The Couple novel Chapter 40

Celia

Mom and dad left yesterday after spending their complete day with me. I took a leave and Harris also agreed since I assured him that I will stay at my apartment for the whole day with them and he can hear and watch everything using his microphones and cameras installed in my apartment. I know how I spent this time under the surveillance, it felt like a torture to me.

After returning from Dante’s house the other day, I was so scared that my first instinct was to call Linda and John. As expected I couldn’t connect to either of them. I tried calling them again and again. Finally I tried Carl and he picked after a missed call. He was sleeping after a tiring day at his office.

“Carl, did you talk to Linda or John in the previous two days?” I asked him, trying my best to hide my panic and fear of losing friends.

“No, I haven’t. Why? Is everything okay?” He asked me in his sleepy voice.

“I don’t know, I have been trying to talk to them but I couldn’t connect to either of them. It has been two days since I haven’t talked to them.” I almost cried thinking about the last time we talked.

“They both must have forgotten to charge their phones. Don’t worry, go to sleep.”

“Carl, I don’t remember either of them doing this. They have never been so careless. Can you please go and check for them.”

“Celia, they must have slept. Leave the two love birds alone.” He yawned and hung up on me. I couldn’t think of a way to check for them. I can’t leave them in danger like this. I can’t drive to them, it will be too late to protect them. I dialled again to Carl and pleaded in front of him to check on them for once. I wanted to convince him to take the police along with him but that would raise suspicions when they would be found kidnapped in their own house.

It was almost midnight by the time he called me to tell me everything about how their door was unlocked when he reached there. John was crying for help and Linda was fainted due to weakness and the torture. They both were admitted to hospital in an emergency and John gave his statement to police how two people barged in their apartment Saturday and took them hostage. They were given food only twice a day and that too only one person’s diet. John told them tonight they got a call and ran off without sparing any minute and soon Carl arrived after to help them. Carl also submitted his statement while I talked to the police officer over a phone call. I told them I was just trying to talk to Linda and John which I do once every week and since I could connect to them which was unusual for them I tried calling Carl. They asked me why I practically forced Carl to check for Linda and John, so I just told them I don’t know why I did that but I think it was my subconsciousness that I should check for them once.

It has been two days today, after that incident. Police are trying to get their hands on those hired assassins but they can’t get any clue to identify them since they all were wearing black masks. Harris would glare at me each time we saw each other. Linda is getting better while she and John are still traumatised. John is trying his best to stay strong for Linda. I feel bad for them, they suffered a lot because of me.

But now Jeanne knows that something is off and she has her own doubts of Harris involving Linda and John holding hostage at their place and threatening me with their lives. But due to the lack of evidence, she can’t say much. I don’t know if she had told anyone about her suspicions. And Harris is too careful now and hasn’t threatened me yet again.

Today is friday, I have a plan with my colleagues to go out tonight for some fun. Jessica and a few are urging me to invite Harris too. I don’t know if he will even agree but I have to ask him since I am still his fake girlfriend for them.

I went to his cabin during lunch and he glared at me before going back to his work. I don’t want anyone to listen to our encounter. I don’t know how he will act or if he will threaten me with another thing now.

“Jessica and others are planning to go to a club tonight.” He looked up at me with a confused look as if I asked him a mathematics question from high school. I don’t even want to know if he will know the answer to it or not if I ask him such a question for real. I am just here to ask him to accompany me to the club and if he refuses, I won’t even ask him twice.

“So, you want to make arrangements for you? Do let me remind you I am not your real boyfriend who might make your life easier for you.”

“They wanted me to ask you if you would like to join us as they think you’re dating me, they sent me in.” I looked at him for a few seconds and when he didn’t reply anything, I assumed he would reject the offer. So,I started living before he mocks me and humiliates me.

“I will take your leave.” I stopped tapping my foot in anxiety and started to leave the office when he spoke.

“Stop.”I turned around to look at him. He got up from his chair buttoning up his jacket and standing straight in front of his table looking towards me.

“So, you want me to accompany you to the club?” I shook my head in a negative way to tell him that I don’t want his presence tonight at the club while I will be enjoying it with my new friends. “Everyone thinks we’re dating and it is bad to turn down one’s invitation. Isn’t it?” I don’t know what is going on in his bastard mind.

“No, it isn’t. You can deny it if you don’t want to.” I told him with a fake smile plastered on my face. I made sure he knows that I am better without him there.

“Tell your friends, I will be there. What time is it? I will pick you up.”

“Will text you.” I left the office sneering without looking back but I am sure he must be laughing right now as he got his another chance to mock me, humiliate me, torture me. He knows his mere presence can bring the hell out of me, so he will do his best to annoy me and make me run out of patience. Since that day he has done nothing but make do mistake so he can do something to torture me or should I say my loved ones. I promised to Linda and John in my heart that I will take their revenge.

After 6, we all left early for our homes only to meet again soon in half and three hour near the club we decided on. I got home and took a quick shower to get rid of the sweat that I got all day just thinking of tonight. The moment he accepted the offer, I was bathing in my sweat because of anxiety. I decided to wear a silver cowl neckline dress with fake diamonds studded on the straps. I wore 4 inches of silver heels to match my dress. I did my makeup just perfect for the club night and to lure Chris because he might not be at the club but we will definitely meet tonight at some point.

Harris picked me up, he wore a simple white button down shirt, sleeves rolled up and blue faded jeans to have a casual look. He drove us to the club where we met my new friends. Everyone had their mouths wide open as they saw me coming out of Harris’ car. I think they all really considered the talks just rumors till now. I don’t know what attracted the girls to him, I guess I never noticed him that way but he was pretty handsome.

I know why I never saw him before. First, I had Christian Dante who is much more handsome and sexy than him and second, I was never into bearded guys, it was always a turn off for me. I think I would not have noticed him even now if it wasn’t Jessica and other guys literally drooling over him and giving me angry glares. Harris put his hand on my back which stiffened under his touch and pushed me forward. I just shrugged in front of the girls and moved forward. I know there was one more pair of eyes staring at me and him with anger which belongs to Tyler. No, he was not jealous of me for having Harris but angry for betraying his leader.

We all got inside and headed to the bar. It is too loud and there are already many grooving on the dance floor but no one is drunk yet. Everyone is in the mood of having fun all night but here I am all nervous and alert. They ordered vodka shots while I went for the orange juice. Jessica gave me a questioning look and I gave a sorry smile. I am not taking any risk of getting my drink spiked again by Harris or anyone else and today I will not accept any drink from anyone.

I was standing on one side of the bar while everyone was trying to get themselves drunk. Harris got behind me and holded my waist, I tried to push him away and got successful too but he bent down and whispered near my ear, his breath falling on neck was irritating the hell out of me.

“Don’t resist me darling or who knows what will happen when your new friends will know about your boyfriend’s reality or the old ones will get the truth that it was you who is responsible for their kidnapping.”

I controlled my fast breathing when he again came behind me and pulled me into his chest. He even gave me his drink to drink, I refused but he took one more sip and glared at me reminding me of his threat. I took it and swallowed it at once. It was scotch, I had it before but this time it tasted too bitter.

He ordered two more and gave one to me to swallow. Until now, I didn’t know I needed it so hard. I saw my few friends moving towards the dance floor while others headed towards the table to sit which was already booked for us. I really don’t know why a few just come to sit in the club and look at the dance floors. All they do is complain about how the music is too loud or mock others who are dancing funny but enjoying it. Tyler is one of those who is sitting at the table right now.