I was moving my feet in the air and grabbing his neck with a playful smile.
"Why are you laughing?... Do you think I'm just dragging you around for fun?" He said seriously.
My smile quickly faded when I realized the seriousness of the situation, and that this was not the time to be playful. I used to be clumsy and find fun in every situation, even when I shouldn't.
I whispered shyly, "Sorry..."
As he carried me towards Ramsay's room, I tried to hide my smile, but I failed every time, and I felt light in his arms. I tried to look serious, but I couldn't ignore the small details, like his prominent veins and his calm scent, as if I found a moment of safety in his closeness.
When we arrived, I expected him to leave me at the door, but he leaned a little closer and whispered in a quiet voice before moving away:
"Next time, don't wear such clothes to bed... I tried not to lose control this time... It's not my habit to get an erection on children... But next time..."
I threw myself next to Ramsay, and buried my head under the pillow in a desperate attempt to suppress my scream that mixed feelings of excitement, tension, and fear. What did it all mean? His words, his touch, and his carrying me... Was it a nightmare haunted by my teenage imagination? Or was his intention completely innocent while my mind wandered far into the paths of illusion? In any case, I decided to bury those thoughts for the time being.
Morning came. Ramsay woke me up while she was messing with her wardrobe, putting on her clothes in a hurry as if she had an appointment with a minister. In turn, I put on the first thing I could get my hands on, and went out with her to the breakfast table. She told me that she would accompany me home after the meal was over.
We sat at a long, luxurious dining table, made of heavy wood that reflected clear luxury, where chairs stretched around it as if they were ready to receive kings. The servants moved gracefully between us, filling plates with food. Even the ceiling in this suite was decorated with luxurious gold engravings. I tried to appear balanced, as if I was used to this atmosphere, but I couldn't stop myself from opening my mouth in surprise whenever I saw something new.
"Why all these chairs? Your family consists of only three people, and your house looks like it can accommodate an entire tribe," I asked Ramsay, who was busy browsing her phone, writing something on Instagram.
Without looking up from the screen, she replied: "We are not alone. We have a large family, but they do not meet often. For example, my father has a close brother who visits us on holidays. That is why there are extra rooms and spare chairs."
I nodded in understanding, but our conversation was interrupted by the entrance of her parents. They entered holding hands, radiating warm romance, as if they were in a scene from a classic movie.
Gabriel sat at the head of the table on the large chair, while his wife sat next to me.
"Good morning," he said in his deep voice, which carried the warmth of manhood and the power of control.
"Good morning," Ramsay replied, while I was unable to respond.
I will not lie... since he entered, my heart began to beat madly, as if the sound of its beats had become audible to everyone. Even the scent of his masculine perfume swept the place, overpowering the scent of feminine perfumes that had dominated before he entered. I felt a tension envelope me completely, as if his presence alone was enough to ignite a storm of emotions I had yet to understand.
I felt as if I was lost in a maze of emotions for the first time, unable to explain what was going on inside me. Was it fear? Love? Or something else that had no name?
I grabbed the fork and began to eat what was on the plate carefully, as if I was afraid that one movement would betray my confusion. Next to me, Ramsay and her mother were engrossed in their conversation about the perfect colors for the dress that steals the show at every party. Their words were just distant noise, as I sank deeper and deeper into the whirlpool of my thoughts.
I finished my last bite of food.
I put the fork aside and wiped my mouth with a napkin carefully placed on the edge of the table. I cautiously raised my eyes, only to find myself in front of his gaze.
He was looking at me... not a passing glance, nor those usual glances that pass without leaving a trace. No... he was penetrating me with his gaze. How should I describe it? It was not a glance of malice, nor lust, nor even love. It was a strange glance, filled with an incomprehensible obsession.
I stopped breathing for a few seconds. I tried to escape with my eyes, but my feet held me in place. I only heard her mother's voice breaking the silence:
"Raquela? I hope you're not bored. I know our house can seem a bit boring, especially since I couldn't sit with you yesterday. I was tired and I thought you were having a good time with Ramsay in her room. Did we neglect you in anything?"
Oh, my dear aunt... If only you knew. It wasn't a good time with your daughter. He was with your husband yesterday.
My mind stopped working for a moment. What can I say now? Raquela, stop! Don't lose control.
I smiled nervously: "Of course not, haha! How can time with Ramsay be boring? She's such a spontaneous girl...".
The words came out as if they were a desperate attempt to hide the truth, while my heartbeat continued to race, and his looks... still weighed me down.
Oh my god... what's wrong with him?
It was a boring, lifeless time. I didn't enjoy the taste of the food or even the words I shared at the table. The reason? His looks... those looks that still haunt me and fill my head with questions. How could his wife not notice what was happening? Is she oblivious, or is she intentionally ignoring him?
The meal was finally over, and Gabriel got up first, heading to his car. He looked like he was going to work, or maybe running away from something. Her mother headed to her room to change, while Ramsay and I headed to the door after I gathered my clothes from last night.
When we got home, I bid her farewell with a cold smile and then turned to knock on the door. One knock, then another, and no one opened it.
I started knocking hard, maybe they were asleep? But to no avail. Long minutes passed as I knocked on the door without hearing a voice from inside. Worry began to creep into my heart, with new questions buzzing in my head. Where could they be?
I suddenly remembered... My father always left a copy of the house keys in the middle of the plants in the garden.
I started looking here and there in the corners of the garden, carefully examining every plant and every stone, until my eyes fell on the key hidden next to a small indigo. I smiled to myself, took the key in my hands, and headed to the front door.
I entered the house, but the atmosphere inside the place was strange. Neither my mother nor my father... The rooms were empty, as if they had disappeared in the blink of an eye. I had no idea where they had gone, nor the reason for their sudden absence.
I started to wander around the house, heading to the kitchen, where I hoped to find something of what my mother had prepared. I needed something to calm my stomach, because what I had tasted in that palace had only made my stomach churn.
I opened the cupboards, felt through the drawers, until I spotted a small bowl of my mother's favorite soup.
I devoured the soup like a hungry dog, without thinking much. I wasn't looking for the taste as much as I wanted something to fill my empty stomach. As soon as I finished the bowl, I quickly went up to my room...
Why?
To change my clothes? No.
To sleep? Also no.
To get ready for school? Definitely not.
None of the above. I went up and the mystery was devouring my chest like a restless beast, I wanted to search, to discover, to delve deeper.
The Ramsay family... who are they really?
And Gabriel... this man surrounded by an aura of mystery, who is he?
I spent hours in front of the computer, browsing websites and diving deeper into the world of this family. And every minute that passed, I was more shocked than I expected. I couldn't resist the temptation to write down everything I discovered. I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing... not only because I wanted to keep the information, but because I was impressed and amazed by the greatness of this family.
The pictures on the social media sites were amazing, full of their events, parties, and programs. It wasn't always clear, as people appeared with them that I couldn't recognize. But some names kept coming back to me:
Ramsay Brown
Stephen Brown
In one of the pictures, there was another man next to them, his name according to the posts: Harry Bloor.
But honestly, none of them attracted me as much as Gabriel. Every picture, every article about him was enough to amaze me. His looks, his accomplishments, even his mysterious presence had a strange effect.
How could a man start a jewelry company at just 27 years old? Then go on to build an empire of private businesses that made his name shine.
But what caught my attention the most was that almost all of his pictures were devoid of a smile. Half of them showed him with a fancy cigarette between his lips, as if he owned the world in his hands.
What kind of businessman is this...?
A man in his forties, dominating like that? Enough to catch the attention of any teenager.
"Wait..." I whispered to myself out loud, distracted by a sudden thought.
Where are my parents? Did I forget about them completely?
I rushed to the bathroom like a frightened rabbit, and took a shower in a hurry. I don't want to admit that I probably forgot to put soap on half of my body in my haste.
I rushed out to change into formal clothes. And if you're wondering about school, there is no school today, for an unknown reason decided by the administration.
I carefully packed my things:
Bag, laptop, key, some money, lip balm, notebook, pen, extra battery, perfume... and a cute little knife.
Everything was in its place. I closed the door behind me, heading to the flower shop.
The flower shop wasn't far from our house, so it didn't take long for me to arrive. I opened the door that was clearly marked "Closed," but it wasn't closed to me. The owner of the shop, an old woman, had become my friend over the years. I used to come over to her, sit with her and chat during my free time, of course without my parents knowing.
"Grandma Maru..!"
Our eyes met as soon as I entered, and she immediately stopped watering the roses.
"Oh... my little one, I missed you!" she said as she dropped what was in her hands and walked towards me to hug me warmly.
Even if I spent until tomorrow describing the beauty of this old woman, I wouldn't finish. It's all positives, all warmth.
She's the only one who listens to me and understands me, the only one who comforts me when I'm sad and finds solutions to my problems, the only one who treats me tenderly as if I were her own daughter. I can't even imagine how I would feel if I lost her one day.
"Sit down... I just bought some sandwiches that are still hot, let's eat them together," she said in her broken voice, full of friendliness.
"Of course,"
Grandma Maru left and came back with a plate with two sandwiches decorated with a little ketchup, she placed it in front of me while my eyes followed her every move.
"How are you? Is everything okay?" she asked as she took her sandwich and offered me mine.
"Everything is fine. There's no one home, so I took the opportunity to see you and ease my longing."
She giggled softly, and said, "I hope there's no problem, and your father comes here like he did before."
"I don't care now. The important thing is that I saw you after a long time... I also came before and couldn't meet you."
She raised her eyebrow questioningly and said, "And why didn't I see you?"
I took a moment to remember that moment. It was the last day I came here, the day I ran away from Ramsay's father. But they followed me and found me sitting on the chair in front of the shop, catching my breath before deciding to enter. I couldn't see her then because they took me immediately.
"Forget it, I had a lot of problems on my mind at that time."
Her eyes widened in sudden shock, as if she remembered something important. "Yes! I almost forgot. A man came here asking about you... then took the chair in front of the shop door and left."
My hand stopped moving, and I felt something weighing on my chest.
I asked her in surprise, as if my mind couldn't wait, so the questions came out of me one after the other without stopping:
"What did he look like? Did he tell you his name? What did he say? What did he ask about? And why did he take the chair?"
She seemed surprised by my reaction, so she swallowed slowly and said:
"How was he? Handsome... and... very handsome... and elegant... and very elegant..."
I rolled my eyes impatiently and took her hand gently, but in a more serious tone:
"The matter is serious... Please tell me in detail."
She sighed, then answered:
"He was in his forties, very handsome as you said, and he didn't tell me his name. At first I thought he wanted to buy flowers, but he kept staring at the chair for a short while, then he asked me if a girl named Raquela usually came here."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise and asked:
"And what did you answer him?"
"My dear, I was worried about you. He seemed like a detective or something. I hesitated a bit, but I told him you only came here a few times a week."
"That's it?"
She took a thoughtful pose, scratching her head, then added after a moment, "Honestly… I don't remember everything exactly. I'm getting older, but… oh! Yes! He asked to take the chair, but I refused."
"And then?"
"The bastard took it and left, completely ignoring my refusal."
I leaned back against the couch, my hands trembling noticeably. I couldn't control my racing thoughts.
What the hell was wrong with him?
"Who is he? Is he threatening you? Tell me, my little one, and if he is, I swear I'll beat his ass!" she said sharply, her eyes narrowing as if she was preparing to pounce.
I smiled despite the anxiety that was choking me, and said in a low voice:
"No, it's not a threat... It's just... A stranger who suddenly appeared in my life."
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and her back straightened as she asked eagerly:
"Is he... Fate? Destiny?"
I sighed boredly at her dreamy thoughts and said:
"Grandma Maru, fate of what? He's a married man! Don't you see his appearance?"
She looked at me with her wide eyes as if she was whispering a cosmic secret to me:
"My little one, fate doesn't recognize appearance or condition. If it's written for you, then even if he's married to four and you're the fifth, he'll be yours. And even if he's a hundred years old... Fate will bring you together in the end."
Maru finished her words enthusiastically, then gathered the plates and stood up lightly beyond her years, leaving me lost in my thoughts. My mind was burdened with unanswered questions, and every time I tried to come up with an explanation, I found myself returning to square one. However, a slight smile made its way to my face without me realizing it... Why am I smiling? Am I crazy?
I pulled myself together and decided to regain my consciousness. I lightly slapped my cheek as if I was trying to wake myself up from a strange dream, then quickly stood up. I grabbed my bag, took one last look in the small broken mirror that I always carry, put on some perfume and arranged my lips with moisturizer.
"Maru...! I'll go now, I'm late!" I called as I walked through the door.
I put on my headphones, and the song House of Balloons started to get louder and louder. I stepped outside the store, feeling as if the entire world had frozen around me, and I was the only one moving. I chose my usual scenarios, where I am the heroine who faces everything with confidence, and despite everything that is turbulent inside me, I appeared on the outside as if I did not care about anything.
I walked through the streets with calm steps, ignoring the idea that my parents would be angry about my being late. The weather was very nice, and the sun was gently reflecting on the sidewalks wet from the morning rain, and I did not want to miss this opportunity.
But suddenly, at one of the intersections, a crowd of people gathered in an unusual way caught my attention. I stopped immediately, and tried to understand what was happening. In the middle of the crowd, there was a man in his forties shouting angrily, holding a gun with a trembling hand. His booming voice filled the room:
"Women are evil! You took my children and ran away!"
He repeated the phrase over and over, his blazing gaze following everyone around him. Whenever he waved his gun at a group of people, they would flee in panic, running in all directions, avoiding being his potential victims.
I stared at him in amazement; the scene was like a thrilling movie scene. I couldn't take my eyes off him, a strange mixture of emotions was sweeping over me. I felt fear squashing my chest, but at the same time, there was something akin to excitement, as if I was living a completely new and unfamiliar experience.
I picked up my bag and started running with the people, unable to suppress a small smile that appeared on my face unconsciously. I know my features looked strange, and some might call me crazy at this moment, but I was really enjoying myself unexpectedly.
As a girl who is used to staying at home, I didn't usually see such situations so it was crazy for me. I quickly took out my phone, turned on the camera, and started recording the video like the rest of the people gathered.
My eyes were fixed on the screen, watching the scene with strange enthusiasm, my hand following him wherever he moved. The man was shouting angrily, waving his gun, and threatening everyone without hesitation.
Suddenly, while I was busy filming him, I started to notice something strange. The man was no longer standing still. His steps seemed to be moving towards me slowly but brimming with anger, and the distance between us started to narrow.
"Wait… am I dreaming?"
The camera slipped from my hand and my phone fell to the ground as the crowds that had swept through the place cried out:
"Run!"
I turned quickly, my heart pounding madly, and started running with all my might. But before I could get far, I heard the sound of a gunshot echoing behind me. I felt its echo shake the ground beneath my feet.
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