ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POV
Right after that incident, I immediately ran back to where we live. I just took a short shower to remove the stains of blood that got all over my body. I also made sure that I changed my clothes. There was nothing else I had to do at home. I'm certain that people or some who are seated on the higher ups would surely investigate how my parents died. Mostly those people who always pay my dad on time just because of our videos that purposely leak on the internet. I only took my credit cards, my mobile phone, and a wallet with cash, of course. I didn’t bother packing up my clothes and other belongings since I am currently in a hurry to leave this place. It took me a few hours before I was able to reach some place that was unfamiliar to me. The sun was about to rise, which made it easier for me to travel, unlike earlier, when I had almost nothing to see. I continued my journey until I was tired and decided to take a break. It seemed like luck was on my side since there was already a restaurant that was open. I’m guessing that it’s always open 24/7. Once I had finished having my breakfast, I proceeded to a nearby hotel and decided to check-in for a while. The entire muscles all over my body kept on aching, which is why I had the reason to at least rest for a little bit. But I guess this time, luck wasn’t with me. My phone suddenly vibrated at the same time that I received a text message that came from an unknown number. “I’ve witnessed everything that you did in that forest, woman.” My eyes instantly enlarged when I read what it was about. This can’t be real, right? I mean, even I couldn’t see clearly during that time since it was too dark around the forest. Then, how can this person say that he or she witnessed the whole thing? There was something odd with its message, and I can’t even sit still. I feel like all of my exhaustion from earlier suddenly vanished with this simple message. After a few seconds of staring at the screen of my phone, another one appeared. “I’ve secured video footage just in case you don’t believe my words. Click on the attached file to check what I’m talking about. Once you’ve watched it, I’m sure that you’ll come running to me and beg for me to delete it.” That’s what was written in the next message. My fingers were shaking as I slowly pressed onto the link that was attached. It really was footage of what happened earlier, as if it were shooting for a film. It was perfectly shot, like some sort of professional videographer took it while we weren’t aware. I didn’t finish watching the entire video; I ended up calling whoever was behind this number. “Hello?” “That was fast,” the voice of a man said from the other line. Now that I’ve confirmed its gender, it might be quite difficult to have a deal with him. “So, what do you say? Do you want this video to spread all throughout the country and let the police do their jobs and serve you with a warrant of arrest?” he asked for my opinion, knowing that I would not agree to such a thing. “I’ll take your silence as a rejection, then.” “Who are you?” I asked with my eyebrows almost touching one another. I was biting one of my nails since I’m really getting terrified of the fact that I don’t even know who’s behind this. “What would you even gain from spreading something like that?” I added to my first query. I heard a short chuckling noise from the other line. “You can’t even recognize who I am, Angelique?” The moment that he mentioned my name, my heart started to thump like crazy. “How do you know my identity? Who the fuck are you?” I was already beginning to feel a little bit pissed off. “Chill, woman. I'm still trying to be a nice guy here, so if I were you, I'd not trigger anything that can anger me," he stated, which made me shut my mouth and decide to calm myself down first. I need to understand his motive and where he's coming from so that I can come up with the right solution to this situation. "I only want one thing in exchange for not letting this video be watched by anyone else, Angelique. If you realize who I am soon enough, I'm pretty sure that you'll also determine what it is that I'll be wishing for." That was the last passage that I heard from the man whom I called. I couldn't even get his name before he dropped it. I was in the middle of an attempt to call him once more, but his phone was already unreachable, as if it had died on purpose. I excessively let out a sigh of utter frustration. It feels like all of my effort to come all the way here in order to escape from our house has served no purpose. I placed my arm above my forehead, and it covered my eyesight as well. I was trying to think of the people, mostly guys whom I’ve been with, who might actually be behind this. But it took me long enough to even come up with someone. I’ve fallen asleep already, and when I woke up, I was out of the hotel with absolutely nothing with me. The three things that I brought with me earlier are gone. I tried to search for it in my pockets and even in my surroundings, but it was hopeless. I might have been involved in a robbery while I was asleep. I slammed my palm on my cheeks when I realized that I’m left with just myself.ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThis means that I can no longer go anywhere that I want to, considering that money is the first thing that I should have when I’m thinking of traveling to some place. I let my own feet wander around; I don't even know where I should first head off to. Mostly now that I don't have anyone to provide me with financial support. The sun was already burning my skin; it is currently afternoon, and there are even more people outside now compared to when I first arrived in this place. As I was letting my subconscious bring me anywhere, I bumped into someone. I almost stumbled to the ground, but the person was quick enough to grab me by my waist.“Sorry. Are you alright?” he asked, and when I turned to look at him, I opened my mouth. “Y-you…”“G-Greyson?!” I mentioned his name in shock before I fixed my posture and thanked him afterwards. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you still studying in another country?” I asked out of curiosity.“Turns out I wanted to spend my ti
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVAfter several hours had passed, the night sky appeared. It was filled with lots of shining stars, though there was no presence of the moon. It doesn’t seem like it would rain anytime soon, but just to be sure, I still hurried up to walk towards Greyson’s club. It wasn’t that far from where he left me, so I really didn’t have to be troubled with riding any vehicle. I haven’t even arrived at the exact location yet, but I can already hear the deafening noise that came from the ladies and gentlemen who were inside.I breathed in heavily at the same time that I gulped. There should be nothing that I should be nervous about. If Greyson plans to do something indecent to me, then I guess I should just let him be. I mean, why would I even try to resist when I’ve experienced something far worse from my own father? Even my mom just kept on tolerating whatever he did to me instead of trying to stop it from happening again.When I opened the doors, the scents of alcohol an
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVEven though I was told to kneel down, I didn’t do it until Greyson was forced to dress himself back up, and that was also the exact same moment that I did the same. There was clearly no reason for me to do what he wanted me to do, not until there was some kind of benefit for me to do so. I firmly stood up, as I was facing him. Memories from our school years flashed back through my mind, and I swear, I can still sense at least a little bit of my feelings for him, and it actually bothers me. I mean, it has been years since we’ve last seen one another, and I believed that he would not be coming back to our country. Even though we had mutual feelings before, I never told him about whatever was going on in my family, which is why he wasn’t able to do anything about it. I’m at least half a hundred percent certain that he would be doing everything that he can under any circumstance just for him to be able to do something to save me, just to keep me away from my so-ca
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe surroundings were more peaceful than before. Greyson has left me alone in the room upstairs, making it possible for me to clearly hear the disco music that was playing downstairs.It was quite a dilemma, and I still can’t believe how things turned out this way. I never knew that the day would come when I would still be able to meet him again. Moreover, I’m asking him for a favor. Years ago, it was the other way around; I was always the one who assisted him with his academics. And now that he has obviously improved, maybe he’s just trying to pay the favor.The beating of my heart seemed to be normal, despite the unusual scenario between us. Seeing the naked body of a man, or be it someone else seeing me without any clothes on, is a typical occurrence in my life that my parents made me grow up into. I never got traumatized since I believed that it was for the best and that if I made someone pleased with my performance, I’d be praised.“Angelique.”My thoughts
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVAlong with the fact that I had no accessories, money, or even a phone to contact Greyson or anyone else that I knew, I also didn’t have a home to return to. It would definitely be risky for me to go back to where I used to live with my parents. The police might have already arrived at the forest where I left the both of them, and they are most probably hunting me since I was their only child.The streets that were filled with distant light posts were the ones that served as illumination in this dim place. It was already past midnight, and I still hadn’t eaten. Despite the current time, there was still a huge crowd inside and outside of Greyson’s bar since this is a nightclub.“Uhm, excuse me? Don’t you want to get in?” asked by a woman’s voice from behind. I didn’t need to turn around to see who it was since she stood right beside me, holding onto a piece of cigarette that she was lighting up.I shook my head. “I’ve been inside for hours. Thanks for the concer
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe low temperature of my body seemed to make me freeze from where I was standing after Greyson and I turned around to face Joy. He held one of my hands, and that was the only one that was warm, and even though I wasn’t comfortable with it, I still let him grip my hand tighter.“I’m a year older than Angelique, and there’s something that I would like to confirm first before allowing a stranger to conduct an investigation on her,” Greyson said, stepping forward to place me behind him. His broad back was covering the view of that woman, who was making me nervous.I can’t believe how he’s trying to protect me.I heard the loud sigh of Joy, as if she had already given up before putting up a battle. “Considering how I am still a mere trainee, I’d let this disrespect of yours slide.” The rustling sounds of the leaves that were on the ground kept vibrating in my ears as she successfully walked right beside me. “I believe that the both of you are no longer minors, am I
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVRubbing my eyes upon the disturbance of the sunlight that shone through the glass window beside the cabinet of the room, I realized that I had spent the night together with Greyson in a room that was neither mine nor his. “W-where are we?” I loudly asked, pulling the bedsheet near my chest even though I wasn’t even naked.“Can you tone down a bit?” Greyson sounded pissed, making it seem like he didn’t care who it was that asked him. “I didn’t touch your damn body, Angelique. Calm down. I just didn’t know what to do with you after you passed out hours ago,” he continued.I remained seated in the same position as I stared at him, slowly blinking his eyes to remove the feeling of being sleepy. “What do you mean?”Greyson sat on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t want to leave you alone in my bar, so I figured out that bringing you to a hotel would be the best solution. Mostly for now, I still haven’t processed anything regarding your mansion,” he answered, which cleare
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe magnificent sensation of bearing jewelry filled with diamonds on my ring finger still seems surreal. Truth be told, this is the first time that someone has ever surprised me this way. During the days when I was still a student, I used to be courted but was always mistreated.No man bothered to give me flowers or even the bare minimum of giving me the assurance that they’re in love with me as a person, and not just because of my body.“Are you still not over how I gave you the ring?” Greyson asked as we were heading over to the building of his friend’s company.I shrugged both of my shoulders. “I can’t believe how you didn’t even think of proposing in a proper way,” I jokingly said. When I turned to look at his expression, there was something missing. It doesn’t seem like he was in the mood for jokes, and his mind was kind of occupied. “Now that we’re disguised as couples who weren’t even married officially, should we still set boundaries?” I asked to ensur