Love’n’Lust

“I miss you, Ben.”

“So you are not here because of Jenna?” He wanted to be sure.

“No, I’m here for you. I came here to see you.”

“Get out.” His order was sudden. She snickered in reaction.

“What?”

“Leave my office, Alex.” His voice was calm, but he generally wasn’t and didn’t want her there.

“Don’t you miss me?”

“Alex, leave.”

She stood there, her hands still on his shoulder, she took in a deep breath trying to control her anger. She knew she couldn’t be angry at him.

“I thought you’ve been away from women all this while because you needed a break, and that’s why I stopped coming around but then you are seen with this girl….” Ben raised his eyes to look at her when she said ‘this girl’.

“You know about her?”

“Of course I do, I was at the hotel that day. You would never hold me in public but the way you held her hands that day….” Alex trailed with jealousy in her voice.

“Alex?” He stood now, taking her hands off him.”Do you have a hand in her kidnap? Was this your doing?”

“No!” She quickly defended.”I didn’t even know she was missing.”

“If I find out, that you did this..” He didn’t have to complete his sentence for her to know what he meant.

“I know I get jealous sometimes but I will never do something like that. You know me, right? I’m Jenna’s best friend.”

“Leave my office,” he ordered again, and this time she obeyed. She didn’t want to be around him any longer, not now that he was suspicious of her.

Alex was Jenna’s best friend. She knew Ben since she was younger and always painted a picture of them being together since they were still teenagers.

She always did everything possible to be close to him, including asking Jenna to help her out but Jenna would always warn her to stay away from Ben.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“He’s never going to be the man you want, Alex.” Jenna would always say.

“I know but I can make him….”

“No, you can’t. Get your mind off him, we are grown now, if he ever for once wanted to take you seriously, he would.”

Jenna knew how intolerant Ben was when it was anything to do with her best friend, Alex. She would help Alex try to win Ben’s heart when they were still in their teenage ages but now that they were sensible adults, she had been advising her to give up the thought of being together with Ben because she knew it couldn’t happen.

****

Belle sat with her knees up, she rested her head on her knees as she stared at nothing in particular. She didn’t know what to think about anymore so she just sat with a lost mind. The door opened, it was Tiger again. He came and sat on the bed like before.

“I thought about what you said,” he started.”You want to leave here?”

“Yes!” He got Belle’s full attention.

“I could free you tomorrow,” A grateful smile brushed her lips when he said that.”… but you have to do something to earn your freedom.” Belle’s smile depreciated.

Tiger didn’t know why but she was making him say something he had never said to any of the victims of his work. He could understand Crow’s loss of control to try and rape her, and as much as he would never force himself on a woman, he wanted to trade her freedom for her freedom. It was stupid, he knew but he was ready to return the money he was paid to the person who ordered her kidnap; it was the most unethical thing he was going to do since he started abducting people.

“You satisfy me, and I’ll let you go.” He told her and watched her move a little farther from where he sat, creating more distance between them.

“Think about it, you have from now till 9 pm to decide. Be wise, I might change my mind.” He stood and left just like he came.

Tears flowed from Belle’s eyes the moment the door closed and she heard the lock turn. Her hopes were on edge when he said he would let her go but then he mentioned his condition. She wiped her tears, anger replacing sadness, she hissed.

She couldn’t even think of it like he advised, she wasn’t going to consider it…. but she had to get away from there.

Wiping some tears off her face again, she decided to ask Mev for help again when she came with food or clothes for her.

Later, 7 pm.

Mev walked in after the door opened, making Belle jump off the bed to meet her because she had been expecting her.

She was about to go straight to the point and ask Mev for help as she planned but saw that Tiger was still at the door so she paused till he left.

“Look, help me, please.” Belle didn’t waste any time when he left after shutting the door with Mev inside. She started to plead in a low voice.

“I’m just here to give you your clothes, which you don’t always change into…” Mev sighed when she saw the bag she brought earlier still on the bed; Belle hadn’t changed into new clothes.

“Forget about the clothes, help me get out of here, is it money you want? I’ll pay you, just…”

“You are trying to get me into trouble again.” She heard Mev.

“No. I’m just desperate. You don’t have to do anything to implicate yourself, tell me how to escape here, I promise I won’t go to the police…”

Mev snorted.

“What would you like to eat?’ Mev went on with her routine, ignoring all that Belle said.

“Please?” Belle wouldn’t stop. She looked up at the camera and lowered her voice more.”I’m not safe here, one of them even tried to rape me, and now Tiger, that’s his name right? Do you know what he said? He says he could let me go, but only if I satisfy him. I don’t trust him, he could do anything.”

“Tiger said that?” Mev didn’t hide her surprise.

“Yes, and I know that even if I say no to him, he might still try to do what Crow did…”

“No, Tiger would never do that.”

“I don’t care what he can and cannot do, I just want to leave this place. Please help me.” Mev saw the tears forming in Belle’s eyes and felt more pity for her than she did before.

“I can’t help you. It’s all in Tiger’s hands, he’s in charge, I’m sorry.” She shrugged as she told Belle, looking away because she couldn’t face her while she declined to help her.

“I don’t deserve this,” Belle covered her face with both her palms and started to sob.

“I’m sorry,” Mev said again.

They both stopped when they heard the door unlock, it opened afterward. It was time for Mev to leave again. Leaving a pitiful glance at Belle, she left and the door was locked again.

Belle stared at the wall blankly for some seconds before returning to the bed. Now, she didn’t know what to do. She decided to check the clothes which Mev had brought earlier, she wanted to wear something that covered her body just in case Tiger tried to force himself on her tonight.

Luckily, there was a jean trouser in the bag. She smiled dryly, happy to find it there. While she changed in the bathroom, she remembered when Tiger mentioned that she had till 9 pm, she wondered what time it was as she couldn’t tell. There was no clock or any time-telling device in the room; there weren’t any windows either so she couldn’t predict by the presence of the sun, whether night or day.