Chapter 5

"Would you mind explaining? I think you might owe me one." Daniel Evans stood with an air of elegance, crossing the stairs toward her, his eyes casting a measured gaze upon her. "Or perhaps, you've forgotten everything about that night already?" 

Her cheeks flamed to a deep crimson, his resonant voice sending an uncomfortable warmth coursing through her. Instinctively stepping back, she found her wrist ensnared by his firm grasp. 

"What. what are you talking about?" She struggled, flailing a fist at Him. "Whatever happens, just forgot it!" 

"I'd very much like to leave it all behind, but you know, there is a tiny thing that simply won't allow me." Daniel produced a familiar cheque from his pocket, flaunting it before her. 

The sight of the cheque brought a flood of memories crashing over her. She wished the earth would swallow her whole, why had she left such a ludicrous memento for this stranger? 

"Give it back to me!" Grace lunged for the cheque, only to be effortlessly sidestepped by him. 

"No way." His smirk was one of schadenfreude as he toyed with the check-in in his other hand. 

"Give it back to me, now!" Grace doves again, but the elusive check danced away from her grasp. 

Thus began a chase down the narrow corridor, a scene straight out of a slapstick play, unfolding over and over. 

Until, with all her might, Grace reached for the check-missing it entirely and instead tumbling into his waiting arms. 

HIs lips curled into a triumphant grin as he enveloped Grace in a tight embrace, his breath a whisper in her ear, "I'd never expected to wrap you with arms again soon, dear lady." 

Startled by His sudden closeness, Grace began to thrash: "Let me go! What the hell do you want?" 

"Let you go? That's not an option." His chuckle was low and menacing as he pressed her closer, his voice a deep rumble in her ear: "But I have another option offered for you, move to my apartment, today, you are shaking up with me." 

Investigated her jaw dropped at his audacity, her face a portrait of indignation: "You must be insane to say those words. I will never move to live with a crazy person like you!" 

"Well." Daniel then released her, only to produce a sheaf of documents from his briefcase. 

He flipped through them casually, "I've investigated a fact that your parents' company is on the brink of bankruptcy. If they cannot afford to pay off that loan, they could lose everything, you know, maybe their lives included." 

Grace felt as if doused in ice water, her legs turning to jelly. She never knew that her parents' lifetime at work was about to crumble to dust. 

Daniel snapped the file shut, stepping closer to her: "I can lend them the money to solve their bankruptcy issue, as long as you." He lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to meet him. "Stay with me, willingly. Be my lover, sounds good?" 

Her gaze was distant, the scent of conspiracy in the air. 

She bit her lip, mustering a smile of forced acquiescence: "Alright, I will, but it takes time, and we will see what's happening soon." 

At her words, his smile widened: "Don't even think of playing any tricks on me, I'll be watching you every second." 

He gently pulled her into his arms closer, his hot breath on her ear, making her body go limp. 

"You'll be Mrs. Evans soon, Grace. Don't make me wait too long." 

With a brazen kiss on her cheek, Daniel departed like a lovestruck youth, his thoughts aflutter, "My wish is realizing soon!" 

As his tall silhouette finally vanished, Grace collapsed to the ground, her hands covering her flushed face as tears spilled forth. 

"What should I do? Where should I go? Should I be hiding from him? Or yield to his will? Or was this all a snare, a new trap laid by him?" Amidst fear, helplessness, and bewilderment, her heart was in turmoil.