CHAPTER 3: DON'T TOUCH ME
Fidel was personally surprised by his own reaction and feelings when he first saw the girl. At first, he did it just to make his father happy. His father had tried to persuade him several times to meet different ladies but he turned him down, giving him an excuse that he was busy with management work. He was running the Humongous Nolan onglomerate as the CEO. This time his father had personally come over from his home, where Fidel grew up, to where Fidel now lived to talk to him. He accepted.
"Can we get inside the car?" Fidel asked softly. The guards gasped. As far as they can remember, Fidel has never been this soft to a lady. They also knew he had come just to make his father happy. But why was he suddenly this soft?
"Don't try me!" Lian, who stood stranded snorted.
"Guards, I need her in my car." Fidel gave the order as he walked into the car. One guard opened the car for him and he entered. Lian was roughly shoved into the car and she found herself sitting next to Fidel. The guards were rough on her, after all he had not said she needs to be handled with care.
Angry, Lian adjusted her skirt and placed her handbag on her lap. "Why are you forcing me? A big handsome man like you whom every lady would ran to? Why not take my sisters? They are all interested in you." Lian said.
Looking out, Fidel saw Lian's two sister looking enviously looking at the car. "I don't like them." He said calmly.
"What nonsense are you saying? What do you mean you don't like them? Such a rich man, how could you accept someone to force you into choosing a wife? Are you ok?" Lian asked, sniffing angrily.
"I wasn't forced. I like you." Fidel said
Cough! Cough! The driver, who had worked for Fidel for years coughed. Boss has never liked a lady... My poor ears, what did you hear?
"Drive!" Seeing the driver cough, Fidel commanded.
"To where? I'll be late for work. Where do you think you're taking me to? You'll regret everything!" Lian struggled to open the door but it was locked and the driver had the remote. She turned to look at Fidel. "Can you let me go?'
"No."
Lian wanted to cry but she couldn't. Why was he taking her away? Sincerely, she personally didn't know his name. She had once seen him in magazines but wasn't interested to know how he was. She had heard about Fidel, but had never known him. She didn't know the Fidel every girl dreamed about was the man besides her.
They started to drive out of the compound, followed by other cars. Several cars and guards were left behind to pick Mr. Nolan. Lian looked back at a place she once called home as it disappeared from sight. A place she grew up, a place she lived until she realized everyone hated her. After all she had spent her childhood life there and even till now, she called it home. She never expected her dad to give her away.
Though they were never in good terms, she never interrupted his work. She was always on her own and did her job perfectly. She felt the pain of rejection. Her father had given her away as a business tool. He didn't show any pain when she was leaving, in fact, his face shown with happiness. Slowly, drops of tears flowed down her face.
Why? Why me and not anyone else? She tried to live her life, giving her sister's the freedom they needed, relieving her father of the burden of providing money and all the other necessities the way he did for her sisters. Except for eating and sleeping there, she did nothing more and asked for nothing.
Fidel was surprised when he saw the girl crying. Her face was creased and he could feel her pain. Her eyes were distant and sorrowful. Her hair hung in her face and a part of her shirt was slightly untucked. Her hand held tightly on her handbag.
"Sorry I..." He tried to reach out to her but she slapped off his hand.
"Don't touch me." Lian sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
Fidel forced a smile. She was too fragile when she cried, but wouldn't accept any help.
AMBER CASTLE
The cars drove into the castle and Fidel got out first. The driver, Eden, opened the car for Lian, who snorted to him before getting out. Fidel thought, like other girls, she would stop to look around the big beautiful castle but he was mistaken, Lian pulled out her phone and looked at it, then knowing she couldn't leave because they won't allow her, walked directly into the castle, leaving Fidel, the owner of the castle out, dumbfounded. The guards were also surprised.
Lian walked upstairs and opened a room looked inside and closed it. It was of no doubt Fidel's bedroom because she saw the clothes neatly arranged in the closet. She walked to a different room, opened it and locked herself from inside. She then dialed a number.
"Hello... I won't make it today, something happened." She said. After a few words with the manager, she decided to call Eva. She didn't give her any explanation but told her that she would be late. After the call, she walked to the adjacent bathroom which was clean and fresh and took a shower. She didn't like the way the guards handled her.
She then came out wrapped in a towel and realized she can't wear her old clothes after a shower and had nothing to change to.