L I Z Z I E
46 | turning point
"Keep your eyes closed!" I order Ryan as I cover his eyes with my palms while he sits on the couch.
"Got it," he murmurs.
"I'm warning you...don't ruin the fun. I'll be mad."
"I won't. Promise," he swears dedicatedly.
I let my hands drop from his eyes, walking to the other end of the couch where I kept the shopping bags before. I find the object I am looking for — a small gift-wrapped box that is the present I bought for him. It is cheap considering I bought it from my salary which I have been saving for emergency purposes. But I have made it special for him.
I round the couch to stand in front of him, holding the little gift in my extended hands.
"Open your eyes."
He cracks his eyelids open slowly, first one and then the other. When his gaze lands on the box, a furrow of confusion appears between his eyebrows. He takes the box from my hands, turning it over to inspect it.
"What's this?" he asks.
"Open and see...Duh!"
"Okay..." He nods to himself carefully as he starts untying the red ribbon on top of the box.
He unfurls the wrapping carefully, then unclips the box. His eyes shine when they land on the watch inside. It is a black metallic watch which is nothing like the one he wears considering it is less pricey but it still holds his attention. He places the box down on the coffee table and unhooks the watch from the packaging.
"This is beautiful, Lizzie. Thank you." He curves his lips to a pleasant smile.
"That's not all," I say. "I lied to you before about why I was so late."
"What do you mean?"
I work my jaw, swaying on my toes and heels as I look down. "I...I was actually making this watch more special for you. I wanted to give you a present that you would always cherish from me."
I place my hand over his on the watch, then turn it to show him the engraving on the back. His breathing stills when he scans over the words engraved on the metal.
To the king of my heart
- From your Lizzie
"Lizzie..." He draws my name out, voice straining, as he looks at me. "That's...that's the most special gift anyone has ever given to me."
The blue in his pupils shines with delight as his thumb grazes over the engraving. I have to prevent myself from jumping on him while he is being vulnerable because the fact that he loves my gift makes me want to do exactly that. I observe him quietly as he appreciates my present with the loveliest of smiles taking over his face.
"You really like it, right?" I inquire while shifting on my foot. "I mean...it isn't too cliche I hope. It's not like I expect you to wear it...I mean...you don't have to. Not if you don't want to and...I know how much show is important for billionaires like you. Whatever you wear becomes a trend so...I'll understand if you don't want to wear something as cheap as—"
My mumbling stops abruptly, cutting to a small shriek as Ryan grabs my hands, spinning me and pulling me down on his lap. I land on his thigh, the sudden action startling me. I lock eyes with him and he immediately crashes his mouth with my own, swallowing my surprise as he gives me a deep kiss that makes my toes curl.
Goosebumps scatter over my skin. I hold him by the collar of his shirt as the taste of the whiskey that he had for dinner fills my tongue. I groan when his tongue dominates mine, forgetting everything that I am supposed to remember and just getting lost in the moment.
When he pulls his mouth away, I am breathless with my thighs squeezing for more of his touch and kisses.
"Stop babbling nonsense," Ryan mumbles over my mouth. "The next time I hear you call anything of yours cheap, I'll spank your ass red, okay?"
His warning only excites me but I still nod ceremoniously. "I'm sorry."
"Good girl. Now make me wear this."
He hands the watch to me. I take it, blushing hard as he lifts his wrist for me. I put the watch on his wrist, my fingers lightly dancing over his skin as I tie the belt. Once it is done, the watch fits him perfectly.
"It suits you," I say with a grin as I admire his wrist with the watch adorning it.
"It does," he comments, showering kisses down my throat like he is showering me with all his love.
He gets up from the couch while kissing me and scoops me up in his arms.
"What about my present?" I tease him while he flutters kisses down my collarbone, tracing it back up my jaw and then placing a peck on the corner of my mouth.
He walks while carrying me in the direction of his bedroom which has been our bedroom too for a few days now.
"You'll get your present tonight," he rasps breathily against my lips. "You'll get your present all night. Anything you want."
"Anything?" I trail a finger along his sharp jawline.
"Anything."
"Will you let me call you Daddy just for tonight?"
That is a real test for him because he never lets me call him that. He keeps arguing that he is not old enough to be my Daddy. Something about Crystal and a white strand of hair seems to be the reason behind his denial.
"Smart ass." He nips the tip of my nose gently. "Just for tonight."
"Thanks, Daddy."
I move my mouth to his throat, peppering him with small pecks of my lips on his skin. My fingers find their way to his hair, grasping the strands in fists as heat fills my body.
He enters the bedroom, shutting the door behind him with a kick.
***
I wake up to the sound of glass crashing somewhere. I fling the comforter off me, glancing to find Ryan's side of the bed empty but the bedroom door is still closed.
Fear takes over my heart, a wild imagination of Ryan being hurt making me slide down the bed in a hurry. I am naked and the cold air from the air conditioner prickles my skin. My phone displays the time as almost 6 am.
I search for my T-shirt which I had been wearing last night on the floor. I don't find it anywhere. Instead, there is a neatly folded pair of jeans and a boyfriend shirt placed for me on the bed. They are my own clothes but I don't remember keeping them here.
A murmur of voices from behind the bedroom door alerts my senses. Is there someone else in the penthouse? Strange. It is so early in the morning.
I take the clothes dutifully with me to the bathroom, changing into them before quickly brushing my teeth. I am not used to Ryan's routine. Waking up this early is perhaps normal for him.
I step out of the bedroom, seeing the light in the hallway on even though daylight seeps in through the glass walls. I traverse the hallway with careful steps bare feet on the floor, jumping back when I enter the living room.
A chill washes over me as I find a finely-dressed Winston pointing a gun at Ryan who is backed against the private bar. He has his hands raised in defense, dressed in only his jeans which are hanging low around his waist.
Behind Winston, Reece stands, dressed in a dark suit and dress pants with his hands leisurely placed inside his pockets. He looks on at the scenario with a bored expression while his twin is at gunpoint.
"Sign it, Ryan. I'm warning you for the last time," Winston seethes, venom coating his voice.
His words make me spot the iPad on the floor near Ryan's feet with the pencil on top.
"I'm not signing anything. Kill me if you have to," Ryan retorts, his jaw tight.
"No!" My exclamation is high-pitched as it pierces through the quiet hall.
The three men turn their attention to me at the same time. Ryan goes pale while Winston blinks at me blankly.
"Lizzie...get out of here," Ryan orders me.
"No! Let him go..." My gaze collides with Winston's as I dig my nails into my palms. "What are you doing?"
Winston looks on without answering me. He keeps the gun pointed at Ryan but his face is devoid of any emotion. I don't even find what could be described as anger in those brown pupils. He is the same Winston except he has a gun pointed at the man I love and that makes him terrifying.
"Lizzie, leave!" Ryan yells at me with a tone that is loaded with worry.
"I'm not going anywhere. What the fuck is happening here!?"
I suddenly remember that there is only one thing I can do in such a situation. I reach into my pocket to bring out my phone. As soon as I take it out, someone grabs it from me. I flinch away when I find Reece in front of me. He smirks as he tucks my phone into the inside pocket of his suit.
"Fuck!" I hear Ryan mutter as I back away a few steps while Reece closes in on me.
His eyes are suddenly deeper like Ryan's, the pupils dilated as he rakes them through my face. The last time I had seen Reece, I had hurt him emotionally and tormented him as I made him watch his brother fuck me.
I want to go back and stop myself from making that choice now.
"Reece...What's happening? Please..." I plead but he grabs my arm in a harsh grip, dragging me with him toward Winston.
"Use her as bait," Reece directs Winston.
"Let her go!"
Ryan attempts to reach for me but Winston slams him on his cheek with the barrel of the gun.
"Ryan!" I cry.
Ryan's face gets marked by a cut that oozes blood instantly. I scream, unable to bear his pain as he stumbles back at the impact, his knees crumbling to the floor. Reece curls an arm around my waist, his other arm pressing against my throat to keep my back pressed to his chest.
"Sign the fucking document, Ryan, or we take the girl," Winston warns Ryan.
"Don't touch her..." Ryan coughs as he crawls on his hands and knees. "She doesn't have anything to do with this."
"Sign the document and she'll be let go." Winston shoves the iPad closer to Ryan with a boot. "You know it isn't yours. Neither the company nor the mansion. Your mother has already given away the mansion. Now, you sign the company to its rightful owner and we'll be done here."
"You can't do this..." Ryan looks at Reece, his face marred by an agony so intense that it captures my heart in misery as I battle to escape Reece's hold on me. "Brother...why are you letting him do this? Let her go."
Reece's hold around my body only tightens. I can't see him but I feel his breath against my cheek as he speaks.
"Just sign the document, Ryan. Don't expect me to fight for you. You and I have been long down, brother."
"Reece...don't...I'm begging you—"
Winston slams the gun against the side of Ryan's face again, stopping his words. The sound of the hit is loud, sounding through the air like the crack of a whip so sharply that even Reece tenses behind me. Blood spits out from Ryan's mouth, causing him to struggle to hold his ground.
Winston crouches on the floor, bringing himself to Ryan's eye level. "No begging is going to save you. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of the woman you claim to love and sign it...or we'll take her."
"My security will kill you if you step out with her."
Winston drops his head, his shoulder shaking as he lets out a cold laugh. "Why do you think I have kept your brother in league with me? Or have you forgotten that you both look the same? From here...it's straight to your chopper on the rooftop, Ryan."
Panic flares across Ryan's face. He glances at me, his face bloodied from the two hits Winston landed on him.
"Ryan..." I only have the strength to whisper his name, seeing the hesitation clear in his expression as he debates with himself.
"Okay..." He nods to himself. "I...I'll sign them. But let her go first."
"Sign first and then we'll let her go." Winston points the gun at the iPad.
Ryan gulps as he picks up the pencil, his hand moving with agility on the screen as he signs. Once he is done, Winston grabs the iPad and the pencil, clicking on the screen.
"And it's done. Good job, Ryan," he mutters, getting up to stand. "Reece...take the girl."
"NO!" Ryan's scream is blood-curdling, followed by my own when Reece hauls me over his shoulder.
My vision swirls with the sudden blood rush to my head. I punch my fists on Reece's back while he walks ahead of Winston who keeps his gun pointed at Ryan.
"You move from here and we'll throw her from the roof, got it? I want you to stay here. You call the cops, or the security or anyone else...and I'll kill her, understood?"
"You lied, bastard! Let her go!" Ryan stays on his knees, slamming his fists on the floor in distress. His expression is crumpled as he watches me being dragged away from him. "Let her go...please."
"Let me go!" I yell, kicking my legs in the air as Reece enters the elevator, followed by Winston.
The doors shut and Winston presses the button that will take us to the roof. I am struggling over Reece's shoulder while he doesn't budge an inch from my failed attempts at detangling myself from him.
I only stop when his free hand moves to slide back into his pocket, the watch on his wrist catching the light from above. It makes the fight in my body cease immediately as I stare at it with a rapid heart rate.
It is the watch I made Ryan wear with my own hands just a few hours back.
—
• author's note •
hi readers!
apologies for the late update
I have been sick and was preparing for exams next week but found out just now that they have been postponed so expect an update on Monday too
what did you think about this chapter?
comment a ❤ if you're excited to read the next one!
see you after 100 comments!