Chapter 2 YOU ARE NOT LEAVING

She grabbed everything she needed to make dinner. "You make your own dinner, I'll make mine," she stated. "How was your day at work," he asked instead. "It was alright."

"Aren't you going to ask me about my day?" He looked at her in the eyes, getting close to her. Her heart started beating fast.

She tried to keep calm and continue but her self-conscious was too low. She couldn't keep up being around his presence. She could only smell his clone.

"You know what, tell me once you're done. I'll go take a shower." Danny smiles at her as if he already knew the future.

Returning from the shower. Danny was already done cooking. She was feeling too tired to cook. Looking at Danny, he had placed two plates. Her stomach started grumbling, the aroma made her mouth wet. "Aren't you going to eat?" Danny said looking at her but she only gave him a sight. "Or should I feed you. You don't want me to be angry don't you?"

Her legs pulled her towards the dining. She cursed within herself. Not understanding why she was unable to become her normal self. She looked at Danny while taking a sit. Holding the fork, her mind drifted of.

'Why does he want me to eat his food so badly. Did he perhaps put poison in it. No no, he wouldn't do that. But he could have put drugs to make me do stuff.'

"No, I didn't put any poison or drugs inside. I wouldn't do such a thing to my beautiful sweet lady," he gave of an evil smile with desirable eyes. Immediately, she ate the food to prove him wrong. "I'll go take a shower, you eat up."

"This is really good," she said eating more. He actually cooked real good. But again, she wondered what could be this man's intentions exactly. He didn't even throw her out of the house. Nor did he do anything bad to her. A small laugh came from her. This all felt like madness. Shaking her head in disbelief, she stood up and cleared the place and the kitchen when she bumped into him.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there," she apologised and took a few steps back. He was half naked. Only his bottom was covered. Lauren stared at him intensively. His body was made with perfection. His muscles alluring. The wasn't a single sketch on his body.

A tingle ran at the back of her spine sending shivers to her whole body, imagining how it would feel to touch him.

She has never seen a man naked with a naked eye before.

"Do you perhaps want to see more?" He held his towel getting closer to her. The situation became awkward for Lauren, not knowing what to do. How to respond.

He played with a piece of her hair. "Tell me, why are you afraid. Haven't you been with a man before?" He whispered in her ear. Her heart went wild. Her mind became blank. Unable to process anything he was saying.

"You are really beautiful," he kissed her on the cheek. Making her go weak on the knees. She pulled herself together.

"You know what Danny, I'll get justice for my parents sweat. And once that is done, you will be out. I don't know why we are living in the same house, but that will be over soon," she walked away but stopped when he grabbed her arm.

He pulled her while tightening his feast on her arm. Staring at her for long while. Lauren expected him to shout at her, but no, instead. He was about to kiss her. She could feel his hot breath on her lips. Her heart accelerated. She closed her eyes. Expecting him to do something on her, but instead, he let go of her.

She stood there in the hallway for a while holding the arm where Danny had held her tight. It felt a bit saw. She flinched a little from the pain. Suddenly, Danny returned holding a small tube.

"Apply this, it will be in the morning."

'Really, not even a sorry for holding my arm like it was a man's arm,' she complained within herself. Taking the tube violently, she rushed to her room and took a snooze.

....

"Are you alright Lauren? You look distant,"

"Aaron is right Lauren, you haven't been yourself these days. Is everything alright?" Kayler and Aaron worried for Lauren.

"Everything is alright. Aaron, I think they're calling you."

"I'll be back." He left immediately.

"Now tell me. You know I worry about you."

"Kayler....., things have been so intense. I don't know what is going on anymore. I don't know my life. Kayler, there is a man in my house.... I don't know whether it is still my house or what...." Lauren explained everything that had been going on the past few days.

"Did you tell your parents, or the police about it?"

"No, not yet. There are just too many problems. I don't want them to worry. They'll just say that I must come home, and that's not I want. As for the police, I called them but they turned back apologising to this man. I could tell that they were terrified when they saw him."

"Lauren, this is a serious case, you need to open a case against him. If that's not what you want, then come live with me. I can't let you stay with a stranger. Who knows what he might do to you."

•••••

"I'll open the case first. I just hope that things become on my side again. My parents spent a lot for me, I can't just let all their effort go in vain. Thanks Kayler. I really needed that." She hugged her.

"And hey, remember, I've got you okay." She stated then left.

She felt a bit of relief when she told Kayler that. But she wondered how things would go since the police left that very day.

....

Lauren arrived went home in hopes that there will be no drama. She wanted to finish her work and go to sleep. But when she arrived, her parent's car was there. She panicked. Hoping that they've not seen Danny.

"Mother?" She called out to her. "Lauren dear," she greeted her with a hug.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming. I could've come earlier."

"Now that doesn't matter anymore. I'm already here. "

"Come in," she opened the door. Her hands were trembling and she kept on looking around the area.

She got her mother water as she sat down. "You don't look well mother, what's wrong? What's worrying you so much?"

"My dear, your father and I have been trying to find the man who sold us this property. But he is nowhere to find. Someone told us that he is a fraud. He steals property and sells it to people." She shook her head in disbelief.

"Are you telling me that all that money, gone for nothing. And I'm the one who is trespassing on someone's property," she said when she heard a car outside. Her mother picked out of the window to only see a beautiful sports car outside.

"Who is that?" She worried for her.

"That is Danny, probably the owner of the house since we don't own it."

"Lauren, how long have you been staying with this man?"

"Few days now mother." She explained making her mother angry.

"Look mother, I can take care of myself. And as for this, I'll be leaving tomorrow. But I'm not coming home. I have a friend, we're working at the same company and she has a spear room. Not only that, she doesn't live far from the workplace. As for Danny, he hasn't layed a single finger on me."

"Are you sure about it?" She asked for an assurance.

"Yes mom, I am sure. Now you have to go."

Her mother left and her smile faded. She felt her eyes wet a bit. She just sat there on the couch. She could tell that she wasn't alright. But she had to go. This wasn't her place. She felt a heavy lump thinking about all this.

Danny entered to see her sulking on the couch. He worried a bit. "Are you alright?" He asked but he only got a cold shoulder from her. "Lauren, why are you crying. Tell me." His tone was becoming harsh a bit.

"Don't worry Danny. I am alright. And I am not crying. My mother had just told me about the issue with the house. You can have your house back. I will be leaving tomorrow," she said. Feeling sad. This was the second time life didn't favour her. First it brought a stranger to his house. And just as she finds a way to get him out, she is told that the house isn't hers. She didn't know how to react. She never faced challenges in her life before, and now the challenges are after her.

Danny didn't reply but just left without saying a word. He looked angry. He didn't want her to leave. He needed to find a way to make her stay. Even if it is by force, he wasn't going to let her go. Taking his phone, he made some calls.

Going to his car, he still found Lauren sitting there sulking. "You are not leaving this house," he said while he stopped at his tracks. His voice harsh, cold, icey.

Taking the attention of her, she surprisingly looked at him. Her eyes questioning.

"What do mean by that. You can't tell me what to do."

"I am telling you now. You are not going anywhere," he said again while his gaze was fixed on the tiles.

"What the hell Danny. Shouldn't you be happy. You are having your property back...."

"I am not asking but telling you Lauren. If you dare leave the house, your loved ones will be the ones to face those consequences as your punishment."

"What do you want from me, huh Danny? What are your intentions exactly?" She shouted angrily.

"It's you!" He shouted hitting the wall with his feast in anger. "If you want to protect your loved ones, you'll do as I say. Do not leave this house." He left immediately without looking back.

"What the hell just happened, does he really think that I'll listen to him. I will do as I like. He doesn't own me. Nobody owns me." Her anger was relevant. She felt like leaving that very moment. But Danny's words rang in her mind when he told her about loved ones.

She remembered how angry he was just before he left. And the way he punched the wall like it was a punching back. She asked herself if he really meant what he said.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she thought that he was just trying to make her stay.

She walked towards the door and pulled the handle but it was locked. She tried again to pull it by force, but it didn't open.

"Come on, like really. What is your problem. Why don't you want to leave in peace. You don't own me." She complained and when to pick on the window.

They were now two cars outside. It looked like he was giving instructions to the other man that came with a different car. She banged on the window violently to get their attention and she did. Danny walked towards the door. But he looked more angry. And scary. She could feel his cold and harsh tone through her bones. She gulped her siliva. Told herself that she is strong.