SHADOW
SEDUCTION
WRITTEN BY : NOEL INNOCENT
CHAPTER TWELVE: WHO SHE BELONG TO
My gaze travels back to
George, whose hands are still lifted up in the air.
“What’s happening?” he moves closer. “Are you
and Miss Lacey in a relationship?”
“Relationship?” I stand to my feet and light
another cigarette. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I mean, you did say you wish to marry her.”
“Of course.” Looking at George, I move closer to
my wardrobe and place my finger in the finger
print sensor placed at the side. A hidden door
opens; we both step in, and it closes shut. I look
at him. “Marrying Lacey is still my plan.”
“You really are confusing, Arthur.”
“Am I?” I straightforward my hand and he places
the gold. “Where did you get it?” I smile at it.
Real gold. How difficult it is to get such things
in these days.
“Answer my question first.”
“What do you mean?” I look at him, not
interested in saying more if his words are
concerning Lacey.
“It’s obvious you don’t love Lacey. Why marry
her?” George sits down, averting my gaze from
him. My eyes move to the whole gold lineup.
This room always glitters with actual gold.
Dropping the gold I just collected in its rightful
place, I pull out the cigarette and blow out the
air.
“I won’t force her into marriage, George.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I certainly do.” Looking back at him, I smile. “I
just want to see how she will look beneath me.
Is that horrible?”
“You’re passing through all these trouble for
segz?”
“Indeed.” Exhaling, I run my hand through my
hair. “I do sound like a douchebag, don’t I?” He
furrows his brows, and I chuckle. “Even I have
things to figure out. Just leave Lacey to me. I
may not love her, but I won’t hurt her.”
“You might have confused my words, Arthur.”
George stands up; the look in his eyes is
something I haven’t seen for a while. Those
dark eyes, for some reason, look even darker. “I
do not care about Lacey. You may do with her
as you please, but you need to be careful. You
must not let her into your heart.”
“George.”
“I am scared.” Looking at him, I could see the
little boy I took out of the slum when he was at
the edge of death. He still treats me as some
sort of god to him. “I do not want to lose you.”
“George.” I move close and place my hand on
his shoulder. “You need to relax. You’re a grown
man now; you can do without me.” He clears his
throat and nods.
“You’re right.” His tone totally lines up. “I have a
few details on Angelo, though it doesn’t really
add up to anything at all.”
“Let me see.” He hands over the file, and I go
through it. “That’s all?” Furrowing my brows, I
look at George.
“Even I find it very fishy. Angelo hardly has any
details about him. It seems so clean, but he’s
just him. All what he told you about, that’s all I
could find out. If I ask some other questions,
nobody seems to have knowledge about it.”
“More like he isn’t from this country.”
“That’s it. But then he told you he grew up here;
he should have friends or family, even relatives.
But nothing of such kind.”
“And you couldn’t find out who he was working
for?”
“Yes, no trace at all.” George shakes his head.
“Whoever is backing him up is pretty good.”
“That means I will have to watch and see why
he is here. But first, we need to transport this
gold. I will tell you when.” I look at him. “Just me
and you will take it to its next location.”
“Are you sure?” He steps closer; his hands move
to my shoulder. “It will be too risky. The gold is
much, too heavy for just us.”
“You’re right.” Nodding my head, I look back at
the gold. “You will gather men you have no
feeling for. The moment it’s transported to a
safe location, I will have every single one of
them dead.”
“That’s a better conclusion.”
“Let’s leave; I’m starting to feel suffocated.”
Stepping out, the door closes shut, and I move
towards the window. “I will be heading out this
evening; I have plans with…” I stop speaking,
taking out the cigarette; I squeeze it in my
hands. The burn in my hands right now doesn’t
even matter.
“You mean you planned a date with Miss Lacey.
Do you really plan on…” George stops talking
the moment the sight of Edwin embracing
Lacey burns in his eyes.
—
Stepping out of his room, I couldn’t
help but burn at the thought of what he was
doing. My hands instantly moved to my lips.
What is this? I don’t feel disgusted, but I don’t
feel good either. My skin doesn’t itch, but it’s not
pleasant.
Stepping away from Arthur’s room, thoughts run
in my mind. I have no idea if I’m doing the right
thing. I don’t know if I should stop this reckless
thought of falling in love with Arthur. What if I’m
in for another heartbreak?
He said he won’t love me. Right now, I don’t
care. I don’t care if he loves me or not. But if I do
fall for him, I will want him to feel the same, and
that’s why I fear I’m in for a harsh heartbreak if I
don’t think this through.
But then I want to forget all about Edwin. I don’t
want him in my heart anymore. Most people will
call me stupid for loving someone that doesn’t
even care about me. I should stop. I need to
stop these feelings.
“Miss Lacey.” Hearing that voice, I turn left to
stare at Angelo leaning on the wall. ” You look
troubled”
Smiling, I wave it off. “I’m fine.”
“I hope so.” He steps closer. “You have a visitor
outside.” Looking at his eyes, I furrow my brows.
I’m sure Arthur will never permit me to meet
anyone.
“For me?”
“Yes.” He smiles. “He looks pretty worried. I’m
sure you must meet him.”
“Won’t Arthur…”
Angelo cuts me off. “Worry about the boss later.
We should go to the garden and see him. Hurry.”
He holds my hand and literally pulls me
alongside him, through the back door towards
the garden. Once I’m close, he lets go and
retreats back to the mansion.
Stopping, I look around, confused as to who
wishes to see me. Moving closer, I stop at my
feet, the sight of Edwin shocking me. “Lacey.”
He looks at me, cheerful, too cheerful for
someone who h@ťěs me.
He moves closer. “I have been meaning to see
you. Let’s talk. I have a lot…” What I have been
hoping to do finally hits me. Lifting my hand, I
slap him across the face, my anger resurfacing.
“Lacey.”
“You really have the nerve to come all the way
here and pretend.” I had no idea when tears
began to drop from my eyes. “I know your plan, I
know what you want, but to think you are
actually moving forward with it.” His face
completely changes, back to the normal
annoying Edwin.
“Lacey.” He steps closer. “It is true I love you, but
it’s also true I h@ťě you.” I couldn’t understand
what he is saying. “I h@ťě you for various
reasons, but then I can’t bear the thought of
Arthur having you. I met you first…you belong to
me.”
“I am nobody’s property.”
“But you love me.” He holds my hand and
moves closer. “I am the one you love. Why not
stay with me, marry me?” It wasn’t a surprise
that his touch didn’t feel horrible. This is exactly
why I h@ťěd my heart and body; they keep
longing for something that will only put them in
pain.
Pulling my hands away, I frown. “Stay away
from me.” Cleaning my tears, a frown creeps
into my face. “This is the last time I will…” He
didn’t let me finish my sentence. In a blink of an
eye, I feel myself being pulled into a hug. He
holds my body tenderly while he buries his face
in my neck. At that moment, an image of Arthur
flashes in my eyes.
I can’t understand my feelings. Edwin’s touch
was pleasing. Right now, I feel happy. But when
Arthur touched me earlier, I felt embarrassment.
No…I didn’t feel anything at all. I was just shy.
But why is it that right now, even when I want
Edwin to keep me in his arms, it’s all like I’m
committing a grievous sin, a grievous sin
against Arthur? is like my mind already
accepted the fact that I belong to him.
Another hand pulls me out of Edwin’s warm
embrace. I look up to meet Arthur, his eyes once
again emotionless. So, this is the man I belong
to? ” Arthur ” I gasp out his name and his gaze
met mine.
TBC