Chapter 182 : New Morning with a surprise

In a dry whisper, Ava asked, "Who changed my clothes? This isn't what I was wearing."

The shirt she was wearing was oversized, clearly not her own. It was a man's shirt. 

Ibrahim looked down at her, "Good morning," 

She bit her lower lip, suppressing a surge of anger, "I asked you a question." 

He leaned over, his hand resting casually on the headboard. "Who do you think? Do you think anyone else would have the audacity to touch you?"

Her mouth opened in disbelief. How dare he? How could he be so brazen, so utterly without shame? How could he be so nonchalant about the situation? He had touched her, changed her clothes, and now he was acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "You're joking."

"I'm not," he held her gaze, "Why would I miss such a privilege?"

"You're disgusting," she spat out, her voice rising in pitch. "How could you even think about taking advantage of me?"

No way.... Could he have...? No, it couldn't be. She was in shock. Ava couldn't believe what she was thinking, but the possibility was there - he might have done something more intimate while she was unconscious.

"Sssshhhh, you're thinking too much. I would never stoop so low as to take advantage of you when you were unconscious. I know you have every reason to doubt me, given everything that's happened, but I assure you, I didn't touch you inappropriately. I'm not that kind of man, Ava. Whatever else you think of me, know that I respect you too much to ever do something like that." 

 "Those sweet words don't suit you at all. You're capable of anything." she retorted. 

And Ibrahim's smirk returned, "Oh, is that so? Do you want me to be cruel? Because I can be. I can be whatever you want me to be."

"Be a human first."

He laughed. His chuckle grated on her nerves. He turned away from her, moving towards the wooden partition that separated the bedroom from the closet.

His nonchalant way of ignoring her words triggered Ava, and she went towards Ibrahim, but he was in the middle of getting dressed. She averted her gaze and asked, "Where are we now? How did I end up here?"

Ibrahim, focused on buttoning his shirt, replied casually, "We're in London."

Ava's eyes widened in shock. "What? L-London?"

"Yeah, see that yourself. Open the window."

She rushed to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains. The view that unfolded before her was breathtaking.....

The sky was a soft, pale grey, with a few patches of blue peeking through. Little bits of snow still clung to the rooftops of the other grand villas, hinting at a recent snowfall. The roads below were damp from the melting snow, giving everything a fresh, clean look.

She couldn't feel the air because the window was still closed, but she could see the gentle breeze outside, rustling the branches of the tall, bare oak and maple trees. The breeze carried small flurries of snow, swirling them gently through the crisp, cold air. The leaves, long gone, left the trees standing stark and skeletal against the pale winter sky.

The houses in the area were large and elegant, each one exuding a sense of luxury and exclusivity. Ava could tell that this was a neighborhood for the elite. Well-kept gardens lined the streets, and expensive cars were parked in the driveways.

Ava stood there for a moment, taking it all in. The beauty of London in December was undeniable, but it did little to calm her racing thoughts. She turned to see Ibrahim standing behind her. He was dressed impeccably, a black long coat draped over a crisp white shirt, tucked neatly into black pants. He looked every bit the part of a man in control. In his hand, he held an envelope. She hadn't even realized he was standing there, and she had no idea how long he had been watching her.

"How did I get here without even knowing?" She couldn't remember leaving the house, let alone boarding a plane. And he just made a gesture with his fingers, mimicking the motion of flying.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, "I was un-unconscious. How did you get me through airport security and everything?"

"Security?" He stepped closer, "Do you think I'm some pauper who can't afford a private jet?"

"You're unbelievable," she whispered, not sure if she was more amazed at his audacity or her own helplessness in the situation. "I never thought you could pull something like this off. You never lose a chance to surprise me—or what should I say? You're an expert in putting me in situations where there's no escape. You always find a way to control everything, to manipulate the circumstances so that I have no choice but to follow along with your plans.

...

Every time I think I've seen the extent of your cunning, you find a way to outdo yourself. Bringing me here, to London, without my knowledge, without my consent… How far are you willing to go, Ibrahim? Is there any limit to your need for control?"

Ava's eyes burned with anger as she looked at him, "You think you can just move me around like a pawn on a chessboard, make decisions for me, and I'll just go along with it? Do you enjoy seeing me struggle, seeing me trapped in situations I never asked for? Is this all some game to you?"

Ibrahim listened to her outburst without interrupting. After all, Ava wouldn't be Ava if she stayed silent when he pulled stunts like this.

 Her fiery spirit and refusal to back down were part of what he admired about her, even if it was currently directed at him. There was a peculiar comfort in knowing that her passion, however negative, meant she hadn't entirely given up on him. He silently took out the envelope from his coat and extended it toward her. She eyed it suspiciously, furrowing her brows. "What is this now?" 

"See for yourself." 

Ava opened the envelope. Her eyes widened as she read the contents. It was a scholarship invitation letter from the University of London, offering her a place to complete the last semester of her graduation and also a spot in their master's program. She couldn't believe her eyes. Had she read it correctly? How was this possible?

She looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you get this? Now whom did you kill for this scholarship? Wh-what...I can't believe this... How come the University of London will send me this?"

"It's now 11:20," he said, glancing at his watch, "You have a meeting with the faculty members at 12 for finalizing all things. If you want the scholarship, you need to get ready in 10 minutes."

"I don't believe you. God knows how you managed to get this. I never applied there for any scholarship."

"I applied."

"You what? You mean you took away my chance to study in Manchester and then got me a scholarship to London? Are you out of your mind?"

Ibrahim stayed unfazed. "10 minutes. You have 10 minutes only. Seems like you don't want this scholarship. Fine, I'll decline it...."

Before he could finish, Ava quickly interjected, "I'll get ready. But not in this bathroom." 

He called for the househelp, who arrived promptly. With the househelp, Ava went to use a different washroom, leaving Ibrahim standing alone.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Samir. Ibrahim picked up, and Samir's voice came through, "You guessed it right. Jessica has been abducted by the Black Mamba....."