THE BILLIONAIRES JEWEL

Chapter 4 - Is she yours?

 ‘Its time Catherine, give her the serum.’ Dad whispers to mum and they both look at me smiling sadly. I have always taken this medication and it really doesn’t taste that bad. I always wonder why they give it to me on certain days but they don’t on the rest of the days. I look at mama waiting for it and she pours some for me to take. I take it and hop off to look for Eva. Papa gets to me fast before I run off and tells me time to sleep is neigh.

I walk back to my bedroom looking dejected. I ask mama to read me a story before sleeping but she refuses, telling me that tonight is not the night for stories. Something will happen and I do not want to be there to see it. At this is am shocked but since papa doesn’t like being questioned especially when he’s angry, I let it go. Anyway, my young self wouldn’t comprehend. On second thought I blurt out, “Do you have to tie me up?”

He stops at the door and answers, “yes.” He reaches for the doorknob letting himself out. I hear him release a soft sob and I feel sad for him.

‘Is it so bad?’ I ask myself as I welcome the sleep that comes in no time. I feel some change in me and my hair suddenly turn white. I get scared and let out a blood icing scream.

“Wake up, its just a dream,” I wake up sweating and hyperventilating and feel someone wiping my face with a soft cloth.

“Hey,” I look around and realize I have been moved to my bedroom.

“Wanna talk about it?” Sophie asks softly. I ask for her phone which she reluctantly hands to me. I type on it that I need a piece of paper to write otherwise I fear there are cameras in this room. She starts talking in medical terms, things that I barely comprehend since I think she is trying to give a vibe that she is treating me. All this she does giving me a piece of paper and a pen secretly. I see my stupidity of actually asking for a piece of paper instead of just typing and I smile slyly. I write in big words that I need to talk to her privately and she will need not tell anyone except definitely Ian. She reads it and smirks throwing it in her mouth making me chuckle. Its long since I saw someone do that.

“Are you still in pain or has it subsided?” She asks me.

“I can walk if that is what you are asking.” I reply feeling a little shy. Shy around a woman? Silly me.

“Then get up and prepare, those legs need a little action you know.” She mutters grinning at me. I smile getting up painfully. I have to swallow my pain and follow her if I am to ever get any help from here. She hugs me and whispers that she’s going to get Ian to follow us as I prepare, then leaves the room. I walk to the bathroom take a quick shower. I dress in a short sundress wearing doll shoes on my feet and I am good to go. I barely remember to put on any make-up, I have no time as it is.

I walk out of my bedroom and watch Sophie and Ian talking silently along the corridor. The notice me looking at them and they both smile my way. Sophie asks me over and I painfully walk towards them. Ian grins and holds one of my hands while Sophie holds the other. We walk out through the back door into the flower garden and I smile widely releasing Sophia’s hand and running my fingers on the beauties. I hold back realizing I am doing something wrong in the presence of my boss who is holding my hand! Goodness Olivia, get a grip of yourself. I try to retract my hand from his firm grip and he looks at me disapprovingly. I look down shyly and whisper, “She will see us.”

“Let her, she will come to me if she’s got the guts. And again, I belong to no one.” He says holding my waist instead.

“Thought you said you were mine though...” I tell myself.

“Because I am”. I hear someone answer.

 We walk further and get to an open ground with a small gazebo fit for four. He pulls a seat for me and Sophia like a gentleman and sits down after us.

“Nobody should hear us from here, even remotely technologically.” He says nodding at me to continue.

“When I was young there is this drug my parents would give me at night…” I started but Ian cut me rudely.

“No, start with whoever wants to kill you from here then we can go back to your life history.”

“Ian!” Sophia exclaims.

“What! Nobody touches what’s mine.” He roars his eyes turning pitch black with a ring of gold and his teeth elongating.

“Is she yours?” Sophia asks him looking straight in his eyes. At this I am almost getting off my seat out of fear.

“Don’t you dare get up from that seat.” Ian says without his eyes leaving Sophia’s, making me sit back with a humph.

Sophia turns to me and holds one of my hands to sooth my blazing heart. “This i***t is my brother that is why you do not see me cowing to his intimidations. Don’t fear him though, he may be this beast on the outside but a teddy bear on the inside.”

“O..okay,” I answer her facing anywhere else but where Ian sits.

“We all know Alex is the b***h in this but Ian here fails to acknowledge this because…..lets wait for him to tell us.” Sophia taunts her brother.

I face Ian and he looks stiffened by the question. He chooses not to answer and steers the conversation towards me.

“So, what were your parents giving you?” he asks me and Sophia perks up waiting for the continuation of the story.

“I don’t know what it was but they would give that to me at least once a month which would make me sleep for two days. I would wake up feeling tired and would rest up for an extra day. Eva told me that I usually thrush around but due to darkness in my room she wouldn’t see much of me. At one time she said my hair turned white and I have been having these dreams about myself for the longest. Sometimes I hear voices in my head, as if some beings are taunting me and talking about me. I don’t really know what it means but I have felt it needs to be our little secret. When I asked dad he would always say that I was the one. I always asked the one for what and he would never answer.” At the end of the narration, I see Ian and Sophia look at each other and communicate with their eyes. I keep silent and close my eyes.

“She’s too young she can’t know.” I hear Ian tell Sophia and open my eyes.

“Know what,” I ask him.

“s**t!” they in unison exclaim horrifically looking at me and getting of their seats.

“Anything wrong?” I ask almost getting into a panic attack.

“Everything’s wrong.” Ian says running a hand over his well-kept hair making it have that rugged look.

“Every f*****g thing.” I hear Sophia curse for the very first time and I know that this can’t be good news.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a dark figure lurking and I panic, someone’s here. I see Ian look at Sophia then back at me, “did you say something?” Sophia asks.

“Can we get out of here?” I ask her.

“We still have unfinished business. From now on you’re be back to school full time. No more work for you and I hope I am clear. Do you understand?” Ian asks firmly and I see Sophia grin.

“How old are you?” I blurt out and hold my silly mouth.

He chuckles and replies, “too old for you.”

Yet I belong to you ha? I ask myself.

“Yes you do.” He replies and I am shell shocked.

“Did I say that loud?”

“Yes you did, I heard that too.” Sophia says smiling.

I cower Shyly and I see another dark figure go past. At this I am now scared and I look at Ian hoping I am not hallucinating. He looks back at me his eyes dark and I know he knows.

“Get her inside, I am coming in a few.” He orders Sophia who doesn’t hesitate to grab one of my arms and yanking me from the seat. We hurry back and go straight to my room falling on my bed face first. Sophia eases herself out leaving me to my voices.

“She’s worried.”

“I can see that.”

“she needs protecting. They are taking too long.”

“She can protect herself if only we told her…”

“Shhhhh…shut up. She might hear us.”

The voices continue bickering in my head as I get restless sleep.