Aileen
“I think you all are causing trouble for the lady here. And I don’t think you can get away with this anytime soon,” a familiar voice says, drawing my attention in a moment of despair.
I propped open my eyes and looked around only to see Skylar heading towards us. He was only a few feet away from where I stood.
Those men who were holding me down were now all alarmed suddenly.
“You? Why do you want to get yourself involved in our affairs?” the man holding my hand pulled away to confront him.
“Why? I’m interested, that’s all,” he replied in an amused tone.
Why is Skylar here in this place? And the way they are addressing him, it seems they know him as well.
But, how?
“No one’s telling you to look here. Go on, get going with your day,” added the other.
“Hm…I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do that,” he replied, coming even closer to stand right in front of the guy who was standing in front of me.
“Not when you are having so much fun all by yourself.”
I was sure he peeked over at me for a second. But, what is he trying to achieve here?
“Whether we have fun or not is not supposed to be your problem. Get the fuck out of here,” yelled the other guy, gritting his teeth.
“I don’t understand why you all are hating on me so much. I just want to have some fun with her as well. Like all of you,” he adds, observing all of their faces.
Have fun? Is he serious? His words make no sense to me. I thought he was trying to help me here.
Was I just imagining things?
“You want to have fun with her? The Young Master of the Clark Family? Really? I can’t believe my ears. Can you guys?” they made fun of him, and the others agreed.
“Yeah, I can’t believe it as well. Maybe he’s lying just to get her away from us.”
“Why would I be lying?” he remarks, keeping his composure. “I’m interested to see how this kitty likes to play as well. And I think she prefers it rough.”
Young Master of the Clark family? Is his family famous or what? That must be the reason they are so cautious of him.
“Oh really? You seem to know her so well.”
“Oh no, I don’t know her that well yet,” he sleekly walked past the guy who stood in front of me and grabbed me by the arm. “That’s why I’m going to play with her for a bit before handing her over to you guys in half an hour.”
The smile he had plastered on his face didn’t look terrifying, instead warm.
As if he was trying to reassure me.
“Hey, you can’t take our prey like that in front of our eyes,” said the guy who stood behind him, grabbing him by the shoulder.
All the guys surrounded us, making it hard for me to think of an opening to escape.
“Yes, I’m aware she’s your prey. That’s why I’m going to take her and return her in a piece. Just give me 30 minutes,” he replied, knocking the guy behind him with a blow from his elbow.
He fell down on the floor the next second.
Everyone watched him in awe.
“Hey, you can’t do this”
“Yes, I can,” he punched another guy next and pushed him towards the other guy.
“Aileen, come!” he yelled, dragging me away with him to the other direction in a hurry.
So, he was trying to help me in the first place? And here I was suspecting him because of his approaches.
I tried to match his pace but my dress and the heels were making it hard for me to run.
I stumbled a second later, but he managed to catch me in his arms before I fell.
“Are you alright?” his voice filled with concern and anxiety.
“Uh, not that much. I can’t run in heels. Will they be chasing us down in the party hall?”
He glanced behind us. “Uh…. I don’t know. But, after the beating that I gave, I think they might. For now, let’s find a place to hide and then search for your parents. They are the only ones who can help us now.”
“Uh, okay.”
“But, you can’t run in heels,” he inquired, looking down at my feet.
“It’s okay, I’ll manage.”
He heaved a sigh, “No, you don’t need to manage. I’ll help you.”
“Help me? How?”
“No time to chitchat. I’m sorry in advance,” he said, before lifting me off the floor on his arms princess style.
I wrapped my arms around his neck for support, becoming surprised by his gesture.
“Wait, you are going to carry me like this?”
“What else do you expect? Should I bring a freaking car into the party hall now?”
“Um, that’s not”
“Save your nagging for later. Now, we gotta run.”
He started running while carrying me, and he didn’t even break a sweat. I never thought about it, but he seems pretty much athletic to me.
Most of the time, he’s in his oversized hoodies or shirts and I don’t realize how much muscular he is.
That’s why he could put those guys down with just a single punch.
If not for him, I wouldn’t have been able to escape from those guys. I should be grateful to Skylar for all my life.
He carried me towards the washroom and unexpectedly it was mostly empty so we hid in one of the stalls in the women’s bathroom together.
After he closed the door behind us and he placed me down, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Skylar, you don’t know how much you owe me right now,” I said, looking at him straightforwardly. “Thank you. Thank you for all your help.”
“There’s nothing to thank about,” he replied, leaning against the walls. “I would’ve done the same if there was another woman in trouble. And I could tell from a distance they were up to no good.”
“Who are those guys after all? Some brats from rich families?” I asked.
“Uh, kind of. Their parents and grandparents are renowned people. That’s why they act so cocky thinking they can acquire anything in the world that they lay their eyes on. But, unfortunately, things don’t work like that.”
“And yet, the one I’m the most angry at is you!” he said, looking at me.
“Me? why?”
“Why didn’t you try to shout when you could sense danger? Why did you allow them to exploit you?”
I lowered my head, fisting my hands.
“I may sound stupid but….” I told him everything about their threats. How did they manage to make me submit to them cause I had no choice?
After hearing everything he fisted his hands against the walls in desperation.
“I can’t believe they could stoop so low. But, what else can I expect from people like them? That’s how rich brats behave anyway. And yet, you didn’t have to put yourself in danger just because your dad’s name might be involved in it. Your safety would’ve been far more important to him other than the company’s reputation, right?”
“I…yes, I know that. And that’s why I didn’t want to ruin the opening ceremony just because of me only.”
“Ruin? Come on, they were the ones whoForget about it. You are really noble, Aileen. I really can’t understand how much one person can go through for someone else’s sake. I will never be able to do that.”
It’s all for Dave’s sake. Already if the news of our relationship goes out, it’s going to be a scandal.
And now…. if I ruin it just on the opening day, it’s not going to look good.
I had to do everything I could to keep the situation under control in my own way.
“Did they harm you in any way?” he asked, patting my head.
I shook my head. “You managed to come right on time.”
“I thought among so much crowd, nobody would pay any attention to me. But, you did. Thanks for noticing me. I can’t imagine how much danger I would’ve been if not for you.” I said, bowing my head.
“Oh, come on, don’t be so polite. We are friends. Of course, I would help you in danger. And right when it was happening in front of me as well. Do you think I would’ve abandoned you there? Never.”
“I knew you wouldn’t. That’s why I’m so grateful to have you as my friend,” I replied, smiling. “I hope someday Rosalia also realizes what a precious gem you are.”
He snickered. “You are raising your hopes in vain. She will never be able to see my good points. Cause she’s always bent on finding the wrong in me. She just doesn’t have the eyes for me. That’s the truth.”
“But, people’s views change over time. Maybe, someday she’ll be able to see the good in you,” I said, patting on his shoulder.
He smiled, “You are weirdly optimistic for someone who was almost dragged down to the wolf’s den. But, I hope that day comes soon. When she can see me in a different light.”
“It will come, definitely!”
“You…. love your dad so much, don’t you?” he asked, peering into my eyes. “You would go as far as sacrificing yourself for his image’s sake. I don’t think any girl like that exists as of yet.”
“That’s…. not true. Anyone would’ve done it if they were in my place.”
I felt bad for lying in his face. But, regardless of whether Dave is my dad or not, I love him. And that’s the eternal truth.
And I would to any lengths if it’s for him. Because I know he would do the same.
I was worried to let him know, cause I knew he wouldn’t just hit and punch like Skylar did.
It would be a bloodbath if he saw how they tried to touch me.
And if he knew the person who dragged me into the mess was his dad. It would’ve been a different case altogether.