Onika’s POV……
We got into the car and I saw Agustin signal Kane and few of his other bodyguards to follow us in another car.
I was looking out of the car window, lost in my own thoughts when Agustin cleared his throat, gaining my attention.
Whenever he does that it means he is looking for ways to initiate a conversation, so I looked at him, waiting for him to say something.
“Do you believe in God?” He asked, his eyes still trained on the road forward, as if afraid to make any eye contact.
Where did that come from, I wonder. What is going in his head these days.
“You already know, I do.” I said, masking my surprise.
“No, I mean do you still believe in God?” He put emphasis on the word still.
“Why won’t I? Just because a certain person decides not to be human anymore is hardly any reason to blame god for it, though to tell you the truth there was a times when I did blame god for everything, but I am more mature that that now, I know better. You own the mistakes you did, I own the wrong decisions I made, I don’t see where did god came in between.” I replied emotionlessly.
“Okay….”he simply said looking at me just for a fraction of second before he again set his eyes infront of him “If I remember right, you also used to believe everyone deserves a second chance, you still believe that or has that changed.” He asked, in a controlled voice.
I took a shaky breath and said, ” that depends, I won’t generalise such a thing anymore, if you haven’t been in the shoes of the victim, you have no right to generalise such a thing, is what I believe now.” I answered back.
“Depends on what?” He enquired, gulping the saliva down his throat, his voiced not that controlled anymore, this time his eyes locked to mine.
“Depends on the offence done, more importantly depends on the person that did the offence, if it weren’t you, maybe……” I trailed off, not knowing how to complete the sentence without hurting him further.
A pained expression took over his features, he averted his gaze to focus on the road infront of him, without saying anything. Pretending as if everything is back to normal.
But I could sense the change in his demeanor, he was still as a statue, I was sure he was holding his breath, not even blinking.. maybe trying to hold his tears back, the only sign of movement was his tightening grip on the steering wheel, enough to cease the blood supply.
His emotions where all over the place, radiating off him, making me want to stop him hurting like this. Maybe I should, he have had enough, he is trying to change, I need to get over my bitterness, if not for him then for myself, the guilt I feel afterwards is not worth it, but it’s not like I do it intentionally, he asked a question and I just answered truthfully.
A huge mansion came in view as the car neared giant iron gates. When we entered several of eyes were on us, I felt Agustin’s hand holding me in a possessive grip.
“I am just your PA remember?” I said, hinting him to let go off my hand, he seemed to ignore it and just continued walking.
I scanned the area to see few similar faces, while most of them being unfamiliar. A smile tugged on my lips as my eyes landed on Jacob, he was talking to someone, he hasn’t seen me yet.
My attention was diverted as I saw Mr. Griggs approaching us immidiatly to welcome us and alone with him was a man, I have not seen before, in his mid thirties, his eyes scanning me up and down… in a creepy way, causing a shiver of disgust to ran down my spine.
“Mr. Deluca… what a pleasure” he said, extending his hand towards Agustin.
“Mr. Lockhart” Agustin acknowledged with a curt nod.
Meanwhile Mr. Griggs joined in the conversion as well.
“Who is this beautiful lady with you.” This was from Mr. Lockhart, his eyes boring into mine, making me uncomfortable for some reason.
” My wi… I mean my PA, Onika Coulin.” The Coulin part was barely audible.
Mr. Lockhart extended his hand for me to shake, I did.
His hand squeezed mine in a tight grip, holding my hand for more that what I will consider appropriate, so I withdrew my hand a bit forcefully, that brought an arrogant and challenging smirk on his face.
Maybe I should have let Agustin introduce me as his wife, then he wouldn’t have dared.
I looked at Agustin, who was now busy talking to Mr. Griggs, something about business I presume. That left me alone with this creepy guy.
“So, you are Agustin’s PA.” He said.
I gave a tight nod.
“Must be tough,” he commented.
I frowned, “why would you say that?”
“I have heard he is a hard guy to please.” He said throwing me a dirty look.
I could sense the double meaning behind his words. I fisted my hand to my side to prevent myself from slapped him.
I rather gave him a sweet smile and said,
“Damn right it is…..” I played alone, ” but I wonder, how would you know? Have you suck on his dick.”
His eyes turned a shade darker with anger, but I know he won’t dare to do anything infront of Agustin. But he gave me a warning look, and said in a low voice just for me to hear, “you are messing with the wrong guy.”
Before I can say anything I saw Agustin looking at us with a frown “everything all right?” He enquired and I saw a sweat bead form on Mr. Lockhart’s forehead, looking ready to piss in his pants, gutless.
“Yes, Mr. Deluca..” he opens his mouth, but before he can complete Agustin interrupted him in a rude voice.
“I didn’t ask you.” He said with an expressionless face and looked at me, expecting an answer.
I gave him a reassuring smile and said everything is okay.
After that I excused myself, saying that I have to use the ladies room, which was true.
But I shouldn’t have left Agustin’s side. A very wrong move. I didn’t anticipate the guy will try anything in such a crowded place.
Before I can reach for the door handle a hand clamped my mouth and dragged me to an empty room.
I tried to wriggle out but his grip was too tight, he pushed me on the bed. And the next thing I know he was already on top me.
Mr. Lockhart.
“You bas..” before I can say anything he plastered his lips on mine.
I let out a strangulated cry and with all my strength I tried to dislodge him, but he was too strong.
He got more angry and ripped the sleeves of my gown.
Suddenly the door bust open to reveal Agustin, “WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING OVER HERE!” He shouted.
Before I can register anything, Mr. Lockhart said, “your PA was throwing herself on me, I told her this is in appropriate, but she is one desperate bitch.” He said, his tone laced with fear.
“I didn’t he is lying….” I chocked on my tears, not sure if Agustin is going to believe me.
Agustin took fast dangerous steps towards us. His eyes blood shoot, and the next thing I know Mr. Lockhart was thrown off me, on the nearest wall his head hitting the wall with such an impact, leaving a patch of blood on the wall as he slides down.
I scooted back in fear, “I swear Agustin, he is lying, please believe me… he was forcing himself on me” I said. By now I was shaking badly.
Agustin tried to pull me closer to himself, I whimpered and tried to get away without any success, he made me stand on my feet, I was sobbing and hiccuping badly, thinking about what is he going to do to me now.
“I believe you.” He said and removed his coat to cover my ripped sleeves. I looked at him stunned, as I was about to sigh in relief, what he said next made the blood in my veins run cold.
He took out his phone and dialed a number, throwing a sharp order, loud and clear for us to hear, “Kane, bring me the gun, Room number 1, fast.”
I looked at Agustin in fear and dread.
“Please, please I am sorry, it won’t happen again.” This was from Mr. Lockhart, this broke my trance and I immidiatly took in the gravity of the situation. Making pure unadulterated fear creep up my body. My heart thudding like a hammer.
“Please Agustin don’t do this, just call the police and hand him over, you can’t shoot someone like this, please understand…” I was still shaking badly but now for a completely another reason.
“Onika, this person is not walking alive out of this room, nothing you say is going to change my mind.” Agustin said sternly, with a hard glint in his eyes.
I started sobbing uncontrollably.
“Please Agustin, please…. If you have ever loved me then please just call the police and don’t do anything stupid, please” I said clutching his hand desperately, tears streaming down my eyes in a never-ending cascade, afraid of how it is going to end.
He looked at me intently, his eyes softening a bit.” Onika you are shaking badly..”he rubbed my hand and said, “shhh just calm down, I am here now nothing is going to happen to you,” he hugged me close and patted my back soothingly.
“Please Agustin… Just get me out of here” I said against my constricted throat.
“Shhhh, just stop crying and if you do that, I will do whatever you want, okay?” He asked softly, wiping the tears off my cheeks.
I nodded my head.
He dialed someone’s number again, “Jacob, I need your help, come to room no. 1 immidiatly.”
Within seconds Jacob was there. He took in the scene and looked at Agustin for confirmation, Agustin nodded his head in affirmation.
“Bastard….” Jacob said and lunged at Mr. Lockhart.
Agustin held him back, immidiatly.
“Not now” Agustin said, signaling towards me, Jacob clenched his fist degrudgingly and retracted back.
“I need to get Onika out of here…. she is scared…” he said in a whispery voice, ” I have messaged Kane to call the cops already, I am leaving this to you…. I need to take Onika home….. She needs me.” Jacob nodded his head in understanding.
When he said that something snapped inside me. I remember when he saved me from Xavier, he told Jacob to take me home and that he will deal with Xavier first, at that moment a small part of me felt dejected, for what he cared more at that time was to fulfill his thrust for revenge than to be there for me first.
I wanted him to be the one to comfort me or at least show any sign that he is there for me and to assure me that anything like this will never happen again, I don’t blame him for wanting to beat the shit out of Xavier for what he did, hell even I wanted to do the same, but it was about the priority and sadly it was not me that day.
So now that he said , he will deal with this pathetic excuse of a human being later but first he wants to take me home, it touched my heart at some profound level, like something just broke inside of me yet something healed at the same time, to know that his priority has changed, now what is more important for him is to comfort me and be there for me when I need him.
How I wish he was like this two years back when I needed him the most.
Now he is too late for this and the wall I have created between us will always remain…. the bitterness will always linger between the two of us, it has become a part of who we are, or at least a part of who I am. That is the brutal truth Agustin needs to accept.
It has become as instinctive as breathing, and it won’t just go away no matter how hard he tries or how hard … I try. Because God knows I have tried and I have tried hard, but You don’t just get over something like what Agustin had made me go through, and it’s not just about getting over those terrifying tortures, it would have been easier if it was just that, but it’s more about getting over the fact that he was the one to inflict those tortures. If it was someone else, it would have been easier, a lot more easier.
Laying yourself completely bare, vulnerable and defenceless infront of someone needs more courage than keeping your guards high or keeping yourself detached and isolated, because you know you might be risking everything… every single thing, but I mustered the courage I never had, to do that for Agustin and in that process I gave him everything I had to offer, my body, mind, soul……. everything, being betrayed by that very person who was supposed to be your safe haven, for whom you risked your every damn single thing is something I can’t get over until my last breath.
But I won’t lie, I can’t help but feel overwhelmed that he believed me; respected what I want and called the cops, instead of killing him, and above all he chose me.
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