The doors were opened noisily and a rough looking lady was dragged into the room. Cedric watched the lady with a frown. He loosened his tie and stared as she stood.
"Sit down", He instructed her.
The lady sat down with her handcuffed hands on the table. She looked at him with lifeless eyes and waited for him to say what he was there to say.
"Did they torture you?", Cedric asked her.
"Isn't it obvious?", The lady laughed.
"Answer me, Matilda!", Cedric roared. Leo was going to be so furious if he heard of it.
"They just hit me a few times", Matilda said with a low voice.
Cedric rose up from his seat and began to expose some part of her body.
"What are you doing?", Matilda was alarmed.
"Relax. Even if I wanted to rape you, it won't be in a filthy place like this", Cedric told her.
Matilda saw the look on his face when he saw the scars and bruises over her body. He saw some long marks and some short ones.
"Why are you so concerned? You're working with Singh so-"
"What did they use on you?", He asked with his hand on her wrist.
"Let me go", Matilda flung his hand away. "Why are you pretending to care to get something from me? I'm sure Singh paid you enough to get something from me", Matilda said in anger.
"You can say whatever you want to say and spend the rest of your life here to rot or you can use your mouth to answer my questions", Cedric was back to his seat.
Matilda pursed her lips and bit her lips. She withdrew her hands to her laps and sniffed deeply. She didn't want to cry because she would look weak.
"First it was a whip", She began with a croaky voice.
Cedric tightened his fist as he listened to her. He was going to kill Singh for what he did. Leo had told him specifically not to lay a finger on her.
Cedric was even more angry that Leo was going to see her in that state because he was coming to India after he finished his business in France.
"Then, they pulled my hair and kicked me everywhere. I fought back but they slapped me", Matilda blinked. She was holding back the tears that were threatening to fall.
Cedric looked at the pretty girl that was crying. He was trying so hard not to ruin Leo's plan by telling her he was actually with her. Leo was actually helping her from the inside by collaborating with Singh.
Cedric looked at the ceiling and rolled his eyes. What was he expecting? Singh had his men tape the room so they would be listening to them.
"Is that all?", Cedric asked.
"That's all you need to know", Matilda uttered.
"It's you that's suffering after all", Cedric hissed.
"Okay, I'll be quick with my questions and go", Cedric said purposely.
Matilda looked at him in shock when he said that.
'I should delay him so I'll be kept her for an hour so so before they continue torturing me', Matilda thought in her mind.
"Tell me the names of the people that helped with the threat on the president's life", Cedric said and opened a file.
"What would I get for giving you the names?", Matilda asked.
"Freedom", Cedric said honestly. Leo wanted to know if she was the only one that attempted to hurt the president without doing much or she had people that helped her from within.
"Freedom?," Matilda scoffed. What was he talking about?
"You mean death" She corrected him with a scoff.
Cedric took a deep breath and looked at the uncooperative girl in front of him.
"I did it alone," She muttered at last. "No one use to help me when I want to do things like that"
"Really?", Cedric refused to believe her. At the same time, he does not want to doubt her because she is famous.
Matilda didn't reply to him and asked, "Is that all? I'd like to return"
"Oh! I'm sorry for taking your time. I didn't know you enjoyed getting beaten like a criminal so much", Cedric taunted her.
"Then, go on!", She yelled at him.
Cedric stared at her and knocked on the door. A guard walked in immediately with a frown on his face.
"I want to speak to Singh", Cedric requested.
"Why do you want to speak with Singh?", Ths guard asked and looked at Matilda with a frown.
"What have you done?!", He yelled and attempted to hit Matilda when Cedric held his hand firmly.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on her", Cedric warned him with coldness.
"Singh would attend to you soon", The guard said and walked out of the room.
A middle aged man with a protruded belly walked into the room. He wasn't dressed properly but he looked rich. His beards were untrimmed and he looked at Matilda with lust when he set eyes on her.
"You called for me?", Singh asked and placed his hand on Matilda's right shoulder.
"Yes. We can speak without your hand on her shoulder too", Cedric said purposely.
"I'd like us to have our talk away from here", Cedric said and walked out of the room with his hand in his pocket.
"What do you want to say? I can't let that bitch be alone for a long time", Singh said impatiently.
"Why? You want to fuck her that much?", Cedric said nonchalantly.
Singh looked at him with shock and cleared his throat, "Why did you want to see me?"
"Did you hear that Leonardo Grey instructed you and your men not to lay a finger on Matilda", Cedric's lips pulled up evilly.
"We had to so she would tell us what we don't know", Singh replied.
"Do you mind sharing what you got to know from her after torturing her?", Cedric asked.
Singh kept quiet when Cedric asked that question.
"Leonardo got permission from the president of your country before he would collaborate with you, Singh. You should be more than happy to host him when I'm not here", Cedric told him.
"He's coming here?!", Singh was scared and held Cedric's hands tightly.
"Shouldn't he?", Cedric asked back.
"Tell me what I can do to escape his wrath! I thought I would be doing him a favor", Singh pleaded with Cedric.
"Remove all cameras and tape from the room. I'd like to speak to Matilda in private. She's not telling me what I want to know because of your stupid tools", Cedric said quickly.
"Oh!", Singh sighed.
"Is that hard for you to do? Then, I'll tell Leo to hurry-"
"Consider it done! Is that all?", Singh queried with beads of perspiration on his forehead.
"And stay the fuck away from Matilda", Cedric said sternly and walked back to the room.
Singh wiped the sweat off his forehead with his kerchief. He stared at the retreating figure of Cedric and cursed.
**
Abi kept denying herself of food. She's a foodie but she refused to stick to the title in Leo's house. She was damn hungry but the time was two in the morning. She has not eaten since the time Leo's fiancée left the house and had kept to herself till night.
She had slept off but the hunger woke her up. She kept toiling in bed and her temperature rose. She wanted to text Roman since he was the family's doctor.
'What if Roman tells Leo about my predicament?', Abi thought with a a frown.
She touched her breasts and closed her eyes to breath deeply. Her nipples were darkened and her baby bump was already showing. She was usually a diva with a flat stomach but now, she would look like she was very full from eating whenever she sees people.
At least that's what she would say when they tease her about her stomach.
Her boobs were very heavy and she felt so confused.
It's just two a.m in the morning!
Her pajamas were so fluffy and she has to thank Leo for getting her that. Even though he got it directly or indirectly, she likes it. It's sky blue and the material is nice.
Right now, she was craving some ice cream and junk food. But she has no money. She has to eat those things else she would go really crazy!
She wants some cookies, brownies, cake and maybe grapes.
She has to eat but she has no money with her. She's pretty sure Riley and Jessica are asleep else she would have told them to borrow her some cash.
She would have made some of those herself but she's very tired and besides she might end up waking Butler Lee.
She rushed to the bathroom to throw up for the third time that day. She decided to tiptoe to the kitchen to see what she can eat.
'Leo is asleep', She thought angrily.
She held her phone to her chest and walked slowly to the kitchen. She froze when she saw Leo sitting on a sofa in the living room. He was working on his laptop.
But she was relaxed because he didn't know she was there. She could see his back but he didn't know who was behind him.
She quickly tiptoed to the kitchen since he was so focused on his laptop. She was glad that he didn't notice when she passed by him.
Abi sighed when she got to the kitchen. Nothing was available for her to make. There was no ingredients at all.
She would have to tell the maids in charge of getting such ingredients to buy them when it's morning.
"What are you doing?", Leo's voice brought her to reality. Abi turned around and gulped her spit.
She wasn't supposed to run into him at all! She was supposed to avoid him for some weeks or so.
But here she is! Looking at him with her heart beating faster than usual.
"Nothing", She managed to reply.
"I thought you were sleeping", He furrowed his brow.
"Oh! Yeah, I was and I'm about to go back to bed now. Good night", Abi said and looked at her flip flop.
"Good night?", He raised his brow.
Abi looked at the birth mark that was between his nose bridge and his eye. That was one of the features that made him attractive. But she would never tell him that he was attractive.
She would rather tell him he looks like a warthog. He's so cold!
"Sweet dreams", Abigail corrected herself and tried to walk away when he held her hand.
"Why are you so hot? Are you sick?", He touched her forehead and looked at her in anger.
"What?", Abi looked at him when he looked at her with madness.
"You're sick", He uttered.
"I'm not sick! It's high temperature", Abi told him.
He clicked his tongue and called her stupid. "At least I'm not ugly like your fiancée", Abi brought up the topic.
Leo had a smirk on his face when he heard that but he said nothing.
"I met your fiancée", Abi said.
"Okay", He retorted in a carefree manner.
Abi scoffed when she heard him. She flung her hand away from his due to anger. Was that all he had to say?
Bastard!
"I heard you didn't eat", He said and looked at her.
"So?", Abi asked. He shouldn't feign any form of care for her because he was miles away from showing her that.
"What do you want to eat?", He questioned.
"Nothing", Abi said angrily and pouted. She wasn't aware of what she did because it made her look cute.
Leo looked at her and chuckled slightly. Abi heard him laugh and watched him walk back to the living room. She followed after him and placed her hands on her hips.
She stood in front of him with anger on her face. Leo ignored her and continued working on his system.
"I want ice cream", She declared while rolling her eyes.
Leo ignored her even though he heard her.
"And chocolate cake. I also want some cookies and-"
"Go to bed, glutton. It's late", Leo cut in dryly.
Abi's mouth was left hanging after he said that. She was really mad.
"I'm hungry", She cried out.
"It's too late for that. As you can see, I'm busy", Leo hissed.
"Good. Then, you're responsible for whatever happens to the baby", Abi threatened him.
Leo paused when he heard her threat. That was what got him because he doesn't want anything to happen to his baby.
Abi smiled and smacked her lips when she saw him take his phone.
"Come here", He said coldly.
"What kind of ice cream do you like?", He asked her when she came over to his side.
Abi looked at his screen as his slender fingers swiped at different flavors of ice cream. She was so close to him and their faces were inches apart from each other.
She began to check him out even though it wasn't in her intention to. She bit her lips as her eyes traveled to see his sharp jawline - so perfect.
His lips were slim and small. They were also pink but she didn't want to kiss them. Why would she?!
His nose was sharp and slim. They were making her jealous because they were the one carrying his facial features. His adam's apple bobbled up and down as his fingers swiped on his screen lazily.
His beautiful eyes that were always looking lifeless were focused on his screen. His hair was ruffled and fell to his face. His brows were thick and were also rightly shaped.
He was wearing a white casual light hood and grey joggers. He suddenly stopped swiping and turned his neck around.
Abi quickly looked away when he did that. "Are you deaf?", He asked her.
"What?", She frowned.
"What flavor do you like?", He repeated his question.
"Oh! I like vanilla", She answered quickly. "I want it from nicB"
"Why? Because it's Dominic's company?", Leo scoffed.
Abi moved back and stood upright. What's with him? Even before she met Dominic, she was also in love with nicB's product like Ava.
"No", Abi answered.
"Whatever. What else do you want for eat?", He was back to his cold tone.
"Just chocolate cake", She retorted.
"I want the cake full of chocolate", Abi said with a low voice.
"That's why it's chocolate, dummy", Leo replied.
"I'm not a dummy", Abi frowned.
"Is that all?", He asked.
"Are you bored by my presence?", Abi asked.
"Yes", He replied quickly.
"I bet you'll not be bored if your fiancée was here", Abi said angrily and marched to her room in anger.
Leo watched her leave and had a headache when he saw her run on the stairs. His eyes were widened with fright and his heart began to beat when he heard a crash down the stairs.
**
"Where are you going, Roman? The party just begun", Logan yelled.
Roman turned around when he realized someone caught him when he was about to escape.
"I have to go. Abi collapsed on the stairs and she's not waking up. Leo might enter a coma if she doesn't wake up", Roman laughed.
"It's not funny. That might be only child", Logan frowned.
"Did you say Abi?", Dominic frowned.
"Yeah, she collapsed, Dom", Logan said dryly.
"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's hit the road", Dominic took out his car keys from his pocket.
"Are you a doctor?", Benjamin approached them with a bottle of alcoholic wine in his hand.
"I can already picture your faces when Abi wakes up tomorrow morning to cook me something delicious for caring for her", Dominic laughed at them.
"Let's hurry", Benjamin and Logan said in a rush.
Roman looked at the three like they were crazy. How could the mere thought of Abi's food change their mind in a second.
He might also spend the night at Leo's house to have a taste of this food they are looking forward to.
"Leo's gonna be so happy we're keeping him entertained tonight", Benjamin smiled.
45 mins later
"What are you all doing here?", Leo thundered with a cold look in his eyes.
"Chill man, we came to see our-"
"Has she woken up now?", Dominic interrupted Logan's speech.
"No", Leo replied sharply.
"You may all leave. The rooms are occupied", He further said.
"I'm sorry guys. I would send you all a picture, don't worry", Roman looked at the three.
"Abi is going to be happy if she hears we came in the middle of the night to check up on her. She would hate you more if you get us to leave when she hears of it the next morning", Logan put him in a tight corner.
"You all know the way", Leo reminded them and led Roman to check up on Abi.
"Why is she in this room? I thought you were sleeping together", Roman complained.
"Do what you want to do", Leo stated sharply.
Roman felt her pulse and shook his head. He placed his hand on her forehead and asked Leo gently, "Have you been so busy with work?"
"Why are you asking me that?", Leo questioned.
"So, I can take her away from you for good. She looks pale and fragile. Can't you take care of the mother of your child even though you don't see her as your wife?", Roman pondered.
"And when she gives birth to your child, that's if you haven't killed her till then, she'll be free from your grip. Man, she's pretty and all but I don't see why you can't develop feelings for her. You have someone to come home to. You have your own family. Tell me, Leo, do you have a family?", Roman hit a sensitive topic.
"Roman", Leo said coldly with darkened eyes.
"Haven't you thought of having a real family than the one you have just by mere documents and surname?", Roman queried.
They were having a serious matter that needed to be discussed by that time.
"Do you know that lately she became friends with Dominic?", Roman asked with a smile playing on his lips.
"Now, don't jump into conclusions. Dominic had been asking after her health because after all, she was living with Leonardo Grey. She was always telling him how perfect of a husband you've been till Ophelia came yesterday. Now, you knew about her and Ophelia fight but you never discussed anything with her. Do you want to kill your only child along with her?", Roman asked.
"Why would you ask me such?", Leo enquired.
"I have to ask, Leo. Who would ask if I don't?", Roman asked.