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ARIA'S POV

I woke up as the bright light of sun rays fell on my dry tear stained face. For a moment, nothing made sense that why I was curled up on the floor, crying. But then after a good passing seconds, all the horrific events of yesterday night passed my brain cells making my heart shrunk in fear. 'Saving my life' was the only mantra that I started repeating in the back of my head and with that I stood up on my already shaking feet.

I then somehow managed to reach the door and with heavy heart, I decided to check if it was still locked or not.

To my surprise, I was unlocked. I suppressed an instant urge to dance in happiness at clearing my first step towards my escape but soon the thought crashed down making me wonder that why it is unlocked when Alex had already made sure to lock it yesterday night? Who cares? If I'll get alive out of here?

I pushed the door open and peeked out to find if someone was out there but I guess my luck was quite favourable that whole hallway was completely vacant. Crossing my fingers, I started taking light steps to find the right direction but it was such a huge mansion that my little brain get confused.

I clenched my teeth in irritation and turned around to find another way but only to get collided by a strong chest. I froze in shock and ever so slowly tilted my head upward only to saw a pair of familiar deep blue eyes. Those orbs stared right back into my eyes which made my belly burst with butterflies. I blinked breaking our eye contact and instantly the realization hit me that who he was. He was their boss, the one who will give order to take my life away. I gasped and maintained a distance from him with my eyes now fixed on the floor.

My mouth went dry and all I could see was my tombstone which will never have the tear imprints, flowers and messages because there is no one out there whom I can count to care that whether I am alive or not. My heart shattered but I decided better not to let my tears out like a cry baby only because of this oh-so-hot man not to mention my future murder who was standing in front of me. Despite of my fear, I couldn't help but secretly wish that something, something will happen and he will decide to spare me.

" Planning to escape, I see."

His thick voiced echoed in the surrounding making my eyes bubbled up with tears.

I don't want to die. I just don't. For God's shake, I've just turned eighteen.

As my eyes were at floor, I saw his black polished shoes taking smooth steps towards me and that was all needed for me to turn and run on my legs, as fast as I can but before that could happen, he grabbed me by my student's identity card which made me stumble a little. My eyes went wider as pure horrific emotions passed through me.

I clenched my eyes shut when he expertly removed that card from my neck and worth to mention that doing so, his rough fingers brushed against my skin which generated a shiver down my spine.

I peeked my eyes open and looked into his direction who was eyeing my identity card. Oh shit. My picture was so crappy in that. Curse to my college's stupid photographer. Ugh. Now he will think how ugly I am.

Oh hush, Aria. First think about saving your life then anything else.

" Aria Hale, 18, English literature student, sophomore."

He read out loud the description mentioned but well I was so busy in reading his full lips movement that I didn't paid any attention to that.

How could any man be this heart stopping handsome? It really should be illegal because any female mind will definitely get distracted with sinful thoughts.

I flushed at my own wild thinking and kicked myself out of my dreamworld.

He threw that card back to me and fortunately I catch it before it went on the tilted floor. I brought my hand near my heart and clench my shirt's fabric as tight as I can.

"Y-You are going t-to kill me, aren't y-you?"

I shuttered being on the verge of crying all over again.

" You aren't any harm, are you?"

He mocked me back but in a blank tone.

I instantly shook my head like a mad girl and glanced back to him, who by now was looking at me, completely bored; his eyes held no interest in me as if he was being forced to have few words with me.

I sulked more and bite my lips in terror.

" P-Please, don't kill me."

He pursued his full lips into thin line and stared at me for quite a time. I squirmed under his intense gaze and clenched my fists to stop myself from falling on the floor.

" I won't but you couldn't leave this mansion." He spoke after a pause then pinched the bridge of his nose.

A breath of relief came to me but soon the realization crashed down that I have to struck here. But it isn't like I have any problem with that. In fact the thought of living here where I would be able to watch his handsome face everyday is quite thrilling. Yup, I know I am being crazy but all blame goes to my distracted hormones.

" Unless you want to die because yesterday people had noticed you." He added completing his earlier sentence.

I gawked at him in confusion. Huh? People? Which people? Maybe he was talking about those men, maybe. I shrugged my shoulders and passed him a soft smile to which he turned his face away.

Rude. But a delicious one.

I grinned inwardly at my thought and waited for him to say anything else but without sparing me any another glance he walked away.

I am fearless. If anything I would have ever learned from romance fictions then it was to be brave and fearless enough to follow your heart and this time I know that my heart is evoking some weird sensation for him, for my captor. And I won't cowardly step away. I know a man like him will never want anything to do with a pathetic teenager like me but who said that I am going to get involved with him? I am just going to watch him everyday and let my eyes drown in the pool of pleasure, that's it.

I smiled cheekily and then only saw that Alex was there, in front of him. I gave him a smug look. Now they won't be able to intimidate me because their boss has already announced that he won't kill me.

" Hey Alex."

He stared at me for a number of seconds then barked out laughing like a manic. I which I could roll my eyes at him but the sound of his menacing laughter blocked me from doing so.

" Little girl has a crush?"

He taunted before grabbing me by my elbow and maintaing an eye contact with me.

I flushed furiously at his words and broke our eye contact because there was something in his eyes which was screaming trouble just like his boss eye's screamed ruthlessness.

" I am not little." I deadpanned which made him laugh more.

" What are you fourteen or fifteen?"

He arched up his eyebrows and pushed me to the wall, trapping me in between his both legs.

I scoffed. " Eighteen."

" You're still very young. Just a friendly reminder that better stop that girly crush, you don't have any idea about what you're getting into."

He spoke in dangerous voice, changing his posture to dark and terrifying one.

I gulped down my saliva in haste and wriggle against him to let me free but instead his lips broke into smirk and with that he took out something from his pocket and when I realize that it was, he shoved injection in my arm making me gasp in pain but suddenly everything became black.

***

" You shouldn't have injected her that."

" F-ck man, I swear Rico, it was just a reflex."

"If this bitch won't wake then be ready to loose your f-cking life. Boss will never spare you."

" I know."

My head started spinning as the familiar voices rose in the surrounding. I slowly parted my eyelids, ignoring the sharp headache and saw both Alex and Rico standing near the corner of bed. I blinked, trying to regain my composer but suddenly a pair of arms were thrown over my body. I startled and found Alex securely wrapping his arms around me as if his life was dependent on me.

I started struggling for breath and tried to push him away with my small fingers against his strong chest.

" C-Cant..b-b..brea..the"

After hearing my trembling voice, he pulled himself away from me and looked at me in relief. Eh?

I shifted my gaze to Rico who was simply staring at me with blank expressions.

" Thanks for saving my life. Boss would have definitely killed me if you weren't awake."

He breathed out with a huge smile plastering over his face.

Okay. So now I am totally confused. What's happening here?

I looked helplessly at Rico who didn't uttered a single word.

" You were unconscious for a day."

Alex added and exhaled a deep breath.

And then just like that, there aura changed to dangerousness. I shivered and pulled the blanket all over me in an attempt to hide from their scary eyes.

" L-Leave me alone, p-please."

I whispered in hoarseness as tears silently streamed down my face.

What if I wasn't awake? What if I would have died? How can these people be so careless to do something which will cost the life?

I was wrong to think that I am fearless. No, I am not. I am not fearless enough to risk my life for anyone even if it's their sinfully handsome boss.

" Do me a favour, don't tell him that I've...You know what I mean." He said while rubbing the back of his neck.

I swear, I swear if I wasn't sulking on my own then I would have laughed my ass off at his expression. But I simple nodded and closed my eyes shut. The sound of their fading steps made me release a breath I was holding from so long.

I sprawled on the bed and glanced at wall clock which read midnight.

Run away from here, Aria. My first instinct told me and I quickly gave myself a pep talk that if I want to find my prince charming in the future then I've to run away from here so that I can save my life to live my beautifully romantic future.

I jumped on my feet and stride out of the door. Roaming my eyes in every direction, I walked down the stairs. But suddenly my eyes fell on Rico who was passing by. My breath caught up in my throat and without giving a second thought, I ran into the first room which came in my view.

I closed the door behind me and took my time to calm my nerves down but Alas, this definitely wasn't my day.

Two pairs of eyes snapped in my direction and at that moment I just wanted the ground to open and swallow me in. I quickly covered my eyes with my palm and took a step back till my back hit the door.

My heart twisted in jealousy as I remembered what my eyes had just witnessed. He was on top of some blond woman, both completely naked.

I am sure, now he'll kill me.

" OUT." He roared making me flinch but anyways, I quickly turned around to leave his room but stopped in my tracks when he yelled again. " NOT YOU."

I stood there like a statue with my back facing him.

" Move aside you little bitch."

The woman who was under him, shoved me aside and after throwing few colourful words at me, she went out.

My heart started beating harder and the fear throbbed through my veins. Now what?