CHAPTER 36- NO STRINGS ATTACHED

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

The atmosphere was once again about to go up in flames as Allison ran down the stairs and stood defensively in front of the jewelries placed on the counter in the living room. Always in heels. He thought, grimly. This time, He was about to cross the line and she wouldn't allow it.

"Move aside." He said, calmly.

"No, you're out of your mind. These jewels are age long and Hamilton's most authentic. I won't let you sell them off! These mean a lot to my family! How dare you!" She yelled, eyes clouded with tears.

"If you must know, the same Hamilton is currently in need of finance and if I'm going to make any progress, I need money to run things."

"And you think selling off my properties is the best way?" She asked in disbelief.

"Unless you have a better option."

Allison clenched her fingers in anger.

"I won't let you take these away."

Hades let out a sign and turned to his bodyguards.

"Restrain her!"

"What? No!" She screamed at the top of her voice as two of his men held her and pulled her away from the counter.

"What are you doing? No you can't take them!"

Ignoring her, Hades took the jewelries and arranged them in a briefcase. He closed it shut and walked to her.

"You're going to bring this house down with your screams one day." He teased. "Too much of a shame, the only place I'd hope to hear your screams would be underneath me not in front of me."

"Wh...what?" She blinked, confused.

"Pretty little thing..." His eyes focused on her neck as He reached for the necklace she was wearing and taking it off her in one pull. No doubt she would most likely suffer a few cuts or bruises on the back of her neck from that pull.

"My necklace!" She gasped, the guards still holding her in place. "No not that one please."

Hades smirked, raising the necklace up as He admired the diamond twinkling at the base. She was always wearing this jewel dutifully. It must mean a lot to her no doubt.

"This is the H.Jewel isn't it?"

"Then you must know the history. My aunt gifted me that a few months back, you can't sell this please." She begged, her voice quivering.

"This will cost Hamilton a fortune."

"She'll never forgive you if you do this and neither will I."

"Vera? What does she say again? Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Trust me, she'll understand."

"Please no! Don't you have enough already you scheming bastard!"

Hades scoffed, mockingly. "Let her go" He said walking away. Immediately she was set free, Allison rushed up to him.

"Hades!" She called out.

He turned around and saw her standing in front of him.

Within a snap of a finger, she equally reached for the necklace on his and grabbed it from his neck. He let out a groan as the impact caused a thin slice on the side of his neck, fresh blood seeped through his wounds.

"Give it back." He warned.

There was something in his eyes and in the tone of his voice that spelled danger. Like the kind she hadn't seen before. What was so special about the necklace?

"No! Return everything you've taken from me today!"

"And if I don't?"

She looked at the tiny glass tube at the base of the necklace more like a pendant but it was transparent and filled with grayish powder that sparkles with silvery particles.

"I wouldn't mind throwing this into the fire place. How does that sound Mr Len..."

Her sentence hung in the air as He seized both her wrists with one hand and held her chin firmly with the other hand. So firm it started to hurt and she could have sworn his eyes blazed with an almost animalistic intensity.

"Do you wish to die?" He asked with all seriousness, it made her dread. "I'm giving you the privilege of answering. Are you so tired of this world and wish to die? Is that the case?"

She moved her head sideways.

"Then don't ever pull such nonsense again." He said, letting go of her and taking his necklace from her grip. "I might not be so compassionate next time." He added. Allison speechlessly watched him leave the room.

What was so special about that necklace?

Meanwhile, once settled inside his car, He wore the necklace back on and caressed the glass pendant underneath it.

"I'm sorry..." He muttered to the jewel.

The next day, Allison had been summoned by the board of directors and right in front of Hades, they had reprimanded her on her behavior as regards the news that was rapidly going viral.

"I'm so sorry, it won't ever happen again." She apologized, head bowed.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, she kept quiet, obviously sulking and hurting. It was painful to watch Hades effortlessly take charge of what was once hers. It made it seem as if she was the problem all along. Meanwhile, Hades noticed she was a little more down than usual. Her head bowed, fingers crossed on her laps and barely paying any attention nor contribution.

"What do you have to say concerning this subject Mrs Lenshaw?" A director had asked her.

"Oh err..." came her weary voice. "...I guess I'm fine with whatever my husband goes with." She said, unenthusiastically.

What would her opinion matter anyway? Afterall wasn't all they do was to listen to Him?

Hades was however surprised by her response. Had the proud queen finally fallen from glory? To think he was just realizing that he preferred her fiesty and all over the place. That necklace he sold. He thought. That must have been the last straw for her. Did she really have no more strength to fight him now? That didn't sound fun.

The car ride back home was as quiet as it was equally cold. They both settled in the backseat, sitting at the far end of each side with driver at the front seat.

"We'll be attending a conference dinner." He said, once they arrived home.

"Is that so?" She asked, wearily. "Send for me once it's time."

"It's out of town so get your bags packed."

"I will."

"Find something of blue. That's the dress code for the ladies."

"Hmm...I will" She added nonchalantly, before disappearing upstairs barely sparing him a glance.

Allison couldn't explain the relief that washed over her when she opened the door to her bedroom and saw him standing there by the window. She rushed up to him and hugged him from the back.

"Karl" She sighed, contentedly.

"You're back Princess?" He smiled. "How was the office?"

"Horrible!"

"That's unbelievable coming from you."

"I know, I love my job more than anything but everything's just changed ever since Hades became the CEO." She sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."

"What do you want to do Princess? I'm always at your service."

Allison smiled, warmly. "It's just 7pm, we could take a stroll and buy some street food on the way."

"Go on..." He smiled down at her.

Karl watched the twinkle in her bright blue eyes as she listed all the things she wanted to do with him. Damn! She was getting to his head. His heart Infact, when did he end up not being able to stop thinking about her? Caring and loving her? This wasn't right.

One hell of a forbidden love tale and not just because she was married but because of what he was sent to do in her life, initially. Hades doesn't love her and now she thinks he does, well indeed yes but what would happen if she were to ever find out the truth?

She would be broken that no one could actually love her. He felt like he should quit already but loving this feeble princess was a quicksand that he was gladly letting himself sink deeper into, not caring if it consumed him.

A man-toy....that's all she'll ever need you for.

Hades voice rang in his ears.

"I want to spend as much time as I can with you because I'll be leaving with Hades tomorrow." She said, breaking his thoughts.

"What?" His face turned sour.

"A dinner conference of some sort. It's out of town."

"Where?"

"I don't know yet, there's a possibility we might have to lodge in some motel or a hotel."

"That far off? Just the two of you? Alone?" Karl felt his insides crawl. "I should go with you."

Allison giggled. Oh how he loved her little laugh. "You sound jealous."

"Anyone who had you all to themselves would." He said and that was why he had started to dread the possibility of Hades coming to love her like he did one day. That shouldn't happen.

"I'll be fine Karl."

"You're sure?"

"Absolutely." She leaned taller and kissed his cheek.

Karl could be seen sitting on the edge of the medium sized bed. Holding a cigarette and smoking leisurely. It wasn't long before the room became a cloud of smoke. He was a bit upset about the fact that He couldn't trail Allison on her trip with Hades all because He had to be here.

"You're here I see." A man walked through the door and a seemingly affluent lady followed behind him, hiding her identity in a mask.

"Timwick, it's been awhile, good to see you man." He stretched out his hand.

"Do you really have to smoke this shit when you know we'll be having a guest."

"I'm sure miss dollar bill here wouldn't mind besides I don't get to bum a smoke at the Mansion." Karl said, unaffected.

"Well here she is."

"Our supposed savior?" He eyed her from head to toe before getting on his feet.

"Take the pretty scarf off."

"What? No!" She refused.

"What's the problem vanilla? Too shy?"

"Roberts...."

"No Tim, I need to see who we're dealing with. We can't take chances."

"Fine." Came the woman's voice as she removed the scarf from her face.

"L...Li...Lisa Valentino?" He stuttered, shocked. Why would this supermodel get involved with dirty men like them?

"Yes, satisfied now?"

"Hmm, why are you helping us? What's your deal?"

"Your boss is Davian Lenshaw, isn't he?"

"Yes"

"Oh well, I'm going to help you get him out of where He was kept locked up."

"How do you know all this?"

"I used to be a thing with Hades Lenshaw. Davian was kept in chains as some sort of punishment, what kind? I don't know? But Hades kept his own nephew locked up for three years now, he's being tortured every single day and what his reasons are? I don't know either but I believe I can help you two get him out."

Karl simply nodded but what Lisa didn't know was that, Davian's disappearance was probably linked to Allison and He was sure of it. That day, three years ago, Davian had called both Karl and Timwick.

I'm scared the bastard might blame me for her death. If you don't hear from me anymore, trail her down and make her life miserable. I can't be the only one suffering.

But shouldn't we go after Hades instead?

No, trust me you can't bring him down.

For this reason, Karl set an explosive in the middle of the hall for the aniversary. He was a bodyguard in disguise. The plan was to ruin the company totally but Hades just had to get involved and so far, he's been doing a terrific job.

"Well vanilla...," He smiled at Lisa. "....you have the job."

"Like you had a choice and by the way it's Lisa ."

"Vanilla is what I'll stick with, perfectly suits that's skin of yours."

Lisa turned to Timwick who laughed.

"Roberts knows his way around words. You'll just have to put up with him"

"I see"

"And when you finally help us get him out? What's your price?" He asked Lisa.

"I simply want Hades back."

She made it sound so simple, It had better be.

Which made his feelings for Allison more and more of a dead end. He has to find a way to stop this pleasurable foolishness. Focus on the job with no strings attached, that's all!