Chapter 8

Vivian "We have performed our surgery, and he is now out of danger. His head was hit by iron, but luckily he didn't get seriously injured. He could have gone into a coma, but the girl brought him on time, and he got treatment on time. He will be alright within weeks," the doctor said. I sighed with relief after hearing this. I was worried about Leonardo. He was like my little brother.

"What about that girl?" I didn't care about her, but, mistakenly, she was the reason Leo was out of danger, so it was my duty to take care of her.

The Doctor sighed soundly. "She got shot in her left arm and it was a deep wound, so it would take time to heal her hand. You must take proper care of her because she won't be able to use her left hand for a week."

"I want to meet her," I said.

"Right this way." He guided me to her room.

We entered the room. The doctor approached her first. "How are you feeling? Is your pain okay?" He asked her while checking her pulse rate. I couldn't see her face because he was standing directly in front of her. "Someone is there for you," he said, standing aside and allowing me to see her face. That night I didn't glance at her at once because all my attention was on those bastards. They were Eric's men, and Eric was my biggest rival.

Eventually, I got time to meet her.

My gaze shifted to her face and began with her eyes. She had greenish hazel eyes that stood out against her olive complexion. Her dark brown hair fell to her back in a straight line which made her look really beautiful. Her lips were thin and sexy. She was beautiful. Despite that, it did not impress me. For me, it was nothing. Among the beautiful women I had fucked, she was like one of them. She was no different.

The doctor nodded before he walked out of the room, leaving us alone.

Her green eyes narrowed, and her expression hardened as if she didn't want me to be here. I didn't like her intense gaze piercing into me like I was guilty of a crime. She didn't take off her eyes either, and I didn't take off my.

"Mr. Miller," she said. "I'm glad to see you here." Her lips formed into a fake smile.

I slipped my hands into my pocket and walked to her bed. "Delighted to see you too, Miss Stefan. I feel sorry for your hand, but it happened because of you. If you would not have been out, this would never have happened."

She frowned. "You are such a big thug, but you don't even know the difference between sympathy and sarcasm."

She had a big mouth.

I chuckled, amused by her statement. "Neither I'm sympathetic nor sarcastic. "I'm telling you what you did and what you did to my man and also to your hand." I pointed at her injured hand.

Her eyes dropped to her lap. "It bore me in the house, so I asked Leo if he would take me somewhere, but I never thought Guarin's men would attack me. First, they hit me, and then Leo. When I tried to help him out, they shot me in my arms. I...I apologize. I should not have asked him out, then it would not have happened."

For a few seconds, I felt pity for her, but I couldn't believe her without proof. "Don't apologize," I said and turned around to leave. I had nothing to talk to her about because I was not a man of gentle words.

"You came here to check whether I am alive or not?" she blurted out. I could hear a hint of anger in her voice.

"Exactly, since you are safe, I suppose I have nothing to do with..." before I could complete my words, she cut me off.

"I want to talk to you..."

I immediately turned around and narrowed my eyes on her face. "Never cut me!"

She raised her brows. "I know what you are trying to say, and I'm not interested in listening to you."

I gave her a sharp look. "Think before you speak." Nobody had ever tried to talk to me like that. My look did not terrify her, even though she faced me fearlessly. She had so much pride like she was queen. "I suppose Leo has told you everything about me, so it would be better if you think before opening your mouth."

She was quietly observing my face, and the only thing I could see was hatred. "Yeah, he has told me everything about you, and he also told me you are a superb person. But I see nothing positive in you. You don't even know how to talk to women. You are talking to me like you own me!!"

I walked around her bed and placed my hands on both sides, caging her. "What are you doing?"

I didn't reply and leaned over her. Now we were facing each other. "And if you continue to be talking to me like that, trust me, I will own you, Miss Stefan. I know very well how to talk to women and how to fuck women, so don't be a smartass. Is that clear to you, Miss Stefan?" I saw her tense up slightly before relaxing her body under my gaze.

We were so close that her breath was tingling across my face and our lips were a few inches apart. I eyed her lips, watching them part when she took a breath. For a few seconds, I had the urge to touch her lips, but I had no interest in kissing her.

I waited for her reply, but she didn't reply, only giving me a cold hard glare. She was trying to be strong. I moved further and pressed my lips against her ear. "Is that clear to you, Miss Stefan?"

She swallowed before nodding.

************

"Leo." I approached him and sat in the chair beside his bed. Harmony had already been there, taking care of him. They both were good friends.

His head was swathed in a bandage, and some bruises and marks were on his face. It was so bad; he suffered because of that girl. "How are you feeling? I'm glad you are okay, I said, patting him on the back.

He gave me a small smile, and two dimples appeared on each side of his face. "Kia alright?" His voice was barely audible.

"She is fine, but unable to move her left hand for a few days. She got shot in her left arm."

His eyes fell on sadness. "It all happened because of me. I didn't have to take her out. Despite knowing that her life is in danger."

"You can't be serious," I said incredulously. "It all happened because of her and you are blaming yourself?" He was so innocent, he didn't even know who got into this mess in the first place?

"She told me her life was in danger and Guarin wanted to kill her. She got caught by Guarin's men and forced into the sex trafficking business. The girl is innocent. She did nothing wrong. Can't we help her boss?"

This was not my concern: her life was in danger, or she was an innocent girl. I only cared about my people, and I cared for every single person who had my loyalty. They hit my man. It meant they were messing with me. So I would make them see what would happen if they messed with me.

"Leo, I don't care about her. It's a shame that they tried to hurt you, so this time I will teach them a lesson." I had no one left who misbehaved with me. And this time I would make them pay double.

His eyes dropped to his threaded finger. "Then what about Kia? She is innocent."

I snorted. "What Kia?! I will send her back to her place. She has nothing to do with me. I don't care who wants to kill her and why." I ran my fingers through my hair out of frustration.

"So boss, how will we reach that person who hit me?"

"I have crews all around the country. I can find out through them." I had connections with each of the criminals in this town, and it was easy to find my offenders.

"It would be easy if we kept Kia at our place. I'm certain they will come for her." I looked into his eyes, seeing tenderness for her. He was right if we kept Kia in our position, it would be easy for us to trap our enemy.

"Somewhere you are right, Leo, but I don't think it would be a better idea to keep her in our place because I can't trust her. It may be possible that she would be an assassin and has come here for a purpose." I saved her that night, but that didn't mean she was harmless. I didn't like her attitude. She was weird. "I have talked with her, but looking at her, it seemed like she wanted me dead."

"She always talks like that. I have never seen her soft side unless she talks about her parents, especially her dad. She doesn't like to laugh, and she doesn't like to converse. Her behavior is strange, but I can't deny she has saved my life," Leo said with a hint of blush on his cheeks.

"Are you in love with her?" Harmony asked, shockingly.

Leo frowned. "Are you crazy!! The word love does not exist in my dictionary. She is like a friend, nothing more."

"Friend!!" She raised her brows. "I would like to meet that bitch. You were blessed with a beautiful face because of her. You have been unconscious for twenty hours because of her. You could be in a coma, and you could die Leo, and if something happens to you, then I will never leave her."

He placed his hand on her. "Harmony, I'm alright and don't call her a bitch. She has a name."

My phone rang, and Alice's name appeared on the screen. "You two carry on, I'll be right back," I said, and walked out of the room.

"Hey, Alice," I said and waited for her.

"Hey, Vivian." She chirped. "How's it coming along?"

"My employee was injured on the job. I came to the hospital to see how he was." I lied.

"How's he doing? Is he okay?" She asked quickly.

I rubbed my forehead because of migraines. "Yeah, he is absolutely fine. What about you?"

"I have come here shopping with Sarah. You know she looks thrilled with Jack. I am so happy for her. Listen, I'm off to buy a Harley. I have bought a beautiful gown for her." I could feel the excitement in her voice. She was intending to purchase a gown for my daughter, and I didn't like the idea.

"Don't do this. I'll buy it for her. I know you have a lot of things to do, so don't bother."

"Come on, Vivian, I want it for her, and you can't deny me."

I sighed frustratingly, "Ok." I couldn't deny her.

She silenced for a few seconds, thinking of something. "Um, what about your girlfriend? I mean, have you found someone? Who is fit to be your girlfriend because only a few days are left for Sarah's wedding? I am expecting you to bring her along with you, otherwise, I will bring Pearl."

"Shut up, Alice. You won't bring her." I scratched my jaw, thinking of the right answer. "Actually, I'm still looking for someone. I haven't found one yet." she didn't say a word because I disappointed her, but before she could say something foolish, I spoke first. "Alice, I will call you later. I have something to do. Bye," I said and quickly disconnected the call. I must find someone who pretends to be my girlfriend as soon as possible.

I stepped into the room. "Harmony, do you know someone who can pretend to be my girlfriend for a few months?"

This was fucking awkward.

Before Harmony could say something, Leo blurted out. "What about Kia? She is perfect if you ask me."

My eyes shifted to Leo, and I narrowed my eyes on his face. "Seems like you have lost your brain, Leo." I didn't like that woman. It seemed like she held a sort of grudge against me and, second, she was weird. I couldn't tolerate her.

"You want a woman, and she wants a man. I mean, you want a woman who plays to be your girlfriend for a few months, and she needs a man who can protect her from Guarin. When you help her, she will help you and will keep your secret. After a few months, she will be on her way, and you will be on your way there with nothing to worry about." he explained.

I ran my fingers through my hair. His idea was not bad. "I need time to think about it. I will consider your idea, Leo. But I don't think it will work out. I can't tolerate her big mouth."

Alice wanted me to find a woman suitable to be a wife and to be Harley's mother. I didn't want any woman in my life. It was enough for my daughter. I would act like I was trying to find a woman, but in the end, the decision was mine. I didn't want any fucking relationship. It was difficult to find a true woman who would love my daughter truly, who would give her everything that she wants. Every woman wanted me, they wanted me for my money and my power. I was one of the most powerful men in the underworld. They knew they were untouchable under my arm. They wanted me for my money and my power, not for what I really was. I could not find a woman who could accept me and my daughter as we were.

And it was fucking difficult.

And this was my final decision: I would not marry anyone. I just wanted a woman who could pretend to be my girlfriend.

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