Café Rouge

Chapter 2: Reintroduction

Chapter 2: Reintroduction

 

Lola shoots the abomination of a man across from her an angry glare. He doesn’t even hold the right to be called human. No, he’s a monster. A downright asshole. She refuses to speak to him. Not that he cares.

Oh no, because a stupid phone holds him attention far more than her. Whatever.

“Where are you taking me?” she grits out, breaking her own vow of silence. His stormy eyes hold her gaze for a moment before he breaks away-bored.
“Wherever I please-”
Fury bursts through Lola and in an irrational burst of energy, she snaps off her seatbelt before attacking the door handle. Only it rattles in vain causing her captor to break into snickers.
Turning back, her cheeks stain red as she furrows her eyebrows in rage and embarrassment.  

“I predicted you would be unpredictable, so that side-your side-has child locks fitted, meaningit can only be opened from the outside,” he explains.
“I am not a child,” she hisses in retort.
He raises his scared eyebrow again-the very frequent motion causing yet another irrational burst of anger in Lola.
“Yet you behave like one.”
“Oh? Then tell me, how exactly am I meant to behave, Mr Castellano, when someone blackmails me and kidnaps me?”
He responds with a moment of silence before finally stating, “it would be in your best interest to comply, Miss Beaumont.”

Another icy glare is her only response.

They finally stop. And judging by the intimidating skyscrapers surrounding them she knows they’re on the far northern part of the city. It’s a far cry from the smaller, village-like southern side, which she grew up in. What the hell are they doing here in this alien seeming planet?
Her eyes snap back as all the men step out of the car before her own door opens. One of the goons (the one who’d tossed her over his shoulder) offers his hand but she refuses it. She’s not a goddamn child.

Stepping out she naturally follows the distancing back of Carlos. Giving a nod to the doorman who graciously keeps the door open for her, she finds herself in one of the grandest foyers, she’s ever seen.
He strides into the elevator, awaiting for her company. With no other choice, Lola steps into the confided space, trying to ignore the imposing men crowding her space. Glancing to the side, she notes with surprise that they’re headed to the top floor. She wonders what’s on the top floor. An apartment? That’s the only thing that makes sense. But why is he taking her to an apartment building? Is it to…take her to meet his guests? Or maybe it’s to toss her off the top. That sure would be a spectacle, wouldn’t it?

“Rico, Marco, thank you.”
Lola’s head whips around as the elevator doors open and Carlos bids his bodyguards a farewell. She suppresses a shudder at the notion of being alone with Carlos.
Her upper arm is suddenly clamped tightly and she gasps in shock as he drags her forwards.
“You don’t have to drag me, you know! It’s not like I can do a runner!” she hisses as he urges her towards the apartment door and unlocks it.
She stumbles inside from his forceful push and regaining her balance she assess the room with confusion. It looks just like an apartment building-alabeit a fancy, furnished one but still just a building.
Where are the imposing drug lords? Where are the hookers? Where’s the booze and the gambling and the…
There’s a thump behind her, signalling the dropping of her bag of things they stole from her room. Spinning around, she takes a defensive stance, wearily wondering what now.

His steel grey’s rake her top to bottom, making her feel extremely self-conscious but that feeling soon dissipates when he cocks his finger to draw her to him. Planting her feet into the ground she shakes her head. She’s going nowhere near him than she needs to be.
Except Carlos Castelllano doesn’t take no for an answer.