Bruno
Now I am sure that Lina is making it a point to fight with me on everything.
Did I hear her right?
"Compromise?"
"Yes.I feel it is the only way forward."
"Or I can just pick you up,carry you to the bedroom and toss you in my bed," I say to her as I unfold my arms to use them to steady myself on the counter.
Lina's response is to laugh.A low, mocking laugh.
I look at her,puzzled.
If I didn't know her any better I'd think that I had managed to break her in less than 48 hours with her.
But I do know better.
"You don't think I'll just sit still and let it happen,do you?No ,Bruno.By now,you have to realise that it is not easy to get me to do something that I don't want to do."
"But it's not impossible, "I counter with a smile.
"It is still a lot of work,don't you agree?"she says,tossing her long hair backwards to fully show her angelic face.
I'm starting to realise just how not angelic Lina is.With just a little push,the meek facade dissapears to reveal a woman who's will go to unknown lengths to survive.
"You are nothing I can't handle,Lina.Don't go fooling yourself,"I tell her for her to narrow her eyes at me at the insult.
I don't care if I offended her because I know that she can take it like a big girl and dish it back to me just as nicely.
"You're the fool here for not wanting to listen to me.What I am proposing is a way you and I can sleep in your bedroom together without one of us getting hurt in a special part of their anatomy,"she informs me.
I smile inwardly.
Now she is making threats.Interesting.
Though I have to admit,she kind of does have a point.
Getting her to share my room is not going to be child's play.She is sure to give me shit every step of the way.
As a businessman, I think I should hear her out.See if there there wasn't a better deal available.
"Alright.I'm listening,"I tell her.
She smirks trimphantly with those pink lips,making me want to take it back.
I don't like loosing.Even to her.
She then coughs,suddenly looking a bit nervous.
I roll my eyes again.Armateur.
"Okay.How about this:We stay in the bedroom together,like you want, but we sleep at separate places.Me,on the bed and you on that super comfy looking black couch,"she says with a serious expression.
Now It's my turn to laugh like a maniac.
I burst into a loud and endless laugh.
This woman has a wicked sense of humour.
What she is suggesting is the most ridiculous thing I have heard since Leo thought he could forbid me from being with her.
"Good one,"I tell her with a huge grin.
She gives me a serious look,not amused in the slightest.
I don't understand why.What she just suggested was crazy.
I mean the whole point of sleeping in the same bed as her is to seduce her.What she is suggesting kind of defeats the purpose of my plan.
Or does it?I wonder as my amusement fades away.
I mean all I had to do was be in the same country as the woman to get in her head.I didn't necessarily have to have Lina in my bed to seduce her.Damn it,I don't even have to be in the same room to do that.
In fact ,sleeping in the same bed as her just puts my balls at more risk,if anything.
She is one desperate woman.
You know,I think this might not be the worst suggestion in the world.
I know,I can't believe I just thought that too.
"So let me get this straight, "I start,folding my arms again."You will share the bedroom with me,only I won't sleep in the same bed as you?"
"That's right,"she says."I'll be on the bed and you'll be on the couch."
"Okay.You got it."
"Come again."
"I said that you got it.You can sleep on your own if that's what you want,"I say for her to look at me in shock.
I don't think she ever really expected me to agree.
Join the club.
"You're serious?"she asks incredulously.
"Yes,Lina.Despite what you think l,your feelings do matter to me, " I tell say for her to give me an unimpressed look.
"But I do have a small,tiny little condition,"I say.
She groans and rolls her eyes in a way that says that she knew it was too good to be true.
Now I almost want to take the last thing I said back.
Unlike other people,I don't like crushing the hope her eyes.
"What condition?"she manages to asks.
"Don't look so alarmed,Lina.I just want to get the bed.You can sleep on the couch."
Her face looks dissapointed.Like she thought that I would ask for her soul or something to get a separate bedding.
"You want to sleep on the bed?"she asks.
"Yep.I want a good night's rest."
"What about me?"
"You can have that "comfy couch" you mentioned earlier."
"You expect me to sleep well in the couch?Not happening,"
God,this woman...Why does she have to fight with me for every little thing.
"You're the one who rejected my first offer,"I point out to her.
" And you should be grateful instead of complaining. I'm giving you you wanted:your own place to sleep.Take the win, stop pushing your luck,"I tell her,wanting us to end this discussion.
"So you first you kidnap me and then you make me sleep on the couch?"she tells me,still not letting it go.
"That's my final offer,take it or leave it.And just so you know,If you were someone else,I would put you on the floor,"I say for her to look horrified.
That's right.She should think about that before calling me a monster.
"Fine,"she says."I can sleep on the damn couch."
"Damn straight, you can.Now,can we go and get some sleep or is there anything else,my queen?"
She answers by moving from the counter and walking out of the kitchen,giving me scathing look.
At this point,I'm starting to wonder if I'll survive the night.
*****
Lina
As soon as we arrived in Bruno's room,I went straight to the bathroom and locked myself in.
It's been about four minutes and I don't have any plans to go out yet.
I look at myself in the mirror.The woman who just stood up to Bruno is gone and has left behind a girl with a distraught face and terrified eyes in her stead.
I can't believe that this is happening,that I am about to sleep with Bruno.
It doesn't seem real.None of this does.
You can do this,Lina.You can,I tell myself.
Who am I kidding?I think dropping my head.
This man is a psychopath and he kidnapped me.
And he agreed way too easily to let me sleep alone.He must have something up his sleeve.
I won't be able to survive this one night with him.
I open the faucet and spray myself with water.I can't say it helps my appearance but atleast it calms me down a bit.
Alright,sure, Bruno's room isn't the safest place in the world but I won't be sleeping with him.And he did promise that he wouldn't touch me so I'm good.Everything is good.
So I should just go out there like a confident girl and get some sleep.
"Hey,Lina,"Bruno says with a knock on the door.
"What!"I respond panicked.
"I wanted to ask,are you planning on sleeping in there or..."
"I'm peeing.I'll be out soon,"I snap at this asshole.
Can't even give me one moment of peace.
"You've been in there for five minutes now."
"So? Aren't worried about me being suicidal or something?"
"Of course I am.But then I remember that you have too much to live for and I stop worrying.I mean what would happen to your family and friends if you were gone?"he says.
Was that...a threat?
"Well,rest assured that I am not going to kill myself. If I was planning on doing that,I would start with you,psycophath,"I tell him,meaning every word.
"Yeah right, Lina.Come out of here soon,okay?"he says with a tap on the door.
"Go away,"I tell him.
"Fine but you can't hide there forever, "I hear him say.The next second I hear him walk away.
I breathe a sigh of relief before looking in the mirror again.
But I know that he is right.I can't hide here forever like a coward.I have to out there and face him.It's the only way that I can beat him.
With one last deep breath,I open the door and walk into the dark bedroom.
My eyes however adjust quickly and I am able to see a little.
Bruno is already laying on his king-sized bed wearing only boxers and nothing else.
I look away quickly before my eyes get glued to him.
Nope.
Not going down this path again.
"I thought that you were never going to get out of there,"he says.
"And miss out on the chance to cut off your balls while you sleep.Come on?"I reply as I walk towards the couch that already have a blanket and pillow on it.
I still can't believe that I will be sleeping here.It should be him!
But I guess that it's not that big of a deal.There are worse things.
With a sigh,I quickly go to lie on the couch infront of Bruno's bed and cover myself with the comforter.
"Lina."
"What,"I snap,not feeling like tolerating him right now.
I'm sleeping in a fucking couch thanks to him.
"Don't try to cut off my balls when I'm asleep.I won't respond well to that."he says.
"I won't, as long as you don't put your hands on me," I retort smoothly.
"I won't.Not without your permission.Even if it physically kills me to see you in those shorts and not do anything about it,"he says for me to feel my cheeks heating up again.
Why does he have to say things like that and why do I have to respond like this?
I don't say anything but just close my eyes instead.
"Lina,"he calls again.
"What?"I say turning towards him.
It's so dark, I can't even see him anymore.
"I want you to know that I..."
"You What?"I ask when he stops.
"That...I will not show your family mercy if you do not do your part tommorow,"he finishes.
I dont why but I feel like he wanted to say something else.Like I wanted him to say it.
Strange.
"I will do what needs to be done,Bruno.But just know thst I will never forgive you for making me do it," I say before turning away from him again.
"As long as you do it,"he says,asshole that he is.
I dont say anything,not wanting to keep talking with him about this.
I'm already nervous about tomorrow as it is.
"Lina,"he calls again.
"What now?"I snap turning towards him again.
I'm starting to think this is a new way to torture me.
"Sorry,last thing.I just want you to sleep knowing that you're safe here.No one will hurt you."he informs me.
"You promise?"I ask,my voice loosing some of thst fierceness.
"Yes,"he answers.
I hate how much relief I feel at hearing him say that.
I trust him a bit.
He is a psycophath and I know it's stupid but I trust him when he says that he wouldn't hurt me.
"Says the guy who put two people that I know in a hospital,"I retort,not wanting him to know that his words will definitely make me sleep better.
I still think that he is planning something but whatever it is,it is not going to happen tonight.
"Touché,"he says in a hard voice.
After that neither of us say anything for the rest of the night.
We've already said whatever we wanted to say to each other and have gotten very far with each other.
I guess that we are tied right now and the question of is going to win lies only in the future.