Chapter eight

Nataly 

"Are you out of your damn mind?" That's Lilith's first question as soon as David is out of sight, "what are you doing picking a fight with David Delavega? Need I remind you that we both depend on each other here. "

Of course I know everything is a risk. 

" You think I don't know that, the agreement between Delavegas and the Banes doesn't give him authority to just snoop in this room any time he pleases. 

For fuck sake, are we supposed to like always bow to their every command? Oh come on, Lilith." 

I don't want this to be like a lecture but I know, no one has the upper hand here. 

" I don't want to pick a fight with you, it's the last thing I want, " says Lilith," All I'm trying to say is that we need to be careful. And you need to be my daughter, not some blackmailing…" 

"Just say it," I retort. 

She looks at me with deep eyes, "you were the one who signed up for this, remember." 

"Yeah, to save your ass." 

"Is everything okay?" A  male voice interrupts. It's Alex, my so-called dad. 

"You guys look like you're getting on each other's throats and it's not good for any of us here." he says as he enters the room, joining the conversation,"need I remind you, we're all depending on each other here." 

"Not you too Alex." They now want to give me real lectures, like parents do to their children when they go wrong. 

"Do you know the danger you put us in through your disappearance? Where have you been anyway?"  Alex asks. And they both shoot their gazes blankly at me, waiting for an answer. 

Okay I'll save us some time. 

" I was kidnapped." I know that telling them the truth won't hurt anyone since we are on the same side on this one, but one thing I'm not telling them how it happened. 

"What!" they exclaim unanimously. 

"You heard me." I answer. 

"By who and why? How did you even  escape?" 

"Cut the crap Lilith, you can't be this concerned about me. But that's all I can say for now. The good thing is that I'm okay. And I need to go to the office to check some things." 

It's still almost four in the evening  and I can't be reporting for work this late. 

"How will you explain things to Delavegas?" Alex probes again, "they have been… "I'll deal with it myself, now that they've already contacted you." 

..... 

I check my watch as I leave the Banes mansion. It's only a few minutes to five. I feel fresh and now like a normal human being after cleaning myself. Scratch that. Nothing in my life has been normal at least for the past two months. 

And it's just about to get worse. I'm going to have to deal with a certain asshole called David Delavega. That jerk. Why do handsome men I meet always prove  to be jerks, just like my ex-boyfriends, Mason.God, I don't even want to talk about Starlight. 

Then there's this mysterious guy, causing a mess in my mission. 

I need a new phone and to renew my line first. He might contact me again,maybe. 

I drive off in Alex's car since  mine's missing, for now. I'll check if it's still at the wing's cemetery. But after dealing with issues about phones, my next destination will be at the Delavega Holdings since it's at the Central Business District,before I head to the Delavegas Mansion and face my wrath. 

….. 

I'm sitting in the car, outside the 20 - floor building, with bold writings on it, 'Delavega Holdings.' 

This is where I've been working(legally) for the past two months. 

My phone hasn't rang since I renewed my line. I was hopping that fucker would call, but no, maybe he thinks I'm still being held captive. If he was not serious about my kidnapping, maybe he thinks the owner of the home hasn't found me yet. But one thing I know, he knew that I'd eventually escape. I hate how questions about him keep racing in my mind.. 

The workers in the company are busy as usual. Everyone is eyeing me as I walk in from the elevator. It's like they've seen a ghost or something. I don't blame them. Ever since I started working here, I haven't been the one to disappear from work for more than 24 hours. Unless there's an emergency or maybe during the weekends. 

Yeah, that's how I try so hard to earn the Delavegas trust. 

I'm startled when I reach my office's door, only to hear some voices from inside. I'm starting to think about being fired or they found my replacement within a day, maybe they decided to dishonor their agreement with the Banes. But I can recognize their voices.

What are they doing here? 

"You definitely know nothing about privacy," the first words that roll off my mouth as soon as I open the door and enter and they both shift their gazes towards me. David's standing next to my office chair while Cole  stands on the opposite end. So these ones are the future of the Delavegas.. 

While David has his chest broad, Cole is skinny but both of them are tall. 

I imagine if a situation was normal and I have to choose.. Oh crap, what's that? 

I've had an encounter with David once and this is the second one and clearly I don't think we'll ever be on the right foot. He's an ass hole. 

Cole looks like a doll but.. No.. 

"There she comes, again," Says David as soon as I walk in. 

"What are you doing in my office?" I stare right into David's eyes. I know this was all his idea. 

"Gosh, do you ever smile? Or are you always frowned like this.?" That's the answer he manages to give, "You still look pretty, even when you're angry.,"he adds on top of it all. 

What a jerk. 

I shift my gaze at Cole," Are you also in this? "

He opens his slender lips to answer but David beats him to it. 

" Oh, it was all my idea. " all eyes on him again. 

" I thought so. If you want to know things about me you could just ask. Snooping around, stalking me is a cowardly move, Mr Delavega. "

" Did you just call me a coward?" 

It looked like I had hit a nerve and I couldn't be happier. 

" You heard me right, or is there any other word? Is that the trick you use to make women fall for you? "

" I don't need to use any trick to make women fall for me, "he defends. 

" Let me tell you.. "

" No, you listen to me. 

"Guys!" Cole, who's been silent all this while bangs the table and the room quietens. 

"Why are you behaving like kids here?"  He's more serious. "Can't you solve your misunderstandings like grown ups?" 

We are both quiet at that. 

David and I seem to have a talent of getting into each other's nerves.,even though we've just met. 

Cole's phone rings again and he excuses himself. "Don't misbehave, I can't babysit grown ups." 

He leaves and David and I are silent for a while. 

"Would you mind getting out of my space?" I ask, a short while after the word silence had prevailed. 

I realize David has had his hands in his pocket all this time and I can't quite figure out why. 

We exchange positions and I sit on my chair. 

This is weird and I want him to leave. 

" Just so you know, I'm not stalking you." 

"Ooh yeah, so what have you been doing then, invading my Privacy?" 

"Do you think you're that special,Maria?" 

"Just get out of my office," I order before another word rolls off his mouth. 

Couldn't he just be nice like Cole. 

He shoots his gaze at me and I look right into his brown eyes again. 

I hate to admit that this guy is just as handsome. I could get attracted, but whatever words come off his mouth detouch me from him anytime I'm lost in his cuteness. 

What a jerk! 

He  leaves and I heave a long sigh. 

I check the drawers and files just in case anything is missing or out of order.. Something feels odd and I can't quite place it. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. 

I'm still scanning the area when my phone rings and my blood runs cold when I read the name on the screen(I had just updated everything in my email, including phone contacts) 

This  is trouble! and I have to brace myself beside picking it. 

Antonio Delavega. 

I clear my throat first. 

"Hello." 

"You're finally on. Where are you? Just got word that you're back. What happened?" 

I try to explain but words dry off at the tip of my tongue. 

He saves me when he speaks again. 

"It's going to be late and I have an issue to take care of right now, why don't you come to the mansion tomorrow morning before ten. We have a lot to discuss." 

"Okay sir," I answer and he hangs up, leaving me with a billion questions racing in my mind. But he didn't seem upset..okay who are you and what have you done with Antonio Delavega? 

I need to prepare myself for anything. 

With the Delavegas, a bullet could run through your brains any minute!