Blackmailed or not, You are mine

Chapter 2 – Who is he? –

**Ethan POV**

This is so embarrassing. I am so ashamed of how I acted that I don’t have a face to show to Mrs. Wood and to the strangers that’s with us. I buried my head further into the neck of the good gentleman who’s been holding me. Somehow, his smell calms me down. I felt his arm tighten around me and I don’t know why but it comforted me and helped me relax a little. I had a glance of his face earlier when I took a peek at Mrs. Wood and he looks like a very fine man. More than fine actually. He looks handsome, and that is coming from a straight guy like me, well, I might not look straight now since I acted like a young girl earlier but do you get what I mean?

Anyway, we’re currently at the most corner table at Delight, with me straddling a stranger, and him sitting on a couch like chair facing Mrs. Wood that’s sitting in front of us, and the other stranger standing at the side observing the surrounding. My body stiffen upon realizing what that sentence mean. I am sitting on a stranger’s lap. A total stranger, someone I don’t know, not even a name, and a man. And what’s worse? I’m also a man. And I’m acting like a crybaby, and not just any crybaby, but a young girl, sitting on his lap, straddling him.

And as if that snap a nerve in me and woke me up, I tried to push myself away from the stranger but he held me tighter. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Baby? BABY???!!!?

I am not a freaking baby! I know I acted like one, but I am not one. I’m a fully grown adult.

I tried to push myself away from him harder this time but to no avail, I failed. “P-please l-let m-me go,” I begged, still stuttering. I feel so pathetic right now and I don’t like it. I never acted like this in public. I only cry in front of my parents, especially on my mama when my father died. But other than that, I always try to act tough. I need to act strong for my siblings. And it has always been like that.

“P-please just let me go.” I tried again.

He seems hesitant at first but slowly, he released me. I stood up in front of him with my eyes glued on the floor. I can feel their stare on me that made me feel uneasy and fidget on my clothes. He tried to reach out and grasp me but I moved back. I made a small talk to myself. I’m okay now. Nothing happened. I was startled and was scared but I’m okay now. He saved me. So, as an adult, I should feel grateful and thank him.

Mrs. Wood gave me a glass of water and I gladly took it. I took a sip from it before I place it back on the table. I raised my head and was about to open my mouth to thank him, the stranger who saved me, but was stopped when I saw him fully. He is not just handsome like I said before, he is more than handsome. The suit he’s wearing looks expensive, and goodness, I ruined it with my tears. I don’t think I have the money to replace that but I need to. Maybe I could pay for it in installment?

“How are you feeling Ethan?” Mrs. Wood's concerned voice asked.

Startled with her question, I looked at her with wide eyes and a forced smile. “I-I’m fine now, Mrs. Wood. I’m sorry I’m late and I’m so sorry for causing you trouble.”

“It’s fine. Rest for a while and entertain these fine gentlemen. Just go to the kitchen to assist when you’re done.” With that, she left me with the presence of these two strangers who’s looking at me intently.

Moving my eyes back to the floor, I faced the two strangers and apologize again. “T-thank you, Mister. I’m sorry for ruining your suit.” He’s way bigger than me. More good looking. And definitely richer than me. No wonder I feel intimidated by him. He’s everything that I am not. Maybe instead of calling him stranger in my head, I should name him Handsome, since he is one, until I know what his name is. But wait. Why am I calling another guy Handsome in my head? I’m not gay, right? Maybe I bump my head when we fell and my brain was fractured. Yeah! Maybe that’s it. But whatever, he’s handsome so I’ll stick to calling him Handsome.

“If you want I could pay for it. But I-I can’t pay it now. I need more time to have the money you want. B-But I’ll definitely pay for it. If you would allow it, I-I’ll pay for it in i-installment. Because I~”

I didn’t notice that I was sprouting non-sense until he cut me off. “Hey! Easy there, it’s okay.” I looked at him under my lashes and almost got lost in his deep blue eyes. “My suit is fine. You don’t have to pay for it or anything.” He assured me with a smile that could melt any girls’ heart. With eyes fixed on mine, he extended his left hand towards me and I looked at him confused. “Why don’t you sit for a moment so we could talk about what happened.”

I obliged to his request and hesitantly sat beside him. He looks so dominant that I’m scared to say no to his orders. I thanked him one more time without looking at his direction. I feel nervous around him and that made me fidget the end of my shirt, staring at it as if fascinated with how my fingers move.

“Would you tell us what happened?”

I almost shriek and directing my eyes that widened in his direction when the other stranger, the bulky one that’s standing in front of us who spoke for the first time, asked in a hard tone. He look scary. He doesn’t smile, unlike Handsome, and he is huge. Have I told you that I’m only 5’5” in height? And he’s looks around 6’3”, taller than Handsome that I think is around 6’1” tall. So he’s totally a giant compare to me. And he have muscles that looks solid, unlike my frail slim body. I feel like he could crash me any time and that he could kill me if I utter one wrong word.

Unconsciously, I moved a little closer to Handsome while looking at Hulk. Yup! Since he’s huge, I’ll call him Hulk for now. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not ugly. He’s also kinda look handsome, but not as handsome as Handsome. It’s just that he’s way too huge for me so I’ll call him Hulk. Handsome looks nicer and so far, all he did is to calm me down and to smile at me. I think he’s a better acquaintance than Hulk.

I flinch a little when I felt a hand went to my waist but relaxed when I realized it’s just Handsome trying to assure me that nothing wrong will happen. I moved back a little closer to him with my back almost resting on his firm chest. His arms snake around my middle and pulled me closer to him. And once again, I’m on his embrace.

My mind is fuggy wondering why my body is at ease in the arms of another man when Handsome asked the same question Hulk asked, but with a nicer tone.

“I, ah, um. I-I work here and I’m a-almost late so I decided to use my skater shoes. But when I turn left at the corner one block away from here there’s a b-b-brat who threw something greasy on my way and it’s too late for me to avoid it. I-it’s so slippery so I lost control of my skater shoes and of my balance a-and you know what h-happened next.” I explained recalling what happened earlier. Dang that brat! “S-s-sorry for causing you t-trouble. I d-didn’t intend to run into you.”

“It’s alright. Apology accepted. I’m just thankful that nothing bad happened to you.” Then Handsome made me face him and whoa! His closeness is invading my personal space. “You sure you’re not hurt? No injury or something? If there is, you need to tell me, okay?”

All I was able to do is nod. Why is he so concern on me?

“Mr. Collins,” called Hulk that almost startle me again. So Handsome is called Mr. Collins. Handsome-I mean Mr. Collins gave Hulk an irritated look with a raised brow. “If you want to meet your ten o’clock appointment on time we better leave now.”

Mr. Collins heave a sigh. “Guess I’ll have to go for now,” he groaned. “But before I leave, can I please know your name, baby?”

“E-Ethan Salvatore,” I answered brushing off the “baby” comment.

“I’ll see you again, sweetie. Remember the name Shawn Collins. Cause from now on, you’re already marked.” He gave me a wide grin and a kiss on my forehead before bidding goodbye. Leaving me confused on the last word he uttered.