I thought running into Ethan on that raining day had all been a big coincidence. Romantically speaking, I thought that it was fate that brought us together on that rainy day. However, what if it wasn’t coincidence or fate at all. If Ethan had been looking for me, then perhaps he was just there waiting for me on my first day at university. Is that what really happened?


    Then there’s the issue of Amelia. I don’t even want to start thinking about that. I sighed loudly once again and rubbed my temples. My head felt like it was about to burst into mes. It was clear that Ethan knew Amelia as well and he wanted Hayden to tell me about Amelia. Why?


    I already knew that Hayden is in love with her. What more is there to know? It’s been rubbed in my face more than enough times before.


    I wasn’t sure how long I wallowed in my own thoughts like this but the sound of a man’s voice telling Hayden that the helicopter had arrived snapped me out of my thoughts. It seems like we really are heading back right now. Surprisingly, I felt quite relieved to get off this ship even if that meant being taken far away from Ethan once again.


    The sofa shifted when Hayden stood up. He gestured for me to follow him, and I did exactly that. Luka briefly discussed the logistic details with Hayden and from catching some parts of their conversation, I figured out that it would only be Hayden and I along with some men, who will act as our escorts, that will be returning. Luka and most of the other men will stay until the end of the g.


    "…the negotiations with Silva…" Luka said solemnly reminding both Hayden and me that no such negotiations took ce with Ethan, the head of Silva.


    "There will be no such negotiations…" Hayden replied, his face and tone dark.


    Luka could probably sense Hayden’s dark and very intimidating mood as well because he didn’t ask for any more details. I wondered what is going to happen between the two gangs now that Hayden had failed to negotiate with Silva.


    More urately, he never got a chance to get to making any negotiations and now it was clear that any intentions he had for a peaceful negotiation had all but vanished into thin air.


    A chill ran down my spine when I thought of the various alternatives that the senior men of the Torex gang shouted out during the meeting. Every solution had one thing inmon: Violence.


    I was so wrapped up in my worries that I was just following Hayden blindly. The next thing I knew we were outside, and the night wind was howling like mad around us. I looked up at the night sky and I could see the stars and a very big moon; however, none of it looked anywhere near beautiful. We were up on the helicopter pad of the ship and our ride was more than ready to go.


    With a helping hand from Hayden, I got into the helicopter. The loud sound of the helicopter strangely helped to calm me down. The ride back to shore was silent while everyone seemed to keep to their own thoughts without words. I certainly did the same.


    Looking out from the helicopter’s window, I could see the ship getting smaller as we rose up into the sky. The g turned out to be quite a failure for us, I guessed. It brought more troubles and we had nothing to gain from it at all. I closed my eyes and sighed loudly while I wondered if the old man Torex knew that something along these lines would happen. Did he know?


    Is this why he put me on the ship with Hayden?


    …


    I don’t know why I found it surprising since I should get used to these things by now. Nothing should surprise me anymore but the fact that there’s a helipad on top of our penthouse building sort of did surprise me. Not that I wanted toin. It was very convenient tond on top of our building’s rooftop and take the elevator down to our penthouse. Talk about the ’small’ luxuries in life…


    Hayden had not spoken a word to me, and I was getting a sense of déjà vu. Not too long ago something like this happened before and I remembered well where I ended up because of it. He’s angry and I couldn’t even begin to count the reasons why that was so. It’s not my fault but for some reason, I felt like it sort of was. I kept my mouth shut all the way as I walked behind him back to the penthouse.


    Who knows my life might be ending in less than two minutes…?


    I’m not seeing key moments of my life sh before my eyes though. I guessed what they say about seeing your life sh before your eyes before you’re about to die might not be true after all because I was quite sure that I was about to die…


    I watched Hayden’s broad back and his light blond hair as he walked in front of me. The men had already left us; conveniently leaving the two of us alone together.


    Hayden opened the door to the penthouse and stood to the side to let me in first. If it wasn’t Hayden who held the door open for me, I would have beenpelled to believe that this was a simple act of courtesy; however, this was Hayden that we’re talking about. Basically, the prey walks in first so that he could close and lock the door to trap me in with him. Lamb to the ughter.


    Unfortunately, I was themb.


    After taking three steps into the penthouse, I heard the door locking behind me and felt Hayden’s presence close behind me. He’s so close, I can literally feel him breathing down the side of my neck. I closed my eyes and fully expected to see some highlight from my childhood y behind my closed eyelids. That didn’t happen though.


    Hayden ced hisrge hand on my shoulder softly and I flinched. The heat of his hand seeped in through the thin fabric of my dress and directly into my skin.


    "Do you want to talk first or do you want me to fuck you first?" Hayden whispered close to my ear.


    --To be continued…