Ended up being a hostage.

Did Lana not hear wrong? The man just said he was going to take her hostage.

"No, wait!" Lana scrambled out of bed as Darren walked out of the room.

"In a moment Rafael will come to bring you clothes. I don't have much time to argue with you because I have to go to work," Darren said without turning his head and stopped walking. While Lana tried to follow Darren's footsteps from behind. They descended the stairs to the first floor.

"You can't do it!" Lana screamed, "And also, give me back my clothes! I want my own clothes!"

Darren stopped in his tracks when he reached the last staircase. He turned and looked at Lana who stopped walking suddenly.

"You want your clothes back?"

"Yes."

"You can pick it up yourself in the trash."

"T-trash can? You threw it away?!" Lana screamed in disbelief.

"You think I'll keep your dirty dress full of food vomit and clean it up?"

"N-no," Lana answered guiltily. "Sorry. I didn't mean to trouble you. I shouldn't have drank much last night. It's all my fault."

"You've finally realized," said Darren, "don't go anywhere and stay here until I get back." Darren stepped back and Lana followed him.

"But-"

"You better check your phone because it's been ringing since last night," Darren turned and cut Lana off.

"My cell phone?"

"On the couch," Darren added when he saw Lana about to climb the stairs she thought her cell phone was in the room.

"Oh, sorry. Thank you!" Lana immediately ran to the sofa and grabbed her bag. She checked her cell phone. There were several call notifications from Harry and Daisy. It seemed they were questioning what happened at the party she attended.

***

Returning from the kitchen, Darren observed Lana busy calling someone in the living room. As vague as it sounded, Darren was sure Lana said Harry's name when she was talking. Obviously, it's a man's name.

Without commenting, Darren sat down on the sofa in front of Lana. He did not take his eyes off even though he was busy enjoying coffee in the morning.

Lana was flustered as Darren continued to stare at her non-stop. She became unfocused when she was talking to Harry.

"H-Harry. I have to go. I'll call you later," Lana said trying to end the call because Darren kept staring at her. "No! You don't have to pick me up. I-I'm at my friend's house and will be home soon ."

Lana could see Darren grinning from behind the cup that covered his lips.

"Yes. Thank you, Harry," said Lana.

The phone call is finally over. Lana put her phone back in her bag and looked at Darren.

"Are you really going to hold me here?" asked Lana.

"Yes."

"For what?"

"You still don't understand?" Darren placed his coffee cup on the glass table in front of him. "Come here," he ordered.

Lana was confused when Darren ordered her with a hand that patted the empty space beside her.

Should she sit there, while they can talk where they are sitting right now?

"Come here, Lana." This time Darren's voice sounded a little firmer. There was a tone of coercion that made Lana immediately get up from the sofa and approach Darren.

The man grabbed her as fast as lightning when Lana was about to sit beside him, causing Lana to fall into Darren's lap. The man immediately pressed Lana's waist as Lana tried to pull away from Darren.

"W-what are you doing?!" Lana screamed, "Let go of me! Aren't we talking?"

"Do I need to teach you a lesson?"

"I didn't do anything wrong, Darren!" cried Lana as Darren almost kissed her lips.

"That guy must be important enough that you scream out my name, Lana."

"That is not true." Lana defended herself. So the direction of their conversation about Harry seems to be. "Harry is just my friend."

"There's no friendship between men and women, Lana."

"But I'm telling the truth!"

Darren then releases Lana.

"Get off my lap. I'm late for work," Darren said.

Lana hastily stood up. She was just silent when she saw Darren get up from the sofa without looking at her. It was stupid because Lana expected something more when she knew it was impossible.

***

Lana didn't know that Darren had told the housekeeper to cook breakfast. I don't know what Darren said, the middle-aged woman didn't comment at all on Lana's appearance who only wore Darren's oversized shirt.

Was it because there were too many women whom Darren often brought home that the maids at Darren's house were used to such awkward situations?

"Thank you," Lana said with a faint smile as Darren's maid prepared breakfast for her. "What… have you worked here for a long time?" asked Lana.

"I have been working here for more than ten years. And you are the first woman Mr. Darren has brought home in a long time." The waiter smiled faintly. "Enjoy the breakfast, Miss. I'm in the backyard if you need anything." Then the servant left.

Lana frowned. There was something odd about the waiter's answer, but Lana ignored it and focused on the food on the table. Having just devoured a few spoonfuls, the sound of the door opening made Lana immediately cast her gaze towards the door.

A man in a neat black shirt suit appeared with an item in his hand. A familiar face that Lana will never forget in her life. The man who had a bad attitude from the first time we met.

"Rafael?" Lana stood up as Rafael approached her.

"To think you remember my name so well," Rafael commented in a curt tone. "Feeling pampered, Princess?"

"Darren told me that you would come here to bring me clothes. Are those clothes for me?" asked Lana pointing to the item Rafael was carrying. "And it needs to be straightened out. I wasn't pampered at all. I also don't want to argue with you because I'm too tired from everything that happened. So, I beg you… don't ask me to fight," Lana pleaded.

"You think I'd be willing to spend my precious time on a cheap woman like you?" sneered Rafael, "if you approach Darren with the intention of wanting to live a luxurious life, don't expect you to get it. Because you will only be used as an outlet for it. This is my warning. Be grateful that I gave you some advice before you go on with this cheap trick of yours."

Lana wrung the hem of her shirt in annoyance. Both then and now, Rafael has always been sharp-mouthed to her. Lana doesn't know what she did to make Rafael act like this to her. Maybe it was her nature, but the man was completely unaware that what he said could hurt people's feelings.

"What did I do to you to make you act like this to me?" Lana burst into tears. "If I could choose, I wouldn't want to live a life like this either! It's enough that I consider myself pathetic, but you don't have to look down on me like this either!" Lana sobbed. Her throat felt tight and her vision blurred. "You don't even know what happened to me and immediately judge me a slut for one reason only!"