"You have to be possessive about who you love."
-Sushant Singh Rajput-
***
Phoebe's P.O.V
Silence fills the private jet as we are flying back to Russia. The worst part of this whole flight is the way Edgar sits right in front of me, with one of his legs crossed and his eyes continually staring at me almost at all time, as if he is constantly making sure that I don't escape again.
Like how am I supposed to escape from this plane while it's a few hundred feet above the air?
Come on, it doesn't make any sense, and I think he is being a bit too cautious, when it's supposed to be the other way.
One thing I am sure about, is after all of this, he will give extra guard to ensure there is no second escape, and that slightly frightens me, especially now that I know that he actually loves me, it's going to get crazier and I need to keep myself together, or else, on the worst condition, I will end up having Stockholm syndrome and that is simply not funny.
"Phoebe, does it still hurt?" He finally speaks after a while, breaking the silence between us.
I touch the cooling ice patch on my cheek, it's not very effective but it will do the job for now to reduce the stinging feeling, and I get reminded of what happened again.
Really, why do bad things always happen to me? What did I do wrong?
Back to his question.
I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but his question is simply very ridiculous. Of course it still hurts, after all, he is like twice my size with the strength of Goliath, and he is asking me if the impact of his punch still hurts after an hour.
"I'm fine." I lie, because I know that if I say my mind out loud, he will probably try to talk to me about it and it's not going to be fun.
"I'm sorry, okay, please... at least tell me that you forgive me."
Huh, how funny.
He is asking me for forgiveness for what he has done, yet what he is doing right now, which is bringing me back to captive, is as bad as the punch itself.
I remain silence, and he finally gets tired of my silence and decide to make a move.
"You are mine, Phoebe and you should understand that already."
He comes closer to me and slowly puts his hand on my cheek.
"No one else may touch you, and no one may harm you, I will protect you from now on, and all I ask in return is for you to love me back."
I don't response, causing him to sigh before continuing.
"You know, if you can't love me yet, which I know you don't, then at least, just stay with me. Don't run away, just be on my sight, and that is already enough for me."
He leans in even closer and begins kissing me, and somehow, I cannot resist it, I know I am supposed to push him away, but his kiss is rough and gentle at the same time, it's making me numb.
He slowly pulls away from me and touch the tip of my nose.
"but I believe that you will eventually love me, it only takes a while for that to happen"
"You will be my weakness, Phoebe and I hate having weaknesses, but if it's you, then so be it."
Still, I remain silence as I stare right into his gray eyes, those gray eyes may seem cold at first glance, but the more I look at it, the more warmth mixed with sadness are shown.
It's almost as if, I see a little child somewhere inside of him, a child who was lost, and couldn't find his way back into happiness, and thus, only known coldness his entire life.
I know I shouldn't even think about it, but the soft side in me almost feel bad about it.
The voice of the pilot is heard through the speaker and he said that we are about to land in Moscow again.
Great, I can't believe I'm back to the beginning. After all of the attempts, I am back in hostage again. I just want to go back to France, why can't he understand that?
Soon enough, we land and the jet is opened, some of his men are helping to get the stuff down, while I remain still on my seat. He seems to notice me and he takes my hand to help me stand up and then he notices that there is no way by my own will I would want to get in there, so he puts his hand on my waist and begin carrying me like a princess again.
I hate being carried like this, it almost makes me feel like I am being babysit and it annoys me right now, but I am still not in the mood to talk so I just let him do whatever he wants.
He puts me in the car that will bring us back to the mansion and sits beside me, the car starts driving and during the ride, I catch him staring at me once in a while.
We finally arrive at the mansion after around fifteen minutes ride and when the car door is opened, I can see Anna running toward our way, and the moment her eyes meet mine, she has a very concerned look on her face, and she approaches me.
"Oh, my goodness, what's wrong, how did this happen?"
She almost touches the cooling pad when Edgar speaks.
"I accidentally hit her, there was a guy who kissed her, and well, I, I lost control."
With those words Anna face him and then she moves her hand to slap him hard in the face, and the sound of the slap echoed throughout the place, causing everyone to fall in silence, including me.
"How could you do that? I taught you better."
"I already told her I'm sorry." Anna's eyes show some kind of anger, which I have never seen from her. Honestly, I can't believe she just slapped him.
Now I realize that she is not just any housekeeper.
"Oh, Edgar, I am very disappointed in you." She approaches me and takes my shoulder on her hands.
"Come, Phoebe, let's get it properly treated, we don't want any permanent mark on your beautiful face."
The two of us gets inside the mansion and she leads me to my room.
"I will bring some heat compress and Arnica oil, please wait for a second."
With that, she leaves the room and returns back in ten minutes. She removes the ice pack from my cheek and compresses my face with the heat compressor. It stings at first but then the pain begins to slowly fade away, and she puts on some Arnica oil on my cheek and after that she puts everything down and sighs.
"Phoebe, I am so sorry for this, but believe me, I am sure Edgar didn't really wish for this, even though he is what they call ruthless, he would never hurt a woman he genuinely love, and I know that his feelings for you is real, because this is the first time he ever acts this way, so please can you forgive him for me?"
"I am fine, Anna, really... I'm just a bit sad that I wasn't able to go home, I just want to go back to my home, and now that hope is shattered."
I can feel my eyes tearing up slightly and Anna touches my hand.
"Phoebe, can I tell you something?"
"Sure.”
"When I first came here, it was right after I lost my husband and son in an accident, I worked here because I had no relative and this was the only way I could take care of myself, and even though I already know what kind of shady business they have, I didn't care because I thought that there was no point in caring about that."
"When I first saw Edgar, he was probably only ten years old, and back then, his mother was still alive as well, and Madame was a very kind woman, she was so innocent compared to the rest of people in the mansion, and she was very kind to all employees, it was very easy for anyone to see that, and Edgar, The Young Master, loved her dearly, back then, he was such a sweet boy, a bit stubborn, but sweet."
She smiles as she remembers things inside her head. It must be a really pleasant memory.
"But it was all gone when she died, Edgar became timid, he was deeply hurt by her death, and thus followed his father dark step of becoming a mafia leader, not that he had any other choice, but still, I know that deep down inside, he is a really nice man."
"When he was thirteen years old, his father's second man named Pietro betrayed him, he brought his own men and invaded the mansion, killing lots of people, I was in the kitchen back the. With a few maids and we had to hide as soon as we heard gunshot, I was worried about Edgar so I carefully make my way into the hallway, and I saw him, and he witnessed the moment when that man shot his father, back then, I saw what was going on, and I quickly make my way to him as soon as he ran."
I can see fear on her eyes as she speaks, and it's like I am actually experiencing it as well. It must have been terrifying.
"Ever since, it was just the two of us and the remaining survivors. He was shattered, I knew that he wanted revenge for the death of his father and I was determined to raise him and help him accomplish his revenge, a sinful thing I know, but still, I couldn't just leave him alone."
"So that is why he treats you differently than other maid?"
"Exactly, because I am technically his surrogate mother ever since."
"You have heard his story now, I hope, I hope you can understand him, it was when you came, I knew his inner child resurfaced. The Edgar who knows how to love, you are as kind as his mother, but you have your own strength, and I know you are perfect for him."
"What do you want from me, Anna?"
She smiles at me and her eyes are filled with certain hope.
"Please love him. I know it may sound ridiculous, but he needs love."
"I'm not sure if I can do that."
"Please, only you can do it, please."
"I can't promise it, Anna, but I can't exactly say what will happen in the future."
"Sure, that is fine, just know that, he loves you, he really does."
I nod my head and she pats my shoulder gently, before standing up.
"Go get some rest, you need it."
"Thanks."
With that, she leaves the room, and now I am left here again, alone in the same old room.
All of a sudden, there is a knock on the door, and before I can say anything, the door open, and I see Edgar standing in front of the door, he is half naked, showing his perfectly well built body, and he doesn't only have six pack, no, he has eight pack, and he is wearing his jeans and slightly longer hair is tied in a man bun.
Not going to lie, he looks really good, but still, it's not going to work on me just yet.
Yet?
He enters the room without saying anything and then he stops in front of me, while I am taking a step back on the bed.
"Phoebe, I'm going to sleep here tonight."
"What!?"
He doesn't say anything else, and just gets on the bed, he slowly crawls toward Me, and my eyes are meeting his.
"Edgar!?"
"I'm not going to do anything, just, sleep beside me."
He gently pushes me into the bed and he position himself beside me.
I am about to stand up from the bed when he wraps his arm around my waist and pull me closer to him. My face is facing his, and I fit right on his arms.
"Just go to sleep." he whispers huskily, and I can't help but shut my eyes close, trying to avoid his gaze.
"I love you, Phoebe."
I remain silence, not replying to his words. Yet heaven knows my heart is beating so loudly.
I don't think I am able to sleep tonight.