Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 10

==Olivia==

I didn't sleep at all. Not with grieve nibbling at me and my stomach making the growl of the century. Right now, I'm crawled in a fetal position, my eyes dreary from long hours of crying. I was done wondering why fate was so cruel with me. I was done wondering why

my life felt useless. Why I had to endure all these. I was done.

I didn't know what the time was, but I believed it should be sometime close to noon. This place was as dark as hell. Anyone who endured more than a day here could as well become a bat.

I turned the other way, making sure that I didn't disturb my left arm much. It was almost numb now from hours of staying fixed to the bed post.

Sitting up, my legs made contact with the tray of nachos. At that instant, my stomach grumbled harder. I shut my eye, not wanting to give in to hunger. But it was a failed mission. My stomach wasn't taking any of it as it grumbled more.

Shit.

Still, there was no way I was going to eat. Not when the meal was coming from a deranged bastard.

And so, I jammed my legs together, shutting my ears to the sounds of protest my stomach was giving.

***

==Matteo==

I was in my chambers going through some articles. This was one of the things I cherished. A me time away from the noise and sights of people. It was a habit I took from my father. Oh, how he loved to read.

I frowned when I realised I'd brought up the past again. But as much as I hated to admit it, I found comfort thinking about the kind of life I used to have.

Father was a bookworm and it was his wish I took up that attitude. During school break, he would usually give me two boxes. Both filled with books. They cut across various subjects, various genres. I remembered telling Dad that I had no interest in stuff like politics and health. That I was after finance, sports and art. He chuckled, telling me that information was power. I had to gather as much knowledge as possible.

My heart fluttered thinking about him. I gave out a sigh. It had been three years, yet it felt like a millennium. I missed him. I missed Mother.

The urge to read left me. I forwent the magazine and stood up. Glancing at my wrist watch, I realised it was fourteen minutes past nine.

Who knows what that girl is up to. I had to go check up on her, just to be sure she didn't do something stupid. I left the chamber and walked down the hallway, to the basement.

When I got to the door leading to the atrium, I was hit with a sound. Like a rumble of some sort. Curious, I hurriedly pulled the door open and got inside.

There she was, all curled at a corner. She was the perfect definition of miserable. Pulling my glance from her, I looked at the tray that still laid on the bed. Plus the onion dip on the floor.

I summoned the maid who immediately cleared the place, but not without me first giving her the scolding of her life.

The rumbling sound came again, and my eyes flashed.

"If I wanted you dead, I'd have long finished you off. You ought to eat, Miss. Haynes."

No word came from her. Frustrated with her staying silent, I switched the lights on. Immediately, she squirmed. Her eyes shut close. Gradually, her eyes got accustomed to the glare.

I went on to uncuff her other arm, noticing the slight wince that came out from her mouth.

"You smell like death."

She whipped her head at me.

"You should take a bath and have something to eat," I said. "The bathroom is right there."

She wouldn't follow the direction I pointed at.

"Miss. Haynes, proving difficult won't do you any good. It's not going to change the fact that you're here now. I suggest you accept your fate and move on with life."

She scoffed. Well, that was a reaction. Not bad at all.

"We'll have a meeting by noon. You must have had your refreshment by then. Do you have anything to say?"

She glared at me. Her lips pinned together.

I nodded. "That should be all then."

I turned to leave, but halted as she spoke.

"Just wait, a*****e. Soon the cops are gonna get here, and believe me. You're doomed."

I smiled lightly. "We'll have to wait and see."