CHAPTER 5
1864 Words
"You."
That one word echoed in my head like a slow punch to the chest.
I blinked, unsure if I heard him right. “What did you just say?”
“You,” He repeated, unfazed. “That’s what I want in return.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What the hell does that even mean?”
He leaned back on his seat, arms resting on the table, like we were discussing something as casual as the weather. Does this man ever get serious? “It means I want you to work with me. Be mine—in this plan. Be part of it. Fully. You’ll stay by my side the whole time we extract your revenge.”
I stared at him, unsure how to respond. “So, this is just about control?”
“It’s not about control,” he replied. “It’s about trust. And loyalty. Two things I don’t hand out easily. But I’m offering you a place by my side, Leila. I won’t sugarcoat it—this is going to get messy. But if you say yes, I’ll make sure you’re protected. Plus, I need you to take care of some of my family matters, but let’s discuss that when we get there.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “And what if I say no?”
“Then walk away,” he said without blinking. “I won’t stop you. But you’ll be on your own. And believe me, they won’t stop until you’re crushed. I’m the only one who can help you, believe it or not.”
His voice was firm but not threatening. I hated that he had a point. Actually, he may have already calculated everything. This man is really meticulous and cunning. I know he’s helping me, but if I accept his proposal, I should be wary of him. Who knows what his true intentions are.
Sigh. Clarisse and Marcus wasn’t just playing the victim—They are playing dirty. They’d already twisted everything. The truth didn’t matter to them anymore. They had power. Influence. People who would lie for them if the price was right.
I didn’t have that. All I had was myself. I can fight back, but to say I will win, that will be hard to reach.
And now, tis guy in front of me is offering help.
I looked down at my coffee and it had gone cold, untouched.
“So, what happens if I say yes?” I asked slowly.
His lips lifted into a small smile. “Then you become untouchable. We fix your name. We burn theirs.”
A chill ran down my spine at how easily he said it. Like he’d done it before. Like he knew exactly how to destroy someone. No, that wasn’t right…it felt like he can easily discard someone with one word.
“And what exactly do you want from me, aside from saying yes?” I asked, meeting his eyes.
“I already told you. You’ll eventually be of use to me in the future. But for now. Let’s stick with your problem. And of course, it’s obvious that you’d have to live with me.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. All his conditions were getting more and more bizarre. But alas, I can’t afford to lose his help.
This wasn’t how I expected the day to go. I thought I’d be working on my next case, not planning revenge with a man I barely understood and know.
But then again, I also didn’t expect Marcus to betray me.
I didn’t expect Clarisse to turn everything upside down. That b***h!
And most of all…I didn’t expect the system I trusted to turn its back on me. Law sure works wonders to those who abuse it.
And now… here I was. Left with nothing but this offer on the table.
I glanced at Rafael again. He wasn’t smiling anymore. He was serious. Waiting for my answer.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.”
His brows lifted. “Okay?”
“I’ll do it,” I said, voice firmer this time. “But this doesn’t mean I trust you. I’m only agreeing because I don’t have any other choice.”
“That’s fine,” he said with a small shrug. “Trust is earned.”
I stood from my seat and grabbed my bag. “I need to go home, I have to get my things.”
Rafael followed me outside. As we stepped into the street, the cold evening air hit my face, grounding me. The sky was already dark, the city lights flickering around us.
He walked me to his car, unlocking the door.
I paused before getting in.
“This plan of yours,” I said. “You better not screw me over, Rafael.”
His lips tugged into a smirk. “I won’t. You and I—we’re on the same side now. And also…”
“What?”
“The way you say my name…I like it.” The hairs on my back stood by the way he said the last part. Coupled with the way he licked his lips while looking at me. My cheeks instantly burned, but I quickly tried to hide it.
“Stop playing tricks on me.” I glared at him. He chuckled and whistled.
…
We soon arrived and I unlocked the front door, half-expecting the mess from yesterday. I made him wait outside since I’m just going to grab some clothes—the shattered vase, the broken picture frames, the wine stain on the couch.
But when I stepped inside, everything was… clean.
Something wasn’t right.
I closed the door quietly behind me and walked in, scanning every corner.
Then I heard it—footsteps. From upstairs.
I turned toward the stairs just as Marcus came down. He had a bandage on his forehead, but that smug face was still the same.
Then I saw her.
Clarisse.
What the hell! She was proudly wearing my clothes!
My stomach churned seeing the sight before me. These two! Just how thick are their faces?!
She stood behind Marcus, barefoot, like she belonged in this house. She even had the nerve to smile.
Marcus saw me and immediately put on an act, placing a hand on his bandaged head like it was killing him. “Leila, you’re back,” he said, voice full of fake concern. “Why did you do that yesterday? You really hurt me.”
He stepped closer.
“Come on,” he continued. “Let’s just go to the police together. Tell them it was a mistake. I’ll help you, okay? Let’s fix this. I won’t press charges.”
I stared at him silently. Watching as he continued with his act.
He kept going, like I was some lost girl on the street. Like I didn’t know what they were trying to pull.
I took a deep breath. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Not yet.
But then Clarisse opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry for wearing your clothes, Ms. Leila,” she said softly. “I was just worried about Sir Marcus. I stayed the night to take care of him. I hope that's okay with you.”
That was it.
My last thread snapped. I walked straight up to her and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoing through the house.
She gasped, stepping back, but I wasn’t done. When she looked like she was about to speak, I slapped her other cheek even harder, and she fell to the floor.
Blood trickled from her lip.
Marcus rushed to her side, shouting at me. “What the hell is wrong with you?! You’ve gone too far!”
I just stood there, breathing hard.
Then I laughed.
Not a small laugh—but a full, bitter laugh that came from deep in my chest. I covered my mouth, trying to stop, but I couldn’t. It just kept coming.
I looked at the two of them. Too many times! This display, they had done it before countless times but I was blind. Completely blind.
But not anymore. I slowly lowered my hand and pointed at them. My voice came out cold.
“Do you both really think I’m stupid? What you’ve done… I’ll return it ten times worse. Don’t think for a second that I’ll let you rest. As long as I’m breathing, neither of you will live in peace.”
Marcus’s jaw clenched. His eyes burned with rage. He stood up, raising his hand. I closed my eyes, waiting for the hit.
But then—
THUD.
I opened my eyes and saw Marcus on the floor, holding his face in pain, groaning.
And my eyes slowly travelled to Rafael. His expression was terrifying—deadly, but calm. Like you couldn’t predict what his next move will be. His eyes were locked on Marcus like he could kill him just by staring at him.
Even I was scared for a second.
But then I remembered. He was on my side.
So I reached out and gently rubbed his shoulder, hoping to pull him back.
He finally looked at me. His gaze softened. A genuine look of concern. The kind Marcus never showed me. Not even once.
“You shouldn’t talk to trash like them,” Rafael said, his voice full of unrestrained hate as he snapped his eyes at them.
Marcus groaned, and I heard him yell again, “SO you’ve been sleeping with this man, huh?! No wonder you’re so courageous, do you think—”
That was the last straw for Rafael, without warning, he stepped forward and stomped on Marcus’s face, shutting him up.
Clarisse screamed, crawling to Marcus, but she didn’t say a word. Rafael’s presence alone shut her up too.
“A trash like you should know your place.” He looked down at Marcus and muttered through clenched teeth. Then he turned to me and grabbed my hand.
My heart skipped when our hands touched.
No one had ever stood up for me like that. Not like this. Not with this kind of fury. This kind of protection. Why would he go to this extent?
“Let’s go,” he said, pulling me toward the door.
“You’ll pay for this! Both of you!” Marcus screamed behind us.
Rafael laughed. “You can try,” he said, without even looking back. “Also, you can keep the house. It's already filthy from the two of you. Leila will be staying with me from now on.”
And with that, he led me outside, his hand still wrapped around mine.
I was about to look back, but then Rafaels hand caught my face making me face him.
“You don’t have to look at them anymore. They don’t deserve your attention.” He said. Then smiled.
“You should try focusing your attention to me instead.” He added, grinning while I could only hie my face at his embarrassing remarks.
Never once in my life have I ever heard someone talk this way to me. This guy is really shameless!
- Writer
