Chapter 3: Frying Pan to Fire.

CHAPTER 3-CELESTINE

“Uh!" I groaned almost unconsciously as I slowly opened my eyes on the bed in a cozy, dimly-lit room.

My eyes ached as rays of the morning sun reflected through an opening in the wall of the room I was in.

“Where am I?" I slurred, as I tried to sit up.

The room was dark and sun rays could only penetrate through the small opening in the wall.

I squinted as I tried to sit up, my eyes aching badly.

“Hello,"I tried to raise an alarm calmly but, I was alone in the room. The head-wrenching headache stung again, forcing me to pin my index to my temple.

Well, I knew I was with Carlo Moretti last night.

But, what happened next?

Did he return me to my Father?? This particular room looked like the room for torturing captives at my Father's house.

My head ached badly as I tried to remember every single detail of last night.

I managed to sit up but as soon as I heard footsteps approaching me, I laid back in bed, pretending to still be asleep.

“Cel, you're doomed!" I said, waiting for whoever it was to come inside.

MORETTI’S POV

“Capo, she's awake." One of my men informed me just as I was about to round up my breakfast.

I smiled, taking the last sip of my hot coffee.

As soon as I was done, I got out of the dining room and headed straight to the room she was locked in.

“Today's meal tasted good," I randomly said to the cook,

As I approached the room, a small smile appeared on my cheeks.

Last night, I'd knocked her out with a hit on her nape and thrown her into the room.

I liked her features—she was one to be liked but because she was Gabriel Brigos’s offspring,I hated her.

I hated everything concerning Brigos and she wasn't an exception.

Brigos is evil and wicked, he's a devil's incarnate.

What word could quantify his level of wickedness? Even his daughter knew.

“Stay here," I said to Larrio Enzo, my right hand man and two other men who were behind me.

I fixed the buttons on my shirt and walked into the room, only to find her in the bed. She'd folded herself up in the bed, leaving the blanket on the ground.

I moved closer to the bed and sat on the edge, admiring the beauty. Maybe not. Maybe I was just staring.

“Perfecto!!” This girl was too beautiful and innocent to be born into The Brigos Family.

I wanted to touch her olive- tanned, softly glowing skin but for some reasons, i withheld.

Her carved eye brows was beautiful and each time I looked away, I was forced to look again.

She was so beautiful that she almost felt unreal.

I smiled softly as I sat beside her, waiting for her to wake.

“What a pity!" I said coldly, losing interest in watching her.

That was the fate she had to suffer! She had to suffer the fate of being born into that demonic family, and still sold off to traffickers.

She blinked and I realized she'd been pretending all this while.

I smiled softly, getting off the edge of the bed.

“Give her breakfast" I said to Larrio as I walked out of the room.

But, why was I smiling?

I recalled how she walked beside me last night and how sassy she acted while we walked past Paolo but, I still haven't gotten some things straight.

Probably Paolo was clueless about who they were going after because they needed a girl to be handed over to the traffickers, in her place.

If Paolo had seen her face, Gabriel Brigos himself would have probably met me.

I sighed, walking into my room.

The picture!

I blew dust off the edges of the frame. I'd personally instructed the cleaners not to enter my room or even tamper with anything.

I needed privacy, I needed time to be alone.

As I picked up the piece of clothing which I used to clean the picture frame, I smiled sadly.

I dubbed the painting with the clean cloth—it was the only memory I had left of my sister and Mother.

This morning, a strange feeling rushed through me. It was a feeling I couldn't describe well—something like evil excitement.

Maybe it was because I now had something Brigos wanted too.

Hurting a woman had never been my plan but if hurting this particular one would bring me answers, I wouldn't hesitate.

After all, her Father murdered the only important women in my life.

CELESTINE'S POV

Carlo?

What the hell did he just do?

My eyes rolled in annoyance as I sat up.

I was sure he'd gone far from the room before I even moved a muscle.

Why on earth was he watching me like that?

What if he's planning to skin me?

Oh no!

I needed to escape from this place before things got worse. I needed to be free from here.

I got up from the bed, and rolled my hair into a messy bun as I dragged the iron bed frame close to the small opening where the reflection was coming from.

The sound of the iron slowly marking the ground as I dragged it, caused a terrible pain in my head.

Even if I couldn't leave today, I needed to secure an exit for myself.

I climbed to the bed frame and lifted myself, hanging on top the flat side of the small window. I couldn't call it a window but an opening.

I was now in the air, no longer on the bed. Only my hands supported me.

“Whao!" I exclaimed, catching a glimpse of the wide environment.

This was the most talked about “Carlo Moretti’s mansion” and it was so posh. I

The field here was neat and well-kept and for a truth, he had a nice taste.

I finally got to see it in person,all I used to see was pictures of the Almighty Carlo Moretti’s mansion online.

The last time I got to know anything about him was on the Italian 2023 Forbes. That was when I got to know of his net worth. At that time, he approximately worth $2 billion dollars and they were yet to discover everything he owned.

The flowers and plants were probably happy to be in such an environment, around such person. The plants had already been watered and the feeling of nature just felt so good.

It sat so well with me that I forgot I was now in the air.

Suddenly, the door opened someone walked in, pushing a tray.

I gasped in shock, releasing my grip on the surface I held on to.

I fell to the ground with a loud thud.

“What are you doing?" This man questioned while I tried to gather myself as though I'd broken in pieces.

I raised my eyes to look at him but, he was not even worth my glance.

I thought all those who stayed around handsome men were supposed to be handsome. This one, wasn't.

He went mute, staring at me.

I know, I know.

He was probably a chef because of the cap on his head and apron around his neck. He had an awkwardly protruding mouth. His moustache worsened his look and he looked dumb.

I mean he looked literally dumb.

“Somebody, here!" He raised an alarm.

But,why??

I wasn't running away. Even if I tried, it'd only backfire and make them cage me.

Carlo Moretti was one smart man who'd literally not be so dumb to let his captive escape.

Three men rushed in—all dressed formally in black suits and specs with neat hair.

“I…i—”I tried to explain myself but I was short of words.

"Tie her down," One of them said and the other two walked up to me.

“How dare you!" The thunderous voice came from the passage. Everyone including myself froze.

H—Carlo!