Chapter 7: Emerald
The room was silent.
"W-what do you mean you know how I am?" Cloe asked.
Angela shot Xavier a look.
"You should explain because you were the one who lied to her in the first place."
Xavier visibly tensed.
He looked down at Cloe who was expectantly looking up at him.
"Cloe...I was sent along with some other men to come find you." he said rubbing the back of his head.
"What are you trying to say?" Cloe's asked.
A knot was beginning to form in the pit of her stomach.
"We work for the man who bought you from your father...he called my boss to inform him that you had ran away so my boss sent out a search team with a photograph to find you"
Cloe was speechless. She felt the knot in her stomach grow.
"If I had told you that at the hospital you would never have come with me...And I would have lost my job or even worse put my family in danger"
"Put your family in danger?" Cloe was confused. "How would that put your family in danger?" she asked.
"Our boss is a very dangerous person...If you want to live I would advise you not to do anything stupid like trying to run away again." Angela said.
Cloe didn't want them to see how scared she really was.
"So where is this boss you speak so highly of ?"she asked.
"He's flying in tomorrow." Xavier answered.
Cloe still could not believe her ears.
"So this isn't actually your room?" she asked turning toward Angela.
"Nope, it was just something to keep you distracted."
"So who's clothes are these?" Cloe asked tugging at the clothes she was wearing.
Angela looked over at Josh.
"You'll find out in due time..." he said, there was a whisper of sorrow in his voice.
Cloe was devastated. She looked up at the both of them.
"You guys could actually make it as actors." she said the bitterness threatening to last out of her.
Xavier shifted guiltily.
"Come on Xavier, now that our cover is blown we don't have to entertain her anymore." Angela said walking toward the door.
Xavier followed her out.
As soon as the door closed Cloe rushed over to it trying the handle.
As expected, it was locked.
"Don't do anything you're going to regret." she heard Angela call from the other side.
Cloe stood staring at the door.
This just proves that I can't trust anyone.
She felt betrayed.
"I just ran right into the hands of what I was running from" she said out loud laughing bitterly.
She felt numb.
She knew that she should probable be crying or plotting her escape but she simply just didn't care anymore.
She walked over to the bed and threw herself onto it.
Staring up at the at ceiling she opened the door to all kinds of dark thoughts.
She had been fighting all her life.
But now she was tired.
*********
Cloe didn't know what to think.
She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep.
She still couldn't grasp how twisted her luck was. Her attempt to escape had gone so horribly wrong.
All kind of thoughts flooded her mind.
"Should I try to escape again?"
"What's this guy going to be like?"
"Is HE a serial killer?"
"Is he running a trafficking ring?"
She felt betrayed.
"Maybe I should just give up and accept my fate" she thought with a sigh.
As she was drifting between these thoughts a knock sounded at the door.
She jumped.
She decided to ignore it just to see what would happen.
"Open the door" Josh called.
She didn't budge.
The sound of keys followed a few seconds later.
Josh stepped into the room keys in hand.
"Good morning I trust you slept well"
Cloe scoffed.
"This man can not be serious" she thought deciding not to answer.
"You're giving me the silent treatment?" he asked raising his brows in ammusment.
She remained silent.
"Ok" he said chuckling
"My boss is here to pick you up."
Cloe tensed.
"He was told about all the trouble we went through to recapture you so he's here to collect you as to ensure none of that happens again"
She tensed even more.
"Yup he can't afford to lose you after he payed so much, your dad sure is a tough bargain." he said chuckling again.
"Anyways enough chit chat, lets get moving"
She had no other choice but to follow him out of the room.
He lead her to the front hall where a stranger stood waiting.
Cloe couldn't help but stare.
The stranger was gorgeous.
He had jet black hair that shone even though the room was lit only by the dim rays of the just rising sun.
When his eyes fell on them Cloe was shocked at how green they where.
They were like emeralds.
"Here she is boss" Josh said pushing her forward.
He gave her a once over.
"Good, next time something like this happens you're through Xavier." he said.
His voice was very deep yet surprisingly soft.
"It won't happen again." Josh assured him.
Cloe slapped herself mentally.
"What are you thinking!?" she scolded herself.
"Lets go, I have business to attend to." he said motioning for Cloe to follow him.
She turned to look back at Josh who mouthed
"Don't do anything stupid."
She glared at him as she turned to follow her new owner.
There was a limo waiting for them.
The driver opened the door.
She got in followed by the stranger.
Once in the limo she realized that she was surrounded by men in black suits.
"Woah"
The engine started and they were on their way.
So many questions where bouncing around in Cloe's mind, but she decided to keep her mouth shut.
She knew nothing about this stranger and the thought of disturbing him with her questions made her squirm.
She kept her eyes glued to her hands in her lap.
The silence in the car was suffocating.
It was so quiet that she swore they could hear her heart pounding.
*****
After a painfully long drive the limo finally came to a stop.
Cloe got out after the stranger.
She noticed that they were immediately surrounded by the men in black.
"They must be body guards" she thought.
A quick scan of the area revealed that they were at what appeared to be a private air strip.
There was a jet waiting with its engine blaring.
They moved toward it.
Her casted hand began to itch.
She ignored it.
They climbed the stairs into the jet.
Cloe's eyes bulged as they stepped inside.
It was reeking luxury.
The stranger motioned for Cloe to sit by the window.
He then took the seat beside her.
Two bodyguards sat facing them.
She felt anxiety building in the pit of her stomach as the jet's engine started.
Her mind was once again flooded with questions.
"Where am I going?"
"What's going to happen to me?"
But the most dominant thought in her mind was
"Who exactly is this man sitting next to me?"