Chapter 4 .

"Open the box" he motioned for the box in front of me. I am hesitating should I take it? What if this is some kind of prank, and there is a hand in it? Nah, who am I kidding?

"Go on" I took the box, slowly opening it. What I see surprises me.

"Phone?" I ask just in case I am dreaming. He nods. I turn around to go back to my room

"Hold on" Hearing his voice makes me stop, but I did not turn to look

"You can only use it here when I'm present." That made me turn

"What? why? You already gave it to me, I can use it however, whenever I want to" giving him my best glare.

"That is not present! You said you wanted to call your brother. I am letting you use this. Now is your time. Also, turn on the speaker" I grip the phone so hard it felt like it is going to break.

"That's invading someone else's privacy"

"It would not be called invading if you were the one who turn on the speaker"

"Because you made me!" I screamed

"That is part of the deal, take it or leave it" Do I have a choice, of course, I don't, so I force myself to nod. I dialed my brother's number to make sure; it was on speaker.

Because arguing with this man will not have the best ending, I must agree to his conditions as I have a condition for him, and I won't be accepting a no from him.

"Just want to clarify, this isn't timed right?"

"No" Oh that is good because it is taking years for my brother to answer his phone.

"...."

"...." It is getting awkward here, why won't he answer the damn phone

"Hello?" I missed his voice, I almost cried just by hearing my brother's voice

"Hello? Who's on the line?" it took me another second to compose myself, I don't want him to worry about me, but he has to know what happened. Ian must have stopped the news from spreading, because I doubt this won't cause an uproar in society, knowing everybody knew my father.

"Mike?" I cannot stop my tears from falling the moment I open my mouth to speak.

"Elle? Gabrielle?" he sounded too relieved and mad at the same time, which made me smile

"Mike, I missed you!"

"God! Gabrielle, I have been trying to call you and Dad for the last weeks, but none of you are answering my call" I can't hold it anymore, I cried so hard. And I know he is hearing this.

"Hey, what's wrong?" from his voice I know he is worried.

"Nothing. I'm all right, I just missed you, um... when are you going home?" changing the topic while trying to stop my tears.

"I don't have a specific date, but as soon as they accept the proposal, then I'm going home. By the way, whose number is this?" I don't know what to say, should I tell him the truth knowing the killer is just by my side, should I lie? I don't know, I can feel Ian's eyes on me. I did what I have to do, I took a deep breath then...

"I borrowed from a friend, call me when you're ready to go home?"

"Yes, I will, how is Dad?" that shook me, this time I'm frozen, I don't know what to say

"Hello? Elle? Everything all right?" my mind is running a mile, what should I say

"Umm" I look at Ian, and I know I should not ask for help from this monster but my body is betraying me, my eyes begging him to say something. What he did is he took the phone from me and motioned for me to sit. And I did. I don't know what is wrong with me, why I follow him. Lately, this is all that's been happening to me I follow him unconsciously, and every single time I always, always say I don't know.

"It's me Mike" that is all I heard because he already turns off the speaker and walk to the balcony, where I couldn't hear any of their conversations. I was so absorbed with what I'm thinking I didn't hear him come back and then put the phone back in the box. I'm just looking at him, trailing my eyes where he goes, and not saying anything.

"What is it?" he must have felt that I was looking at him, he took a glass and puts liquor in it, handing me one, but I shake my head because I don't feel like drinking.

"Huh?" I was confused, he asked me to come here, what is he asking? Then I remembered

"Derek told me you went here, to talk, you ended up in the garden, so what is it?" looking at me straight in the eye, like I'm going to do something stupid,

"I have a proposition" He took a sip, then looks at me, gave me a sign to continue

"I want to go back to school. Summer vacation is almost over. I've already missed a lot." I told him without batting an eye.

"Last few weeks are not important, you already finished what you have to do." Wait how did he know that?

"That homework and task that you have done, I asked my assistant to pass them on your behalf. So, you did not miss anything." I'm now looking at him dumfounded

"How?" That is all I could muster

"Are you stalking me?" I asked incredulously, and he looks at me like I had grown two heads

"What? No! Anyway, you can continue your studies, I'll give you your schedule as soon as I got my hands on them. After our talk,

I went back to my room and lay on my bed. It's not so bad after all, I really thought he wouldn't hear what I'm going to say surprisingly he actually listened and even agree with me.

"Now that I thought about it, there must be a catch. A businessman like him won't easily agree on something I should have asked him" But then I am too tired to get up, I will just ask him tomorrow.

It has been hours and I still cannot sleep, which brought me back to what happened earlier back in the garden.

~Flashback~

"I've already been here" I look like I am lost. A while ago, before making it to the center, I remember the grass walls are full of flowers, now all I see are some torn and dried flowers on the ground, I have been walking in a circle. I took another step, but I heard something from the other side that gives me a creep scaring myself will not do me any good so I ignored it and continue finding my way back. Still, no use I am back to square one the only good thing is that I never again heard the sound earlier.

"Must be a cat" I thought as I sat down, seriously all this walking around is tiring. So, I decided to take a rest and close my eyes. As I am enjoying the sun's rays, I felt a shade and it is blocking my sun. I opened my eyes only to see him looking at me.

"SHIT!" I screamed at his face. I mean who would not one wrong move and he'll be my first kiss, to hell! I won't let that happen.

"What are you doing here?" he asks with his unemotional face

"Well, I am looking for you" I answered as I try to get up while doing that he extends his hand to me, telling me to take it, I hesitate for a moment but I accepted it.

"You should have asked Derek"

"..." Yeah, why did I not ask Derek, I will not be here in the first place. On second thought I am glad I did not ask as I was able to see what is in the middle of this garden.

"Let's go back" That is when I realize that he is still holding my hand, I tried to take it back but he tightens his grip. We got back to the mansion still holding my hand, then there was Derek walking towards us. Again, I tried taking my hand but he still will not let go.

"Let go" I whispered, but he acts like he did not hear me and just continue walking in. We ended up in the living room, as soon as he was done talking to Derek, with my hand still on his hand, he pulls me towards him

"Hey!" I am shocked, why is he hugging me? I tried to break free but he will not bulge

"Don't do that again, good thing one of the maids saw you going in the garden" then tightened his hug

"Too tight" He loosen his hold but did not release me.

~End of Flashback~

What is wrong with him? Acting like that suddenly.