Chapter 39 Shortcut

KIA

Ares has already finished his meal. His colleague, Kyle, went outside for a moment to answer calls. I am still here, sitting on the couch, awaiting the end of lunch. When the clock turned to 1:00 p.m. I immediately stood up and started cleaning everything at the table.

“You are going home now?” Ares asked while helping me.

“Yeah. Your lunchtime has already ended, so you need to work. I can’t bother you here since this is a workplace,” I answered.

“No, hon, it’s fine. I am not that busy today since our boss isn’t here, so you can stay and we can go home together.” He suggested, but I immediately refused.

I know that they can’t work properly if I stay here. I know Kyle has been a bit off since I came here and I know Ares noticed that too. Maybe he isn’t comfortable having me around. “It’s fine, hon. I will wait for you at home.”

He didn't argue with me; instead, he quietly walked with me to the ground floor. A different elevator was used. The elevator is conveniently located inside this office, something I did not anticipate. Given that his staff hardly ever sees him in person, it's possible that this is why the CEO of Vueravista Company is known as the Mysterious CEO. When we went to the first floor, a parking lot was already in front of us.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” He asked again.

I answered him with a nod, “Yes.”

“How about I drive you home—”

“Hon, you don’t have to, okay? I know you are all busy right now. I can take care of myself, don’t worry!” I interjected.

He sighed deeply and just nodded his head. Before leaving the company, I gave him a kiss on his cheeks. He still looks so sad, but I really can’t stay with him while he is working. We might get caught by his boss, and I don’t want him to get in trouble.

I waved my hand as I continued walking. I grabbed my wallet from my bag to check if I still had money, but to my surprise, I only had a few left. I can’t ride a taxi all the way home with this. I guess I don’t have a choice but to walk to the nearest bus stop. While walking, I saw a shortcut. I approached a vendor and asked him. “Excuse me, could this be the way to the bus station?”

“Oh, here?” he asked, pointing at the shortcut. “Yes, just walk straight and you will get there.” He answered politely.

“Thank you so much!”

I continued walking, but I felt something different in this area. I am not that comfortable. I decided to bring my bag in front of me. Since pickpocketing is a modus that some people do. While I was walking, I passed a store, and there were men drinking there. I didn't look at them; instead, I just continued walking forward when I heard them calling me. I ignored their catcalls and kept walking as they shouted. But then, unexpectedly, someone grabbed my shoulder, and I was frightened.

“Miss, why are you in a hurry? We were calling you but you kept on ignoring us." A man without a shirt approached me.

“Let me go!” I shouted, but he ignored it. “I said, let me go or I will call the police!”

He stopped and started laughing at me. “Police? You are going to call the police? What for? Why do you think we are bad people? We just want to invite you to have a drink with us since you are so beautiful."

I trembled inside. I was paralyzed by fear and my heart leaped into my throat, the menacing aura holding me in a tightening grip. Fear became a tangible, living force that crept over me like some hungry beast, immobilizing me; my brain held me captive. I took two small steps backward. “I-i am sorry, but I c-can’t…”

“No one dares to say no to me!” he said in a scary voice and grabbed my hand.

“Get the hell out of the way! I am going to call the police! I will scream!” I said, making myself not stutter.

“I dare you!” he said, and got up close to me. He was snipping my neck, and I kept on pushing him, but he was so strong. “You are so hot! I like you!"

“Hey, man! Don’t be so selfish. I want to smell her too!”

“Please, please, I am begging you!”

“No one dares to mess with me. It is no use even if you scream! You belong to me now! Since you passed here in our territory, I will take good care of you!"

“Get off me—!” I closed my eyes as I started screaming for help, but when I opened my eyes, I just saw the guy lying down on the ground. He is here... I started crying when I saw Ares punching the guy who was grabbing my hand earlier.

Ares said furiously, "I will kill you if you ever lay a hand on my girl again!” but his friend immediately stood up and attacked Ares. I couldn’t look and, because of my fear, I covered my eyes with my hand. When I opened them, all of them were on the ground. “Hon, are you alright?” he said worriedly and started checking my body to see if I had some wounds or something.

“I- I’m fine,” I answered. I looked at him. I don’t know why, but he started glowing in my eyes. He looks like—like a prince charming when he comes to rescue me. “But, hon, why are you here?” I asked, curiously.

“I was worried about you, so I immediately ran and followed you, but I didn’t see you anywhere. I thought you had taken a taxi, but then I suddenly heard you screaming.” He answered.

“Boss! Boss! What happened?! Are you alright?! Which of these arrogant guys dares to stir up a hornet’s nest?!” Kyle screamed while approaching us.

“Boss? What do you mean, boss?” I curiously asked Ares, but he seemed like he was caught off guard.

“Kyle! How many times have I told you to stop calling me boss? Our boss might misunderstand us if he hears you calling me boss. Hon, let’s go! Kyle, we gotta go. I have to take care of my wife.” Ares immediately grabbed my hand and started running. We left Kyle alone there with those drunk men.

“Hon, from now on you can’t commute by yourself. It is so dangerous for girls like you to be alone outside. I am so worried about you—God! I didn't expect to encounter such a thing. Those assholes are horrible!” he mumbled while we were inside the car. We went back to the company to get his car.

“But—”

“No, but. We should go home. I’ll just call my boss and tell him that I went home early because of an emergency." He interjected and started the car and drove away.

“Alright...” I answered. While we are on the road, I can still feel the fear I experienced earlier. That was the scariest thing that happened to me. It makes me not want to take shortcuts anymore. But other than that, I also feel weird towards Kyle and Ares. It seemed like they were acting suspiciously. I felt like they were hiding something from me...