11
2182 Words
Chapter 11
In Gabriel's office, Gabriel listened intently as Hilda, her eyes red from crying, recounted the harrowing truth of what had happened to her.
It turned out that a group of syndicates had kidnapped her, and now their boss was calling her in for a discussion.
Gabriel rubbed his forehead in frustration and asked Hilda how she had managed to escape. When the group he had summoned to help her arrived, they found her already outside, while the five kidnappers who had taken her lay dead.
Hilda revealed that she had been rescued by Art. Gabriel raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Had the driver he hired killed the five professional gunmen who had taken Hilda?
He wanted to ask how old the driver was when the speaker in the office buzzed, calling both Hilda and Gabriel to the main building.
“Mr. Nicastro! Just give me a month. I can complete my mission,” Hilda pleaded, crossing her fingers. She assured Gabriel that she would find a way to enter the mansion of Arthur's son. She planned to leave her shop and apply as a maid in Aron Nicastro's mansion.
“And how do you intend to do that?” Arthur asked, arms crossed and glaring at Hilda.
This was the second time Arthur had saved her after she had been kidnapped by a syndicate in another city. She hadn’t even fulfilled the conditions he had given her, and now she had another debt of gratitude to him.
“How about marrying me and becoming his stepmother?” Hilda suggested, raising her eyebrows playfully. A smile danced on her lips, as if she found her own suggestion amusing. But then she quickly retracted, pouting as she realized Arthur was staring at her with an expression that made her feel small and insignificant. She was afraid he might swat her away like a mosquito.
“Fine, I’ll give you one chance, Miss Alegre, and I’ll help you this time.”
Arthur explained that there would be a party at La Sosenta Hotel next month, attended by all the prominent figures, and he was sure his son would be there to make a deal with someone.
Arthur stood up from his swivel chair, and Hilda instinctively took a step back as he approached her and held her chin.
His lifeless gaze bore into hers as she looked up, refusing to break eye contact.
“I’ll give you an invitation to that party. Make yourself presentable and seduce him, because if you fail again... I’ll make sure this is the last time we see each other,” Arthur threatened, leaning closer, his voice low and menacing. “Remember, from now on, your life is in my hands, and I can take it anytime.”
Hilda pressed her lips together, her brows furrowing in fear, but she was determined not to show it.
Hilda was utterly frustrated with her life. It seemed that everyone wanted to use her and take her life from her.
She was annoyed because she lived only once, yet many wanted to take that life away from her. They were not gods to decide her fate, especially since they had not given her life to begin with. She felt weak and powerless to protect herself.
With no other options, she had to gamble for her survival, as she now faced two choices: return to her father and marry the bald Italian or accept Arthur Nicastro’s conditions and agree to watch over his son.
She had endured the abuse from her stepmother and sister, the abandonment from her father, and the loneliness in her life. It frustrated her to see so many people living peacefully and happily while she struggled. Why was her life so difficult? Why did it feel like she had to play tag with death every day just to gain the freedom she desired?
Was living truly this hard?
When she returned to her room, Gabriel asked if she was okay.
Hilda flopped onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.
“Before I die, I hope I can taste ice cream, pancakes, cake, and lots of candy. I also want iced coffee.”
Gabriel replied that she could buy those things anytime, even if it wasn’t her day to die. Hilda turned to him, squinting her eyes, and asked if he was serious.
Gabriel just laughed and said he was joking. He bid her farewell, telling her to get some rest.
As he opened the door to leave, he turned back to Hilda.
“By the way, padrino said you should quit your job. There’s no reason for you to go back and cause trouble.”
Gabriel opened the door and left the room. Hilda remained silent, still leaning against her pillow.
“Maybe she’ll be okay. I hope she doesn’t return to the shop. It’s a shame I didn’t ask her name. I thought I had a new friend.”
---
The abandoned building was filled with screams, and numerous bodies lay scattered around.
“Where’s the woman you took a few hours ago?”
A man grabbed the collar of the group's boss, who was currently bathing in his own blood.
He couldn’t speak due to the swelling on his face and the injuries he had sustained.
“Boss, we didn’t see any woman around, but we found five bodies, and three of them were exactly the people we were looking for.”
The man paused and turned. He released the boss and shot him in the head without a second thought.
“Take me to them,” he ordered.
The man followed his subordinate and led them to the back of the abandoned building. The sight of the three bodies was familiar to him.
“How long have they been dead?”
One of the men replied that they had been dead for about four hours. The man clenched his fist in frustration.
Someone had beaten them to it, and they hadn’t saved the woman.
“I hope she’s safe.”
He examined the bodies, convinced that the killer was no ordinary person. The scene was too clean, almost as if he could see the vital organs of his targets.
“Let’s go.”
The man spoke coldly and turned away. They walked out of the building.
Now, he hoped to see that woman again so he could thank her.
---
I woke up in the morning. Upon waking, I was greeted by a table full of food. I stopped in my tracks when I saw the plethora of candies, along with pizza that I had only seen on TV before.
I rubbed my eyes, realizing that the food was indeed real, so I quickly got out of bed and approached the table.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. I put your iced coffee and ice cream in the mini fridge. Get ready after you eat because the boss has new orders for you as part of your mission.”
I heard this from the speaker. I wasn’t sure if Gabriel could hear me, but I shouted a thank you and faced the CCTV, making a heart shape with my fingers.
I heard him laugh on the other end before he turned off the speaker.
Excited, I opened the pizza box and took a slice. There were three boxes, so I walked to the door and opened it.
I saw my guards outside my room. They looked at me curiously.
I held out the pizza and gestured for them to eat as well. One of them raised an eyebrow at me, clearly skeptical.
To prove my point, I took a bite in front of them. I offered them the box, and one of them sighed heavily before taking it.
I smiled sweetly and returned to my room, satisfied after devouring the pizza.
After finishing the pizza and ice cream, Gabriel arrived. He entered my room and handed me a pair of pants and a t-shirt.
“I’ll teach you self-defense.”
I froze and stood up. I told him I didn’t want to learn how to handle a gun or anything like that. I couldn’t bear the thought of killing someone.
Gabriel laughed, saying that wasn’t what he intended to teach me. I breathed a sigh of relief.
So, what happened next? I took a shower and got dressed. I tied up my long hair and stepped outside.
Gabriel looked at me and asked if I was ready. I nodded eagerly.
---
My jaw dropped when Gabriel ordered me to run and circle the gym.
“What! What does this have to do with self-defense?”
Gabriel explained that it would develop my stamina.
“Now, run.”
I took off running, and guess what? I barely made it five minutes before my knees started shaking, and I was drenched in sweat.
“I saw some donuts outside earlier. They looked like a delicious snack. I ordered some.”
I stopped and turned to look at him. Donuts? Gabriel smiled sweetly at me.
“I only share with those who work hard and run fast.”
I stomped my feet and complained to Gabriel, calling him stingy. He just laughed, and for the donuts— I ran as if my knees were trembling, dragging myself until I completed four laps.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath, pounding the ground in frustration and giving Gabriel a glare, who seemed to be enjoying watching me while eating—
“Donuts!”
I jumped up when I realized I had reached my limit and suddenly felt my knees give way.
I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing to kiss the floor when an arm wrapped around my waist.
I opened my eyes and turned to see Gabriel, poker-faced, telling me that I was too weak.
“Please, I need a donut. I’m starving. My knees are shaking.”
He called me a glutton before handing me a box. Giddy with excitement, I sat on the floor and opened it like a child.
My mouth watered at the sight of the colorful donuts inside the box.
“I want to inform you that during our training, you also need to lose weight, so the more you eat, the longer you’ll be running.”
At those words, I couldn’t swallow the donut in my mouth and dropped the one I was holding. Was he serious?
My eyes widened as I stared at Gabriel, who was grinning at me.
“Isn’t this your fifth donut? That’s a lot of calories and fat.”
Several days passed since I started my training with Gabriel. I hadn’t seen Art since the incident, and I suddenly missed the Italian foods he used to bring me, especially the rice balls.
Gabriel told me I could rest that day and leave the building, so I headed straight to the parking lot to look for Art’s car.
I was puzzled because all I saw were black vehicles. I couldn’t find any white ones.
“Did Art leave?”
I should have asked Gabriel if he had any contact with Art. I wanted to go to the market.
“Never mind. I’ll just walk.”
I walked out of the gate, and once I was on the road, I headed towards the tunnel.
“Ahh!!”
I jumped when someone honked behind me, causing me to turn around. I saw the familiar car.
I jumped up and shouted, “Art!” The car approached, and Art rolled down the window.
“Where the f*ck are you going?”
Sometimes, his mouth could be quite foul. I pointed towards the tunnel.
“I want to drive around the city. It’s my day off. Come with me.”
Art’s expression turned poker-faced, and he seemed to be dressed up. I thought he would refuse me since he looked sharp.
“Hop in.”
I jumped for joy, grateful, and thanked him. I quickly turned around and got into the passenger seat.
“I couldn’t see your car in the parking lot. I thought you left,” I said after fastening my seatbelt.
He asked why he was looking for me. I turned to him.
“I just wanted to hang out. Besides Gabriel, you’re the only one I know, and you’re my driver.”
I noticed his jaw move as if he wanted to say something. I laughed and said it was just a joke.
“Come with me! I’ll treat you! Gabriel gave me a budget. It looks like it’s a lot,” I said, showing him the envelope Gabriel had given me. As usual, Art remained silent. He always did. I was the one who talked too much— but that was okay; he always seemed to listen to whatever I had to say.
“How’s your training?” Art asked. I froze and looked at him. How did he know I was training? Gabriel had said that only the two of us should know about my training. Gabriel had told Art?
- Writer
