Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 37: Bait

Chapter 37: Bait

3rd Person's POV

Heart beating fast behind the old eyes staring at Lennox, Alice manages to act natural, passing swiftly by his wide-open arms that are prepared to welcome her, the first step Alice took inside the bright-lit porch of his suite delivers an impression of—

Everything will be alright. She thought, keeping the goal in her mind that she has to get something—tangible or not that can lead her to Lennox's weakness no matter what happens.

There's no better place to find one's weakness other than in its own den. She thought, calmly walking forward hall when suddenly, the light turns off.

Frozen on the spot, Alice instinctively looks back to where Lennox was supposed to stand with her phone's flashlight. She immediately turns it around to his spot. But to her surprised, Lennox isn't there anymore. Then a thought brushed through her mind that alarms every sense within her.

There's no better place to find one's weakness other than in its own den—but there's no better place for a scavenger to die other than inside a lion's belly.

F*ck, why didn't I expect Lennox to do this. As anxiety boils up from the pits of her stomach, Alice scans the area around her with the flashlight in her hand, as her other hand tries to search for the nearest possible weapon she could use.

Since it's come to this, I have no choice but to defend and knock that psycho down his knees—then, she remembers the confrontation they had inside her aunt's room.

The obvious control and suppression of strength in Lennox's grasp before when she was choking him wavers her confidence as she could tell that Lennox is a strong and capable man of breaking free from her previous locks and assault against him.

And so, without any choice left, Alice gritted her teeth and started stepping backward.

F*ck it. I need to get out of here. Damn, it hasn't been five minutes since I told myself to—

"Where are you going?" A voice from behind asked, hand clasping on Alice's hand, which she's using to navigate her way out around the wall and at the same time, searching for any hard object she can use in case of an attack but instead, her back found a hard physique.

And even if the surrounding's pitch black with no light source except from the flickering orange dim lights from the living area, Alice instantly recognizes Lennox.

The body on alert, Alice abruptly gathers all the strength she could muster at the brief time she has, and when she's got the stance, she immediately strides and trusts her elbow back.

"What—"but a firm hand caught her, and due to the aggressive force she took, her phone slipped off of her hand. Chuckling with what Alice just did, Lennox, from behind, swiftly embraces her from behind. Wrapping her arms together, Alice felt her time to resist fading away from Lennox's firm arms as to how a snake wraps its prey.

"What are you doing?!" Alice exclaimed, trying to break free from him. Then Lennox snickers.

"I knew this would happen, hmm, right, I should've just swift off the lights in the living area instead," Lennox said, calmly while suppressing Alice's aggressive movements and resistance.

"The f*ck you're saying?!" Alice asked, thinking of giving Lennox a head butt.

Right, this is perfect. She thought inwardly, but Lennox's voice interrupted her from attempting.

"Look there," with that, Alice instinctively looks at the only source of light in the living area. And before the irritation gets the better of her judgment, her eyesight focuses on it and recognizes the flower petals scattered across the living area's floor beside the flickering candles.

"The heck?" Alice uttered when the more she looks, the more she saw the petal trails scattered across the hall.

Speechless of why she did not notice it sooner, she stomps her foot on her spot and around her, then eventually her heels' sole lands on what she perceives as a petal.

What the hell? Is he trying to be romantic?

"Do you like it? Oh? Your hands are cold." Lennox asked, loosening his arms wrapping around her when he feels Alice stopped resisting. Hands' going down from her arms to her hand, Lennox feels the subtle trembling of her cold fingers.

"Oh, your hands are cold." He said, lifting Alice's hands in his to his lips. Pressing them gently on his warm lips, Alice stood there, lost at the moment, eyes beginning to adjust in the dark, and sees Lennox's soft worried face pressing his lips on the back of her hands as the flickering yellow and red lights from the candles reaches his features.

She stood there, gazing at the sight in awe and in fright.

How could a devil be so good and bad at the same time? She thought, unconsciously agreeing with the good side.

Alice's POV

Although getting inside his suite is quite nerve-wracking, I managed to calm myself down when I saw his intention. Lennox didn't mean to do anything funny by switching off the lights. He did it because,

"I thought it would be romantic, but I guess with the long hall my porch has to the living area, the candle lights didn't get to reach us when I turned the light off. Sorry, it wasn't my intention to scare you." He said, pouring the red wine in the glass.

Leading me in from the porch to here, the dining area, I get to see again how the city lights from the living area's view beautify the whole suite.

Watching it now makes a different impression when I first saw it with Mae in mind. Although Mae's still in my mind now, I feel alright now, knowing Mae has still had the time to leave a clue at aunt's house.

But, the question of her doing that instead of just texting me straight still bugs me.

Why? Did she perhaps intentionally done so no one can trace her?

Or…does she know that this psycho hacks my phone?

Either way, both questions won't get answered if I just sit still and wait. So, tomorrow, I'll make sure to get things tidy up with her.

But now, I have to focus on my goal.

Find anything that can help me get this psycho's achiles' feet.

Watching how the red substance fills my glass till my eyes meet its reflection, I gulped.

"Yeah, yeah, I really thought you would jump on me back there." His arm's strength earlier.

With how he locks me in, it's evident that I won't stand a chance in close combat.

Since the beginning, he got the upper hand in close combat—it's just that.

He's choosing not to hurt me,

Yet.

I thought, lifting my gaze to his sweet smiling eyes.

This would have been a romantic night, with all these lavender and rose-scented candles, flower petals scattered around, and well-organized dinner set.

After all, who would have said no to this man?

A man with wealth, power and looks, all in one that makes him look perfect and eligible. Any girl would come knocking and hitting on his door.

But, not anyone would still do it if they know; this man is just keeping all his qualities as facades.

And, I'm one of them.

Slicing the steak on his plate, she looks at me and giggles.

"Why would I do that?" He asked, chewing the meat.

Swaying the glass beside me between my fingers, I look at him while I take a sip.

"Hmm, I don't know…" I said, looking straight into his eyes. Then, a playful smirk formed on his face, leaning his back on his chair, he sighs and looks straight at me.

"So, how are you doing now?" He asked. Chewing off the meat from the fork before looking at him, I answered.

"What do you mean? You always see me." And drink another sip of the wine. Watching him intently watching the face I'm making while drinking the wine. The thrill gets up knowing he's taking the bait.

Come one now. Let's get you drunk and sleep. I thought, confident of my high alcohol tolerance, planning to roam his suite upside down when he finally falls asleep.

"Yeah, but I'm worrying." He said that made me paused and awaits the next words he'll say.

"That anything I see is not what as it seems." He continued, swallowing another bite-sized meat.

"What's your point?" I asked, not following what he's saying, slicing off the meat on my plate.

"Are you alright with still not seeing Mae?" He said, as right just then I stopped.

Damn, am I being obvious of feeling fine right now? Am I already caught? Lifting my eyes up, I faked a smile and said.

"Well, what am I going to worry for if I got you?" Acting a little drunk, in aim to make him believe I'm finally vulnerable—take me now.

"Ohh, you're getting good. Are you starting to appreciate me now?" Then, seeing how I sway a little from my seat, he stopped eating and leans on his resting his arms on the table.

"Why not? You've done plenty of things for me." I said, putting my hand on my cheek as the other one on the side of the dishes. And as expected, he reaches my hand, holding it in, stroking it softly with his thumb.

"Hmm, is this for real? You're finally seeing me in the good light?" He asked, as soft excitement flashes through her tone and eyes.

"Mhm, I think so?" I said, grabbing back his hand. Then, he beams a smile, joy, and gladness mixes in. but no matter how happy he looks in my act, deep down, I couldn't feel any guilt.

Maybe, because…I know he's the most possible person to be the…

"Hmm, but you know… I think there's one more thing we're missing." I uttered looks down from our holding hand, up to his expecting eyes.

"Hmm? Oh, you mean Clyde? Don't worry. Things are running on their own with regards to our plan with him." He said, drinking the wine of the glass.

And somehow, I get the feeling that it was George's report as I remember bumping onto him on my way in the elevator earlier this afternoon.

So, the cogs are already set, huh?

Tsk. You make it sound like with or without me. You will still be doing anything.

Well, I'm not surprised knowing you already have stalked me for years behind my back. It's no wonder you can pull off anything with the same thing you've done to me.

I thought, shaking my head sideways. Drinking the remaining wine in my glass in a gulp and grabs the bottle after emptying my glass.

I don't know anything about Lennox's tolerance on booze, but I have to bet every chance.

"Oh, let me," Lennox said, noticing the little sway my arm was doing. He grabs the bottle and then does the pouring himself.

"That's great, but nope, I wasn't talking about Clyde, silly. I was talking about…the anonymous sender that sent me those pictures." This could be none other than you. After careful consideration and thinking, I couldn't think of anyone who can drive Mae away other than him.

Because for Mae to get to Clyde's nerves, she needs to disobey him first. And, knowing how Mae would reacts and run away this way, that's because of someone. Someone has made her guilty and hide from me.

That's why it bothers me. Why would Mae risk giving away a clue in aunt's house if she knew I'd also go there to search for aunt.

If it's Mae, she'll most likely predict I'm going there to search for them. And if it's Mae and she knew that, that someone who threatens her will come with me. She would undoubtedly leave a clue. A clue that only I can solve.

That Russian table setting…Mae, please be alright.

"The pictures which helped me realized that Mae was possible—well, Clyde's puppet," I added, drinking straight the wine on my glass, lifting it up on the air, and when Lennox noticed, he stretched out his arms—

"Oh? Yes, yes, Alice—"Lennox uttered, catching my hand before I emptied my glass.

"Hey," I said when he took the glass out of my hand and not letting me drink his wine, he then grabs his glass before I can even reach and touch it. Drinking both the glasses in a go, he looks at me, eyes getting drowsy.

Damn, is that it?

I thought, disappointed yet glad on his tolerance level. And so, taking advantage of the chance, I cupped his face with my hands.

"Lennox…" I called, acting out of my senses so that he believes I'm already drunk. I smiled at him sweetly.

"Yes?" He asked, smiling back with his dreamy eyes.

Damn, are you for real?

"What do you think of Mae?" I asked. Then, she looks up momentarily and said,

"Mae? Well, she has been a wonderful friend. Energetic? And damn lucky to have you?" He said, looking at me with the last part.

"Hmm, yeah yeah, she is," I said, nodding, pouring our glasses more.

"Why do you ask?" He asked, stroking my hand.

"Well, nothing. I'm just curious about what you thought of her." I said as I intentionally brush my feet on his legs.

"Hmm? Can you enlighten me? Why?" He asked, grabbing my hand more as he takes another sip of the wine.

Yes, that's right, indulge yourself.

I thought, seeing a red flush on his face.

Acting out of it and acting out of my mind, I decided to speak freely.

"Well, you seem to treat people like, wait, how can I say this?" I said, thinking of a brass word I can use to trigger his self-consciousness.

"Nothing?" I added, and then he laughed and emptied his glass. Then, he pours more on his and said,

"Hey, you're too harsh." Chuckling and then looks at me.

"But, I'm treating you right, right?" He said, oozing out a hot ambiance around.

Is this finally my cue? I thought, sweats breaking through my temples.

Damn, that magazine I search on how to turn on a guy is shuffling on my head. Tsk, Alice. Get a grip. Learning and applying a lesson I just learned isn't always hard, but this is an exception. Nonetheless, I followed my instinct and stood up.

Walking towards Lennox, as he holds my hand, I pulled him up and wrapped my arms onto his shoulder. Chest pressing leaning and pressing on his, I looked at his eyes and said.

"Really? then why don't you show me something…right?" I said, tracing his eyes and lips.

Damn it, Lennox. Bite the bait.