Lost (Beautiful Beast I)

Chapter-6

~Until we have seen someone's darkness we don't really know who they are. Until we have forgiven someone's darkness, we don't really know what love is~

- Marianne Williamson

Leia

I was beyond exhausted but sleep was the last thing in my head.

I stayed in the balcony for an hour or two, then laid on the bed till the first ray of sun penetrated through the open window. I had a hot shower and wore back the black lingerie before wrapping a bathrobe on my body and stepping out of the room. The room he entered in last night is shut and while I contemplated whether to go knock on it or just ran out of the house, he called me from behind.

'Looking for me?'

I turned around to see him standing with clothes in his hand. He's dressed up just like last night, in a two piece suit. 

'Good morning' He said with a polite smile on his face before stretching out his hand to me to take the clothes from him.

'Thanks' I murmured, taking it from him and went back to my room.

I expected the cloth to be his huge shirt that covers my knees and boxers that won't stay on my hips but it was a simple baby pink A-line, sleeveless dress that reached just below my knees.

It must be his girlfriend's or not, or he bought a new one for me or he gave me the maids cloth which actually doesn't look like a maid's cloth or I should just stop thinking so much about a damn dress, be glad that I got one and get the hell out of here.

I slipped into the dress and stepped out again. The hallway was empty. I walked through the same way he brought me last night and when I reached the staircase, I heard music coming from the living room. Descending down the stairs, I saw the den to be empty but the TV switched on, Barry Manilow playing softly.

The moment I got down the last stair, a young girl jogged inside the house in her jogging clothes. She smiled at me before removing her earphones.

'My dress fits you' She said. Removing her brunette hair from the tight bun, she let it flow freely before kicking her shoes out and walking towards me.

'I'm Sophia' She stretched her hand.

'Rose' I replied and shook her hand, giving her a small smile.

'Nicholas told us about last night. How did you even end up there?' she asked and moved towards the kitchen.

I don't want to tell them that my own father sold me to brothel.

'I was kidnapped' I said instead, watching her take a bottle from the refrigerator and drink.

'Not a surprise. Stark runs this business. Women and drugs are his life' she said closing the refrigerator and wiping her mouth at the back of her hand.

'Don't you think the Police should know about this? There were so many girls and those men in suits were not gentlemen at all' I spat in disgust.

For my surprise Sophia chuckled.

'In which Era are you living in, Rose? Come on, Irina is eager to meet you'

I didn't ask who Irina is, instead followed her out towards the huge glass windows and to the backyard.

A woman with shoulder length black hair, stood with her back facing us. Below her were some men ploughing while she kept throwing orders to them. I just kept watching the woman and the men doing their work and didn't realize that we are walking straight towards the woman.

'Irina'

The woman turned around at Sophia's call and her eyes landed on me. A warm smile spread across her lips.

'Rose, isn't it?'

I nodded. She stretched her hand and I reached to take it.

'I'm Irina, Nicholas mother' 

The man is definitely not a serial killer, after all. I can't believe he just brought me to his home where he lives with his family. Moreover, Nicholas is nothing like Irina; he has this dark cloud that surrounds him, while his mother looked like a lovely woman.

'Nicholas told us what happened last night' Irina's kind voice pulled me out of my never ending thoughts.

'It was a nightmare to me' I heard myself telling the truth.

'I'm glad Nick found you' She replied and went back ordering the men.

'What are they doing?' I asked Sophia, motioning towards the two men in dirt.

'Ploughing. Irina loves plantation' Sophia replied. 

Aunt May loves plantation too. I wonder if she realised that I haven't come knocking at her door, reminding her to take blood pressure pills after breakfast and kissing her goodbye before leaving for work. She will call me up or ask Marie and then finally question father about me and all it will happen by evening when I don't show up as she waited for me.

'I thought so. I mean, it's a beautiful garden' I said looking around 'I can't imagine the hard work you put in'

'It surely was difficult but I'm happy to see this result every time I wake up in the morning' she pointed towards the window above which I'm sure gives a beautiful view of the whole garden below.

'I have a little more work to finish. You girls finish your breakfast by then' Irina said politely.

We left the garden and walked back into the house. The house takes my breath away every time. A villa like this will belong only to rich people. I'm sure Nicholas must be a businessman.

We had bread, steak and milk. Sophia was too keen in knowing about me and asked multiple questions which had no multiple choices. Having no choices, I ended up lying to her partially. I told her I live alone, which was a lie but me working as a waitress was partially true, because I did work as a waitress before. I didn't find it right to tell her the complete truth though.

I decided to leave this place once I was done with the breakfast. It's not appropriate to stay here, it'll look like I took advantage. When I told Irina that I want to leave right away, she insisted on having a word with Nicholas when he returns because the place from where he saved me is no ordinary and those men will definitely be searching for me. When I said I'll go to the cops, she gave me a ridiculous look and said most of the cops work for him and I'll be making things easy for them by presenting myself in a golden platter in the police station. I couldn't actually believe, not because it's impossible, because it's all kind of filmy.

But either way I decided to stay the day and talk to Nicholas cause as much as ridiculous it all sounds to me, I still must believe that my father sold to me to brothel, which is also filmy. So, I better not take a chance.

I spent the rest of the day with Sophia who loved talking. She's studying law in London and is here on her holidays. She's not Nicholas's biological sister and I realised that when she called Irina by her name. She's got an older brother too, Aron and they have lived here with Nicholas and his family due to their irresponsible father who was left heart broken after losing his younger sister and his wife. He settled in Texas, isolating himself from the world and no matter how many times they persuaded him to come back, he stood on his guard and refused to be with them. All he does the whole day is drink and sleep. 

I didn't quit feel right about her father and his decision to waste his life for himself as well as for his children but I didn't judge her on that and neither did I give my opinion, because my father basically sold me out and called me a w***e and if that didn't knock some sense into me, I don't know what will.

Sophia gave me some space after lunch and the rest of the day went by in vain and I found myself thinking of the life I had till yesterday before s**t hit the fan. I didn't know what to do about the whole situation I am in. I can't get back to the man I loved unconditionally and looked up to no matter how ignorant he has been to me throughout his life. Marie was always right, he caged me. He didn't let me get educated even though I wanted to, didn't even accept me working anywhere and after so much talking and speeches, he agreed to let me get a job. 

I don't understand where it all went wrong from my side, what made me blind to actually look into my father and understand what he really is. I was naïve to look at the monster whom I called a father and an irresponsible coward who wanted a damn son. In spite of what he did to me, I can't find myself to hate him so fast, it's so hard and the more I think about it, the more emotional I get and the water work starts.

I stayed in the balcony of my room as dusk feel upon and Nicholas didn't return from his work. Sophia brought me dinner to my room when I refused to have anything, saying I was not hungry. She's kind and polite, which made me finish the dinner for her sake. Time lapsed, all the lights went off and Irina and Sophia went to sleep while I remained awake, waiting for him to come.

When I finally gave up and was about to close the door, head lights appeared behind the main gates. The car entered in and the engine went off. Three vague silhouettes got down and walked towards the main door.

Leaving my bedroom, I quickly walked down the stairs. The lights in the den switched on and I came face to face with a brown eyed, brown haired man. They are two other men behind him with their back facing us.

The man's eyebrows scrunched in confusion before realization dawned upon him.

'Rose, right?' His deep voice made the other two men turn around.

My eyes instantly went to Nicholas, who stood their in his muscular glory. When I saw the man beside him, I almost stopped breathing.

The man is tall and aging but his physical strength and penetrating cold eyes are strong enough to destroy anyone in front of him. He's vaguely a familiar man, a man I've never met before, but  seen him in on the television at the new section.

Every headlines and front page of the newspaper is filled with his images, tucked in the crime section every single day. His name is a death bell and his mere presence anywhere is death itself. There are monsters in this world, many monsters and he happens to be the king of all.

Lantsov Vladimir Antonovich

His cold gaze was on me and I couldn't look anywhere else, the fear in me was so intense which made me clutch the newel tight inspite of my palms being sweaty.

'What are you doing up so late?' Nicholas rough voice shook me. The men just stared at me intensely, waiting for me to reply while I tried to comprehend something and stop the trembling in my body.

'I'm perfectly sure I was loud enough' He stepped forward, slipping his hands at the side pockets of his trouser.

Holding myself together and trying my best to ignore those cold eyes, I replied.

'I-I was waiting for y-you'

Both the men chuckled listening to me. Nicholas released a sigh.

'Go back to your room. I'll meet to you there'

As soon as I heard him, I just sprinted up the stairs to my room and locked the door behind. I took deep breaths, calming my nerves. 

That man down there is a criminal and that's all I was able to think about. None of my problems mattered, none of it and even though I want to sleep away from my problems due to exhaustion, I wanted answers from Nicholas.

I kept convincing myself that Nicholas was in that dreadful club that night because he's a cruel businessman, just like the others who were buying those girls to fulfill their sick pleasure. But after seeing that man downstairs, I don't know how to convince myself and moreover, I'm afraid to know the truth.

The sudden knock on the door startled me.

I turned around and opened to the door to reveal Nicholas standing out, his stern eyes on me. I opened the door wide and let him step in. Though the room is pretty big enough, he seem to shrink it with his huge dominant frame.

'What made you wait for me till this hour? I hope it's something important' He spoke.

The first thought came into my head was to ask what that man was he doing in his house. But considering the fact that I am in no right to question him under his roof, I pushed the thought at the back of my head and proceeded with what really I wanted to talk.

'I wanted to leave this morning but your mother told me to have a word with you' I said.

He remained quiet. Dead silence occupied the room and I breathed as softly as possible.

I looked up to see him staring at me. It didn't scare me, instead it was like he's trying to show me something through his eyes.

'I don't mind if you want to leave,' his voice as soft as feather 'but let me remind you that you were the highest bid that night, and because of you Stark lost the money. Stark doesn't like unfinished business, Rose. His men are searching for you and they will not stop until they find you. I'm your only hope. This is the last place they will expect you to be'

His words crushed my hope. I already didn't have any idea on how I'll manage myself out there and with men searching for me, I wonder I will last even for a day.

I thought about the ways I would manage to escape this situation and the only way I got was Adam Wilson. Aunt May's younger son, who is a cop. Maybe, Sophia was right about the cops working for Stark but I don't think everyone are, and I definitely don't think Adam is one of those corrupted ones but with Adam out of states, I let the thought slip away. 

Nicholas cleared his throat, gaining my attention.

'I-I can find a way' I replied.

'You can't go back to your house or even enter your colony. Men will be there, waiting for you. So, humor me, please'

They will be near the colony? 24/7 waiting for me to return? 

I stood awkwardly without any idea or thought in my head. I can't stay here, not after seeing that man, at the same time, I can't seem to find a safe place than his home.

'Look at me, Rose'

I obeyed.

His eyes turned soft and he stepped forward, not close but not far either.

'I know this is all new to you. You found yourself in a place you shouldn't even think about and I'm truly sorry for whatever happened to you there. I didn't come there to save you but I'm glad I did. You're safe here, under my roof, among my family. It will take some time for Stark to let go off you, until then, you have all the liberty to be here' He said.

'But-

'Think about it. I'll be leaving for work around six in the morning. If you want to leave, I'll drop you to your place. Else I suggest you to have a good sleep, considering it's two in the morning and your eyes are red'

He walked out of the room without waiting for my reply.