Shadows of desires

Trapped in his world

Chapter two

Izzy POV

The woods smelled better during the night. I always told him. But he loved to argue against it.

We were supposed to come out to play tonight. To feel the woods and eat a pack of m and m, But for some reason, he was running late.

I didn’t know how long I had been standing by the bank of the river in the woods. But it felt long cause my legs had started to ache.

I had to find a spot to sit on. And when I did. I felt more terrified. I was alone here.

And it was dark. Bad men could come out and kill me. Or even worse ugly monsters

Maybe I should have never come. Plus Ma and Pa would be very disappointed if they found out that I snuck out again to hang out with him.

But he always managed to make me stop being afraid. And he always had my favorite pack of m and m, he even told stories better than pa.

I began to hear scary noises. It sounded like a high-pitched cry. My heart trembled hard in my chest.

And I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay for much longer. Especially if he didn’t show up now.

While contemplating whether or not to leave. I heard a swish behind me. And immediately I got scared. And stood up from the branch. A

I turned around almost immediately and then I saw it.

A monster.

His snarling teeth. The yellow eyes. It was indeed scary-looking.

They were the ones Pa would say I should run from if I encountered them.

My heart skipped in my chest. I could hear it beating loudly in icy fear. But my instinct kicked in faster and I was immediately turning back to run home.

I knew I would be safe with Ma and Pa. They would protect me.

I ran with all my strength. My breath and heart felt tight from the running. But I couldn’t stop. Cause I knew I would be hurt if I stopped.

However I could only run for a while before I was caught up, my legs were small. And the rogue was bigger.

He pounced on me. Causing me to fall flat to the floor.

I screamed. And his claw entered my arms.

It hurt like hell. Pa lied about it being a piece of cake.

Oh pa. I wish he was here. He would have saved me.

He would have….

A loud boom came from the left and hit the floor. It caused a great light to shine in my eyes. It was so bright that my eyes stung and I closed it shut.

And when I would open it again. I realized I was in my room. And that I had just had a nightmare.

The same nightmare that I had for the past years. It was the only memory I had of when I was small.

However, it never Made sense as to why I would call the animal a monster. When it was just a wolf,

My heart was beating fast against my chest. As though it wishes to tear open my rib cage.

I closed my eyes. And tried to steady it.

“It’s okay. I’m okay. I’m safe.” I said to myself like I always did.

And soon my heartbeat beat began to steady.

I reached for my drawer and took the pills inside there.

They were calming pills. But lately, it felt as though it wasn’t working.

Especially since my shrink said it would make me sleep without dreaming.

Sighing. I stood up from my soft bed and went to the kitchen to make some coffee.

I realized the time was four am. And I just knew that I wouldn’t ever be able to sleep back.

Plus my work was around seven.

And so I worked on my laptop. And when it was time for work. I got ready. And already on my way.

On getting to work. My boss Mr Edward was already waiting in my office.

Which was weird and strange-looking.

“Morning,” I told him. While staring at him suspiciously.

He gave me a flashing smile and stood up to shake my hands vigorously.

“You’ve made our company sore high. I’m happy I never got to regret employing you.”

I forced a smile. Suddenly not know if his words were compliments or insults.

“Mr Blackwood called. And paid a hefty sum of money to the company. He says you have a meeting with him tonight. And that I was to release you early.”

I squinted my eyes in confusion.

“That is not true.”

He chuckled like I told a funny joke.

“I’m sure you must have forgotten about it. Happens. Just make sure you are present.” He pats me lightly on my shoulders before walking away.

While leaving me glued to my spot. My eyes darted back and forth from the door to where he was just standing. Trying to decipher what on earth just happened.

It can’t be that he paid my boss to get me to come.

Right?

Cause if that was the case, then I just felt motivated not to go.

I wasn’t an item to be bought. My eyes blazed the more I thought of the absurdity of it.

I eventually had to let it go in my head. To believe somehow that I was just over-reading into this.

However when it was five. MR Edward barged into my office. Insisting I get home.

“I have a lot of tasks to finish up. And I’m very certain that I created no such meeting with mr Blackwood.”

I watched as Edward's face darkened. His eyes burned with a serious intensity.

“Either you get to that meeting. Or you’re fired.”

“But…”

“You have ten minutes to leave here and get ready for the meeting. If I come back and find you here. Then you shall be fired.”

His tone dripped with venom, matching his icy stare. While I stared with slightly parted lips.

I watched as he walked away.

I have never felt so humiliated and brought down.

First by the fact that I was being threatened with something that wasn’t legally right.

And secondly, I couldn’t exactly go against him cause I needed this job.

For granny.

It had taken me strenuous work to even earn this.

But my ego ate at me. And so I decided to go home, so he wouldn’t fire me.

Instead, I planned on leaving a mail for Mr Blackwood.

A strong one that I hoped would make him back off. And stop disrespecting me.

And if he continued. I would have to take it to the media. I know they would kill for such content.

I hated being bossed around. And I refused to. Especially when I could have a say in it.

On getting home, I sent him the mail. Explaining my deepest gratitude first. And proceeding to tell him how his actions made me feel.

If he was human. He wouldn’t try to force me anymore.

However, at exactly seven am sharp. I heard my doorbell ring.

An ominous feeling ran through me. I opened the door nonetheless. Hoping the feeling was nothing more than just a feeling.

Except when I opened it. I Wished I hadn’t.

Standing in front of my doorstep was none other than Adrian.

He was dressed in a Sharp-cut navy blue suit. Looking like he just came out of a model shoot.

Whereas my hair was packed in a messy bun. And I had my baggy pajamas and work glasses on.

And he stood on my doorstep accessing all of this.

I became disoriented at once.

As I placed my hands over my hair to try to smooth the messy bun.

My cheeks felt hot, I was still trying to get over the fact that he had come over to my house

“Mr Blackwood,” I said with a forced smile.

“It’s Adrian, get dressed. We have to get going.” He ordered coldly. And soon my embarrassed feeling was replaced with anger.

I bit back my inside lips. Trying to hit down the harsh words threatening to spill.

I steadied my tone as I spoke

“I’m sorry. But I would have to decline.”

He however stepped closer to me, and my hold on the door knob tightened.

Since I was tall, he didn’t have to lean down much to meet my eyes. And it only made our lips feel separated by an inch.

I hated the fact that I was even noticing that! I’m meant to be angry at him.

“No one declines my offer. So get in there and get dressed.” His voice was firm and hard. Meant to incite fear in me.

I squared my shoulders up with my fake bravado.

“I-am-not-going.”

A smirk played on his face, “If that’s how you wanna play princess. I’m ready for the thrill.”

I don’t know why my heartbeat increased by the sound of that.

He took his phone out and dialed a number and after a few rings. He spoke in Italian on the phone.

And after a few minutes of ending the call. My phone began ringing,

It was my boss.

My heartbeat palpated high. “Yes sir.”

“Seems you’re stubborn. But let me sound a warning. If you come to work tomorrow without having attended the meeting. Just know that you shall be left unemployed.” And with that, the phone call ends.

I felt lost.

And Adrian was smiling like he had won a trophy,

I called my boss again. Refusing defeat.

“Sir. With all due respect, my personal life has-“

“Do you really wanna keep your job?”

“I do sir.”

“Then get to it and stop disturbing my peace.”

The line disconnects.

I had two options, slam the door in his face and lose my job, or go to a stupid meeting and keep it,

For the sake of granny needs, I chose the latter,

But I wasn’t going to let Adrian have at it easily.

“I’m going this way. No dressing up.” I said as a matter of fact

His smirk widened. “I always preferred your natural look.”

Before I could ask him what he meant he was already walking toward his car,

I followed him inside the car.

The car drove and arrived at a huge and classy mansion.

“Where are we?” I asked him, as I observed the the intricate designs of the mansion, the water pool, and even the sculpted gardens.

“My house.”

My eyes widened. “No. That’s not what we agreed on, you said a meeting.”

“Technically I wanted to ask you for a date. But you shunned me before I could even ask. So this is your fault. Princess.”

I glared hard at him, but I couldn’t argue much cause he was already getting down from the car.

I immediately texted Naomi in case he got brutal and decided to do anything upturned.

On getting inside. I was greeted by his staff and butler, though a sophisticated-looking lady stood at the center of them, with a huge displeasure on her face. She had her ginger hair packed tightly in a bun.

“She’s not allowed here.” She told Adrain while glaring at him.

“Tone the attitude down. I’m the boss here.”

“I’m sorry boss. But she being here could jeopardize everything.” Her eyes came on me with a snarl.

What the heck? What’s that supposed to be?

It’s not like she knew me from somewhere.

“Your job is to listen to my instructions, one of which is for you to keep shut.”

Hurt flashed through her hazel eyes. But they all directed at me in anger.

And I looked at every but at her.

Adrian led me to the dining room, however, I noticed a familiar painting on the way there, and it made me stop immediately.

It was a painting of me when I was young.

I remembered cause the painting was from the day I lost my parents.

Why the hell does he have it?