Chapter 2 :

Ashley's POV:

Refraining from the strong urge to swallow again under his hard, predatory gaze, I opened my mouth and tried to form words once again, "I...I am Ashley."

One of his thick eyebrows arched upward, "Ashley who?"

What little bit of sense I still had control over told me not to reveal my identity to this strange man. I didn't go through all this hustle just to be dragged right back to the Father in case he came out to be his acquaintance. But I also had no clue how to answer his question in any other way so I decided to take the easy way out and clamped my mouth shut. He was still waiting for a response and his expression hinted to me that he was definitely not so good with patience.

Ignoring him, I looked down at my phone to check out how far the Uber was. Just as I opened the app, big, meaty fingers wrapped around my mobile, and with one swift movement, the phone was snatched out of my hands. My head jerked up with a mixture of shock and confusion.

A pair of icy cold blue eyes were fixed on me and the owner of them was clutching my phone in a tight grip. His jaw was set tight as he seethed, "Answer me when I am asking something. You don't go around doing your own fucking stuff all the while ignoring me." An eyebrow shot up and a devilish smirk formed at the corner of his mouth as he said with amusement, "Alright, princess?"

I rolled my eyes at his attitude and sighed irritably, "Look, I don't know who you are and you don't know me either. Just...I'll just leave in a while. Give me my phone back and..." I eyed the girl sitting silently on the passenger seat, "...and just continue your business."

With features blank of any expression, he stared right into my eyes, "What the hell your deal is? Who do you think you are to barge into my car and interrupt my business and then show me this attitude of yours?"

A chuckle left my mouth and words poured out before I could stop myself, "Business? Yeah, I did witness what important business you were busy in."

His response? That devil disguised as a strange man leisurely trailed his hard and narrowed gaze down my body and back up to my eyes before replying, "My back seat is spacious enough to practically show you the importance of business I was busy in."

My mouth dropped open at his snarky remark. The very next moment, he turned to the front. Deep in thought, he let me know, "But I would rather not. You have already spoiled my mood." Dropping my phone on the seat beside me, he ended the conversation by saying, "Now take your phone and get the hell out of my car."

Opening the app, I saw that Uber was still 5 minutes away. I did not want to go out and wait in the open for the Uber to arrive. This car was a great refuge for someone like me. I wanted to laugh at my ironic situation. I was dying to get refuge under the devil's wings, wow. Great.

I gripped the phone and pleaded to him with everything I had in me, "Please. Please, just let me stay here for a few more minutes. Please."

My urgent pleas did nothing to his merciless heart. Still looking straight ahead, he shook his head twice and said dismissively, "Get out right at this moment."

My eyes stuck to the screen as I shook my head to myself. No, I couldn't really go out there in the open. Father's men would recognize me in a beat and would take me back to that hell. I was too anxiously deep in thought that I had no idea when the back door opened, a large hand enveloped my arm and pulled me out of the car. I tried to fight him off but my strength was nill in front of his.

Despite my fruitless efforts, it didn't take him long to drag me out. I eyed the car with desperation and counted every damn second in my head. The man, no, more like a demon, once again attacked me with that hard, and piercing gaze as he seethed through gritted teeth, "I don't like to repeat myself twice."

Right at that moment, the phone pinged in my hand and a notification popped up on the screen that the Uber driver has finally arrived. My insides filled with sudden relief and I tossed the mobile into my bag. The demon standing in front of me was witnessing all that. I could sense that he was getting agitated after realizing that his demonic traits and cruel words didn't have any fatal effect on me. But I didn't give a damn about him as I passed around him and started jogging towards the Uber.

Without even glancing back, I could feel his intense gaze penetrating through my back and that sent chills down my spine.

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Spotting the car, I quickly settled inside and gestured to the driver to take me to the Meriton Hotel. As he revved the engine, I took out the glasses and cap from the bag and put them on.

I settled on the seat and rolled down the window. Poking my head out, I filled my lungs with fresh air and relished the taste of freedom. But it didn't take me long to find out that if something seemed too good to be true then it must be fake or an illusion of the mind.

Just a few minutes later, I heard a loud series of honking behind our car. Jerking around in my seat, I gasped at the scene unfolding right in front of my eyes.

BUSTED.

Half of the dozens of cars were racing up behind us. The men in the black suit were clearly visible to me. My mind turned blank and my body chilled. Father had already sent his army to capture me.

I heaved out a loud breath. Annoyed as well as angry with myself. How the hell could I underestimate my parents after knowing them so well? Right now, the most precious thing they owned was me. Even more than their empire, because according to them all will be doomed without an heir. And unfortunately, I was the said heir.

Turning forward, I noticed that the driver's eyes were taking me in through the mirror. My mind was totally blank and all I could think to do was plead to the driver. He shook his head and muttered, "You were oozing the word Trouble ever since I saw you." But thankfully, he did hear my begs and responded by pressing on the gas.

My heart was thumping loudly in my ribcage as the car raced faster and faster. After a few seconds, I turned in my seat and immediately noticed how now instead of six cars, only four were trailing us. My anxiety peaked.

The driver seemed to understand my unspoken question, "They must have dispatched two of the cars to get us from up front." He sighed loudly, "Have you done something illegal? Why are they trying to catch you?"

I answered frustratedly, "I don't think running away from home at the age of 23 is something considered illegal."

He tilted his head to one side, and then asked the question I was dreading, "But...who are you?"

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