After a prolonged flight, Mary finally reveled in the rejuvenating sea breeze as her feet touched the shores of an enigmatic island. Mary was around in bewilderment. She questioned why they had journeyed to such a place. Andrew remarked with a sly grin and eyes that twinkled with concealed intent, “This vacation is exclusively for you. I wished to surprise you.”
Mary’s jaw dropped in shock. All his talks of a business trip had been but a ruse, and once again, she found herself entangled in his machinations.
A luxurious limousine awaited them at the airport, chauffeuring them to their hotel. Seat in a car, Mary’s mind was awhirl with unspoken rebukes, her irritation palpable. Yet, Andrew remained unperturbed, feigning deafness to her silent rants. She marveled at how he mastered the art of playing mute so well.
On their first day, she needed to know more about his activities. After checking her into the hotel, he vanished like a wisp of smoke. Her disdain for him initially made her indifferent, but his absence began to feel more peculiar by evening.
Ensconced within the confines of the hotel for the entirety of the day, she found herself enveloped in a shroud of ennui. Wearing into a deep skirt gown that gracefully cinched at her bosom with an oversized bow and slinging a sleek black handbag over her shoulder, she ventured out. Perhaps, just perhaps, the vast island expanse might yield some whisper or hint of his whereabouts.
She hailed a cab to the island’s most frequented bar, a tourist haven. The place pulsated with life, a sea of faces from varied backgrounds swaying to the throbbing beats. Nestling herself in a secluded corner table, Mary ordered a drink. The potent aroma of the alcohol, unfamiliar to her abstinent palate for so long, made her slightly dizzy.
Scanning the crowd, she hoped to spot Andrew. Hours seemed to pass, yet he was nowhere to be seen. Just as sadness threatened to consume her, her gaze was caught by a man in his early thirties. He signaled an invitation with a flirtatious smile and raised his glass toward her. Unfamiliar with this stranger, she feigned indifference, ignoring the storm in his eyes.
As the night deepened, she exited the bar, hoping Andrew might have returned to the hotel. In stark contrast to the bar’s vibrancy, the streets lay eerily deserted, with the chill of the sea wind piercing through her delicate dress. Quickening her pace, an unfamiliar trepidation gripped her in this alien land.
The route back to the hotel seemed longer, almost as if she had strayed. A few taxis occasionally whizzed past, none stopping for her. She pondered the peculiarity of such poor transport in a tourist hub.
Suddenly, an unsettling feeling washed over Mary, a sensation of being watched. A chill raced down her spine. Turning around, the streets lay barren. Yet, the feeling of being shadowed lingered, making her heart race even faster.
As she ventured further down the path, the way seemed to narrow as if leading her into a dead-end. A pang of dread swept Mary when she realized no exit was ahead. Turning back, she met the piercing gaze of a towering man who smirked triumphantly at her predicament. Then, two more brutes emerged, their boisterous laughter echoing eerily through the lonely night.
The three steadily approached. In a rising panic, Mary retreated until her back pressed against the cold, hard wall, her fall cushioned by the ground. The menacing gap between her and her pursuers closed rapidly, their malicious laughter growing louder. Tears streamed down her face, her pleas for mercy being disregarded.
The man in the center, the same one she had glimpsed at the bar earlier, approached her, his grip seizing her delicate chin, his voice dripping with malice. “Do you dare reject me now? Do you even know who I am to belittle me?”
His companions jeered, “Rejecting the boss, are you? Probably an outsider, not knowing the rules here. Let me enlighten you; no woman on this island dares defy our boss.”
Their smug laughter resonated once again.
Despite her trembling, Mary mustered the strength to remain composed. She recalled past adversities, having been trapped by Mr. Jonathan and Andrew, who had tormented her numerous times. She mentally braced herself, knowing only calm could get her out of this. In a fleeting moment, when they were engrossed in their self-congratulatory glee, she hurled her purse and coat at them, attempting to break free, but was swiftly recaptured.
The boss struck her face hard, causing her to fall. He loomed over her, tearing at her dress, his eyes filled with frenzied lust. She swiftly dodged as he leaned in for a kiss and sank her teeth deep into his neck. He screamed in agony, prompting the two henchmen to spring into action. They pinned her down, one of them tearing at her dress. Her desperate cries echoed unanswered.
Suddenly, one of the goons was yanked away, and the other was hurled into the air and slammed onto the ground with a thud. Dazed, the boss barely registered the rapid punches landing on his face. When the dust settled, Andrew was whisking Mary to safety.
Enraged, the boss ordered a pursuit. However, the duo had to halt after a short chase due to Mary’s twisted ankle. They took cover in an alley, spying on the thugs.
They could still hear the ruffians’ conversation from their hiding spot, “Keep searching! If they get away, explaining to the boss will be a nightmare. Damn it!”
He slammed into the wall with a forceful leg thrust, signaling his underlings to continue the relentless chase.
Mary, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, felt gratitude towards Andrew for his timely intervention in her moment of peril. Yet, she couldn’t shake off the haunting thought that beneath his facade of civility lurked the heart of an underworld kingpin, tainted by the memories of his past actions toward her.
Gently, Andrew bent down to soothe the aching spot on her leg. But, swiftly, Mary swatted his hand away and pivoted to face the opposite direction.
“Get away from me! I don’t need your pity.”
Sensing her bubbling anger, Andrew fell silent. Perhaps he had never been this tender before. He gently offered his coat to shield the tear in her dress. Although furious, Mary found herself unable to refuse.
Suddenly, distant murmurs pierced the air. Those thugs were circling back. Andrew instinctively pressed Mary to the wall, hiding her from their prying eyes. Their voices grew louder, dominated by the raspy voice of the gang leader.
“They can’t have gotten far. This is my territory; I refuse to believe anyone can slip through my grasp so easily.”