Chapter 6

After taking a shower to reduce the tension knitted to my body. Giving dread to realize what I used to label as mine is going to fade away. All of it will slip, my emotions, those memories, everything. 'You can't give up yet, Zariah,' Diverting my mind from the agonizing prominence awaiting us in the future, I kept my posture unaffected to stop him from reaching me. He has also freshened up and was waiting for me. "Zariah." He called while having dinner and how his voice sent convulsions to my core. "Yes?" I asked softly, not even daring to look up at him. "When Issac is coming tomorrow?" He asked sternly. "Around 10am." "I see. I am telling you again, you are not going to see him alone, understand?" His voice came demanding, not in the mood for argument yet my voice dared to speak up against him. "Why? He is my father after all." I shrugged and the threatening stare he sent in my direction for daring to do this was highly unwanted. "It makes me odious to see that man near you." He growled but eventually the enrage expression on his face converted into his usual snicker. "But what can I say? You are his slave after all." He hummed, leaning back. "What do you even know about me to presume this? You don't know anything." I argued. Almost glaring at him but his eyes narrowed in dejection for a mere second and was soon replaced by his rage. "I know, that's why." He hissed. "When you know then why do you do this?" I asked, voice slumped in woe. "Because I don't want you to stay in his shadows!" He raised his voice which made my breath hitch in anticipation of why he is so infuriated. He soothed down immediately after noticing the startle on my face. "Zariah..." He called me, getting up. "You are mine now." Declaring, he lifted my chin with his index finger, hand across my face to entangle my senses with his hot breaths. "And I won't tolerate it if anyone dares to attach their string on my chattel." He snarled huskily in my ears, his voice sent shivers down my spine, causing me to arch my back in tension. "Engrave it in your soul." He continued. "I won't let anyone stray you." He enunciated. Stray...? Not breaking the profound eye contact between us which amplified my heartbeats abnormally under the power of his eyes controlling me. "Do you understand?" He asked in a low tone. Swallowing hard in apprehension, I barely gave him a nod in response which wasn't to his pleasure. "I said, do you fucking understand?" He growled, tightening his grip on my jaw. "Y-Yes." I whimpered, nibbling my cheek to conceal the fright in my head and now weakened before him. "Good girl." Whispering in my ear, he placed a soft kiss on my cheek and pulled away after combining his dominance to my beat in a snap. 'Fuck, He is serious about me.' Returning to me with a smile, he went to the room. When I was sure he left, I cursed under my breath, slamming my hand on the table. "I am so dead. I am so dead." I whispered, pulling my head in frustration, losing my senses in the fiery fire of rage. "Dammit," Cursing, I got up and went to the garden and lit up my cigarette, taking a long inhale from it to ease my mind 'If I hadn't felt this way for him things would have been easier. Why do I still cling onto you? Why do I want you so badly when you are not mine anymore?' I sighed by this thought, sitting down on the stair under this crepuscular sight serving as a source of equanimity for me. 'I am struck badly. If Father came to know about my feelings for Nathaniel, he would kill me.' Pressing my teeth together, I slammed my hand on the ground, taking another long inhale from the cigarette, exhaling the smoke in the sky. Closing my eyes momentarily to remain in this moment, urging it to stop but it didn't and I had no choice but to bear with the fatality of the situation. After finishing my cigarette, I threw it in the dustbin, warning the servant to shut their mouth and not tell Nathaniel about it. He hated smoking, I hadn't seen him doing it ever, not even when we were teenagers. I knew he would be furious if he found out it was my habit. Shaking my head, I ate the peppermint. Yeah, I kept it with me in case I faced Nathaniel and had to conceal the scent. After hiding the smell, I went to the room. Nathaniel was fast asleep, laying on his stomach with his one hand laying on my side, taking deep breaths. For a moment, all my worries vanished when I saw him. Only if you knew... Smiling faintly, I walked up to him and sat on my side, taking his hand and putting it on my waist, staring at his face with an uncontrollable smile. "You look beautiful when you're asleep." I whispered with a faint chuckle, laying down but his hand abruptly grabbed my waist, pulling me closer. "Is that so?" He hummed. I didn't know he was awake! My eyes widened in astonishment, staring at his face and the usual devious smirk. "I.. mean less i-intimidating." I muttered, stealing a glance away from his exquisite form. "Do I intimidate you?" He asked groggily, opening his one eye. "Can't you guess?" I counter-questioned shyly, still not looking up. He chuckled huskily, pulling me closer in his arm, "Be intimidated all you want, Zariah. Just don't be afraid of me." The last part gave us both a painful tingle knowing it was too late for comfort. What it could possibly do? "By the way, what took you so long?" He asked, closing his eyes again. "I was in the garden, the weather's great today." I replied nonchalantly. Slowly lifting my eyes again to see him sleeping as he couldn't see the smile on my lips. "I see," He hummed and sniffed. "Did you eat a peppermint?" He asked, curling his lips downward. "Yeah, I don't like ginger and my mouth tasted like it." I shrugged, lying smoothly. He hummed again, snuggling close to me, falling asleep as I kept staring at his face, wanting to tell him the condition of my heart but; At this point even if I confess, I would only be lying. The next day, I was at work and clearly didn't expect him to come. "Nathaniel?" I asked, not believing he is actually here. "You said Issac's flight is at 10am." He replied casually, leaning on the table. In his usual suited form, that black buttoned shirt and trousers along with his waistcoat. Making his broad chest prominent, sleeves rolled perfectly to his elbows along with his glove- He was an embodiment of perfection. "Yeah..." I nodded. "Good, let's go then." He shrugged. "There's still time." I reasoned. "It would take half an hour to reach the airport, let me just finish this file." I said softly, hoping he would listen. "Oh, okay." He smiled, taking a seat, putting his one leg over the other and began to use his phone. "Thanks." I smiled faintly, taking the file and giving it to Giovanni, one of my men. "Make sure to get it signed by tomorrow." I ordered and sat down. Taking another file, reviewing it but all my focus on work lost the instant Nathaniel began to whistle. I swear this sound hexes me badly to turn oblivious of the surroundings. I tried to work but one file took longer than expected and Nathaniel smirked, taunting me. "It seems like you are only good at killing. Can't handle one file." He chuckled, mocking me. Pressing my teeth together, I badly wanted to retort that you did this to me but looking away. I mumbled, "Let's go." Grabbing my bag and coat as we left to pick up Father as I mentally prepared myself for the chaos which is about to happen. We reached the airport, waiting for the flight. Nathaniel was still whistling while leaning beside me. "We will leave tomorrow." Nathaniel said out of blue. "Come again?" I blinked, thinking he was kidding. "We will leave tomorrow, you can have a day with your friend, enough time for goodbye... who knows when you will meet again." He muttered the last part, closing his arms at his chest, "What do you mean by this?" I asked, arching a brow in suspicion. "We will leave for America and then she will be used in your place, she wouldn't have time." He smirked, jeering at me, rolling my eyes off from him, I turned my head away, ignoring his harsh words. "We will see." Mumbling, I turned my head away, waiting for Father's flight. Even though Nathaniel already ruined my plan by coming along but I must find a way to know what I should do next.