Liana

The first thing I felt was the pounding ache in my head. Like a hammer was slamming against the inside of my skull. My eyes fluttered open, and the ceiling that came into focus looked so… wrong. It didn't look like my room or Aria's.

The ceiling was high, painted white with intricate golden edges. My room was nothing of such. Everything in the room looked like something straight out of a European palace; it screamed luxury.

I shot up from the bed so quickly. My breath hitched as panic instantly clawed its way up my chest. Where the hell was I?

Think, Liana.I pressed my temples, trying to pull something together from the fog in my brain. Last night I was at the club with Aria. Drinks. That fat creep touched me, then a deep voice saying he was taking me home.

My heart dropped like a stone. I whipped my head around, scanning the room. It was huge, larger than my entire apartment. It had elegant drapes hung by the window.

“Where am I…” I whispered in a trembling tone.

Just then the door creaked open. I froze. My heart started hammering so loudly I thought it might break through my ribcage. A young woman stepped in, maybe around my age, wearing a black-and-white maid uniform. She carried a small tray with water and what looked like medicine.

“Good morning, ma’am. You’re awake,” she said softly, smiling politely like this was normal. I haven't seen that face before. I was sure about that.

I blinked at her. “Who the hell are you?”

“Ma’am… I’m your personal maid.” she replied, with that dutiful smile plastered on her face.

I barked out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Personal what? Are you on drugs? What is this place? Where am I?”

She opened her mouth to say something but hesitated. Oh, I knew those kinds of moves so well, I have seen lots of them in court.

“Oh my God…” I gasped “You’re one of them, aren’t you? You’re into organ harvesting. You want my kidney?. or is it sex trafficking?, that’s it! I’ve met a lot of people like you.…….”

I turned, frantically searching for my bag, my phone, my ID, but there was nothing. Not even a trace of my belongings. My throat closed up.

“I’m a lawyer,” I spat, spinning back to her. My voice cracked but I forced it to get louder. “Do you hear me? A lawyer. I’ll slam you with the biggest lawsuit New York has ever seen. You’ll rot in jail for life!”

“Ma’am… we’re in Italy.” she said, more like she was mocking how naive I was.

I froze. “…It…..It…a…ly?” I stammered out in shock.

She nodded, like we naturally stayed in Italy together. beads of sweat were already forming in my forehead, this time my heart was pounding like crazy. How the fuck was I in Italy? I was in New York literally yesterday. Did I black out that hard?

“No. No, I am not crazy,” I tried to assure myself out loud "We are both in New York at the moment right” I asked, staring at her with one eye closed, like I couldn't bear to hear otherwise.

The maid did not reply. She walked towards the bed and put the tray on it. I lunged forward, gripping her collar with trembling hands.

“If you don’t get me the hell out of here this minute, I swear to God! I’ll lose my mind and take you down with me!” My voice cracked into a scream.

“Ma’am, you need to calm down and take your medicine!” she said firmly, like she didn't hear my threat

My chest rose and fell so fast it hurt. “Who the fuck are you?! What do you people want from me?! Where’s my phone?!”

Before she could answer, the door swung open and someone walked in. My breath caught in my throat as he stepped inside casually, but there was nothing casual about him. He was tall with broad shoulders, dressed in black slacks and a crisp shirt with the top buttons undone. His presence filled the room. He had this commanding aura and his brown eyes were locked on me as he walked into the room fully.

I turned to the maid, whose head immediately bowed in submission. She didn’t even glance back at me before she scurried out of the room at his silent nod, leaving me alone with… him.

My heart dropped to my stomach as the memory of him from last night rushed back. He saved me from that old cargo but why did he…. everything wasn't making sense.

“Di…d you kidnap me?”

He tilted his head, studying me calmly like I was an interesting puzzle piece

“What do you want from me?” My voice cracked, my whole body vibrating.

Instead of answering, he smiled faintly and he finally spoke. His tone was maddeningly gentle.

“How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

I gawked at him. “Are you…..seriously playing with my sanity right now? Why did you kidnap me? Do I know you?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “You know me.”

Something inside me snapped. I laughed bitterly, pulling my already messy hair. “Oh my God, you’re insane. You’re absolutely fucking mad.”

I stormed to the door and pulled at the handle with all my strength. Nothing. I yanked harder, again and again until my arms burned. The door didn’t budge. My breath came out ragged and my whole body was shaking.

“It’s automated,” he said casually behind me. “It won’t open.”

“Fuck!” I screamed, slamming my palm against it.

I turned slowly in defeat with tears blurring my eyes. My chest was heaving fast. “What do you want?”

He leaned against the dresser, like he had all the time in the world. “How about you take your drug, shower, eat something, and then we talk? We have all the time in the world, Liana.”

Hearing my name fall from his lips, sent chills crawling down my spine. I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging with tears. “Who are you? I swear I have never met you before?”

He sighed, like he was tired of a game. Then he said the words that froze every drop of blood in my body.

“I think you know me as Liam Gerret.”

The room instantly went quiet and for a moment, my brain couldn’t process it. The name sounded familiar. Then it slammed into me like a truck.

High school. That nerd from High school My knees buckled.

“No…” I whispered. My body began to shiver uncontrollably. My voice cracked higher. I shook my head violently, backing away until my back hit the cold wall. “No, You ... .can't be.”

“Liana…” he called my name so calmly

“Please,” I whispered, tears welling. My palms pressed against the wall behind me, desperate for escape. “Don’t kill me. Whatever I did to you, I’m sorry…”