His woman, his addiction

"Allie. Allie! "Mr Austin yelled repeatedly for the umpteenth time today.

They are at the shooting scene for their new magazine project. She was the one assigned to the project but she doesn't understand why he won't let her focus.

She sighed tiredly, already stressed at the rate at which she's been sent on errands the past few days. Her boss Mr Austin has been on her neck. But of course, she couldn't complain, if not, she would be laid off which is something she doesn't yearn for.

She has been working as a staff at the "Diamond" magazine for the past two years. She loves her job even though the Smiths aren't pleased with her type of job mainly because they have their firm "Royals" , a brand that is worth billions of dollars on its own.

Immediately after she was done with college, she was fortunate enough to find a job that she thinks suits her taste. Allie has a passion for taking pictures and videos of scenes. A shooter.

She was offered a job at a larger firm but she declined. She wants to be on her own, find a job, and be successful.

The Smiths tried their best to convince her that no one would bother her or look down on her since that was her fear, but she thought otherwise since most people in the company were aware she is like an adopted daughter.

Unknown to them, she wasn't legally adopted.

They suggested that she be at least a non-regular worker, but she still defied them before she decided to work at a non-popular company in a secluded area. The pay is ok at least to cover her bills.

She was grateful for their love and care for the past few years. She only promised to be that determined independent woman she had always wanted to be without anyone interfering in her life.

~~~

Her legs hurt due to the heels she was putting on.

"Yes. Boss, you summoned me" she answered, panting heavily.

"Don't you think you guys need to reschedule when the shooting for Carlos(a celebrity) should take place, I don't think the set goes with the trend you know... latest styles" he indicated.

"Well... you told me it was perfect earlier" she muttered, baffled by his sudden change of words.

"I just found out it isn't good enough," he claimed, shrugging his shoulders.

"What do you want us to do now? " she asked, screaming inwardly.

"We need to change it" he announced, daring her to complain.

"Oh my boss, you know how cocky the young star is. He won't oblige, and we might miss this opportunity" she reasoned frustrated already.

"What if we publish the magazine and his fans refuse to purchase it? " he argued, folding his arms now facing her like he is interested in whatever she had to say.

"But..but the scenario isn't even bad. I don't understand why you insist we change it" she grumbled.

" I insist you change it. What's wrong with that? "

"It's not necessary though" she pouted with puppy eyes hoping he would be convinced but he shunned her instead.

"So...what you are trying to imply is that I don't know my job, Allie. I noticed that these days you've been all over full of yourself!" he said, gritting his teeth together so that the other staff present wouldn't detect anything.

"No... No that's not what I mean" she clarified, already aware of where the discussion would lead. She has had enough of this man whom she silently has feelings for even though he hasn't been his usual self these days.

"Then what do you mean? make me understand then" he sneered, his eyebrows overlapping in confusion.

"I told you before that isn't what I mean boss"

"So it's true that you've been yourself behaving like you are in charge. I guess I caused this after all. I was the one that initiated our closeness. It is not your fault"

Allie could not hold it anymore as she flared at her boss's harsh outburst.

"You're the one who has been acting differently these days. You find fault in everything I do boss even though I tried to ask you if I had unintentionally offended you " she voiced out.

"Shut up, Allie! always endeavour to listen to those who are more experienced in this field. I know what is ok and what's not okay" he said audibly enough to other staff.

Allie furrowed her eyebrows and slightly bowed down, obviously embarrassed.

"I am so sorry" she apologized feeling remorseful.

"You know what? I am out of here" he walked out slamming the giant door of the building.

She skimmed her eyes around the room and most of them were giving her a farce expression. She ignored them, raised her chin, and moved towards them to announce the sudden change.

Not only that, but she walked into Carlo's dressing room to tell him also. His manager quibbles non-stop but he has no choice after all he had already signed the contract with them which makes it easier for her to convince him.

~~~~~~~~~~

7:25 pm

Allie was moving towards the space she parked her car ready to go home, but she still reminisces about what happened earlier.

She was surprised and embarrassed by his action, but still, she tried to cover up for him, thinking she was the one at fault.

"Maybe she was too rude, and perhaps she was cocky and arrogant," she thought sadly.

"But we do talk informally most of the time," she continued, raising her eyebrows even though she was the only one in the car.

She reminded herself that they had both gone to a housewarming, and she was the one he picked as his date. Why did he show interest in her in the first place? Now that she has figured out she is in love with him, boom! he started behaving weirdly.

Oh crap!

Her body system was in turmoil as she thought of answers that could solve the whole situation.

"Guess we were not more than boss and worker relationship" she huffed, flinging her heels to the back seat.

"Oh good lord just because he snapped at you doesn't mean he dislikes you, get your shit together" she encouraged herself grabbing a full portion of her hair hoping it would make her focus.

"I would apologize to him tomorrow." She concluded before igniting the car to zoom off to her condo.

~~~~~~~~

The next morning, she wakes up to the rays of sunlight reflecting through her room windows. She glanced at the wall clock, and it was 7:59 am. She sprang up panicking at the realisation that she was late.

"Oh God, I'm late!" She exclaimed, rushing to the bathroom, careful enough not to slip over the floor. The next few minutes, she was already dressed, her hair tied in a rough bun ready for work.

She zoomed off, hoping her cranky boss would look over her lateness and silently wishing there won't be traffic today.

Luck wasn't on her side as the road was already clogged up in heavy traffic.

She intentionally hit her forehead on the steering wheel, already fed up. She refused to pick up her ringing phone.

45 minutes passed before she was able to get through the traffic. Surprisingly, Mr Austin wasn't in the office. The junior retinues were throwing weird stares at her because of how she was sneaking into the staff room, but she was rather not bothered.

Relieved that she was able to scale through, ready to sit when she shuddered at the loud voice of someone.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Becky said.

"I am not ready for your unnecessary tantrums Becky. As you can see, I am busy" she replied, sincerely.

"Busy doing what? wait, don't tell me you don't know we were supposed to have a meeting today" Becky scoffed.

"Just so you know, every one of us were in the meeting room including the boss. We are done after all, but you were supposed to be his business confidante right?" she mocked.

"You were?" Allie panicked inwardly but refused to let it be observable.

"I guess I did not notice their absence when I came in. How can I be so stupid!? " she whispered.

"Allie!" they all exclaimed coming inside one after the other surprised that she was in the staff office.

"I called you close to 10 times this morning, is everything ok?" Layla, the only friend she was close with, said with concern laced in her voice.

She nodded before she scurried off to the meeting room, and truly, they had a meeting since a majority of them were back discussing in the staff room.

She dust-up her frock anxiously, then pressed the knob to the meeting room door to meet Mr Austin only to be welcomed with a word she dreads vastly.

Allie's POV

"You are fired Allie!! " he thundered.

"What!"

"You heard me!" he yelled.

"What!"I screamed again. I know this man wouldn't take it easy but isn't this going too far? Please I can explain, boss" I implored, walking towards him with wobbling legs and heart thudding with each step I took.

"I woke up late" I revealed truthfully.

" I didn't even fritter any time when I discovered I was late. Please, I wouldn't be late from today Henceforth" I blabbed but he seems to be more focused on his wristwatch.

"I understand that you have other options, but still, you can't just be slack in your work. I won't tolerate that" he smirked, satisfied like he loves that I am vulnerable.

"Has he always been like this? Is this his real attitude? and what did he mean by "I have other options" I pondered, with so many unanswered questions clouded in my brain.

"There is nothing you can say that can convince me. I made the decision already Allie, it was nice working with you" he concluded, swirling his chair to the other side.

I looked up at him and truly, he wasn't joking. He meant every word he said. I walked out dejectedly. My body system is becoming weak.

A few staggering steps after closing his office door, Sam approaches me panting heavily.

"Hey Allie, you were late today. Hope everything is alright? you look like someone who has seen a ghost" she pointed out.

"I am fine I just need some time alone" I responded trying to cover up myself.

"Oh sorry"

"Yeah"

After parking all my personal property into a fancy carton. I rearranged the company's properties neatly on my desk.

I murmured a goodbye to my co-employees although they were all giving me questionable stares.

"I am taking a break, I will be back" I reassured them before they could question me.

"Ok." They chorus.

Not actually bothering to demand the months' payments, not submitting a resignation letter, I skimmed my eyes over the small company before walking away dejectedly.

I went home mortified.

"Is there anything you can do other than to daydream? "I said to myself with tears gushing out of my eyes.

"I can't do anything by myself. I am useless" I lament continuously sniffing indignantly. My eyes were already bulging from crying. My phone was ringing but I refused to pick up the call the second time today

I cried myself to sleep. By the time I was awake, it was in the evening around 8:40 pm. I decided to stroll around the area, maybe it could help me relieve myself.

Putting on my footwear and "Blue" my favourite pet in my right hand. We both set out to take a hike.

After walking for some minutes with the cool night breeze refreshing my soul. I noticed we were a few miles away from home.

I have never taken a walk around this particular lane though, but I kept walking. I never knew a night walk can make you relaxed since I was always occupied with work.

Assuaged after sitting at the kid's playground to relieve my strain which has now become cranky. I decided to start walking back home after promising myself to go on night walks often.

Immediately I turned around, I noticed silent footsteps behind me. It was like someone trailing behind me.

If I cease, the footstep would halt also till my gaze met with huge shadows. My heart raced in realisation without thinking of looking back to know who it is, I grab" Blue" in my hold and took to my heels.

I halted again to steady my breathing after racing a league. Never underestimate someone on the run, they say. I never realised I could be scouted for an international running competition until today.

After making sure they were not in sight any longer. Happy that I was almost close to my house even though it was secluded.

My eyes came in contact with a black bus, my subconscious mind already understood the situation but before I could attempt to run, it was already too late as darkness enveloped my sight. I was blindfolded with a black material.

"Help!"I screamed.

"Stay quiet or I'll kill your little cat," the kidnapper threatened.

I was frightened to scream for help after the warning, at the same time trembling for the fear of what they could do to me.

"Please spare me, I am just taking a walk around the town" I begged quietly, not even sure if they could hear me. I gave up after multiple attempts to free her tied hands.

I was restless, in deep thought about what is going on with my life the past few days. Just today alone, I was bombarded with bad situations.

"Oh God, please save your daughter" I prayed inwardly but was interrupted by the car's sudden halt.

"Go bring her in" a masculine voice of someone whom she guesses is their boss,commanded.

"Hey" they tapped me, but I pretended to be unconscious.

"I can't believe she's taking her nap in a kidnappers bus," one said.

"She must be confident that we won't harm her," the other replied.

"I would love to have a taste of her hot body, we can take turns. Two rounds are ok" the first man bargained shamelessly.

"That's after we've gotten the ransom, this is not part of the plan"

"Ok then, I can't wait to fuck a billionaire kid"

They proceeded to carry me on their shoulders before I screamed.

"Don't touch me, you bastard!"

I couldn't take it anymore. My heart was pounding non stop.

"Shhh baby, since you want to avoid being kidnapped, why did you decide to leave and work in areas people know what you are? To top it all you are the famous Aaron Smith sister" he coarse, using his filthy hands to rub my wet cheeks. Even though I was blindfolded, I shivered from the contact and jerked his hands away.

"You wait and see," he promised.

"Please forgive me. I don't know what I did to you, but please have mercy on me" I pleaded, as I was dragged roughly into the building.

"What do we do next, boss?"

"Proceed to the next step".

Once I heard footsteps moving towards me, I continued moving backward until my back hit the wall making me unable to move. My body loses consciousness before darkness takes over.

Allie woke up by the attempt of someone nearly peeling off her shorts just to remove her cell phone, which she kept in the back pocket.

"Uhn you are awake? you passed out for 20 minutes only" he chuckled mockingly.

She conceded she is being captured but now. The piece of clothing used to wrap her face has been removed. She breathed helplessly trying to get her phone back, but the bulky man was stronger since she was also struggling with her tied legs and hands.

"This would make our work easier," he said, tugging her hand to the phone which is now in his grasp to get her fingerprint to unlock it.

"20 missed calls by my lovely brother! Is that billionaire Aaron?" he asked, still unsure that she is Aaron's sister.

Most people think she's officially the adopted daughter of the Smiths but she isn't.

"How did they know I am related to the Smiths though?Maybe I underestimated how fast people can be notified" she winced angrily.

She now understood how they got to know her phone was with her because she was very sure she silenced it so that she wouldn't pick up any incoming calls. "The continuous vibration made him know I am with my phone" she reckoned.

She signed, remembering that her foster mum had saved Aaron's number with that name; she forgot to delete it since he's the last person on her mind.

Let's give him a call to confirm how sweet you guys can be" he declared, calling out to his companions.

"Hey, please don't" she pleaded. "don't call him, not him please"

"Why do you think I would listen to you?" he smirked like she just said something amusing.

"This is my opportunity to speak with a billionaire, who knows, speaking with him might be my breakthrough. This is a lifetime grace baby girl" he said enormously but his companions find it funny as they burst out in a giggle.

Their boss throwed a warning stare at them to shun them.

Allie was terrified by the thought of them knowing about her being abducted, especially Mr. Smith himself who is on his sick bed. She knows how much they care for her but at the same time is scared of what these vulgar-looking men might do to her in the next few minutes.

"Think snappily" she encouraged herself but nothing helpful came up.

"How did I end up here by the way," she thought sadly.

Two other men scrambled into the room making them five in whole. It was at that moment the line through and Aaron's deep voice could be blared from the speaker.

"Where the hell are you, woman?" he exclaimed, his voice sounding like a restless person.

"Tie up her mouth" he commanded, whispering to the other men.

He glared at Allie to make a sound, but before that Aaron uttered her name for the very first time.

"Allie"

One of the men pushed her, making her hit her head on the floor.

"Uuuuuuhu!" she chimed as her arm made contact with steel while struggling to get hold of herself.

"Where are you?!, mum wouldn't let me rest. Why won't you pick up her phone call" Aaron inquired at once?

"Time up"their leader chirped before she could respond.

"I guess you should be aware by now that she is in our territory" their leader persists arrogantly.

"Who the hell are you? And what do you want?!" Aaron bellowed from the other side of the phone.

Allie was writhing in paîn but one of them palmed her mouth to avoid her from making sounds audible enough to Aaron who was still in a conversation with their boss.

"Don't even lay your finger on her. And take her back to wherever you took her from and of course if I notice any suspicious traces on her. I would hunt you down to your accompanies and of course, you would not want to strain me! "he warned in a breath.

"ok," the boss quivered in fear.

He looked up to his companions but It was too late and they caught him shaking.

"A billion-dollar it is. Send me your details" Aaron said unbothered by the fact that he just mentioned a whole lot of bucks.

She stares at the rest of them one after the other in disdain but they were grinning back at her instead. she flutters her head in disbelief, her eyes wide open in utter wonder.

"It's not like I did anything to them though, though I can't be the reason why they would go bankrupt," she thought naively.

"Aaron, am fine, please. You don't have to pay such an amount of money because of me" she shrieked.

"I would find a way out, I promise," She said firmly before the call could drop.

The kidnappers skimmed their eyes through her like she was some alien.

Aaron was silent, he was trying to be patient with her.

"How can someone be so dopey? I can't believe she is the reason why I can't sleep peacefully. Kidnapped and still spitting nonsense" he groaned before hanging up.

He wondered and looked at his mum who was spotted beside him trying to hold back her tears.

"She would be fine. They're just money-mongers. They wouldn't dare to do anything stupid to her" he measured his panting mother.

~~~

"Are you crazy?" one of the men snarled walking closer to her. She recognized his voice as the one who initiated a rape earlier.

"Don't touch her"their boss warned immediately as he scooted down an inch barely in between them.

"She.... "he was saying before he was Interrupted by the beeping of his phone.

"Received! "their boss exclaimed. The others understood at once as they all jubilated.

"Do thieves celebrate too?" she wondered.

His heart slumped at the thought of what awaited her.

Their boss knelt beside her to untie her, but before he could move his phone rang.

"Thank you so much," the anonymous spoke up.

"Let's meet at my headquarters," he declared.

"Sure"

"So.. they still have a superior person, but the voice sounds familiar" she pondered but shrugged it away since she couldn't guess whom the voice belonged to.

The kidnappers dropped her at the building entrance. They were the ones that opened the door for her just like a gesture gentlemen would offer. They even thanked her before they zoomed off at full speed.

Allie sat down at the door entrance for some minutes pondering on what just happened today alone. She proceeded to go into her apartment with her cat stealthily beside her before she heard that voice.

A voice she could recognize anytime or anywhere. A tone that makes strands of hairs on her body stand, a voice that makes her shiver for an unknown reason called her name the second time today.

"Allie! "