Jennifer.
“Jennifer?” I heard Tomas calling my name, his voice cutting through the heavy darkness surrounding me.
I turned my body, my heart racing wildly, and walked closer to him, feeling the tension crackling in the air between us. I pushed his chest gently, feeling the firm muscles beneath my palm. “I can’t pretend that I am not jealous,” I stated, my voice trembling slightly as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.
I pushed him again, a little harder this time, my frustration bubbling over. “I can’t pretend that I don’t care about you.”
With a firmer push, I continued, “I can’t pretend that I am not in love with you.”
Suddenly, tears began to flow from my eyes, heavy and relentless like a sudden downpour. “I can’t deal with all of this! Maybe I hated you at the beginning, before I really knew you, but what should I do now? I am in love with you, Tomas!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the night, filled with desperation.
Then, in a whirlwind of emotions, I turned and ran away, tearing off my high heels and sprinting into the darkness surrounding me. I didn’t know where I was going; it felt like a jungle, dark and foreboding, with towering trees looming around me. I might have lost my way completely.
“Oh my god! Where am I?!” I exclaimed, panic rising within me like a tidal wave.
I tried to open my eyes slowly, but a strong headache was pounding in my head, hammers beating mercilessly against my skull.
I woke up, groaning. “Oh gosh. What is this place?”
“Where am I?” I wondered aloud, my voice trembling and barely above a whisper. Why couldn’t I see anything? Had I lost my sight? I moved my hand over my head and felt a bag covering it. With a surge of determination, I pulled it off, my heart racing in anticipation of what I might find.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized I was not in a jungle as I had thought. Instead, I tried to stand up but fell back down, my legs restrained, feeling the cold metal around my ankles. I looked around and found myself in a huge, dark, empty space. It resembled a garage, but there were no cars inside, just shadows lurking in the corners. The height of this place exceeded ten meters, and it felt oddly eerie, a hollow void that swallowed sound.
But the pressing question in my mind was not where I was but why I was here. Had I been kidnapped? But why? Who would do this to me, and what was their reason? Where was everyone?
All these questions swirled in my head like a storm, threatening to drown me in confusion. I tried to remember what had happened after I left the birthday party and got lost in the dark. Then a memory flashed back: I had met a man.
Yes, an old man had approached me, asking if I was lost. He had mentioned that I was walking on his private property. I had apologized and explained that I was lost. I even asked him if he could help me find my way back to… to Tomas Charl?! Yes, that’s it. When I mentioned Tomas’s name, someone had struck me from behind, hitting my head with something hard, like a gun!
“Oh. What’s going on?!” I exclaimed as I pondered my predicament, panic gripping me tighter.
Just then, several men emerged from the shadows, surrounding me as if they had been waiting for this moment to strike.
“Hey, sexy, welcome!” one of the men said, stepping forward with a smirk, his eyes glinting in the low light.
“What?! Who are you, and why am I here?!” I demanded, shock and confusion evident on my face as I glared at him, trying to assert some control over the situation.
“Oh god, I hate women for this reason. That’s why I’m gay! They ask so many questions!” he murmured, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Miss Jennifer, you are on my property. Welcome.”
“But why am I handcuffed? Why did you kidnap me?” I questioned, my voice rising in disbelief, feeling the fear take root in my chest.
He laughed dismissively. “What? Don’t make me laugh more; you are killing me, Miss Jennifer. I didn’t kidnap you.”
He gestured to one of his men, who quickly unlocked the cuffs from my legs, the metal clinking as it fell to the ground.
“Sorry, Miss Jennifer, but I have to protect my island. That’s why you are here,” he explained, folding his arms as if this justified everything.
I rolled my eyes, still confused and frustrated. “But I didn’t do anything wrong!” I protested, my voice rising in indignation.
“Actually, I miss you. I didn’t give you permission to walk around freely like this on my land,” he replied, his gaze steady, as if I were the one who had overstepped.
“Okay, I don’t get it, sir. I’m here just because I’m lost in your land?! This is weird and unreasonable!” I shot back, feeling my frustration mounting with each passing second.
“Of course it’s not; that’s why I’m telling you I’m sorry. My men thought you were dangerous. Many spies have come to my land to gather information about me. They thought you were another spy, that’s all,” he explained, his tone calm but firm. “I punished the man who hit you. After I realized that you were here with Tomas Charl, I had no other option but to come to you myself to apologize for this mistake.”
I stood up, still wary and confused. “What? Do you know Tomas Charl?” I asked, my curiosity piqued, feeling the need to understand this tangled web.
“Um, actually, yes, Miss Jennifer. Long time ago, we used to be partners. But life changed us into competitors,” he said, looking away, lost in thought, as if recalling a distant past.
“Competitors?! In which field, sir?” I pressed, intrigued, wanting to uncover more.
“You keep asking questions, and this could make Tomas angry if I told you. So you have to respect my decision not to inform you. But for now, I have to take you to show you my lands and my castle. You need to take a shower and change your clothes; you are in quite a mess. I don’t want to make Tomas hate me more. Please join me, Miss Jennifer,” he urged, gesturing for me to follow.
I shook my head, hesitating as uncertainty gripped me. But something compelled me to walk beside him, curiosity battling my fear.
“Wait! But how do you know my name? I don’t have a passport or ID!” I stared at him, bewildered, my mind racing with questions.
“Miss Jennifer, I know everything and everyone here. This is my island. So please come with me. We don’t have much time; Tomas is looking for you everywhere. If we waste more time, he’ll call the cops, and your pictures will be in the news by tomorrow. This will affect my reputation in the markets, and my shares and stocks will decrease. So follow me, please…” he insisted, urgency lacing his voice, compelling me to comply.
Reluctantly, I followed him. We got into his car, and as we drove, he pointed out various sights of the island, his voice animated as he described the lush landscapes and hidden gems. The morning light streamed down, illuminating the beautiful scenery around us, casting a golden hue on everything.
Finally, we arrived at the castle. It was a magnificent structure, with towering gates and guards with guns positioned everywhere, reminiscent of historical wars and power struggles. The sight was both intimidating and awe-inspiring, a fortress that seemed to pulse with secrets.
“Miss Jennifer, don’t worry. You are under my protection. If I wanted to hurt you, why would I be taking you here?” he assured me, attempting to ease my fears, though I remained on edge.
He opened the car door for me, and we walked inside the castle. I noticed the absence of women; the place was filled with men, all clad in black, carrying weapons, their expressions serious and watchful. My heart raced as I caught sight of a helicopter and a plane nearby, an unsettling realization dawning on me about the power dynamics at play.
He led me to a room. “Miss Jennifer, this is where you can freshen up. Please choose any outfit you like to wear. Accept this as a sorry gift from me for the misunderstanding,” he said, gesturing to a selection of clothes that hung neatly in the closet.
I chose a dress and quickly changed, feeling the weight of anxiety lifting slightly. I was going to take a shower, but I was too anxious, so I decided to wash my body quickly with a towel and slip into my clothes. I needed to get back to Tomas and Jack as soon as possible, this strange detour feeling like a time warp.
After a few minutes, I finished and stepped out of the room. The man was waiting for me, his expression unreadable.
“Please, Miss Jennifer, come with me to my office,” he said, his tone inviting, yet there was an edge that made me cautious.
“Okay, but why?” I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my trepidation.
He smiled, then nodded for me to follow him into his office. He opened the door and instructed the guards to stay outside, creating a boundary that felt both safe and isolating.
“Miss Jennifer, please relax and have a seat,” he said, motioning to a chair that looked both plush and imposing. He walked to a huge iron safe, its height more than two meters, and began rummaging through it, the sound of metal clinking echoing in the otherwise quiet space.
He returned with something in his hands, a look of determination on his face. “Please take this, Miss Jennifer. This is my apology to you for your awful night. A sweet woman like you should be treated like a princess. If you were my fiancee, I would never have a relationship with another girl or treat you badly. You are a gorgeous, amazing woman,” he said sincerely, his eyes locking onto mine with intensity.
He opened a leather jewelry case, revealing a stunning diamond necklace that sparkled even in the dim light.
“Oh my god?! It’s amazing! This is for me?” I gasped, staring at him in disbelief, caught between awe and discomfort.
He smiled warmly. “Sure, Miss Jennifer. You deserve more than this.”
“But no, I’m sorry, I can’t accept this gift,” I insisted, shaking my head, feeling overwhelmed by the gesture.
“Please, Miss Jennifer, you will make me feel happy if you accept my gift. If you refuse, it means you haven’t forgiven me yet,” he said gently, his voice coaxing.
“But I forgive you! I really do! You don’t need to give me an expensive gift!” I exclaimed, wide-eyed and feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
He stepped closer, taking the necklace and placing it in my hands, his touch lingering. “Please, Miss Jennifer, give me this chance. Let me help you wear this,” he urged softly, his sincerity cutting through my doubt.
I hesitated but eventually allowed him to assist me, feeling the cool metal against my skin.
“Thank you, sir, you are so generous…” I murmured, feeling a mix of gratitude and unease.
“No, you are the generous one, Miss. Actually, I feel jealous that Tomas has a fiancee like you!” he admitted, turning to look out of the window, his tone shifting.
“Sir, how do you know so much about me? Who are you?” I asked, moving closer to the desk, wanting to uncover more about this enigmatic man.
“And why do you say you are jealous? I don’t understand! You said you were gay!” I pressed, trying to make sense of his contradictory statements.
He turned to me, a laugh escaping his lips, lightening the tense atmosphere. “You are making me laugh. I’m not gay! I was just trying to make you feel at ease, to gain your trust. I know that you are scared. That’s all,” he explained, his eyes sincere.
“Oh, is that it?” I rolled my eyes, feeling confused but oddly comforted.
He approached me, kissing my hand softly and gazing at me with admiration that made my pulse quicken. “Miss, it’s my pleasure to meet you. Please accept my apology. Now we should go; I don’t want you to feel confused any longer,” he said, taking my hand and leading me toward the limousine, the weight of uncertainty still heavy in the air.
Suddenly, as he opened the car door for me, he said, “Miss Jennifer, my name is Cercus Staph. Keep it in your mind.”
I laughed nervously, “Is that Spanish?” I asked, a giggle escaping my lips despite the tension.
“You can just call me Cercus, Miss Jennifer,” he replied, and I climbed into the car, still processing everything that had happened, my mind racing with unanswered questions and the strange dynamics of the day.