Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Because I couldn't comprehend my emotions, I confidently walked away from him. It's difficult for me to accept that I felt this way after he uttered those words, especially considering the fact that he engaged in intimate acts with another woman. Unbelievable! And why am I allowing myself to be so affected by this man? I am here to find my freedom, and in order to achieve that, I must not let him have an impact on me.

"Stop playing games, because it's not amusing," I said with a serious tone. He adjusted his position and directed a serious gaze at me. Although my knees felt weak, I needed to appear courageous in order to stand by my words.

"I am not joking," he declared. His statement only fueled my anger even more.

"Then stop talking! I am not like your Margarette! I will never give in to you!" I exclaimed, filled with fury. We maintained eye contact, and eventually, he slowly revealed a grin. I furrowed my brow in response to his action.

"I was just teasing. I was merely putting you to the test," he chuckled, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. My lips parted, as I was overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions. Damn him!

"Testing me for what?!" I almost shouted at him, unable to contain my annoyance. Now, he stands before me with a wide smile.

"Testing you to see if you have feelings for me," he explained, implying that everything was merely a joke and that it is normal to inquire about such matters.

"Fuck you!" I couldn't help but curse him. He laughed in response to my reaction. I simply shook my head and stormed off to the kitchen.

I can't believe this! How could he make such a joke? Hold on, why am I allowing myself to be affected by a man like him?! Damn it! Eli, you need to put a stop to this!

My frustration with Troy persisted until I retired to bed later that night. The only solace I found was the fact that my documents were in order, and I could begin my job search tomorrow. I am determined to secure employment so that I can move out of Troy's house as soon as possible.

That is why the following day I was resolute in my determination to prepare. Luckily, Regine had lent me some clothes before we said goodbye yesterday. She had mentioned that these clothes would be necessary when applying for a job.

I examined myself in the mirror, checking if Regine's clothes suited me, and I concluded that they were acceptable. Regine and I have the same body size, so it worked out. I wore a polo dress shirt tucked into a mini skirt. While I was gazing at my reflection, I was startled by the sudden opening of Troy's bedroom door. We locked eyes in the mirror. I noticed how his gaze scanned over my body, and inexplicably, I felt a strange sensation in my stomach. I averted my gaze, trying to focus on grabbing the bag Regine had given me the previous day.

"I'm leaving now. I'm going to apply for a job today," I stated as I packed my belongings into my bag. I sensed him walking past me. I wasn't sure if it was intentional, but I felt his hand brush against my butt. I turned towards him, slinging the bag over my shoulder. He was busy making his coffee.

"What time will you be back?" he inquired as if nothing had happened. I took a deep breath. Okay, I'll let it slide, maybe it was just an accident.

"I'm not sure. I'll return when I'm finished," I replied. He raised an eyebrow and halted his actions. Damn, I don't know why, but he looks incredibly attractive, especially in the morning. His morning appearance would make Margarette wet herself!

"This is my house, my rules, Eli. Be back by five, no more, no less," he asserted. I widened my eyes at his statement. What on earth is his problem now?

"What? What if I haven't found a job by five? Don't be ridiculous, Troy—"

"You can continue searching for a job another day or in the following days. Just make sure you're back by five," he shrugged. I clenched my teeth. I believe he's genuinely enjoying getting under my skin.

"Fine!" I exclaimed, loudly, and stormed towards the door. I glanced back at him, and he was sipping his coffee as he watched me.

"I can't wait to leave your house!" I grumbled at him. He smirked at me wickedly.

"Then I'll be happy," he retorted. Out of frustration, I forcefully closed the door.

"Argh! I can't stand him!" I muttered irritably as I walked towards the road.

I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself for the important day ahead. My main objective for today was to secure a job, so I needed to let go of any negative experiences from earlier and maintain a positive attitude. Armed with my documents, I began my search for employment.

“Elysse Torres…” the manager carefully read through my resume, his stern and elderly appearance making me hope that he would approve my application. This was the third office job I had applied for today. The first position I applied to was for a maintenance clerk, but unfortunately, I didn't meet the qualifications. The second opportunity seemed promising, but a fellow employee warned me that their company was on the verge of closing down and suggested I find another company. And now, here I am, hoping that this would be my last stop for the day. It was already past lunchtime, and I hadn't eaten anything yet!

"Are you computer literate?" he asked with a serious tone. Though I wasn't entirely confident in my computer skills, I nodded in affirmation.

"Are you married?" he suddenly inquired; his gaze fixated on me for an extended period. I couldn't explain it, but there was something unsettling about his intense stare. It made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"No," I responded, and he nodded while examining my entire figure. I couldn't help but draw a comparison to Troy's behavior earlier in the morning. The way Troy's gaze made me nervous was different from the unease I felt under this old man's scrutiny.

"Do you know that this company specializes in magazine publishing? That's why I have to evaluate the appearance of my employees," he explained, rising from his seat. I furrowed my brow in confusion. Of course, I was aware that this was a magazine publishing company, but I couldn't fathom why he needed to assess his employees' appearance.

"What do you mean, Sir?" I politely inquired, even though irritation was building within me.

"It's crucial for me to have employees who meet the standards set by the board members," he replied, moving closer to my chair. He leaned down, attempting to study my face more closely. I involuntarily recoiled as his face neared mine. Damn it! I caught the scent of cigarettes on him!

"Can you wear a bikini? Just to ensure you're suitable for this role?" he asked with a disturbingly sensual tone. I swallowed hard. Damn it! I thought this job opportunity would be fine, but what is this? Out of all the possible openings, I somehow ended up with this pervert manager! I can't believe this!

"I am sorry, but I do not wear bikinis. Perhaps I will seek out another company," I hastily responded, attempting to distance myself. However, I was taken aback when he forcefully grabbed my arm and forcefully made me sit back down. Nervousness began to consume me as my heart raced with unease. While I could certainly overpower this repulsive old man and make him kneel in front of me for his inappropriate actions, I knew I had to restrain myself in this situation.

"Do not be so selective. I am aware that you would enjoy it. Your salary will be increased, rest assured," he said, attempting to lure me with an offer I supposedly couldn't refuse.

"I am not a slut, sir, if that is what you think," I firmly stated. His expression changed, and I could see the irritation on his face.

"You will be one after this," he wickedly responded, moving closer to me. My eyes widened as he suddenly ripped my clothes apart, his eyes filled with lust as they gazed upon my exposed chest. Hastily, I covered myself and forcefully pushed him away.

"You perverted monster!" I shouted, rushing towards the door. However, before I could open it, the old man grabbed onto my foot, causing me to fall to my knees.

"You cannot escape from me!" he devilishly exclaimed, advancing towards me once again. He then attempted to punch my stomach, causing excruciating pain. How could this happen to me? I thought in frustration and disbelief.

Just as he was about to violate me further, I mustered all my strength and kicked him in the groin, desperately trying to free myself. Damn it, even my wolf was roaring in anger due to this situation!

"Fuck you!" he cried out in agony as he clutched his injured groin.

"I will sue you! You despicable human being!" I angrily declared, swiftly moving towards the door. However, as I turned, I was stunned to see that the old man was aiming a small gun at me, its distinct clicking sound forcibly echoing in the room.

"You plan to take legal action against me? Then… would you still sue me or I’ll kill you instead?" he desperately said. My lips parted, recognizing that my words had triggered him. It seemed he was desperate to avoid imprisonment, despite his despicable behavior. I gritted my teeth, realizing I had reached my breaking point. I couldn't allow myself to be shot by his repulsive gun. My wolf within me would not tolerate it, and neither would my human body.

He sensed my hesitation and smirked at me. “Turn your back and do what I say,” asserting his power over me. I clenched my teeth, vowing to seize any opportunity that arose to ensure he never walked again.

Reluctantly, I followed his demands, turning around until I could feel his presence against my back. I closed my eyes as I felt the cold barrel of his gun press against my back, descending towards my buttocks. Disgusted by his perverse actions, I cursed internally, while taking a deep breath to endure his foul breath on my neck. His hand moved to my shoulder, attempting to tear off my clothes, nearing my breast. However, just as his hand was about to touch me, a voice interrupted us from behind. At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

"One more touch and I will end your life," a cold yet familiar voice threatened. Hope surged within me. It felt like I would never be harmed again because Troy had arrived.

Sensing the old man's alarm, I wasted no time. I swiftly pulled his hand away and disabled him with a kick to his leg. With determination, I forcefully broke his hand, causing him to cry out in agony. I then dealt a powerful blow to his side and stepped on his neck.

"You disgusting pervert," I growled, pressing my foot firmly against his chest.

"Please... stop!" the old man begged, but I wasn't finished with him. I was about to choke him to death when I sensed Troy's presence behind me. He placed something on my shoulder, causing me to turn towards him. He gently placed a jacket on my back.

"Your clothes are torn," he remarked. It was then that I realized the old man had actually ruined my clothes. I quickly put on the jacket Troy had given me, inhaling his comforting scent.

We exchanged intense gazes before he exhaled deeply and approached the elderly man. I was taken aback when he kicked it into slumber. Then, he turned his attention towards me, his expression inscrutable. Throughout the time we've spent together, this was the first instance that I witnessed such seriousness in him.

"Are you alright? Did he do something besides what I witnessed earlier?" he inquired, his voice grave and icy, sending shivers down my spine.

"No... I'm completely fine," I replied. He nodded, positioning himself before me. I couldn't comprehend how he knew I would be here today. How did he know I was here? Furthermore, I was clueless about how he managed to arrive precisely when I needed help.

"Then... let's go back home," he suggested, extending his hand towards me, encouraging me to grasp it and accompany him back. For the first time, I felt a genuine sense of belonging and acceptance within his home. I tentatively accepted his offer, nodding in agreement. The warmth emanating from his hand enveloped me, causing my throat to tighten as reality sank in. Fear consumed me entirely. I had almost become a victim to some abhorrent human being. What would have become of me if Troy hadn't intervened?

My eyes were fixated on Troy, yet I was still unable to decipher his emotions. He appeared so stern that I couldn't discern whether he was angry or unaffected. I took deep breaths... and suddenly, an overwhelming desire to escape from it all and return home with Troy emerged.