant but he followed me. Out of frustration, I took a cab, hoping to ditch the other man who had been spying on me. Then my phone beeped with a message.
Be here this instant. I need to recharge.
Pat.
Go to hell! Go to hell, Pat! You're supposed to be my father. I had typed it halfway but I deleted it. My heart pounded as I walked into Pat's study. A loud smack landed on my soft cheeks, painting my entire face down to my neck red.
"After all I've done for you and the order I gave you, your brain pushed you into betraying me by seeing another man," he said and spanked my butt. I moved my hands to rub the painful part but he pulled my hair, drawing me into his inner room, behind his study. I bet his wife never knew about the existence of his secret hideout.
"I'm not seeing any man. He's my boss at work," I lied but who cared? No one. I already knew he sent the man in hiding to spy on me so I expected this much. It was always his way of making me pay for the false stories he concocted.
"You lost your job. I know all about it. Don't you dare take me for a fool!" he smacked my face once more and the skin of my lips tore, blood trickled down to my chin. He pushed me against the table and had my back facing him. Then he violently pulled up my gown and tore my pants. I was so scared like I felt 7 years ago when all my troubles began. He unbuckled his trousers and drew my hips close to his. I shut my eyes and tightened my grip. Dying was better than enduring such sexual harassment every time. He was almost inside of me when his phone vibrated and fell off the table.
"Who the hell is that?!" he yelled, picking the phone. "An unexpected urgent council meeting?! Damn! Not at this time!" He spanked my butt, pulled me up with my hair and dipped his hand into my cleavage. Then he drew me close, eating my lips and rolling my tongue with his while his hand played on my chest. "Look alive when you leave. I don't want those maids thinking that I did something evil to you. We didn't even have sex yet." He walked briskly out of the room while speaking with one of his party members.
"F***! F***! I'll kill you. I'll kill you for all the misery you put me through," I mumbled and grabbed the scissors on his desk. My hand picked the paper which read party file and I tore it into pieces.
******
The weather further complicated my world that was void of cheer. That was my cue to cry. I wept bitterly even though my teeth and hands were frozen. I was growing cold inside since I had no underwear on. Then, out of nowhere, the annoying stranger, Miles Connor showed up a second time at my lowest point.
"I don't even know who Pat and Fred are? Are they stalking you? Should I call the police?" he asked with so much care and concern in his eyes and voice. It had been so long since anyone spoke to me with such kindness. What was the point of holding in my tears when he wouldn't even leave?
"I want to die, Miles. Help me to die," I said, tucking the helm of his sleeve.
"You can't die. Whatever problems you're facing, I'll help you out of it, I swear," his cold voice was a blanket over my scared and lonely soul. He pulled me up and embraced me. I didn't kick or object. In his arms, it was peaceful. He wrapped me like a new born baby and his hand laid beneath my neck.
"So, what do you think about your new job?" Miles asked all of a sudden. I felt the alcohol in my throat hold still and I looked him in the eyes for what seemed like forever. Who is this guy? He literally acted as if nothing had just happened.
I caved in and my lips drew out a tired grin, "you're a life saver, you know that? You don't have to pretend that nothing happened."
"I'm not pretending. I just don't see why we should dwell on that. I only hope that you smile more often and have a nice time tonight. Forget all your worries. That's why I choose a local bar, remember?" he said and chuckled.
"Who are you Miles Connor? No one has ever done this for me in ages. I was simply a lonely sadist and I don't blame people for avoiding me," my heart sank but that was my reality.
"I'm a man who has a crush on you and is very remorseful for making you wander off in the rain. I just want to be friends with you," he replied.
"Then how did you know where I lived? It's strange that you ---" I asked but my sixth sense notified me of another person watching me at a distance.
I grabbed Miles arm and could see his eyes almost pulling out of their sockets due to his reaction. "He's watching me again. He's always watching me," I cried out.
"Who's watching you?" he looked in the stalker's direction.