SHADOW
SEDUCTION
WRITTEN BY : NOEL INNOCENT
CHAPTER NINE: HER LAST RETORT 1
Monica sit in the coffee shop,
she frown, checking my wristwatch for the third
time, but she is nowhere to be found. After
calling her for the tenth time, my worry
intensifies. What could have happened to
Lacey?
“What do you think you’re doing?” a familiar
voice hits me. I look outside the coffee shop to
find the same man I’ve been avoiding walking
right in, picking up the menu. I quickly lift it to
cover my face as sweat begins to form on my
forehead. I can’t leave; what if Lacey later heads
here and I’m nowhere to be found? Another
voice behind me alerts me.
“What do you mean?” the lady gasps. “Arthur is
planning to marry her? You’re leftovers?”
“Not leftovers, watch your tongue,” another
familiar voice hits me. “She still visited me in the
hospital; it could be possible that she loves me.”
“Not a joke like that,” she chuckles. “Nobody is
that stupid to like you to that extent.”
“It turns out Lacey is,” hearing that name, a
frown creeps onto my face. Could that be
Edwin? “She is only interested in me, and the
way things are heading, it will only be a way to
get her father’s property and, of course, get back
at Arthur.”
“What do you mean, get back?”
“Are you dumb? He caused Gavin’s death and
my beating,” Edwin’s voice grows colder. “He is
responsible for that too. There’s no way he will
think I won’t get back at him.”
“There are other ways.”
“I know that,” he chuckles. “This seems to be the
best way to deal with him. Just help me out,
okay? I need to meet Lacey in person.”
Getting up, I decide I’ve heard enough and am
ready to head home, trying to reach Lacey
before she falls into this trap. When I approach
the door, I quickly drop the menu on a different
table and rush out of there.
I thought I fully escaped, not until someone
drags me into a dark corner, his hands on the
left side of the wall, pinning me. “You,” I
recognize his hair and those dark eyes. “What
exactly is your deal?” he growls.
“What are you saying?”
“Following me around?” He frowns. “Is this your
new way of confessing your love to me? First
was the parking lot…now this?”
“You have to be kidding me.” Folding my hands,
I move closer to him, proving I’m not one bit
scared. “Do you possibly think I will like
someone like you? A murderer.”
“You are simply trying to get my attention.”
“You may be handsome, but not everybody is in
need of such a thing.” I frown. “I love my men
more strong.”
“Hmmm.” I never knew this was possible, but his
eyes get even darker. “Do you mean you’re a
spy? Who sent you then?” What kind of event is
this? One minute I was someone with a crush
on him, and now a spy? “Either way, I’m ki||ing
you.”
“Wait.” I gasp out of surprise, different excuses
fill my head. “I love you,” I mumble, and he
furrows his brows. “I love you so much that I
can’t breathe when you’re not here; my heart
doesn’t beat when you’re far.” Picking that line
from a movie, I smile. “I just couldn’t help
following you around.”
“Hmmm.”
“Trust me.” I stupidly close the space between
us, our faces an inch apart. “I really do like your
handsome face.” At least that was true, and
finally, I notice a smile creep into his face.
“Lies.” He closes the space, lips close to my
ears. “I can tell you’re lying, but I have my
answer. I like you.” He holds my hand. “Come
with me.”
“What are you doing?” Struggling to free myself
from his grip, I realize it’s all in vain. “Let go.”
“Why, I thought you love me.” He looks at me.
“You’re breaking my heart, Monica.” I frown at
that.
“You know me?”
“Of course, I do.” I watch how he laughs. “What
a small world, isn’t it?” And just like that, I know
I’m in big trouble but somehow more worried
about Lacey. Edwin is a jerk and not able to
warn her beforehand is horrible.
“I’m not a virgin.” I blurted out. “Guys like you
really love your women untouched, right? I have
slept with twenty men and counting.” I growl
when he pushes me into his car and shuts the
door.
He gets in, then looks at me. “Who cares?” I
watch how an evil smile appears on his face.
“I’m not a saint either.”
“Oh god, I’m screwed.” My heart keeps beating
in fear. “What do you plan on doing to me?”
“Not me, what we plan on doing to you.”
“We?” I repeat the word and curse under my
breath. I can’t die now; my father needs me.
His voice suddenly gets calm. “Don’t worry,” he
mumbles. “I won’t hurt you, my boss just need
to talk to you.” He looks at me for a brief
moment, which surprisingly makes my heart
skip a beat. That’s ridiculous—just a moment of
him acting calm, and I already feel safe?
“What’s your name?”
“Angelo.” His name doesn’t suit him; Devil would
have been better.
Arthur watches how scared
she looks the moment he holds her hand.
“Arthur.”
“Where are you headed?” I ask, letting go of her
and watching her closely. “I mean, my car is
over there, in the parking lot.”
“I wanted to…to…to…drink some coffee,” she
stammers, and I furrow my brows. “I’m telling
the truth; “she did mention a coffee shop earlier.
“With whom?” I look at her. “Monica?”
“How did you?” Grabbing her hand, I force her to
walk faster behind me, approaching the car. I
open the passenger seat door.
“Get in.” Shutting the door after she does as I
said, anger, frustration, and disappointment
build in my body. “This d@mn woman,” I growl. I
have never been the type to control my anger; I
can explode anytime.
Running away from me is not a good idea, not
one bit. Getting in the car, I shut the door, start
the engine, and drive off in silence. Right now,
there are possible chances of me doing
something I might regret.
“Arthur?” She mumbles, voice calm. “Can you at
least let me see my friend?” I say nothing,
ignoring her completely. “She is really worried
about me, and I just want to…”
“You h@ťě me and don’t wish to be close to me; I
understand,” mumbling, I run my hands through
my hair when the car comes to a halt at the red
sign. “But I won’t do as you please.”
“Arthur.”
I glare at her. “One more mistake like this.”
Clenching my hands, I force a smile on my face.
“You will never see broad daylight again.”
“What are you?” I watch her eyes, tears swelling
up. “What mistake have I done? What did I do to
you?” Ignoring her plea, I only exhale and look
elsewhere as the signal turns green, and the
journey continues. The mansion being far from
my company is starting to annoy me.
Arriving home, I watch how she opens the door
and rushes in without me. She looks really
angry and sad at the same time. Exhaling, I
walk in and stare at Angelo. “Where is she?”
Mumbling, he replies, “The study.”
“Keep her there. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Alright,” he moves back to the study room with
a smile on his face, which is completely weird.
Taking off my jacket, I grab my phone and call
George. “How did it go?”
“Splendid,” he replies. “The police are rather
foolish.” The sound of his voice, he seems to be
eating. “How did everything go at work today? I
couldn’t show up.”
“Hmm,” going upstairs, I mumble. “I need you to
do a background check for me.”
“On who?”
“Angelo.”
“You mean the new guy you hired?”
“Yes.”
“You did say that he seemed genuine.” George
mumbles. “Is he causing problems?”
“It’s just a gut feeling, do that for me.”
“Fine, but something is happening, right? You
moving into that man…” I didn’t let him finish
his words before I cut the call, put the phone
back into my pocket, and open Lacey’s room
door. I walk in and shut the door.
“What do you want?”she ask while standing,
looking outside the window.
“We should talk.”
“I want to be alone.” Her voice seems to be
cracking; was she crying? “Or I can’t have that…”
She doesn’t finish her sentence before I turn her
around to look at me, her eyes red from all the
tears. “Let go!!!”
“You cried?” Frowning, I growl. “What is so bad
about staying here, with me?”
“Everything. And do you know why?” She steps
closer. “Because I h@ťě you.” Lifting my hand, I
stop it midway; my thoughts were to grab her
hair, but that may be too harsh. “You want to
beat me up? Is that it?”
“Shut up, Lacey.”
“Or what, will…” Before she could complete her
sentence, I grab her face and step closer, those
eyes of hers fill with rage. Letting go, my hands
move to her neck before wrapping them around
her neck.
“Do you want to know a secret?” I growl. “Don’t
ever think you can escape me; I will end up
ki||ing you.” Watching tears drop from her eyes, I
tighten my hands around her neck even more.
“You’re mine; put that in your head, and trust
me… no one can save you from me.” Letting go
of her, I push her onto the bed, turn around, and
walk out of the room.
Shutting the door, I run my hands through my
hair before walking downstairs. What did I just
do? But before I could think more about what I
said, I stare at Lacey, who opens her room door.
Her gaze doesn’t meet mine; I watch her walk
through the back door, with one word leaving
her lips: “I’d rather die.”
The first thought was to ignore that, but then it
hit me, the swimming pool. Turning around, I
run towards that direction and stare at her,
standing at the edge. “Don’t be stupid, Lacey,” I
growl.
She looks at me then lets herself fall into the
water. I stand in shock, staring at the water. She
made no plans to swim…suicide? Is that what
she wants to do?
Taking off my clothes, I jump into the water
without a second thought. successfully
dragging her out of the water, I performed cpr
on her and watch her cough out the water
before looking at me
” won’t you even let me die? Don’t I have a say
in my life, it’s my life you know” Ignoring her, I
lift her up in my arms
” You’re wrong, your life belong to me now”
back into her room, I drop her on the bed then
turn around to shut the door.
Shutting the door behind me, I exhale then look
back at her only to find her standing, she slowly
take off her clothes right in my eyes ” segz?”
Tears drop from her eyes as she drop everything
down.
She stood naked with an emotionless eyes ” this
is what you want right ” I watch her body
tremble, fear evident in her eyes, she bite her
lower lip….my gaze lower to her hands which is
slowly shaking” take it and let me be ”
I stand there, looking at what I have always
wanted but somehow it made me angry, hot
and frustrated.
TBC