Dirty little games

Chapter 13: Trapped and exposed

LOLA'S POV

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind kept wandering back to the very first night I stripped, Dad, Liam, Ava and the mess I'm currently into.

Overnight, I became a girl who lost her biggest supporter and anchor with no traces of body left.

Ava, I haven't reached out to her in days and I wondered how she was doing.

No matter how much I desperately wanted to leave this place, I knew one thing for sure. It was impossible to go back to the life I had before.

Dragging the quilt over my head, muffled sounds of sobs escaped my lips. I really, really missed Dad.

I cried until dawn. Till my eyes became tired.

My eyelids were so heavy that I couldn't keep them open anymore. So I drifted off to sleep.

*****************

The next morning, I dragged myself out of the bed. My head was banging hard and painful, body muscles thoroughly aching.

Dragging my feet towards the bathroom, my head spun and I grabbed the bathroom door for support, sighing in tiredness.

Washing up with warm water felt so good. It made my body feel a little more alive.

Putting on a simple loose top and free pants, I sat on the bed and picked up my phone from the nightstand.

I didn't know for how long I stared at my reflection on the dark screen before turning it on. The blinding screen light making me squint my eyes instinctively as I dialed the familiar number.

Almost immediately, the call connected and a frantic voice came from the other side.

“Oh..myyyy. Girl you've scared me to death”. Ava's voice came through the phone panicked and anxious.

The sharpness of her voice making me distance the phone far from my ear.

“I've been searching for you through every means I know and even contacted the police. You were nowhere to be found”. She continued.

Hearing this, my eyes that were aching minutes ago, stung with tears again making my vision turn blurry.

I didn't even know what to say. How should I explain everything going on to her?

No matter how much I think about it, it just sounds impossible.

The quiet sound on my end made her panic again.

“Lola….Lola” Are you there?”. Her concerned tone made me give a bitter smile.

I was sobbing so hard my head started to hurt again.

“I'm here”. My voice came out tiny and muffled.

“Girl tell me. What is wrong with you? Why are you crying? Did Damien, that son of a devil, do something to you?”. Ava questioned angrily, that I could hear her teeth gritting through the phone.

“No, he didn't” I answered wiping my tears streaked face with my palm.

A realization struck me, making me pause mid-wiping. “Ava. How did you know I am with Damien?”

A low sharp sound escaped her lips. “Girl it's all over the Internet. Even a dead person who has no access to Internet would have heard about it by now. Damien grabbing a woman by the waist, walking amidst the crowd”.

“What?!”. My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my throat. “H…how did you know it was me?”

“Half of your face was captured but it's a bit blurry. But you know, even if you turn to ash I'd recognize you”. Her words made me feel like a heavy dark cloud was pulling at the top of my head.

“People didn't recognize you but they seem pretty interested in knowing who you are. As for Damien, his face was as clear as daytime”. She continued.

As if coming to a realization, she suddenly questioned. “Wait. You've not seen it?”

“Ava, I'll call you back”. I said, clicking the red button.

My hands were shaking so bad as I turned on my mobile data to check the internet.

Immediately I logged in, my eyes caught the first popped up news.

Headline; THE DEVIL OF ITALY CAUGHT ON CAMERA WITH A WOMAN.

In the picture, i looked just as Ava had described. Blurry and partly showed. While Damien still with that sophisticated and untouchable aura, held me firm by the waist like I was going to run if he took his hand off me for even a second.

The post has millions of likes and comments. Everyone eager to know what kind of woman could capture the devil's attention.

That one photo was enough to disrupt the Internet.

I was sure Damien would be aware of this by now.

So why wasn't he taking it down?

I no longer had the reputation of a wealthy heiress to uphold, but why isn't he caring about his?

My mind was running through so many thoughts.

Should I call him with the number he texted me with yesterday?

Or I should just wait and see what happens.

I stared at the digits on my screen, my fingers hovering on the dial button. After several attempts, I dropped my phone, sighing in distress.

Almost immediately, Ava called me.

“Girl have you seen it?”

“Yeah”. I answered a little bit shaky.

“Ava, you know what? Help me try taking down the picture”.

Ava was an average hacker so maybe she could do it. She was the only hope I had left.

“I took it down six times but it still resurfaced. Seems like someone is behind it. And each time it comes up again, the likes and comments increases”.

I slumped on the bed. Maybe this was the end for me. Because I knew that soon enough, my identity would be discovered. And that would be bad.

“Thanks girl”. I dropped my phone and ran downstairs.

Damien. Maybe he was still home and I would be lucky to see him.

Downstairs, a maid rushed to me. I grabbed the stair railing to stop myself from colliding heads on with her.

Before she could speak, I spoke first. “Where is Damien?”. My breathing rushed.

He just went out. You could be lucky to meet him outside”. She muttered.

The cold wind hit my face the moment I stepped outside, making my way towards the parking space.

He wasn't there. The sound of car engine rolling out from afar caught my attention.

I ran towards the sound direction but found myself at the back of the estate building.

By the time I figured out where the gate was, I was too late.

Standing in front of the stern looking security guards, I suppressed my anger and frustration, trying to sound calm.

“I really need to see your boss. Can you maybe, give me his office address?”

The one with a deep cut on his chin stared at me from head to toe like he was looking at someone crazy.

“We've been instructed to not let you out no matter what. So you can't go outside”.

He tried to keep his tone respectful, but that look in his eyes remained the same.

I knew it. Damn that bastard! A grown adult like me still can't go anywhere.

My anger flared. “Tell that bastard that I swear….”. I swallowed the rest of my words, when I met the killing intent in their eyes.

As I stomped back inside, I could no longer help it.

I ran back upstairs and grabbed the plushie on the bed, stabbing it repeatedly with the needle on the drawer top.

Damien you bastard! I swear I'd f*****g kill you.