Chapter 1

It’s been a week since Caroline died, a week since I lost my part time job, a week since I lost my normal
life, a week since I lost my safety, a week since ive gone to school, a week since I’ve lost everything. She
protected and rose me like her own daughter. Now that she is gone I’ve lost my mother again and have
no one to protect me. Caroline husband mark gave me 3 days and now it’s over. And now I lost my hope
to escape cause there is no escape, he is no human and he kills who angered him, I don’t want to anger
him and I don’t want to die. And now here I’m sitting curled and holing my knees tightly as I can in the
corner of a room in whore hose, terrified by what may come next. There is no way something good can
happen now other than God coming to my rescue.

Door swung open softly, and now I’m itching to run away and disapper cause he is kinda cute, I was
not supposed to have a good time in this shitty days and certainly not during my first day at hell.

“are you okay? You don’t look well” he is peeping behind the slightly opened door and it was
mischiviously cute to see him like that. I don’t want to look affected by his looks so I remain stiffly in
same place hiding my face in my knees not wanting him to catch me looking him. His full frame entered
the room, God he has a body too, I mean you can barely see otherside of the door with his body covered
in the doorway. Suddenly I feel warmth and I no longer feel that this gonna be bad. He entered room
with with his full frame and sat not too close nor too from me.

“you don’t like it here” it wasn’t the question he was asking he was stating truth. Slowly I moved my
head up gauging his reaction and nodded agreeing. “you wanna get out of here permanently?” my head
snapped up at his question. what!! What did he just say? Is he out of his mind? I would not make it in
one piece till the gate.

Instead of saying all those things running in my head about the consequences, I just nodded my
head at him.

“wait for few minutes, I’ll be back.” He’s searching face for some reaction “trust me” he looked
straight in my eyes with tenderness and stood up in one motion and left. Once again I’m in the hell
surrounded by these walls.

Even he left, he did say he was gonna be back. What was I thinking? Some prince with shining
armour or God gonna rescue me from here. I know both can never happed cause I’m already in hell and
there is no escape now. Its been more than few minuted since he said few minutes and left. Its another
sign that this is over. Maybe I scared him off and he said just to be nice for me. But its not right to give
false hope for people. I want to cry but there is no more tears to shead now.

The door smoothly moved making little sound on its way and I saw his face again. Well he didn’t lie
in the ‘I’ll be back’ part. He came straight to me stopping at a arm length “sorry, it took a lot time than I
expected, and we can go, you are free from now“ are you kidding me? How did he do this, turns out he
was not lying about getting me out of here, either, well he didn’t technically say those words but my
made sure to imply the meaning. He gently wrapped me with his warm coat while I stood up, but didn’t
offer his hand. I appritiate that I don’t need anyones’ touch touch now, well except his, but I’m planning
on to look not affected by him, which deffinetly not gonna work if his hands touched mine, after seeing
my teenage harmones running marathon from small the brush of his hands on on my shoulder while he
helped me with his coat.

I followed his with head down keeping same distance between us, and avoiding all the stares he
was drawing for us, he held out the door of passenger seat for me and moved a little giving me access to
the the passenger seat and gently closed door helping me inside with seat belt. Another reminder that
he is a gentle man. He moved the car smoothly out of the gate and drove in silence.

Its been long since I came out, and its good to be out, I missed all these fresh air and voices of
the streets “feeling better?” he read out my thoughts. I nodded without taking my eyes off the window.

“wake up we have arrived” he gently stirred me up, the night was fully taken over not only with
the light but with my sleep also, again he opened the door and I followed him with my head down. I was
not ready to see him, yet. Wow! The house is huge, like hugely huge and clean, you can walk through
the glass, thanks to the inside light reflection on the glasses, atleast I could make out the glasses,
everything is shinny here.

“you hungry?” he turned looking at me. I nodded at him and followed further into the kitchen
“ive orange juice, drink it while I fix something up” handing the over the juice he moved and started
working. Juice smells good. God, I’ve missed many things these days I leaned my back on the nearby
counter hiding from his view and enjoying my view of him.

“here, ive fixed the sandwich. I usually order out take away so I don’t have much in here. I’ll
make sure to stock out here in morning.” He handed me sandwich in a plate and moved to wash his
hands and moved out the kitchen. the smell of sandwich, A reminder of how much these days took took
away form me. I missed my weekly self-treat of good food. My stomach growled waiting for me to take
the sandwich in my mouth. I bit out small corner fighting to savour the taste with hunger. it was over
soon even by taking small bites and savoring taste.

“want some more?” he watching me eat. When did he came? I was too into that sandwich that
I’ve not noticed him coming back.

I Shook my head at him and went near dishwasher, “just keep it there I’ll take care of it” No!
how was I supposed to let him wash my plate. Its not good making someone to wash your palte. I shook
my head again. Ignoring me he took it from me even with my resistance, and dropped it in the
dishwasher. “come I’ll show you to bedroom unless you want take tour of house or do something else”
his eyes were sincier. He was trying to make me comfortable.

“bedroom” it was my first word to him.

“Wow! You have beautifull voice too”

 he led me to bedroom. it is simple and beautifull with a queen size bed in it. “if you want to
take shower and fresh up there’s bathroom and few of my clothes to change” he pointed to the inbuilt
bathroom and clothes. “I don’t have have any female clothes so” he explained. “I’ll be in that corner
room, if you need anything feel comfortable to ask me.” Pointing to the corner room which by
apperence is the biggest room in the house. And he walked towards his room.

I rushed to bathroom and stood on the shower after adjusting the temperature. It smelled rich
in here, and it felt good to breathe good smell. Small jets of water took some tension away from me and
I relaxed in the shower thinking about these days and sudden change of events few hours back.

His t-shirt was big, it reaches to my knees and I don’t even need panties to cover up my body. I
dressed up with his t-shirt and boxer and slid into the bed. It is soft and I remember sleeping in these tye
of bed, I love this bed now.

“Hey it’s okay, it was just a nightmare you are safe now, nothing can harm you now.” I was
sweeting fully opening my eyes to take in the surroundings. He is sitting on a side of bed running his
hands through my arm comforting me. “drink this” he handed me glass of water.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up, I’ve been having more nightmares these days”

“I understand, its okay. I know nightmares are hard, I’ve them too. Want me to stay over?” his
eyes were full of concern. I nodded at him. And moved further into bed indicating him to sleep with me.
He hesitated a bit and then joined.

I woke up to bright light of sun in morning and his handsome face. I could get used to this, but
this is just tempervary. “awake, I’ve bought some clothes for you and stocked some food and made
breakfast for you” he said with a small smile on his his face gauging my reaction. He was trying to
impress me, but why? If there was someone to impress it was me not him.

“I think we need to talk” I don’t want to brust this bubble but I need to face reality and truth.

“I know, but first, brush up and breakfast is ready for you, I’ll meet you at kitchen” he turned
and retreted from bedroom. Making me miss his presence. God! Why I’m I attracted to this man so
much, Only after seeing him yesterday for first time yesterday in a bizarre situation? Looks like I’m in
danger knowing its danger, well atleast its less dangerous than that hell I was in yesterday.

I’m sure the clothes are new cause it smells new, but he got rid of tags. And it felt comfortable
covering me not too loosely nor too tightly. He was sitting reading something on laptop while talking in
the phone.

“ill call you back” he said to the phone and turned towards me. “ive got some food ready, I don’t
know what you like so I made pepperoine. If you don’t like it I can fix up fast”

“no, actually its my fav” I took the first bite remembering of the days when I used to save up
some money to eat this. I finished quickly and turned to him. “I know nothing about you”

“Ask me” he said closing his laptop and giving me his full attention, I never gonna get teird of
seeing his face.
 “lets play this game. I get to ask something about you and, you me. Ill start first. Whats your
name?”

“ryan, you have a boyfriend?” I felt surprised by his question.

“why didn’t you ask my name? and no I don’t”.

“cause I already know, im not gonna waste my chances. How old are you?”

“You took that one as question? Im 18” I replied, realizing my mistake. “its not a question, leave
it, do you have a girlfriend?”.

“No, I don’t, if you are studying what class are you in” really! While I was trying hard not to
waste any questions, he was taking two answers on a single question, he is playing smart.

“ill be in sineor year when school opens, you are not a serial killer or human trafficker, are you?”
he looked surpriced by my question and regained back his expressions.

“no, I’m neither serial killer nor human trafficker. Im a businessman fully clean with no criminal
record and I mean no harm to good people of the society, Mark was not not your real father as he
claimed, is he?” he asked gauging my reaction.

“my real parents died I a car accident when I was 5. And then Caroline Marks’ wife found me,
she wanted children but she didn’t had them, so she took me under her wing and treated me as her
daughter and Mark was not fan of me. But I was taken care of by Caroline and he didn’t do much to
upset her so she left me alone. A week ago she died and all went loose, he was not bothered to upsent
her as she was no more, and as he didn’t liked me he threw me into his business of brothel, now here im
rescued by a stranger on my first day of hell in his business. He was looking at me with wide eyes full of
sympathy, anger, and shock by my admission.

“I’m sorry” he quickly recovered and bagged his his emotions back.

“so what about your parents? And I want a long answer too” I smiled at him trying to diffuse the
situation. Something dark passed his eyes and he quickly upped his guard back and removed all the
expression from his face.

“they are died in my word when I was 8, and since then I’m on my own, no adoptive parents nor
uncles.” What did he mean, in his world, they are alive. His expression was guarded and I didn’t want
push my luck so took my fingers off that for now.

“what business are you in?” I went to casual question which doesn’t mean any harm. His eyes
softened and filled with amusement.

“im into many fields like hotels, amrs, softwares, commercial buildings, real estate and more.
Hotels gives me more profit among all of them and you asked two questions so I’ve got two more to ask
too” wow he is rich, like real rich. “when does your school start?”

“Ive two weeks to go” I smiled at him. His eyes became serious with all amusement comply gone
with no traces of it. What did I say now? Have I offended him? I don’t want to offend him
 “am I scaring you?” of all the questions I never expected him to ask this one. His eyes were
searching mine for my reaction.

“no, you don’t, I’m not scared by you.”

“but?”

I sighed he is not gonna leave this one, atleast I can be honest with him after all he has done for
me. “A bit overwhelmed form the change of events that’s been going through these few days, I catch up
soon as there is no dangers anymore.” Smiling, I touched his arm “it’s okay, I’m better now. Now you
asked three questions so I’ve got two now” I tried to make his tension ease and he laughed at that one.
“how old are you?”

“I’m 20” is he serious how can one make such money at this young age.

“Are you dropout or studying?”

“I was six when I last went to school”

“how did you make this much of money, from trust fund?”

“no, I don’t have any trust funds. I’m here from scratch” he looked offeded from my questions.

“I didn’t mean to offend, you just took me by surprise, is this really your house?”

“yes its mine, and no, it didn’t came from anyone, ive built this on my own hard earned money”
now I did really did offend him, how stupid of me to again make same mistakes at first I lost my two
questions and now offended him twice making me stupid in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I don’t wanna be stupid” he looked shocked from my admission.

“no you are not stupid, you didn’t really offended me. You just keep surprising me” smiling
pressed my fingers gently, reassuring.

“yes, I’m full of surprises, trust me, you haven’t seen it fully yet and you’d be surprised .” he
laughed at that throwing his head back, a full belly laugh.

“as much as I want to continue this game, I really need to attend some work, come ill show few
things” he stood up and held out his. I took it and I followed his lead with head up even the space
between us has reduced from yesterday. Who knew few talks could make you comfortable with a
stranger.

He walked toward the main hall and stopped in front of a man in suite. “he is Rick, he will be
taking care of your security. I don’t trust Mark, he’s gonna come after you” he explained “Rick this is
Samantha…”

“Samuel, Samantha Samuel” I went up his rescue intrupting him as he didn’t know my last
name.

“Miss. Samuel” mark held out his hand and shook mine. i felt heat, no one called me by that.
 “please, just call me Samantha, its more comfortable” I caught Ryan smiling smugly. I elbowed
him lightly to be quit. He acted like someone has hit him with rod on this stomach and I brust out
laughing. Rick looked between us confused, not catching up.

“okay, I’ve got a phone for you, I’ve saved mine, my office and Rick number in it, contact me if
you need anything or just to talk if you get bored. Take Rick with you whenever you go outside to the
house” handing me the phone he squezzed my arms slightly. He is protective and commanding.

“yes boss, as you command” I giggled and he laughed .

“ill be back at evening, don’t wait for lunch, housekeeper’s gonna come and make you food”

“I know how to cook, I can make my own food”

“I just thought you needed some time adjust” he said searching my face.

“I’ts okay, see you in evening, go to work” I giggled

“too eager to kick me out, bye” his eyes danced with amusement. With that he left leaving me
alone in this big house. I have till evening and I don’t want to go out yet so I decided to take a tour of the
house and settling on couch with some snacks and television. Sounds like a plan.

“hey, back soon.” He was dressed in same suit from morning. It was barely touching afternoon.
He was only gone for morning.

“work got finished soon, did you wanted me to be late? If I’m disturbing you fairy show I can
come back when you have finished.” He smiled at me “you got any plans tonight?”

“n…no, why?”

“a new restorent got opened on the city couple of weeks before, I wanted to try it but didn’t got
time, now I do” he is asking me out in a way. I smiled inside, this man I’ve been crushing since yesterday.
Been in my head, since I saw him, is asking me out.

“are you asking me on a date?” I asked coyly. Batting my eye lashes.

“yes, no…, actually yes, Ms. Samantha Sameul, will you go on a date with me having handsome
face” his grin was so intoxicating I laughed my full belly laugh. I don’t remember laughing this much from
before my life, oh what am i getting myself into, before I get in that insecure place. I smiled at his face
with questioning look.

“I didn’t remember saying you are handsome”

“what a shame, you don’t remember saying that last night?” he shot back.

“no I didn’t say that and I don’t speak in sleep” did I said that, maybe, I was thinking about him
and said it aloud, but I’m not gonna agree him. “if I actually said that I would have not forgotten”.

“so, will you come to a date with me?” he figured argument with me will be waste.

“yes, but I don’t have any dress for the date”

 “Leave that to me, I’ll arrange it, I bought take away for afternoon and we have company, few of
my friends will be coming for lunch here” is he kidding me im a mess now, no way I’m going to meet his
friends like this. “don’t worry they don’t judge by looks of a person, you will do great.” He read my
thoughts aloud, how did he do that? Is he a mind reader? If so I need to be careful around him.

“well this is the first, so I want to make good impression”

“no need to impress anyone. you are in my house, so you should impress me” he said his eyes
full with amusement.

“you are the one who bought me here keeping in your house, if there’s any to impress, you
should impress me” I shot back giggling. His phone started ringing. He excused himself and picked up at
second ring.

“hello” … “not coming?” … I felt relived from hearing that ‘not coming’ part “okay, tell her hi for
me” he ended the call short. “Today is all ours.”

“they won’t come?” I asked innocently, pretending I didn’t overheard his call.

“no, one ditched the plan, so now none are coming” there was a relief in his expression too, is
he kind of ashamed of me?

“what is it?” he asked frowning.

“nothing, I was just wondering, no guests came here since I came here” I said which was kinda
true. I expressed little of my insecurity.

“this house is exclusive, no one is allowed here except few selected people, hence the reason its
small” there was no expression in his face to read.

“you kidding, you call this small? From where I’ve grown, this is called mansion” seriously this is
the biggest house I remember seeing, but then I’ve only been in a little part of country mostly in middle
class areas.

“wait till you see my other houses” he smirked at me.

“you have another house?” I asked shocked, he have other houses not house and they are big.
What man requires more than one house. “who lives with you?” I asked him ansiously

“yes, I think I do, I’ve more houses, and I none, no one lives with me, you are welcome if you
want to live with me” he said with a wink. Wait what sis he just say, im allowed to stay, he mention ‘long
as I like’ I can stay with him as long as I like. Hope stared its root inside me.

“are you flirting with me Ryan?” I asked coyly smriking.

“yes, is it working?”

“I don’t know, maybe you should continue.” I winked at him.

 “I think this looks good on you” he held out a sleeve less dress, which was less revealing and
more sexy for my slim figure.

“I think it will do” taking the dress from him, I held out in front of mirror to check colour
matching for me, it did look good “ill be back in few minutes” I said waking towards bathroom to change
and apply makeup.

When I came back, he was sitting on chair beside the bed working on his phone. He looked hot
with those clothes, I wondered how he looks without them.

My thoughts were interupted when he caught me starring. I smiled shyly at been caught. His
eyes went wide with full of appreciation. Boy, I know how it feels like. His eyes were hazel blue, it kinda
matched my sea blue eyes, he has more frickels in them compared to mine. it give his eyes kinda
highlight and made them more beautiful.

“you look…. Nice, I mean beautiful.” He is slutterring. Wow! I impressed him with looks. By
seeing his eyes lazily roaming all over my body, he is attracted to me too, Wow! we both are attracted to
each other.

“thankyou, and you no less” I said shyly, earning a grin from him.

“im glad that you aprove me. So, can we go?” he held out his hand to me.

“Can” I took his hand and walked beside him. Yesterday I walked behind him, this morning I
walked behind him with less distance, and now I’m walking with my hands wrapped on his arms, this
sure is heading fast. Going fast leads to accident and I don’t want that to happen with him.

“penny for a thought?” my dark thoughts were intrupted by his voice. He was frowning looking
down at me. He was taller than me, not too tall but tall enough.

“I was just wondering where you would take me” i smiled at him reasurringly but he didn’t buy
and didn’t push it too. I really don’t want spoil this date with my insecurities.

He dove silently, and it was killing me as I’m the one who started it. “which song do you like?”

“I don’t have particular I like so many, it mainly depends on the situation of that time” he
replied with his eyes on road.

“any specific genere”

“no, no particular, what’s yours?” he asked me.

“Find out on yourself, I’ve saved many songs on my phone…the phone you gave” i said searching
face for something, but his face was blank. So I continued, “I’ll play few songs, you try to find out my
favorate song” I challenged him.

“oh, I like challenges and puzzles, young women” he turned at me grinning smugly.

“here we go, young boy” I played the playlist I’ve created and starting humming and singing in
little voice. As a familiar beats and voice filled the car space.
 “you have lovely voice, I’ve not seen anyone with that much beautiful voice” he complimented
me

“you do know what voice cannot be seen, right?” I teased him.

“thankyou for that piece of wisdom, little girl”

“you do know that we only two years apart, so that makes you little too, or we both are not
little, choice is yours” I came back at him with a grin touching my ears. He laughed out loud filling the car
with his laugh.

“you are funny, you know that? I’ve not laughed this much my entire life” he said trying control
his laugh.

“I know, I’m known for fun. And you are funny too” I said laughing with him. ”even I didn’t
laughed this much my entire life.” I gave my honest admission for his.

“glad to know, I’m the one who’s making you laugh” he said with self-appreciation. And his grin
went wide.