Chapter 6
|| Kiera Stevens's POV ||
Silence.......
There was a long awkward silence around the room. My breathing caught in my lungs, my chest rising up to down heavily in anxiety. I stared down at the dead cockroach, lying next to my feet. The bullet that came from my back was only an inch away from my feet. His door has gotten a big hole from the piercing bullet. I prayed that no one was hurt outside. I hated blood more than anything else in my life.
How the hell did he have a gun?
I sucked a deep breath, my mind playing with the image of him, aiming the gun at my back currently. But when I looked back, it was all a lie. He was smirking like he had hit some jackpot just now. My eyes dropped on his gun, finely wrapped around his long fingers as if he was used to it.
" Did I scare you?", he said, raising one of his eyebrows playfully. I just stood there like a frozen ice cube, too afraid to move or do anything. He continued, taking slow, predatory steps on my way,
" This is what I do when anyone disobeys me!"
My eyes went wide, casting a side glance at the dead cockroach. He kept speaking, keeping his hawk-like eyes on me,
" You said that it's all a lie, didn't you? No one is going to believe my words?"
I didn't say anything in response. Definitely, it wasn't a wise move to argue with a man who had a gun. He walked, stopping right behind me to use his dominating voice to speak clearly,
" Maybe your body has the best evidence, Miss Stevens. Let's check it out.."
His cigarette-flavoured breath kept hitting my nostrils. I felt dizzy because of anxiety or something else that I had no idea about. Before I could react to his words, his arms wrapped me from behind. My lips parted to let out a horrified gasp, even intending to scream until my ass fell on the desk safely.
Azrael wasted no time slipping between my parted thighs, his eyes carrying a smoldering look that shuddered every vein of mine. Did he take my threat too clearly?
I gasped hard when one of his arms disappeared into the hem of my night robe. Panic settled on the pit of my stomach, stuttering in my breath,
" Wait.. what..are you.."
" Hussh!!", he hussed me in a lazy voice, his fingers continued tracing into my robe. I was thankful that I chose to wear a three-quarter pajama underneath. It was more like a command than a little warning. All this time, my eyes laid on the gun in his hand.
The sound of my dress tearing apart snapped me out of my thoughts. My head hung low, spotting the front portion completely torn apart, my stomach was facing the cold air of this room. Tears pricked from the corner of my eyes, not in pain but in fear of watching my threat, becoming true.
Azrael smirked, watching the fear grow in my eyes. My breathing staggered when his fingers caressed my stomach, whispering something dramatically,
" 3 stitches from C-section. I think this evidence can never vanish."
I almost choked myself at his ugly humor. How narcissistic a man could be to turn you into his play tool? Above all, how the hell did he get these smaller details?
Tears of rage and frustration burnt in my eyes. I muttered, eyes laying on the devil close to me, playing with his gun,
" Why.. why are you doing this to me?"
He knew too well that it had one hundred percent possibility to ruin my career once again. Perhaps, it was a mistake to slap him in the crowd. His lips stretched into a small smile. His face dipped down, dangerously close to my stained cheeks. He kissed the corner of my mouth to whisper something clearly,
" Every mistake costs a price. Just think that you are paying for it cruelly. 48 hours is left for you, Miss Stevens. First, in 24 hours, you will enjoy all the privileges of becoming the woman of Azrael De Luca. In the next 24 hours, you will see the consequence of insulting the man who can decide someone's fate. Don't try to pull your stubborn ass because this time, you aren't facing the press or the fans. You are facing the Mafia King, Don of Italian Mafias, AZRAEL DE LUCA.
______________
"Wow, Ki! Look, the tabloids are worshipping you like a goddess! What happened to them all of sudden?" my assistant Molly A.K.A my best friend giggled happily, scrolling through the latest morning news. I was numb, emotionless, broke. How could someone scrub their mind from the incident when their head was under a gun?
' Mafia King, Azrael De Luca"
" You screwed up with the wrong guy this time."
" I want to strip your pride by stripping your clothes for what you did to me!"
" Either you belong to Azrael De Luca or you belong to no one, pretty girl!"
His words kept buzzing inside my head like a mantra especially the part when he said that I had money but he had powers and money both. He wasn't going to end this race until I accepted my defeat.
48 hours!
I had 48 hours to decide between my pride and career something more dirty like either I turn his fuck whore or turn into nothing.
Molly was busy on the phone in the morning. The brands that I worked for praised my work unnecessarily, some even offered advance collaboration deals. Countless flowers had arrived at my door already because they assumed a romantic story between me and Luca already. Yes, that's why I began to call him 'Luca' like he ordered as if I were his employee.
Molly spoke after ending the phone call, her eyes blooming in curiosity,
" Umm..Do you think that it has something to do with investor Azrael? The press has taken a 360-degree turn within a night."
I closed my eyes tightly and parted my lips to spit something but the alarm bell of my office rang. Molly went outside to check the situation. Within a few seconds, she returned with a big grin, jumping like a happy kid,
" Oh my gosh! Kiera, the Lenora Brand's CEO is here to speak to you."
________
Despite the harsh circumstances, I couldn't stop feeling the dull happiness in my heart. Working for Lenora had already been my dream but they only prioritized top models so far.
" Please take a seat, Mrs. Georgia", I offered a polite smile to the lady CEO who returned a big smile, plopping down to the chair in my front. Her eyes shone brightly when she smiled at me.
We started with a formal chat of greetings until Molly offered us snacks. Mrs. Georgia was soon speaking in a professional tone, eyeing around curiously,
" Miss Stevens, I have already seen your rump walk and other advertisements. To be honest, I am impressed with your working style. I really hope to cooperate with you for our next product. But if you don't mind...I have a small request.."
Naturally, I had no issues working with Lenora since it was my dream company. I nodded, giving her a smiles,
" Go ahead!"
Mrs.Georgia cleared her throat before speaking, lowering her voice cautiously,
" Ah..can you please Mr.Luca to consider his next investment in our company? He has been ignoring us for too long."
A gleam of self-slap appeared on my expression. Everything shattered in a moment when I understood why she came for me. I swallowed hard before muttering,
" Mrs.. Georgia..If you don't mind...my assistant will negotiate with you later about this..I am sorry..I have to leave at this moment.."
__________
I stared at the dark city outside, evening wrapped around it like a veil. I knew and understood very well that this day was nothing but a fairytale. Before I could sink in more thoughts, a message popped up on my phone, showing those bold letters in a row,
" The worst 24 hours of your life is going to start tomorrow. Start your countdown, my girl."