Sophia's POV.
I slowly approached Stephanie and fixed my eyes on hers. “Steph, please say something.” I cried.
No answer.
“Steph.....it's me...” I whispered.
She slowly nudged her forehead against mine. “I–I d–don't know wh–what to say.” She said and tears continued to stream down her face as she shook her head.
I sighed and turned to lay back against the wall. God! I want to see the dawn after all this darkness.
We all trembled as we heard his footsteps coming closer. He slowly appeared before us, smiling.
“So fortunate you are awake, Miss Secretary.” He said in a mocking tone. I frowned up at him.
“What do you want?”
He licked his lips and held up my phone, which he had taken when he kidnapped me, and waved it before me.
“You're going to call him, sweetheart.”
My eyes widened and my heart thumped in my chest.
“Wh–what...” I cleared my throat. “Who are you talking about?”
He waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, don't you try to play dump. My patience is very thin.”
I shook my head and looked away. He knew I understood whom he was talking about.
His hand reached out to grab my face fiercely and he whipped my head to look towards him. I gasped in pain.
“You,” he started as he angrily stated each word “are going to call your sweet boyfriend now, hmm?”
I panted loudly as his eyes burrowed deep into mine.
“You're going to call Alexander Hayes.”
“Huh?” I breathed.
“You'll call Alexander Hayes and you'll talk to him normally like you usually do.” He stated coldly. “You'll ask him to meet you at the country cinema at five.” I swallowed hard.
Is he out of his mind? Of course, Alex would know that something is wrong. I haven't talked to him or seen him for two whole days!
“Y–you can't be serious,” I said in disbelief.
He chuckled and brushed his hand through my hair.
“Oh, actually, I am. You'll call him and convince him to meet you. This is the plan and you'll do it, love.”
I shook my head vigorously. “No!”
He cocked his head, frowning. “No?” I shook my head again. He laughed.
“How loyal of you, sweetheart. However, you're starting to get on my nerves.”
“Wh–why do you want him there? What exactly are you planning?” I raised my voice this time. He went silent, pretending to think and then he came closer, reaching out for me.
I tried backing away but the wall was right behind me, so I couldn't.
I Flinched when I felt his hand come in contact with my neck and he pulled out my necklace.
“No!” I screamed. “What are you doing?”
That necklace was a gift from my father. It's special. It has a beautiful golden butterfly pendant. I remember how my father spent months completing the payment but bought it for me. I sobbed. “Please, give it back....”
He pushed it into his pocket, then pulled it out again.
“This....should be enough for him to understand.” He eyed the necklace. What's he talking about now?
He held out my phone again after he finally stuffed the neck in his pocket.
“So now, I'll dial and you'll talk. Don't you dare say a word out of line? Do you understand? You'll say exactly what I told you to say.”
His eyes were murderous. I clenched my fists behind my back.
“I won't call him. I would never lure him into his death!” I cried.
He chuckled loudly. “Don't you miss him?” He brushed his lips against my ear.
Yes.
“No!” I blurted out.
He chuckled against my ear and I started to move away but his hand gripped my face so fast that I froze.
“You don't miss that deep voice?”
Stop. Please stop.
“I don't.” I shook my head in his hand. “Nothing connects us aside from the fact that we're just employer and employee! Damn you!
“And you came with his family to Florida? You think I'm a fool?” His hand let go of my face and I felt the pain in my jaw.
“You won't fucking call him?” His voice held a new level of anger in it.
I kept on sobbing and shook my head. He just laughed like a psychopath.
“What? You'll kill me? Go ahead and do it because I'm never going to do what you said.” He pulled out his gun.
He raised it slowly and blew a puff at the barrel.
Okay, I know I said he can go ahead and kill me but I'm damn scared!
My body was drenched in sweat. I could feel fear eating me alive. He placed his finger slowly at the trigger.
I closed my eyes, anticipating the fatal shot that would grind through my heart but it never did. Instead, I felt Stephanie's body being pulled from my right. I quickly opened my eyes. Wide.
He was pulling Stephanie up with her hair and the gun was pressed right to her temple. A desperate sound escaped me.
Her expression, though, was still the same. Empty. The expression of someone who has lost the will to live.
“Hamilton! You cursed the bastard!!” Andrea growled from beside me. “You pay for this! Damn you!!” He just laughed. That seemed like what he enjoyed doing. Taunting us with his evil laughter.
“I most definitely do not want to kill you, my dear. No one destroys his stepping stone before he steps over them. But I bet you know that I've already stepped over this woman and I can kill her. Well, maybe I'm wrong. I guess she's still my stepping stone because she's here to make you do what I want!” He barked at me.
“I know you're stupid and selfless enough to prefer to die for others and that's exactly why I wish to keep you alive while others die.” He laughed hysterically.
He's mad. I swear he's mad.
I lowered my head and said nothing. He had won.
He threw Stephanie beside me and dialed the number, as he placed the phone over my shoulder. I cocked my head to the side to hold the phone between my ear and shoulder.
“I have no interest in hearing that bastard's voice because I know I might go mad to the extent of killing one of you earlier than I intend because of my hatred for him.” He chuckled as he eyed his gun.
“So I didn't put on a speaker. However, remember I'm watching every single word you utter.” And he pressed the call button.
I listened to the dialing tones and finally, the line connected.