Her Secret Addiction

02- Rescue.

NaTHaLie

🌹🌹🌹

I wipe my tears angrily, taking hurried steps out of the goddamn house. The signs were all there, it has been there all along but like the fool I am, I ignored them.

"Nathalie." I flinch when I feel a familiar hand grab my wrist. "Listen, I..."

I slap Ethan's hand away, his once warm and comforting hand cold against my skin. Rushing out of the elevator, I broke into a sprint and I ran till my feet hurt, I ran till I could no longer continue. I'm now in the middle of nowhere, I can't recognise where I'm but I don't care. My knees give up and I fall onto the rough sidewalk of the street, my tears rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably.

✨

"I bet she doesn't even know, does she?"

"That I'm gay?" He chuckles. "Nah, she doesn't."

"Then she's such a fool."

✨

Their voices keep on ringing in my ear till I can't take it anymore, I throw my ringing phone across the dark street and let out an ear-piercing scream. Ethan and Justin's betrayal hurts, it hurts so much and I feel like my heart is breaking inside my chest.

I sit down there crying for a while before I start wiping my tears angrily, why the hell am I even crying over him? He is a jerk! He isn't worth my tears! I will no longer shed a single tear over him. I stand in the middle of the street in confusion, how do I retrace my steps back? I glance at my shattered phone on the floor, my bodyguards must have found out by now and I'm sure they would have informed my parents. They must be worried. I sigh now feeling drained, I just want to go back home, crawl under the sheets of my bed and lick my wound alone.

I jump when I suddenly feel a hand around my mouth pushing me to a hard chest harshly.

I try to scream but my attacker whispers into my ear in a deadly voice. "It will be better if you keep your mouth shut and do as I say, Ms. Monroe."

I'm still on the spot as shock takes over. He knows me, this isn't just a random attack. From the corner of my eyes, I spot another guy with a knife glistening under the moonlight. It was the guy I bumped into at the club, they must have trailed me here...they may be what my parents have been trying to protect me from.

My eyes widen in fear and my heart thumps wildly in my chest as I watch the scene unfolding before me. Who are these people and what do they want from me? These are the questions running through my mind with no answer. The guy with the knife walks to a car parked a few feet away and settles in the driver's seat while the guy covering my mouth removes his hand after shooting a warning glare my way. I watch in trepidation as he ties my hands together in front of me and puts a gag in my mouth. Unfortunately, I couldn't fool them with my little disguise but I'm somehow glad Betsy isn't dragged into this. I yelp as my hair is being yanked roughly and I am being hauled to the car.

I'm quite aware that once I'm taken into that car, my chance of escaping will be slim so without hesitation, I stomp my heel into the feet of the guy dragging me, pushing him away with all my strength. I hear him let out a string of curses while groaning in pain as I break into a sprint. I try running as if my whole existence depends on it-in a way it does-but I couldn't get far enough in my heels and to make matters worse, my hands are tied. I close my eyes, waiting for my fall as I stumble on something but it never came. Instead, I feel arms hastily wrap around my waist steadying me and before I know it, I'm resting against a hard warm chest breathing heavily with my hands trapped between us. I tilt my head back a little to have a look at who my saviour is but before I can, he shoves me behind him gently.

Seconds later, my two assailants ran into view both armed with a gun. Tears of frustration fill my eyes as I rest my head on his back panting through my gagged mouth. It was then I noticed that my saviour was also pointing a gun at them, a silver pistol.

"We don't know who you are and we have no business with you." One of them spits angrily. "All we want is the girl, hand her over."

I shake my head frantically gripping my saviour's shirt tightly.

Please don't hand me over to them.

I chant in my head as tears stream down my face. My fear doubles when I spot different men dressed in black suits appearing around my assailants until I can make out a familiar face...Zachary, head of our bodyguards.

"I may spare you if you decide to surrender now." My saviour finally says, his velvet but firm voice sending shivers down my spine.

I shut my eyes and let out a sigh of relief but that was short-lived, the sound of gunshots has my eyes flying open in shock. I tried to peer over his shoulder but he was quick to obstruct my view. "You don't have to look." He mumbles.

"They could have made our jobs easier by telling us who they were working for but the idiots had to kill themselves," Zachary says, clearly frustrated.

I can now see who my saviour is, I'm surprised he is the guy I saw at the club earlier. How did he find out I'm here? Did he follow me here?

My eyes are locked on his enchanting grey...more like silver eyes, as he removes the gag in my mouth and unties my hands, his thumb rubbing over the red spot around my wrists soothingly. I watch in surprise as he gets down on his knees and removes my heels, massaging my aching feet softly.

Martin, our family driver parks a car beside us and gets out to open the backseat door.

"Get into the car." He says standing straight.

"But..."

"Get into the goddamn car, I don't have all day." He repeats harshly.

I gape at him in shock. Charming until he opens his mouth.

"Whatever, jerk!" I huff, snatch my heels from him and get into the car. I was waiting for him to also get in but instead, he slams the door in my face and Martin takes off immediately.

I try finding out who he is and why he isn't coming with us but I'm ignored by Martin and one of my numerous guards in the passenger seat.

"Whatever." I huff again with an eye roll.

But I can't help but wonder who he is and why he saved me.

✨....~....✨

The tension in the dining room is so thick that you can cut through it with a knife. I haven't stopped feeling guilty since I woke up this morning. I can't forget the look in my parents' eyes when I came in last night.

✨

Mom, who has been pacing around rushed to give me a warm hug.

"Oh, my baby." She sobbed into my shoulder. "Are you okay?" She took a step back, eyes roaming over me as if looking for a sign that I am not okay.

"I'm fine mom," I said, my throat closing up. My eyes locked on my dad's teary own across the room. "Dad..." I started but he glanced away from me, clearly disappointed.

"Go into your room and rest darling, you must be exhausted," Mom whispered.

"But..." I glanced at dad who is still not looking at me.

"Go on." She repeated nudging me in the direction of my room.

✨

"Nathalie." My mom's voice brings me out of my reverie. "Why are you not eating baby?"

I glance down at my food which I have been pushing around my plate and then at my dad who hasn't said a word since I came in last night.

"I'm eating mom." I reassure forcing a smile.

"I had no idea you felt so suffocated by the presence of your bodyguards that you had to do what you did last night." Dad begins and I gulp nervously.

"Dad, I-"

"No." He shakes his head with his hand raised as a motion for me to stop. "No." He repeats firmly. "Let me talk." I sink into my seat in resignation. "There are people out there who are looking for my downfall, people who I have crossed that I am not even aware of, I was only trying to protect you. Take for example what happened last night, what if your bodyguards couldn't find you on time?"

"I'm sorry I made you two worried. I know you don't approve of my relationship with Ethan so I wanted to meet him without my bodyguards reporting back to you." I confess.

"First of all Nathalie..." He called me by my full name, he's pissed. "...your bodyguards are only there to protect you, they do not report any of your movements to us."

"What?" My mouth is wide open in shock. They don't make reports to my parents about my movements?

"Your dad is right Nat," Mom says softly. "We believe that you are old enough to make the right choices without any interference from us."

My eyes tear up. "I thought..."

"We know baby girl," Mom assures, eyes also tearing up.

"And about Ethan, your mom and I just felt like he isn't the one for you. When you brought him over, we noticed that there isn't any chemistry between you whatsoever. He acted like loving and caring for you was just some task he had to do. We are sorry for making you feel like you have no say in whosoever you choose to be with. And about you getting engaged to some guy, you won't understand us now but you have to trust us." Dad says with a sigh.

"Okay." I nod in understanding. "And you were right," I murmured, loud enough for them to hear.

"About?" Mom asks.

"Ethan. W-we-" I take a deep breath, forcing back my tears. "We broke up last night."

"Oh, my baby." Mom is by my side in an instant hugging me. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"He didn't lay a finger on me but he did hurt me...emotionally." I bite back my tears and hug her back. "But I am fine mom. He is just a jerk."

"Do I need to hire a hitman?" Dad asks and by the look on his face I know he's damn serious.

"Maybe." I grin, wiping my tears. I can see that they are both anxious to know more but I'm not ready to tell the full story yet, I still feel so embarrassed.

Mom goes back to her seat and motions to the maids to clear the table.

"Least I forget, there is someone you should meet." Dad says after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

"Who?" I ask in curiosity.

"You'll see, let's go." He says instead and walks out.

I raise my eyebrows at mom, silently questioning her but she shrugs and makes her way up the stairs. I can't help but wonder who this person I am supposed to meet is.