Rebirth: Flirting with a Dangerous Billionaire

He loves her

"Where are you going dressed like that?" The shock of someone behind me made me jump. I was immediately embarrassed, I tried to break free of his grasp, but his grip was unrelenting. I closed my eyes and sucked in the air, trying to ground myself against a wave of nausea. To focus, I looked down at my t-shirt and leggings and forced words past the sickly lump in my throat "Please, let go." I begged; it was meant to be a warning, but my words were almost a whisper. I hadn't had a drink since I woke up in the hospital, and, right now, it was hitting me hard. Despite the cold weather, the air felt hot and stifling around me. To regain some personal space, I kicked at his legs. Finally, Cain let me go with a grunt, and I lurched forward, filling my burning lungs with deep, panting breaths.

He gave me space to recover, and when my breathing slowed, I turned to face him. He was stood where I left him, it was similar to my first night here, but our roles reversed. His sports bag was on the floor at his side, and his face was drained of colour. He looked concerned, hurt. I wanted to tell him it wasn't personal. It was me. It was unclear why I had responded so strongly, but it was natural to be shocked when grabbed from behind. However, I've never had anyone to comfort. I couldn't find the words.

Bewildered, I searched his face, and we accidentally locked eyes. His eyes seemed bright and full of emotion. I felt a pang in my chest. He tore his gaze away, blushing and cleared his throat. "I... you...are you ok?" he stuttered. Before I could reply in a small voice unlike his own, he continued, "You i***t, you keep scaring me...I can't keep worrying about losing you." He grabbed his bag and pushed past me, and I listened to his fading footsteps as he descended the stairs before slamming the door. I remained in a state of confusion a moment longer and slowly walked in his wake, mulling over his parting words as I went.

There had been an element of pleading desperation in his tone. He was obsessed with Mara and the incident on my first night made it was clear he was physically attracted to Mara. Perhaps in his toxic way, he loved her? But, unfortunately, his execution was all wrong. He was jealous, possessive. Was his love oppressive enough to drive someone to suicide? But that didn't explain the occult symbols. I reached the bottom of the stairs and took a raspy breath. What was that? I had almost suffocated. My lungs were aching just from walking down the stairs. The house was big, and the furniture was sparse. Near collapsing, I rest my hand on one of the decorative tables littered the place. I feel awkward using this expensive custom furniture to prop me up. What's worse is that this particular table sports a picture of Cain. He was everywhere.

I couldn't help but notice him. He was easy on the eyes. Thriving on routine, he left the house at the same time every day carrying a sports bag. I had stumbled upon the reason why. I picked up the framed photo to have a closer look. There were 11 broad men in the picture, all wearing the same polyester shirts and shorts. In the bottom right corner, the team captain held a football trophy on one knee. His ebony hair was pulled back in a bun revealing warm eyes that pulled me in. I traced his strong jaw with my finger, noticing a few loose curls resting against it. Everyone in Mara's world was new and beguiling. I couldn't help but wonder who he was. I continue my appraisal of him, barely noticing that I'm captivated. He effortlessly commands as much attention as Cain, the smiling centrepiece of the photo. Finally, I get a grip on myself. After placing the picture back on its table, I journey into the afternoon sun.

The anxiety and oppression I had felt just moments before melted away as the breeze hit my face. Embracing the freedom, my feet fell into a rhythmic beat beneath me. This was my fresh start, and I needed to find better coping mechanisms; I wouldn't let my past control me. This new life was a miracle I couldn't let rot. I am still bitter about my old life. The thought of returning to It makes me sick. Jogging is my first small step toward taking control. Mara was outwardly attractive but unfit and severely underweight. Something I am unaccustomed to. Despite the pressure I put on my body, I was never out of breath. I'm used to mental and physical exhaustion endured when survival means working yourself into the ground. On the rare occasion, I could rest, I woke up with the physical energy to do it all again, even if my mind was debilitated. Now I sleep more than ever, yet this body wakes up with little to no energy, and I soon expend what power I have. I have taken measures to fix this. Over the past few weeks, my endurance has steadily increased along with my food intake. I hope in time, my physical condition will be optimal. It's good to have something within my control, plus running cleared my head.

Weeks had passed with little progress. I had gradually won over the trust of Mara's parents, who now seemed a lot more comfortable with my return to school. Mainly Eva, with whom I'd spent a lot of time bonding, the longer I spent with her, the quicker the feeling of fulfilment eclipsed my greed. She, too, seemed to enjoy my company and opened up further about the family. I had tried to remain casual in the questions that plagued me. Despite the apparent danger, I continued to flirt with disaster. Cain had a sort of magnetism. The closer I became to him, the more he tried to seek out the information I withheld. I felt my eyes upon me at mealtimes, anticipating I would slip up, but that was part of the excitement. Likewise wanted to know everything about him. I bet he had secrets too.

I convinced myself the more I knew about him, the better I could protect my secret. Eva was more than happy that I was showing renewed interest in restoring my knowledge of the family. Since they met, Cain had taken a shine to Mara. Cain had been a troubled youth, but his behaviour improved dramatically since his father had remarried. Their parents had surmised this was Mara's influence. He seemed to mature quickly and was vigilant in protecting her. When Mara had been found and taken to hospital, Cain had taken it hard. Naturally, everything I'm told will be biased. The whole family was avoiding my "triggers".

"He has never been very aware of the emotions of others", Eva warned, "and in the past, he hasn't noticed when you have been uncomfortable. At times he may seem overbearing, but he does mean well." It was a strange statement, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. They had noticed more than I had given them credit for. I was shocked to learn that they were aware Cain had feelings towards Mara, feelings that were more than what a sibling would have. "I suppose things like this happen when you put two teenagers together, and it's not like your related by blood. You just never seemed to feel the same."

The rest of the information I had gleaned through photos scattered about the house, like the one I had looked at earlier. I had yet to meet Charlie, but photos of the younger brother were the pride of place in the living room. He was cute with his cherub features and blonde hair. He called home regularly. Mara had never been close to Charlie, so he had gotten excited when I answered the phone and appeared receptive to his discussion about dinosaurs. I quickly became at home in my surroundings. This vast manor had everything.

On my third night here, I had discovered a library. I have never been someone who had the patience or the time for books, but now I had no need for work and found myself with time to fill. I figured practising my reading skills might help me read at the university level, so I had taken to spending most afternoons there. An unexpected benefit was that it had brought me closer to Emmerson. Emmerson was a doctor; he was gentle and studious by nature and spent long hours reading complicated books. He had witnessed my struggle and had eased me in with some casual reading, and over time we formed a small book club. Like his son, the man was handsome but lacked the intensity of his scion. Instead, he was stoic and reserved. He encouraged my independence, and Cain, in his fawning, stifled it.

I found my place in this family, yet the closer I became to the others, the more problematic Cain became. He was jealous and prone to anger because he wasn't getting special treatment. The changes within our family dynamic had become a source of stress for him. The frustration he directed at me in private. He was controlling, discouraging me from spending time with Eva or handing me foods I didn't want at mealtimes. He had recently taken offence to my choice of clothing down to my underwear despite being materialistic himself. His treatment of me was akin to that of a misbehaving pet. He knew full well if I raised this topic with his parents, I would risk losing my freedom to attend university. They had only agreed under the assurance he would be watching over me. So I continued my surveillance from afar.

On numerous occasions, when I was confident of his absence, I had attempted to enter Cain's room. It was impregnable and locked at all times. To date, it was the only room I hadn't seen. It had become a personal challenge. However, I'm unsure if I suspect him of hiding something or if the mystery distracts from the harsh voice in my head reminding me I'm a worthless fake.

No matter what I do, I end up back here, hoping to silence the voice. I have a lot of questions and no answers. I had planned to return home but have failed in achieving it. I need to survive unnoticed until I have enough information to make my next move. It would also be worth prying further into Mara's business, specifically relating to the fall. This might help me figure out what was going on. I still intended to return home, based on local landmarks, I had guessed my approximate location. I estimate the trip would take me at least an hour, and I would have to utilize public transport to avoid the watchful eyes of the staff. One thing I had noticed was they were fiercely loyal and concerned for Mara. A small test confirmed both Eva and Emmerson were kept up to date on my activity without me having to tell them, but that wasn't the biggest hurdle.

The most daunting aspect of this journey was that I would have to skip a few classes, which would mean giving Cain the slip. It was the only time I would have enough freedom. Even on my jogs, I have agreed to remain within the boundaries of the manor. The Morgan's had afforded their children plenty of spending money, so that wasn't an issue. Mara's funds were limitless.

The sooner I returned home, the better. Outside the comfort of the hospital, I have been having recurring nightmares. I'm lost in the darkness, aware that something is lurking, stalking, just out of sight. I try to run, to scream, but my voice is feeble and choked by dread. Then I plummet, the ground gives way, and I wake up. At first, I wondered if they were Mara's. Still, it was also possible to be related to my old life and current situation. I glanced at a book Emmerson was reading, and it said stress can cause nightmares., I just don't understand why they seem so familiar. The visions were scary but obscure. Sometimes upon waking, I remember a group of men laughing and can recall a stone building. It's always mixed with the invasive memory of someone close enough to me that I can smell the alcohol on their breath. My personal space has become precious. I wanted to explain this to Cain, but how could I without encouraging suspicion. The once tantalizing feeling of hot breath on my neck made me sick to my core.