Chapter 5
1035 Words
Purple
The screen was pitched black as I stared down at it, still seated. The well-detailed twenty-minute video sat in my palm—the needed evidence to clear out whatever wrong thoughts the media had.
I stared harder, ready to click send, to spread my innocence around, yet a part of me screamed otherwise.
Thinking back, Troy was right; the whole internet has gone crazy. The company, Troy, and I topped Google's frequently searched list. My i********: account has reached a thousand followers in less than five minutes. We were becoming famous, but this was wrong. I wasn't a leech; I wasn't a parasite to feed off Troy's influence. All of them just wanted to know more about Troy.
I reached for the send button, when the door busted open. I jolted at the force. My gaze darted to the lady who came in; she was breathing somewhat hard.
“There is a huge problem.”
I sprang to my feet; panic kicked in. “What happened?”
“Someone is here to see you, and he is creating a huge scene.”
Me?? Apart from my co-workers, I knew no one, not even my new neighbor, who seemed awfully busy to acknowledge me.
Still.
Curiosity gnawed at me as I made my way to see my supposed guest.
I hope for Christ's sake, it wasn't one of the commentators who wanted to ask me first-hand how Troy's lips tasted.
I came to an abrupt halt.
It wasn't a die-hard fan or my neighbors; it was the man that left me shattered—the devil I crawled away from.
“Leon.” The words rolled off my tongue, dried, and almost didn't sound like my voice.
He stood clothed in his casual white top, huge shirt, and jeans. He looked clean, handsome, and somehow worn out.
He found me!
I screamed inwardly.
“Sweetheart,” he called out, and unlike before, my heart didn't drum faster, goosebumps didn't spread through my skin. I felt normal, almost like he didn't speak.
I was healed, well, not entirely, but I knew I was better than the shattered girl who stepped her foot into this country a month ago.
Before I could process a thing, he was walking—running towards me. With one swift move, he dragged me into his embrace, hugging me tight.
My muscles tensed. All I could feel was anger—pure rage that fired through my body. Disgust seconded the feeling.
“Baby, how have you been. f**k! I have finally found you.”
Go to hell! I wanted to say, but stopped.
He withdrew, cupping my cheeks, and I slapped his hands away, pinning him with a warning glare.
“Baby, I am sorry. I know I wasn't a good man. I…I knew you were there on the evening of your graduation.” I stilled; nothing on earth could have prepared me for that.
He knew?! He knew I was there, yet he didn't stop. He didn't spare me a glance; he ignored me and continued f*****g that slut. He knew!
I expected to feel hurt, but all I got was more anger.
“I knew you saw us, that woman and me, but...” he leaned in, and I retreated, disgust gleaming in my gaze. “I have left her. Baby, I know I made a mistake, I f****d up. I didn't mean to hurt you, I didn't mean to cause you pain.” Desperation bled from his every word and tainted the once partly lively ambiance. “I am sorry, plus I have left her. She is in the past, and we are the presence—”
I couldn't hold it anymore.
A bitter laughter poured out of my lips, and I clutched my stomach as I laughed harder.
Was he serious?? Is this a joke?
I scoffed.
It had to be a joke, because there was no way he would possibly stand in front of me and spew such nonsense.
“You really do surprise me.” I spat. “I must have been stupid to have loved a heartless animal like you.”
He gritted his teeth, brow creased in anger. “What are you trying to say?? Are you trying to leave me??” He stood a step closer. “Try it, I dare you, and I will tell the whole world that you left me because you are famous—that you used me and dumped me once you found fame, that—”
“Do whatever you want. I don't care.” Color drained from his face.
I was scared, but I would rather lose everything than give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Never.
“You—”
“Careful with how you speak to my woman.” The hair of the nape of my neck stood. I spun, and there he was.
Shit! He heard our conversation.
He closed the gap between us in three powerful strides. His hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer. My skin tingled in awareness.
He narrowed his gaze to Leon, and then pinned him down with a death stare.
“Stay away from my woman or else…” His tone was sharp and piercing, his words venom that snaked through Leon. “I will kill you in the worst way possible.” The look in Troy’s eyes said he was damn serious. Luckily, Leon was smart enough to get the hint.
He worked down a hard swallow and took a step back.
“This…isn't over,” he said and scurried out. Yet my mind didn't register a thing. All I could think of was the heat that radiated from Troy's touch and burned a hole in my skin, the smooth yet rough texture of his voice, his right timing—like he knew when I was in trouble, when I needed him—and the look in his eyes, his words, and the way he held and kissed me.
It wasn't just now; he had claimed me. In his twisted mind, I was his and his alone.
And I submitted to his every touch like he actually owned me.
Maybe just maybe he did.
- Writer
