chapter 1

The only thing she could feel as she walked down the busy path of the road nonchalantly was the heavy sound of the breeze and cars going to and fro.

She could have stopped and rested, but she didn't even know where she was at the moment. The thought of this made the tears in her eyes pop out more, and she wept uncontrollably with no one to console her. She was tired but still refused to stop.

She was already walking on the path laid for cars and she did not even notice this at all, her heart was troubled and she was filled with pain and anger yet she couldn't do anything about it nor even control the rage.

Suddenly, a black mouth-watering Sedan car parked in front of her blocking her way, she then halted. It was at that moment she could feel the sound of the atmosphere around her again and was back to her consciousness. She stood there and watched the gentleman disembark from the owner's side of the car.

The car engine was still running with a driver inside the car, the 6 '5 feet tall man hurriedly alighted from the car and ran towards her.

"Hello, are you okay?" He asked calmly as he approached her.

She looked at him with tears in her eyes and did not utter a word.

"Are you okay?" He asked again, this time more persuading. He stretched out his hand to touch her, but she raised her eyebrows at him, and he folded back his hand immediately.

"Can you please wipe your tears? Why are you crying?" He kept throwing questions at her but got no response.

"Do you need help?" He asked her again, and this time, she looked at him like she was interested in what he had to say now.

"Were you abused? I have money I can help you with, what do you need?" He continued, but she was just still staring at him with no response.

"It's getting dark already. Where are you heading to?" She burst into tears again, and this time, he couldn't resist her tears anymore. He pulled her close to himself and hugged her. She did not resist at all, and they were like that for more than five minutes.

She sniffed in her tears, and he gave her his handkerchief.

"Can you come into my car with me?" He asked, looking at her with dormancy and pity.

She nodded her head, and he almost shouted YES! But he held back so as not to scare her off. He walked her back to the car immediately and after they boarded, the car zoomed off.

He waited for some minutes, and he cleared his throat to break the silence. She looked at him but couldn't stand his gaze.

"It's okay." He said and smiled.

"My name is James, and you?"

"Christine." She said with a very low voice.

He smiled and responded. "That's a very lovely name, you know…" she forced a smile and thanked him.

"So Christine, what happened?"

Her heart skipped immediately when she heard him ask that question. She had already been praying silently in her heart for him not to ask about her background at all.

"Uhmm, t-t-t-to." He watched her stutter, and then he grabbed her hand and rubbed it gently to make her feel comfortable.

"It's alright. You can take your time." He said to her calmly, and she felt relaxed. She took a deep breath and he was about to take his hand off from her but she nodded for him not to do so. He continued rubbing her hand as he watched her speak with a smile beaming on his face too.

"I was kidnapped and was released after the kidnappers learnt that I did not have any family or anyone to pay for my ransom, I was dropped off at a bus stop that I did not recognise at all so I had to find my way back."

His eyes were still fixed on her with a smile on his face. Even after she was done talking, it was obvious that he was already lost in thoughts. She tapped his hand to call his attention, and he was shocked the moment he realized that she was already done talking.

"Y-y-yeah, I'm sorry about that." He said, using his hand to wipe his face.

"Do you mind if I take you home? You can stay with me till whenever you are ready to leave." He said, looking at her earnestly.

"Yeah, thank you, that's so kind of you." She said as her mood lightened up, and it was obvious in her voice. James couldn't hold the joy in as he brought out a bought of Château Lafite, and they drank together happily.

"You are so beautiful I must commend you." He said calmly with his eyes fixed on her body.

His words were too sweet and comforting, and they continued drinking and laughing wholeheartedly. She couldn't control herself anymore as she was enjoying the moment.

Christine drank till she was drunk and did not even know when they got to James's home.

"You should take it easy, this wine is strong," James warned but she wouldn't listen. Her troubled heart was eating her up and she couldn't help or control herself at that moment.

When they got to James's house, she was already drunk and had already slept off.

James carried her to one of the rooms and laid her down gently. He watched her as she slept with an uncontrollable smile on his face.

"Wow!" James gasped she was just like the most beautiful woman he had ever come across!

It has been so long since James felt this kind of feeling for anyone he just felt she was lucky. James Kept pondering over the mystery about her but he was not considered.

She woke up late the next morning and was feeling light-headed. She was shocked by what she had met. He had already set up her breakfast and left a note for her.

"Good morning, sunshine. Yesterday night was fun, and you are a great person, and yesterday was fun all through with you. I'm off to work, and I will see you soon." She smiled as she read the note out loud.

She ate and checked around inside the house. It was luxurious, and everything was intact and expensive and she made sure she was careful with her steps.

Not quite long after she finished exploring the house, James' driver brought a smartphone for her so she could call him.

"Here he asked me to give this to you ma'am." The driver said, stretching his hands out to Christine.

"He said he had already set it up and that you can call him anyone you want." The driver added.

James couldn't stop thinking about her even at his office; it was just as if he should still be with her. Reminiscing how she was fluently expressing herself got his heart beating unusually.

"Sir, the investors are here." He heard his secretary's voice and noticed she had been standing there for a while.

"Take the director with you and attend to them, I am busy." He responded.

"But sir, we postponed this meeting last week so they can meet them in person today, sir." She responded with her eyes glued to the floor.

"I said I am busy!" He answered half yelling.

She immediately dashed out of the office, and he followed her and headed out of the office straight to his car, where the driver was already inside waiting.

On his way back home, he bought a flower bouquet, and when they arrived at his house, he headed straight to his room and knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"Christine!"