Leaving all my side jobs behind, my tiny room, my friend, Alouette, to an expedition in search of my Mom's whereabouts, I was held captive. Like a fugitive. Thinking twice if I could at least get a hold of my personal belongings so I can contact my lovely friend, I fumed, helplessly seated at the back of the vehicle, with Regan Rancere beside me, who was dressed formally, his eyes were furrowed. The usual facade of him surfaces. We were headed to an event, to be specific, I was again being dragged into this abyss, and honestly, I don't know why I should be here. Wouldn't it be convenient for him to leave me behind in his mansion?
We arrived shortly, dressed neatly; annoyance was plastered on my face. Unwilling to be here, I attempted to stay behind this man's pacing. To my surprise, he grabbed my arm and anchored it onto him. Guided with his pacing, he murmured in between, enough volume to make me shiver, "Coordinate properly or I will make your friend's neck slit into half," he demanded, more of a threat. His desperation bothers me. I tried painting a smile. A bitter one. I buried my nails in his coat, enough for him to notice my protest. He looked at me, I showed my smitten face, a sarcastic one, the surrounding started low utterance, unbelievable yet amused by who was Regan Rancere's accompany tonight. The space between us grew a little when I reached for his ears, acting as if I had something to tell him, as if I had a voice to be heard. I bit his earlobe. Goes back, standing beside a stool, and took a sip of wine. I left him meters away while he was having conversations with his business companions.
I saw his eyes glimmer, grow a little fiery, and admiration filled his eyes when he met mine. My stunt reached him huh? You have been playing with my feelings and emotions more often, so why take a simple bait now?
He was undoubtedly talking with his colleagues, but his eyes stayed intently watching over me. His colleague pretended not to unnoticed the arrogance and the disrespect Regan has been giving to him.
I get it, yes, I am your damn prey, but pay attention to who you were talking to! Look, I'm not going anywhere! Your minions in suits are everywhere!
In the midst of my self-monologue, a man in his late 40s approached me, he gestured a drink, I smiled and declined him politely. Before having a conversation with the man, a strong arm pulled me away, leaving behind the man who was attempting to get close to me.
Following Regan's steps in front of me, his brows scrunched, his face was a bit annoyed. He stayed silent. Flowing with his furious aura, preceding the hallway, narrowing down the destination, we headed to a secluded room. A blonde man welcomed us, his hair had a stroke of agedness, bearded, squinting eyes, saggy yet with a confidence, in a brown suit, a baston supporting his manor, he sat down after. I sat down beside Regan. Feeling the unfamiliarity, both Regan's men and the man in front of us were surrounding us. They started a conversation, a real business has begun, exchanging plenaries of corporate links, I tried entertaining myself not to get sleepy.
A cough brought me back.
"I appreciate the gesture, gentleman. The amount of pleasure I had with our last negotiation has been reflected in my company's statistics and GDP, however, I'd like to propose something instead of having another deal with you," he proposed, leaned a bit to his right man who is standing beside him, his right man nodded, he asked for a brief case, opened it, aquamarine-like pills showcase to us.
Am I... kind of... witnessing an illegal deal with my own... very eyes?
I gulped.
I observed the man in front of us, he smiled but my gut was telling me something— in my years of examining human expressions, gestures, body language, I swear, he is up to something. This tingling sensation bothers me the most. It's itching me to death.
I wonder, how Regan will react? What was he thinking at this moment? When I glance at him, he is just sitting firmly, no reactions at all, like he is waiting for something.
"The stage is yours, Old Man," Regan replied confidently. Regan supported his chin with his palm, it is as if he was enjoying a show, a box-office hit would be shown in no time.
The old man once again, smitten, I heard Regan earlier, calling him Kenji Matsuhide.
Regan's underling, namely Walter, steps in, he wore gloves, examined the blue pills, and placed them inside a plastic container then transferred them to another briefcase.
The Old Man, Kenji, discreetly made a hand sign and mouthed something that, no man inside this room would apprehend if you have no prior understanding of hand gestures and body language. I fear Regan would notice it too.
I suppose, I needed to step in too? Right? My life is in danger. Without a doubt, I dare to speak between them.
"Watashi no mae de kitanai mane o suru n ja nai wa yo, Ojiisan. Watashi ga mite iru kagiri, nani mo minogashitari shinai wa. Seiseidoudou to yarinasai, onegai."
[Translation: Don't you dare play a dirty game in front of me, Old Man. Nothing left unnoticed, not on my watch. Play fairly, please.]
I spoke politely, but with a pretense, I bowed too. Felt threatened, his eyes widened, in the blink of an eye, the negotiation was interrupted, with my voice being enunciated— with my sudden insertion, everyone was alarmed, pointing guns at the opposite parties' associates, I felt Regan's presence beside me, he was momentarily shocked with the idea of me, speaking, I saw his mouth agaped a bit, but the moment he looked at the Old Man's direction, his eyes were in fiery state, he smiled, like he knew something was wrong from the beginning.
I can lip-read, but most of the time, I was used to using sign language. I prefer its artistry in so many ways. Reading someone's body language is my forte. So no, no one can escape my sharp eyes in this game, knowing my life was in line? No, never.
"I guessed, this meeting means nothing without a bidding, right?" With Regan's voice amidst the silent chaos inside the room, "How about making up for my businesses' loss last time? Rancor Group of Companies has never been into this kind of shameful event... Being framed up is not in my vocabulary, maybe a right arm will suffice for my frustrations about last time?" he is now standing tall in front of me, his broad back shielding me, it is as if, he reassured me with the situation we were in.
A flying Swiss knife head towards my direction, but Regan effortlessly swayed my body, collided with his chest on mine, and he guided my back like we were dancing a waltz in the midst of the ballroom— in the middle of the chaos, a shot was fired once again— same as yesterday's scenario, blood were seen on floor and suddenly, Old Man Kenji was being pinned down on the floor too, with his underlings piled up, lifeless, all were cleared.
Regan dragged me, he approached for the knife that had been thrown towards us earlier, he, then, without a doubt, dismembered the Old Man's arm. Regan showed his ruthlessness. This side of him, is what the tales had been lingered to the townsfolk— in the corporate world.
A loud pang of pain was heard from the Old Man's lips. Arching his back with the sensation of his arms flowing reddish fluids of iron. Regan nonchalantly wiped his stained face, "No one dares to touch my belongings," It was as if he were announcing that his possessions were being robbed away from him, looking towards my two orbs, he tucked the loose strands of my hair into my ear. It sent shivers down my spine.
With that moment on, his grip tightened, dragging me out of the scene, until we reaches the side of the corner, Regan stayed silent, he pinned me to the will, welcoming my eyes forcedly to his, our eyes met, he spoke, his words were confronting, "You deceived me again, what should I expect next from you?" in a betrayed tone, his voice soften a bit. An unusual sight of him. Another side of him, too far from a facade.
It's not that I don't want to, but I can't. My throat was sealed, involuntarily, when things happened, me, being cornered, my voice came next.
I, then, attempted made a motion in my hands, but he grabbed my arms, placing them above my head. I was disabled.
"What now?" he murmured.
I resisted, but he is too firm to be demolished.
"I thought of you as someone... different from them, but what?" he added, low tone, disappointed, yet yearning, searching for an acceptable reason for me.
I tried opening my mouth, but no words came, again and again, he watches me, a desperate one, trying to make a noise.
But I couldn't!
I looked at him, begging him to stop this scene, he would gain nothing. My throat was the problem. My eyes failed to reach his.
"So, your lips will only make a noise if you want?"
I shook my head, repeatedly.
"How about forcing your damn mouth to be parted and start making noise from now on?" He challenged. Without a doubt, his lips touched mine, he forcedly parted my lips, his tongue slipped through my watery lips, entering mine, searching for something. In a shocked state, I whimpered, but he continued brushing his mouth in a rhythmic pattern, it is as if, he was guiding me through his cadence. I am reaching my limit, oxygen has left my body, Regan Rancere stopped, his breath was inches away, I gasped for air.
My knees loosened, his grip loosened a bit too, I reached for his hardened chest, a way to support my frail body.
That kiss was a huge mistake!
I clapped back, I searched through his pocket while he was standing still, typing the words I am feeling right now, "I am not deceiving you, my throat has had a situational problem for about half of my whole life! I wish I could voice out things so that I can curse you freely! For once, stop dragging me, can you? I'm tired since yesterday, many things happened, I don't even know until now, why I was here, with you." I handed him his phone.
"Oh by the way, is this your way of telling someone you are grateful to? I just saved your business, your minions, and your damn ass up from getting busted from a deal, a simple— decent meal will do, I'll now accept it, I am hungry at this moment and I think I might slit someone's throat if he ever happened to boil up my blood pressure, and please if you ever find my purse, I wanted it back, I need to update my friend so that I won't be televised as a Missing person," I mouthed 'thank you', I left him in that state, wanted to calm down my emotions, I sensed his presence behind my back.
He then ordered his underlings through a phone call to 'clean up' the mess earlier. Tired, hungry, I waited inside the vehicle. He entered the vehicle silently, Regan, who's known for being composed and confident, is now in deep thoughts, not wanting to pester me with his brazen actions until we head home— to his mansion.
Many things happened within 24 hours. His trusted man, Walter, opened the door for me, and I nodded as a gesture of appreciation. While the man, behind me, Regan, was being silent.
"Brent, informed the cook to prepare a feast," Regan's voice echoed through the whole mansion.
"Walter, my Lord. This is noted," Walter replied, introducing himself to Regan like it was their first meeting, it is as if, he was used to this kind of situation.
My gut rises, again. But I ignored it. I stopped walking midway, I don't know where to go! This is not my house!
Regan, then, took over. He walked in front of me, guiding the path, he turned left, slowly, for me to keep his pace a meter away from me. I watched his broadened back, tousled jet-black hair bounced accordingly to his movement.
I couldn't believe it, one night I was in my side hustle, in an event, serving alcoholic beverages to the guests, got into an accident, being dragged, gotten witness to a raid, suddenly, this man, Regan Rancere, owner of the might Rancor Group of Companies appeared, being swallowed to his dominion, and now, a walking without a visible chain prey to him, entangled, closer to threats and danger... was taken hostage of him, into his strings.
He opened the door, for a moment, I hesitated, but God knows how I wanted to feel the softness of a bed, I entered, but he pulled my wrist. This time, it is filled with gentleness, like he was holding a fragile glass.
"My proposal was still up. Tell me if you are in and I will gamble to your bet," in a suggestive yet yearning tone, he releases my wrist afterwards.
I looked the other way, it is as if, I was ignoring him. "Bet with me, Serahtti. I will assure you the most precious thing in your life," he pleaded, for the first time, he called me by my name.