Chapter 4

I woke up to the glare of the sun.

Shielding my eyes that is sore from all the crying with my hand, i tried to recollect my thoughts.

Where am i, what happened to me? i questiond myself. The last thing i remembered was talking to a man if that can even qualify as talking.

I can't even seem to remember what he looks like. The only thing that i remember vividly was his scent. He smelled like earth and wood and man. It was heady and intoxicating. He smelt rich and by the look of my surroundings he must be crazy rich.

The room i'm in, i'm guessing to be a guest room. The room is so luxuriously decorated.

Who is this person, what new trouble have i gotten myself into this time i wondered as i dragged myself to one of the many doors, with the hope that it might be the bathroom.

Luckily it was indeed the bathroom. The bathroom decor looks diferent from the room but not in a bad way at all. If the designer was aiming to give the effect of a place to calm yourself and care for your skin after a long tiring day, then he or she deserves his or her flowers. For the bathroom is a beautiful mixture of calm, clean and quiet. With every facility placing just right and ultra modern. I turned to look at a mirror and almost screamed.

I look haggard and unkempt. With my hair everywhere and my eyes so red. It was then i noticed someone changed my clothes and maybe wiped me down. With all the kneeling and crying i was doing yesterday my clothes must be very dirty. I looked at myself one more time and wondered where the beautiful girl that once charmed the entire city has gone to. I'm twenty two but i feel and look forty.

I wondered why i am this calm in a strange place. Maybe it is because i don't have anything worth taking. I don't have anything to lose. Whoever this person is, he is wealthy enough to be a memeber of the mafia or maybe someone high profile.

But i wonder what a mafia will want from someone like me though. Plus the man that spoke to me yesterday was trying to help. I doubt he wants to harm him. I remembered telling him i have no home, he must have brought me to his house since i said i have no place to go.

I grew up in money and even i get to admit that whoever this is, he is someone you can't afford to offend.

I decided to at least tidy up the best i could to look presentable just in case the person who helped me decide to come check on me. I wash my hair and use the products in the bathroom which by the way are very very good stuff. After cleaning up i put on the clothes i was wearing before. I looked back at the mirror and was satisfied. Though my eyes are still red but it is not that bad and the swell around my eyes have reduced.

Coming out of the bathroom, i checked the time to see it was past nine, feeling hungry i decided to venture out of my room.

Josh take this document back to my office and tell Anna to reschedule the meeting with the planning committe for tomorrow.

Is there anything else? i ask josh my personal assistant and right hand man.

I decided to stay home and attend to Tove myself when she wakes up. Josh brought some paper work to the villa.

No sir, that will be all.

Good you may get going.

Immediately josh left, i felt her presence before i even saw her. I turned to meet Tove staring at me.

Hello, good morning.

Good morning, i hope you are feeling better today? you were really in a bad shape yesterday.

Was he the man who helped me?

He looks younger than i imagined. I'm guessing his age to be somewhere in his late twenties and he looks so handsome. Not the prince charming kind of handsome but the dark type the very dark type.

With well defined facial features and hair not that long not that short. Neither curly nor wavy. With a single curl falling over his forehead he looks dangerous. His presence, his aura everything about him screams danger.

I've never seen him before, and i don't think i've seen his picture anywhere this kind of man is impossible to forget.

And this place i'm guessing to be a villa is so big and beautiful. Luxuriously and artistically decorated. The place screamed opulence.

Who exactly is he?

Did you hear what i said i heard him say again.

Yes i heard you sir.

Errrrrrrrmmmmmmm i'm better than yesterday. Thank you very much for helping me yesterday.

I don't mean to be rude, but if you don't mind i would like to get going now. Thank you very much for taking care of me.

I decided to leave this place, my hunger temporarily forgotten. Whoever this person is i don't want anything to do with him. I am in enough mess already.

I could see the doubt and fear in her eyes. If it were to be others i wouldn't have mind but with her i minded. For i don't need her to fear me.

You don't have to be scared, i mean no harm to you. It was Maria my help that changed you yesterday not me. I'm sorry if my bringing you here scared you. I thought it was wise for me to bring you here rather than take you to a hotel. I'm really sorry if i offended you.

Wait, what!?

He is apologising to me and he looks and sound so sincere.

Pffffffffffttttttttttttttttt. So did Dylan remember, a voice interjected mentally.

It's okay sir, you don't have to apologise.

Ian.

What?

My name is Ian, call me Ian not sir.

Not kowing how to respond to that, i just nodded.

Introduce yourself you idiot, a voice chided me mentally.

Well Ian i am Vee.

I know who you are miss Anderson.

You know me? i asked incredulously.

I'm sure i've never met you before Ian.

You haven't, he replied.

Then how i asked.

You were signed to my agency five to six years ago.

Signed to his agency what does that even mean.

The agency i signed under was called Emerald a subsidiary of Archer group.

The head of the Archer group, a family owned business is Ian Archer. the Archers are the most feared and respected family in the whole of country A. They have their claws everywhere. Politics, entertainment, transportation, hotels, retail, supply, government,even the mafia.

The current CEO of the group is called Ian those who know him fear him, those who are acquainted with him fear him, those who don't even know him fear him. He is not someone you see easily. He is famed for his ruthlessness and he is even called a mad genius. He took the Archers fom their already powerful height to a place where they are not in competion with no one but themselves.

Wait he introduced himself as Ian.

Arrrrrrreeeeeeeee you the Ian Archer i asked?

Yes came his reply.

My hand started shaking. I placed it behind me as i started feeling hot in a room that is very cold.

I am really done for this time. Since yesterday my life has just been going from bad to worse. I haven't even had time to think of my breakup with Dylan and now this. I want to cry but there is no tears left.

Tove, i heard him call me.

Yes i managed to respond.

What happened to you, where have you been? You left the agency without a word, without your contract coming to an end and with lots of deals left unfinished. You cost the company lots of money not to mention the penalty fee for the breach of contract.

I can't possibly tell him that i left because of my boyfriend and that the said boyfriend now owns an agency that currently happens to be Emerald's rival. Not to mention the reason i have been out of sight is due to the money i will pay Emerald agency for my abrupt departure. Money as of then we didn't have. Dylan said i should lay low till he becomes successful and then he will help me pay it off. He told me two years ago that he has paid off all my debt, but with the way Ian is sounding i doubt that. And i can"t possibly call him a liar not to mention that at this point i should consider all my years with Dylan to be nothing but an act from him.

In other words apart from my already damaged life i also happpen to be owing a debt not just any debt but an Archer debt. I should just end my life right now.

Were you abused while in the agency, did anyone harass you?

What happened exactly, and where have you been?

Sir i mean Ian. I am truly sorry for the loss the company incured. I have no money at all and i have nothing to give you that will make up for my debt. So i really don't know what to do about that. As for my disappearnace just take it that i was young, dumb and in love. I fell in love Ian and it cost me dearly.

I decided to lay my cards. When dealing with people like Ian honesty is the best poilicy. It is a miracle i haven't started bawling my eyes out.

It is at your weakest that you know how strong you are.

Looking at her, i can't help but feel for her. It takes a lot of courage to admit ones sadness and regrets especially when it has to do with matters of the heart.

When she left i had the resources to look for her but i did not. For i couldn't even bring myself to accept that a seventeen year old got me thinking things that i shouldn't be thinking of.

Do you have a place to stay?

No.

Do you have a friend you can call to pick you up or stay with?

No.

Tove this is a really special situation we are in right now.

Tell you what.

Do you still want to act?

What?

I am asking if you are still interested in being an actress.

I don't know.

I don't know if you know but for the past two years Emerald's artist has been outshined by DW agency.

Years ago you took the industry by storm. If you can make a comeback i'm sure Emerald will once again be at the top.

Ian it has been years, plus they are lots of new talents now. I haven't been practicing and i don't even look like who i once was. Not to mention that i owe the agency. My comeback if there even happen to be one is not set in stone to be a success. I have no money, no home, no nothing. How do you expect me to be who i used to be back then.

Tove i will write off your debt if you come back. If you agree to start again you will have a house and a manager. Your training ,feeding, transportation, meetings and functions will be handled by the manager.

Wait, so you mean all i need do is agree to come back to the company and my debt will be cleared?

Yes.

But why? it makes no sense.

Like i said Tove, DW has been on the top for a while now. I am a business man afterall, i have a reputation to uphold and a company to run. I need Emerald back at the top.

But Ian having me back won't guarantee all this.

You are right, but that is a risk i am willing to take. What's life without risk after all?

If it were to be someone else i would have thought it to be a prank but this is Ian Archer. I have nothing to offer him and i think he has more important things to do than to toy with me.

DW is the agency Dylan founded with the money i gave him. Three years ago his family seeing the progress he has made for himself, accepted him fully despite him being the son of a mistress. The Woods though not as powerful as the Archers are also people to be feared and with their support Dylan's agency took a 360 degree turn. Now it has solidified itself in the industry.

If i can get back what i threw away and at the same time get my revenge on Dylan with my debts cleared what more do i want? How many people get to have a golden opportunity twice in one lifetime?

I've been used and dumped.

I've been hurt and betrayed.

I've been living like a puppet for years now, with Dylan being the puppet master.

It is time to get my affairs in order.

Ian i'm in.