Chapter 32 He will come after her
ANGELICA'S POV
Everything was a mess.
Things happening around me were a mess, and on top of that, my feelings were a mess.
I looked at the Martino brothers in the meeting hall chatting with their clients and couldn't help but admire how picturesque they looked, even with their masks on.
And to say these were the same brothers who had mouths all over me and near my…
I shook my head to clear my thoughts before typing in the printed schedule they needed on their desk.
Once done, I walked to the printing room, where I met Alen.
“When did you return, Angelica? I got my keys from the reception. Are you angry that we made you go there? Did Boss Ericson scold you?” Alen asked.
I shook my head at him.
“No. He just said…” What punishment should I give you? If you tell me you don't want me, I will stop. If you tell me you don't want us brothers to fck you, I will stop.
I cleared my throat to avoid those words from echoing in my head.
“To be a bit earlier since I barely made it in time,” I said, and Alen sighed in relief.
“You seriously saved our day. Would you like to join us for dinner? Many employees and secretaries from the 17th floor would be joining. You can get to know people better,” Alen said.
I hummed.
It was a good idea to mingle with others. I just couldn't keep hovering around the brothers, even when it was my job.
“Sure. Text me the time and place,” I said, and he looked at me blankly.
What was wrong? Did I say something wrong? I furrowed my brows.
“For that, you realize you will have to give me your number first, right?” Alen asked.
I chuckled awkwardly before pulling out my phone and handing it to him.
“I'll give you a missed call,” I said, grabbing the printed paper and the documents I needed to print. He hummed.
“Well, now I have the number of ‘the hot sensation girl’ in the company who could tackle our bosses,” Alen complimented, and I blushed at his words.
Tackle the boss? It was more like their bosses were devouring me, and they didn't know about it.
“Are you guys done talking?” I heard another familiar voice and turned to look at the man I had seen around the bosses several times.
“You can be nice, Zishan,” Alen said.
I looked at Zishan, who hummed before sighing.
“The rudeness was for you. Get back to your seat, Alen. Miss Li, do you need any assistance?” Zishan asked me politely, and I chuckled at Alen’s ashen face as he punched Zishan childishly.
“You guys talk. My work is done, so I'll take my leave,” I said, walking out of the printing room.
As soon as I entered the area near the lift, my phone vibrated, and I furrowed my brows.
Victoria? Why was she calling me during working hours?
“Hello?”
“What's going on, Angelica? Is someone threatening you?” Victoria sounded anxious, and my heart skipped a beat.
The image of that dead rabbit appeared in my head, and I bit my lips.
Why would she ask me that? Has she sensed something?
“Why?” I asked.
“Well, I received a parcel in your name, and you know I am not the one to pry into someone's privacy, but it smelt a bit awful. When I opened it, it had this–” Victoria said, and I knew she sent me the picture.
I opened the messaging application, my heart drumming in my chest when I saw the head of the deer in the cartoon with words –
”I'll catch you, and you'll look at me like a deer caught in headlights. Does that sound romantic to you?”
My fists clenched against the phone before I took a deep, shaky breath.
“Someone must be joking. Who would threaten me? Don't think much about it,” I said to Victoria, who hummed but said nothing.
“It doesn't seem like a joke. Now I am happy you shifted there with the bosses. That's the most secure building in the entire city,” Victoria said.
I hummed before telling her I was kind of busy and ending the call.
The phone vibrated again, and I looked at the unknown number with a bit of wariness.
What were the chances this was the same person?
I hesitantly picked up the call because many clients had been calling me to schedule a meeting with the brothers, and I didn't want my personal life to affect my professional one.
“Hello?”
“Hello, sweetheart,” The man on the other end said, and I froze.
It was indeed him.
“What do you want from me? What have I ever done to you? Why are you doing this to me?” I couldn't help but ask, feeling my resolution breaking now that he was sending me such things and making things hard for people around me.
How shocked Victoria must’ve been after opening that parcel!
There was a long, drawn-out silence on the other end, and I was about to end the call, knowing he would never answer why he was behind me in the first place. But then he spoke again.
“Your tough shield has started to crack again. If I were you, I would be careful, my sweet angel. The more you panic, the sweeter and more appealing you become,” his lecherous words made me want to gag.
I clenched my fists before walking to some distance in anger.
“My dad will catch you and ensure you have a taste of your own medicine,” I said.
The man chuckled. His dark, cold chuckle, void of emotions, unnerved me.
“Is that so? Are you sure that old man can stop me from getting what I want? He has been looking for me for so long, so why hasn't he succeeded, even when I already know your address? This reminds me, you have changed your address again. Why do you act like this? It was so hard for me to find your home this time. Should I come to your company next?”
The man threatened.
I felt my fingers trembling.
It was the same feeling of helplessness that was clouding my heart as the realization that this man was down to ruining my life once again took over.
I didn't even know why he was doing this to me.
What sins did I commit for him to come after me?
“Please leave me alone. I don't want to be loved and cherished by you. There are so many beautiful women in this world. Must you come after me?” I asked, falling to my knees.
I know a normal person would call the cops and report this man for stalking and threatening, and it wasn't like I didn't do it.
That was my first mistake. The moment I reported him, he became more active rather than stopping, and the police could never find the real person.
They kept going in circles until the day the man caught me, and he tortured me, almost forcing me to the brink of death.
At that time, it was my stepfather who had found me. The police had been useless even after that. Their investigation ended up with nothing.
Even my stepfather's team, who were renowned gang members, conducted an investigation, but they came up empty-handed too.
Nothing has ever worked against him.
It was like he was a demon I had summoned and vowed to make my life hell.
“Don't be like this, my sweet angel. You know, hearing you cry doesn't make me pity you; it makes me want to love you more. Do you want me to leave all the work and come there to get you?” the man asked, and I sobbed, placing my hand over my mouth to control my whimpers.
“Well, I love you too. I gotta go. I have a betrayer to dissect. I'll send you pictures of my art later. Stay tuned, okay?” the man said before the sound of the call ending came, and I whimpered.
The thought of those images, those gruesome images that haunted me through nights for more than six months, started to surface in my mind.
With trembling hands, I was about to call my mother when the phone slipped from my hand, and my heart became frantic.
I know I was going under a panic attack.
I gasped loudly, crouching at the side of the window, clutching my chest as it became hard to breathe.
‘Your panic makes you more appealing. Your cries make me want to come for you. I love you too. You are the only one I have my eyes on,’ The words echoed in my head, and I felt my throat being choked.
Dark spots started dancing in my vision. I was slipping out.
“Mi Vida!” I heard a familiar voice before someone lifted me. It was hard to decipher who it was, but whoever it was surely had a calming scent.
As my breathing started to normalize, darkness took over me. With my half-open eyes, I looked at Dylan's and Ericson's concerned faces one last time before closing my eyes.