Chapter 3

"Hhmn....hhmn".Lyka groaned aggressively as she tried to free herself from her abductor but all to no avail.

The person had wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her down and used his other hand to cover her mouth, while the driver at the front kept on driving.She eventually stopped struggling and remained obsequiously submissive.

Lyka's abductor mistook her submissiveness as acceptance of defeat, causing him to relax his grip on her waist, but that was his greatest mistake as Lyka immediately freed herself from his grip and pinned him down to the chair, grabbing his neck and staring fiercely at him.

"It's me, it's me ". the 'abductor' managed to say as he raised his hands  to indicate he meant no harm.

Lyka blinked in surprise and stared at her abductor before releasing him.

"Drake?"

"Were you really going to strangle me?". Drake asked,his face still red from the strangle.

"What are you doing here?".

"Was just about to leave the airport when I saw you running away from some guards. They are your father's guards. Right?"

"Yes". she replied as she got off him and sat beside him, exhaling with relief.

"Why?, doesn't he want you to be with your boyfriend?" he asked with a despondent look.

"What boyfriend?" Lyka was confused. Since when did she have a boyfriend?.

"I saw the both of you kissing at the airport". he answered with a partial glare.

" Oh, you mean Nolbett?. Pfft, boyfriend my foot, he is even the reason why I am on the run. Why would he even be my boyfriend?, he is not my type".she said as she shuddered at the thought of someone as emotionless as that being her boyfriend.

Hearing this, Drake was delighted but he tried to cover it up.

"That's good then". he smiled and looked away, mirth dancing in his eyes.

"Where are you taking me to?".

"My penthouse".

"And why should I go there?".

"Because you are on the run from the wealthiest and most powerful man in Beree, who has the wildest and fastest information network and would find you in no time". he explained with a proud grin.

"I still don't understand how going to your penthouse helps me". she said staring at him with a bored gaze.

"Geez, I still marvel at how you managed to graduate as the best student, your level of understanding can be disappointing at times".

"Well smart kid with high level of understanding,are you going to explain to this low IQ lady, what you meant?"Lyka asked her voice dipping with thick sarcasm.

Drake cleared his throat uncomfortably as he avoided her gaze.

"I meant, my family is also a pro when it comes to..."

"Get to the point Drake". she was starting to get impatient.

"I meant that my penthouse is very safe and that no one would find you there".he said, suprised she could be impatient when he was the one helping her.

"Oh...., I guess I will have to trouble you then, and.....  ". she paused as her eyes widened in shock.

"What?, what's wrong?".

Lyka grabbed Drake by the shirt as she whispered in horror.

"My suitcase, my suitcase!, we left my suitcase". she yelled the last words.

"Goodness Lyka!, you are very rich , can't you forget about that one suitcase?"

"That one suitcase contains most of my favourite clothes."she yelled at him before finally releasing his shirt and turning to move close to the driver.

"Sir, you have to turn back now. We have to go and pick up my suitcase." she urged the driver.

"Hey! no Bernard, we are not going back. Keep driving and don't even think of stopping."

"Do you want me to rip off your mouth ?, there is a gift from Oswald inside that suitcase". she said imperatively, making Drake's gaze turn cold.

"I should have known, it's Oswald again" he said disappointedly before he referred to the driver.

"keep going". he ordered.

Everyone close to Lyka knew of her crazy crush on Oswald, who was Tacha 's brother. She had been crushing on him since high school but hadn't got the courage to tell him. He was her senior in high school though.

They both soon started bawling and arguing with each other, leaving the driver all confused on what to do about them.

*****

Nolbett wore his nose mask when he realized people had begun to recognize him. He wondered where the hell Rex was, had he forgotten that he would be back today?.

He was about to call him when he saw Rex approaching with two bodyguards in disguise.

"Am very sorry, we had no idea you would be taking public transport,we thought you would be arriving in your own private jet.".Rex apologised profusely but Nolbett said nothing, he only glanced at him before he walked away leaving Rex.

'I'm definitely dead if Gerald hears about this'. he murmured as he hastily went after Nolbett while the guards carried his bags.

******

The car screeched to an abrupt halt causing Lyka to almost fall but Drake was quick enough to prevent that as he held her shoulders to keep her steady.

"What the fuck was that?" Drake asked furiously.

"Sir we got cornered by some men". the driver informed, leaving both Drake and Lyka perplexed.

Catching the three unaware, the door to Lyka's seat was flung open and she was pulled out with her screams filling the air.

"Get your hands off me."she struggled but the men were too strong for her.

"What do you think you are doing?, let her go right now" . he had also been pulled down from the car as he stared at the men who dared to attack his car in contempt.

Unsuspecting of those behind him, he was suddenly grabbed and he felt a sharp pain on his neck.Soon, his consciousness started fading away. He could hear Lyka screaming his name but he was too drowsy to answer. He fell to the floor finally, totally losing his consciousness.

"Drake!, Drake!". she screamed as he fell but got no reply. She stared at the men who had attacked Drake in hostility.

"What did you do to him?" she yelled at them as she struggled to free herself from their grip but failed woefully.

A drugged cloth was used to cover her mouth and nose as she also lose her consciousness.

*****

Lyka gasped as she suddenly opened her eyes. She tried to stand up but discovered that she was tied to a chair.

"You are awake". she heard the familiar voice as her eyes widened in shock.

"Dad?" she was surprised. Her dad was behind everything?

"You were behind everything?" she asked in confusion.

"Yes". he calmly replied.

"What?., why would you do that?"

"What else could I have done?, you were running away, and I had to stop you". he wasn't even remorseful.

"Is that why you had to hurt Drake and also tie me up?". she was trying so hard not to yell.

" Of course not, I wouldn't hurt a friend of yours, am not you." he smirked when he watched her being uncomfortable.

"And also, you were going to run away if you weren't tied up, so I asked them to tie you up".

"I am not going to marry Nolbett Revaz".she said defiantly.

"Oh yes you are, unless you want everyone to know what happened 14 years ago". he threatened as Lyka paled in fear.

"I also heard you are still not over Oswald. That's pathetic, how can the daughter of the wealthiest man in Beree be in love with someone of lower status?. You don't even have the courage to tell him" he mocked as Lyka's lips trembled in anger.

"You have no proof that I did it,and  no one is going to believe you".

"You really think so?" he challenged as Lyka looked away,knowing well that he was saying the truth.

"You are starting to go against me, it's all because of that guy, perhaps,I should have him taken care of". he said cruelly as he brought out his phone.

"Wh.....what are you trying to do?"

"Just one message from me to Ace, and you would never see your lover boy again". he threatened with a sly smirk.

"You wouldn't dare". she said glaring at him so much fear masked with hatred.

"Oh....., would I ?" he teased and showed her his phone. He had typed the words;' GET RID OF OSWALD GOLD'.

"I just have to click on the send button and boom!, Oswald Gold is wiped off the Earth's surface".

"What do you want?". she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her break down.

"Very simple, just get married to Nolbett Revaz and everyone lives".he answered.

His lawyer walked in with a file in his hands which he gave Harry.

"All you have to do is sign the contract Lyka, and everyone will be fine". he said and dropped it on the bed beside the chair she was tied to.

He left with his lawyer and seconds later, the bodyguards and maids came in. The bodyguards untied her while the maids dropped her food on the side table.

****

Oswald was concerned, Lyka had sent him a brief message, saying she wouldn't be at work that day due to inevitable circumstances.

Lyka hardly had any problem and even if she ever had one, it's root would be traced to her father. He had also been calling her phone but she wasn't picking. He decided to stop for now, if she still wasn't around the next day, he was going to ask Tacha.

*****

Tacha got to the airport but saw no trace of Lyka. She was starting to get worried. Was she too late?, had Lyka's father caught Lyka? . She didn't know what to do , so she called the only person who could help.... Chantelle.

She immediately dialed Chantelle's number and after four rings,she finally answered her call.

"Where were you since?ⁿ"she almost yelled

"Sorry, was busy with something". she replied drowsily.

Tacha understood immediately that Chantelle was probably with a guy again. That girl was a very big fan of one night stands.

"Lyka's missing"she informed as all the sleep in Chantelle's eyes vanished.

"What?, what do you ....get off me". she said the last one to the person with her.

Tacha could hear the groaning of a guy and also Chantelle getting up.

"What were you saying?"Chantelle asked again as she wore her flip flops,ready to go take a bath.

Tacha wasted no time in telling her everything, from when Lyka told her about the arranged marriage to the present hour.

"Her father must have found her. Darn it!, you should have told me from the onset. Keep searching the airport and keeping dialing her phone, I would be there soon". she ended the call.

******

"Heard you wanted to see me". Harry walked into the room quietly.

Without facing him, Lyka tossed the file back at him m. He picked it up and checked it, she had signed it.

The contract was that she would marry Nolbett Revaz without any fuss and her secret and Oswald would be protected.

"You did the right thing". He smiled with content after checking the contract.

Lyka said nothing and refused to even look at him but Harry didn't care, he had gotten what he wanted.

"You should eat, starving yourself changes nothing. And you are also allowed to leave".he simply said as he walked out. He had reached the door when Lyka's question stopped him.

"Would you ever forgive me for what happened?"

He remained silent for some seconds before he answered.

"Yes, on one condition".

Lyka's eyes shone with hope on hearing his words but she was soon disappointed.

"Bring her back".

" You know that's impossible"

"Exactly my point".were his last words before he finally left.