Chapter 12

It was late in the afternoon when Mr. Carlton finally stepped out of his office. I had a lot of work pending, so I was happy to have been left to it.

He was on the phone, and he went straight to the cabinets looking for something. He paid no attention to me, but I was completely distracted seeing him.

My eyes followed his every move all on its own. I promise. Because my mind was telling me to stop it. Reminding me about my lecture to myself this morning. But my eyes were glued to him, and I wasn't listening to a word my brain was telling it. My brain finally gave up, saying not to come crying after I embarrassed myself getting caught staring.

So when my brain went silent, I was left in peace to ogle my unsuspecting boss all I wanted.

Today, he was wearing a gray shirt with dark pants, and boy, does he look hot! I know, I know I'm supposed to be a mature adult, but if you are seeing what I'm seeing, you'd support me for sure. I mean, look at those muscles straining against his shirt. I felt myself drool and quickly wiped my lips just to be sure.

But what is this man doing anyway? He was searching through all the cabinets searching, for what? I wanted to ask, but he was on the phone. And his bum in his tight pants was too anticing, to actually get up from my seat and go ask if he needed help.

So I just watched him crouch down to reach the lower cabinets, making his already tight pants strain against his thigh muscles. I gulped, my eyes almost bulging out of its sockets. My head had tilted slightly to the side, out of curiosity, and also to get a better view of him in that position.

Ashley, you have no shame. My mind spoke again as he suddenly looked up and flashed his dimple at me. I sat there frozen, still wondering why Oliver Carlton, aka my boss, was searching through cabinets almost on his hands and knees while his secretary was right here to do the job for him.

"Hi," he said, suddenly hanging up the phone.

"Hi," I replied.

"Could you help me?" He finally asked.

"Of course."

"Could you get me the paper on my desk with a list of names on it?"

"Sure," I told him, getting up from my seat to go get it for him.

As I came back, I finally noticed that he had pulled out several files from the cabinets, and it was piled up on the floor. Puzzled, I approached him slowly and handed him the paper he had asked for.

"Thanks," he said, as he took the paper, searching through it before handing it back to me. "Take a pen and start ticking off the names of the files I have already found and tell me the names I have forgotten." He instructed before going back to the cabinets and searching again.

With a quick nod that he didn't see, I went to my desk to grab a pen and hurried back to sit on the floor, going through the files and ticking the names one by one, while Mr. Carlton kept handing me more and more. When he was done, there were about twenty-five files, and he grabbed them all, saying a thanks before he strode back to his office, kicking his door shut....

............

A week has gone by, where Mr. Carlton comes to the office and shuts himself there for the whole day. He works long hours and rarely eats. I've ordered food for him and forced him to eat. That's right! I'm gutsy now! And he seems to appreciate it too, cause he gives me a tired smile and eats it without much protest.

As for Liam, he is enjoying his holiday in the Carlton mansion. He has become fast friends with Stella the cook, who seems to adore him, and Phil, his bodyguard.

They play basketball in Carlton's basketball court in the backyard of their mansion. Jeremy and his other friends have visited him often, too. All in all, he is having a blast, and I am glad he doesn't miss school that much and isn't feeling lonely.

As for David, I have received radio silence from him as well, for which I am also grateful. I really have no guts to speak to that man. What he did to me makes me scared of him, but now, knowing what he truly is has left me terrified. I hope I never have to see him ever in my life.

It was now past ten in the night, and I was waiting for Mr. Carlton to finish work for the day so we could both go home. Some days, he sends me home early. But on those days, an extra guard is in the car along with Felix to drive me home. Mr. Carlton was not taking any chances.

He said the investigation against David was going very well, and there was enough evidence against him to send him along with his accomplices to jail for a long time. It was just a matter of time now, and I can't wait! Life will get back to normal, and I can go back home and won't have to be chaperoned everywhere, and Liam can go back to school.

I have been waiting for Mr. Carlton for a while now, and now I feel like going to the bathroom. It's a long ride back to the mansion, so I think I better go empty my bladder before Mr. Carlton comes out, I thought, taking a peak at him.

I could see him through his window. He had left his blinds open as was his norm since recently. He was busy on the phone. I quickly rose from my chair, hurrying towards the bathrooms down the hall, wanting to come back as soon as possible because Mr. Carlton could come out any second now.

I reached the bathroom and quickly finished my business and came out relieved to see that there was no Mr. Carlton, standing in the hallway impatiently waiting for me.

But as I took a step towards my office, I was suddenly grabbed from behind, pulling me roughly against a tall male body. My instinct was to instantly scream, but he covered my mouth with his hand and pressed something cold at my waist. Fear crippled me as I heard his voice against my ear.

"Not a sound wifey, or else I would pull the trigger." It was the voice of the man I had hoped to never see again. I felt my forehead perspire and my vision blur as I felt myself panic.

My eyes pricked with tears as I took one last look at my office door at the very end as I was dragged away in the opposite direction. Mr. Carlton, please come out. My heart desperately cried out.

I felt the life I loved so much slip away from my fingers as I stared at the door, willing Mr. Carlton to hear my pleas that I couldn't scream outloud. It came as a shock, but it wasn't just Liam that I didn't want to leave.

But there was no sign of him as David led me to the stairs to the next floor to take the elevator. I guess he didn't want to take the chance of Mr. Carlton, coming out. The rest of the building was probably empty, and he only had to deal with the security guards.

My mind cursed me for leaving my phone in my bag, which was on my desk. Even if I couldn't call for help, Mr. Carlton could easily locate me if I'd had my phone with me.

As the elevator came and we entered, I saw David through the reflection of the elevator mirror. He looked vicious and mean, and he sent me a look of pure hatred as our eyes met through the mirror. I shut my eyes, not wanting to see it.

"Look at me you bitch! How dare you! You ruined my life! You and that pretty boy lover of yours! What did you do for him anyway that he would dare to mess with me, you useless piece of shit. If you had made yourself even the least bit useful for me in bed then, we wouldn't be in this position right now would we? But now look at you whoring around so you could ruin me.

Because of you I'm a wanted criminal! You will pay for this! If I had the time I would make you pay right here right now- I said look at me!" He shouted with so much rage turning me around slapping me on the face before he grabbed my throat, banging my head against the elevator wall making me dizzy.

My head was still ringing from the force of his slap and my cheeks stinged with the pain. Yet he wasn't happy, he slapped me again with his free hand, this time splitting my lips. I tasted blood on my lips as he tightened his fingers against my throat closing all the air way, making me choke before he relaxed it a little.

"But don't worry. I will make you pay after I get you away from here. If I have to go underground I'm taking you with me. And I will have my way with you, making it very very painful for you, before I give you to my mates. You like being a whore now so make yourself useful with them.

They hate you, and we all will be needing entertainment while we wait for this to die down." He told me. "We have plans for you, little wifey." He threatened, his face so close to mine, his breath hitting my face, making my stomach crawl. I can't believe I was once in love with this man. Now he just repulsed me.

I stared into his ice blue eyes as he revealed the extent of his hatred towards me. My eyes blurred as tears started pouring from my eyes, giving him the pleasure he was craving. I shut my eyes, remembering Liam. Wanting to fight for his sake. Fearing what would happen to him if I just give in and let David take me away from here now. I don't want to be weak.

I needed to do something. Fighting him here in this building was my best chance. I didn't care if I got shot. If he did shoot, someone would hear, right?

So with new found determination, I took a quick glance towards the illuminated numbers above, which said it was almost at the ground floor. I braced myself to knee him in his private parts just as the door opened so I could make a quick escape. I knew I would only get one chance, and my only advantage was that he thought I would never have the guts to fight back.

So just as the elevator reached the ground floor, I bent my knee and gave him a sharp jab, which sent him doubling over. In his surprise, the gun in his hand fell to the ground. Wow! I can't believe that actually worked.

I allowed myself a tiny moment to admire my handy work as he grunted in pain. Then I quickly pushed him away and ran just as the door opened, running straight into the arms of another man.

Cursing my luck, I began to struggle until I heard the soothing deep, velvety voice of my boss that my mind had been begging to hear, even for just one more time. "It's me, it's me, Ashley. Relax."

I sunk into his embrace, instantly relaxing in his arms. I lifted my head to look up at him, wanting to see his face. I smiled in relief drinking in his beautiful face, seeing his gentle eyes searching my face... before it hardened.

I felt myself shiver seeing the fierce look in his eyes as he saw my reddened cheeks and bloody lips. He raised his eyes towards David. He looked livid. He was glaring daggers at him, but made no attempt to speak nore make a move towards him. Instead, he tightened his grip around me, his fingers digging into my hips like as if he was trying to stop himself from doing anything.

Confused, I turned my head around to look at David, and for the first time, I noticed the cops around us. Two was restraining him and cuffing him. He was going mad screaming at me, still wanting to attack me. Calling me all kinds of names and screaming, I'll kill you! You won't get away! I will end you! Over and over again until the cops dragged him away. The hatred in his eyes made me tremble in fear.

"It's over, Ashley. He is gone. He can't hurt you now. " That's what Mr. Carlton said as he let my head rest on his chest while he stroked my hair.

I closed my eyes, letting my body sag against his, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing in his scent. I didn't feel like it was even close to over, but in his arms, I allowed myself a moment to just feel safe and imagine it's over....

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