Once the car stopped outside his office building I ran inside in rage with Jimmy following me. Rick's staff was giving me curious stares but ignoring them I pushed the door of his office and barged in without permission. Jimmy was stopped outside.

"What is the meaning of all this?" I yelled as soon as I saw him. He was sitting on his chair, sipping alcohol.

"Well, well, well, it wasn't hard to bring you to me. Had I know it before that by doing this you would come running to me, I would have done it much earlier." He smirked looking at me.

"What will you gain by doing all this?"

"You!"

"You're a sick bastard!" I shouted, shooting him a venomous glare. His smirk vanished and in the next second, he was standing before me, his eyes flaming in anger.

"Control your tongue, no one dares talk to me like that." He clenched his jaw.

"I'm not your puppet like others. You can control anyone but me. I've always made it clear to you that...I am not scared of you." I hissed.

He gripped the back of my neck and inched closer to my face. "This pretty mouth of yours will bring you in danger, Eloise, try to shut it at times. And about you...I'm well aware you aren't easy to catch." He inched more close. I struggled to get myself free but he tightened his hold which made me hiss. "... You're a challenge I've never faced. That's why I want you... to show you I always win, and trust me I'll have you."

"Not even in your dreams." I seethed and pushed him harder and lifting my right hand I gave a tight slap which made his face turn right. The sound of the slap echoed in the room. His hand automatically reached on to his left cheek, he started breathing hard.

"If you think that your sick stunts will make me fall in your feet then you're highly mistaken. I know how to fight for myself. Last time, Rick... Last time I'm saying this...I Will Never Come To You." I glared at him, my eyes blazing with anger.

He clenched and unclenched his other hand and gritted his teeth. He then squinted his eyes at me. "Wrong Move, Eloise. You shouldn't have done that." He said in a dangerously calm tone.

I had heard enough, I was done with him. So, not giving him another glance I turned my back to him and was about to open the door when he spoke something which made me abruptly halt my actions.

"What will you do if I tell you that your mother sold you to me?"

My hand that was on the door nob slid down in utter shock. I knew him better, he was again pulling some cheap stunt. I clenched my fist again and faced him.

"Do you really think you'll talk rubbish and I'll believe you?"

"I know you will not... That's why..." He went near the cabinet and took out a file from it. With a sinister smirk, he approached me and waved the file before my face. "...The proof."

"What is this?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"The proof that your mother sold you to me."

"You—"

"Read it before you say anything." He roughly placed the file in my hand. I glared at him before shifting my eyes to the file. I knew he had made up something. I was on the verge of throwing the file in his face but a voice inside my head urged me to go through the file first. And I did it.

As soon as I saw what was written on the papers my heart started thumping loudly. I couldn't believe my eyes. Mom can't do this to me! I frantically turned the pages hoping that what I was reading wasn't real, I was hoping it to be a dream but my world turned upside down when I saw the signature of my mother on the last paper.

My legs trembled. I was about to fall down when Rick grabbed my upper arm and steadied me. "Oh, come on, darling, I don't want to see you injured, after all, you are going to work for me soon." He made me sit on the couch and he himself sat on another single-seat couch. My eyes were fixed on my mother's signature. How could she do this to her own daughter?

"Surprised?" Rick's voice rang in my ears. I looked up at him only to find him smirking.

"I know you won't believe until I do the explaining. So, let me enlighten you with what actually happened." He smiled as he leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together, he rested his chin on them.

"You were fourteen when your mother brought you to me. She was failing to make a career of her own so she wanted you to have a carrier as soon as possible. She wanted fame by your name. I helped her, I helped you. I prepared a contract and your mother was so desperate to get the fame that she didn't read the terms before signing." He chuckled in humorously. I was looking at him, appalled. Goosebumps prickled on my skin. Slowly, slowly my head started to spin.

"Can you believe this woman? She failed to read the main clause which stated that when you turn twenty, you will have to return the favor by working for me...by doing anything I ask you to...and if not, your mother has to pay a huge amount of money... And now you're twenty-seven.

However, when I enlightened her about the terms and the money she would have to pay if the contract breaks, she chose to pay the money. But I had my eyes on you, I wanted you since the day I saw you that's why I gave her ample amount of time to pay me back so that I can plan something to bring you to me. It's been many years she has been paying me the money but I'm over the money; over the contract now because I don't want the money, I want you. After waiting for so many years, I politely offered you a deal but you refused which left me longing for you even more."

My breathing started to become ragged, I felt like crying but I didn't as I will never shed my tears in front of some nasty bastard. My phone was buzzing in my jeans pocket but I didn't pay heed to it. I knew Evan and Trish would be calling me.

"Refusing me, you went to Daniel and that fueled my anger." He shot me a glare. "But of course, you're an exceptional case for me, I'll give you one more chance and will forget about the slap you just gave me...but only on one condition... Leave Daniel and come to me."

How dare he?

"I will not leave him. Not now not ever." I shot back. He was going too far. I will never leave Daniel, he's my brightness in this dark world.

He chuckled wickedly. "Oh, darling, I just love your feisty and daring side." He then stood up and turned his back towards me. "But Imagine Eloise, what will happen if these papers leak in the media? What will happen to your mother's reputation and your reputation? Will that boyfriend of yours will still want you after knowing all this?" He then faced me and chuckle evilly. "No, Eloise, No. No one wants to be with a tainted person. He will leave you."

No, Daniel will not do this. He's a nice person. And I did nothing wrong, I don't have to be scared of anything.

But why I couldn't say it in his face? Why no words were coming out of my mouth? I was sitting like a dumb person, shocked and paralyzed.

"Nothing left to say? Ah! Now I know how to shut this pretty little mouth of yours." He made fun of me and then his face became serious. "You have 48 hours to give your answer."

Trembling, I stood up from the couch and absentmindedly preceded towards the exit but I was stopped again. Rick came to me and placed the file in my hand. I couldn't look at his face.

"Keep this, I have more copies. I know you'll visit your mother for confrontation, this will help you." He then brought his lips closer yo my ear and whispered. "Next time think twice before raising your hand on me. Now you know what I can do. I'll be waiting for you." He winked and ushered me out.

I was numb and shattered. How could my mom do this to me? And she didn't even care to tell me?

My phone was buzzing furiously in my jeans pocket. I absentmindedly pulled it out and without glancing at the caller ID I attached it to my ear and my tears almost fell out when I heard the impatient and worried and angry voice of Daniel.

"What the hell are you doing at Rick's office?"

I glanced at Jimmy who had already approached me, I knew he told Daniel about my visit to Rick. He lowered his eyes.

"Leave the place right now. I'm on my way to—"

"No, Don't. I have some important matters to discuss with my mother." Saying that I hung the call. Then my eyes fell on Michael who was making his way to Rick's office. I ignored him and ran towards the car. The media was waiting for me outside but they couldn't reach me as Jimmy didn't allow them. I sat in the car and ordered Jimmy to drive me to my mother's place.

::::::::::::::

"What in the world were you thinking?" I shouted at my mother as soon as I stepped inside her apartment.

"What was I thinking? What were you thinking?" She screamed on top of her lungs. "You ruined everything. Couldn't you at least ask me before doing this?" She shouted pointing at the T.V screen on which Rick's interview was being played. "I'm your mother, I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what? From the blunder you created?" I shouted.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She seemed stunned by the truth.

"Oh, trying to pretend innocent? Then this will remind you what you did." I threw the file on the center table. She picked up the file and her eyes almost came out of the sockets when she saw what was inside.

"Ho..how did you get this?" She stuttered as horror surfaced on her face. I didn't answer and kept glaring at her.

"Rick?" She looked horrified then her eyes blazed anger. "I told you not to meet him again." She yelled at me.

"No to meet him again? You forced me to go to him as you weren't giving me answers." I seethed pointing a finger at her. "And you know what he did? He threatened me to leak this into the media." My body was trembling in anger.

"He wouldn't have threatened you if you hadn't gone to him." She angrily threw the file at me which made me step back in surprise. She started pacing back and forth, running her fingers in her hair.

"I was giving him money, I was trying my best to do everything to pull out of the mess. Hell, I was meeting different lawyers to protect you but you ruined everything. And now he'll ruin our reputation." She was blabbering crazily. I hadn't seen my mother like this ever before but I was too angry to notice anything.

"I ruined everything? You ruined everything. You were damn desperate to become famous that you signed the fucking papers without reading them."

"Shut up, just shut up, I know what I did and I'm rectifying my mistakes." She pressed her fingers on forehead. She then came up to me and held my hand "There's only one thing you can do come out of this mess. Rick is frustrated to see you with Daniel...so just leave Daniel, I'll think of something—"

I yanked my hands from her grip and stepped back. "Are you even listening to yourself? I love him, mom. How hard is it for you to understand?" I cried in disbelief.

"Love? Do you even know anything about love?" She mocked me.

"Oh? So you know everything about love, huh? You left dad just for your career and he supported you with your every decision. He loves you with all his heart. And you? You only meet him twice a month, just to check if he's alive or not. Or are you ashamed to face him for what you did to me? You don't love him. You don't love me." I shouted on top of my lungs.

Next thing I know, I was slapped by my mother for the first time in life and that's when a lone tear escaped from my eye.

"You can't understand how much I love you both. I'm trying to keep you both safe. Yes, I don't visit your father frequently and that is only to keep him safe from the eyes of media, from Rick otherwise he would drag him in the mess. I'm regretting everything I did. I'm sorry." She cried, covering her face with her palms.

"Isn't it too late to say sorry? Had you been careful before, you wouldn't be standing ashamed in front of your own daughter." I mumbled lowly trying hard not to burst out in tears.

"Please don't tell this to your father, he'll hate me." She pleaded with teary eyes.

"I'm not a low life who'll shatter the happy world of a nice person. He loves you a lot and has a hope that one day you'll go back to him, I don't intend to snatch his hope. He is living a happy and simple life and surely I don't intend to disturb his peace."

I said and without giving her another glance I walked past her and left her apartment.

_____________________________________

I was in the middle of a meeting when I received a call but I ignored it as busy discussing some details with the client but my phone buzzed again so I peeked at the caller ID and frowned to see Jimmy's name. Why was he calling me? He was with Eloise and— I got alarmed and excusing myself, I walked out of the conference hall.

"Yes, Jimmy, is everything alright? Is Eloise okay?" I asked as I picked up the call.

"Mr. Adams umm...actually Miss Nicole is at Rick Hashington's office."

"What? What is doing there? Didn't I tell you to keep her away from him?" I almost yelled.

"Mr. Adams, after whatever happened outside Leena Antonio's building, Miss. Nicole forced me to bring her here and she is been inside his office for the last ten minutes."

"And you're telling me this now?" I yelled. "What happened outside Leena's office?"

"Media surrounded her asking about Rick's recent interview."

Fuck. I cut the call and first dialed Eloise's number but she didn't pick up even after calling several times. I cursed and googled about Rick's interview and when I listened to what he said, my boiled like lava.

How could he say all this about her? And did Eloise really agreed to work with him? No! She wouldn't do that, I know her. Oh, goodness, what mess is this?

I immediately asked Sean to take over the meeting and ran out to bring Eloise back from that bastard's office but as soon as I sat in the car I called her again and thankfully she picked up the call.

"What the hell are you doing at Rick's office?" My impatient voice came out in anger. "Leave the place right now. I'm on my way to—"

"No, Don't. I have some important matters to discuss with my mother." Saying that she hung the call. Fuck!

I started the car drove my way to her mother's place after a few minutes I received a call from Jimmy saying Eloise left for her place. I turned the car and drove to her apartment building. Because of heavy traffic, it took me twenty minutes to reach there.

I ran to her apartment and found Evan and Trish furiously knocking on her bedroom door.

"What happened?" I asked in worry.

"She just arrived five minutes back and has shut herself in her room," Trish said worriedly. We then heard a sound of breaking of glass from inside. Evan and I didn't wait for another second and started pushing the door with our shoulders. After three hard thrusts, the lock of the door broke, and what I saw inside almost made my heart stop.

Her room was a complete mess, all the stuff of her room was scattered on the floor and wall mirror was broken into million pieces. And Eloise was pacing back and forth, fisting her hair in her hand and was mumbling continuously.

I ran to her and cupped her face and only then I saw her tears coming out of her red puffy eyes. "What happened, Eloise?" I asked in worry.

"H..how can she do this to me? She did... didn't think of me even for once? I...I don't know what to do. He threatened m..me to tarnish my reputation. He's lying, I never agreed to work with him. He..he framed me as a cheap and desperate woman who wants money. I don't... I don't want money—"

"Eloise, hey, shhh—" I tried to console her but she pushed me away.

"I don't know what to do. My mom betrayed me, she hid the most important information from me. God, she sold me to Rick." She screamed on top of her lungs. I got stunned at her outburst. What the hell is she talking about? But I was too worried to care about what she was mumbling. I needed to make her calm. So, I again hugged her.

"Eloise, hey, stop—" But she pushed me again.

"Oh goodness, I forgot about dad! He must have seen the interview. What he must be thinking of me? I.. I need to call him." She frantically started searching for her phone, still continuously mumbling in fear.

I had never seen her in this much vulnerable state. She never feared anyone. I couldn't see her like this. I immediately went to her and grabbing her face I crashed my lips on hers. I kissed her softly reminding her of my touch, reminding her I was with her. She instantly calmed down and a sob escaped her throat. I detached my lips from hers and hugged her.

"Calm down, my love, I'm here. Your Daniel is here with you." I cooed. She wrapped her arms around my torso and nuzzled her face in the crook of my neck and cried uncontrollably.

"Rick said you'll leave me. Please don't leave me, I did nothing wrong. I didn't even know... Please... I can't afford to lose you. Please don't leave me, please, please. I love you."

What the hell has Rick said to her? I cupped her face and made her look at me.

"Eloise, how can you believe anyone just like that? Didn't I confess my love to you, huh? Do you really think I'll leave you over some rubbish matters? I love you with all my heart, Eloise, and will always love you. I will never leave you."

Sobbing, she dropped her head on my shoulder and again tightened her arms around my torso.

"I'm so sorry... It's just I'm so lost, I don't know what I'm even thinking." She sniffed.

"No need to say sorry, my love. You have done nothing wrong." I mumbled, caressing her hair in a soothing manner.

I then made her sit on the bed and gave her a glass of water. Trish who had her eyes filled with tears too came and hugged Eloise. Evan too comforted her.

"I can't leave her here, I'm taking her to my place," I said to Evan. Evan agreed and helped me clear to way to take Eloise to my car as paparazzi were still lingering outside.

When we reached my penthouse, I first made her eat dinner then led her to my room and gave her my shirt to change into. She was restless and running her mind furiously. She was stressed so I asked her to share everything with me as it would ease her pain. Then she told me everything that her mother did and told me about Rick's threat.

That bastard, how dare he? How dare he say he wants her? It will never happen, not even in his dreams. I will not spare him for doing this to Eloise. He doesn't know who is he messing with. He never saw the dangerous side of me but he will now. I will show him what happens when anyone messes with my loved ones.

And her mother, she too needed to learn a lesson. How could she be so irresponsible?

"Don't worry Eloise, I'm with you. I'll teach them a lesson. I will not spare Rick for making you cry." I brushed my lips on hers then I kissed her forehead.

Sitting on my lap, she sobbed until her eyes closed and sleep engulfed her.

________________________________________