Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 54

==Olivia==

The way to a man's heart was obedience. Yes. You got to do as he said, never ask any questions whatsoever, and be the puppet he so wished you were.

I had gone through all of Matteo's rules. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ROOM pretty much summed it all. Yes, I was gonna make this sacrifice. Thirty days spent solely in my home wouldn't hurt that much. I had all the time after that to live life. Also, I'd decided not to be caustic or brash, provided he respected himself and accorded me the respect I deserved. However, there was an exception. There existed a line. My obedience had a limit. It stopped at the threshold that led to smooching, caressing, all whatnot. Those kisses, the jerking off-they would all stop. That was unhealthy, and God willing, I'd go through therapy as soon as I got out.

Next, those robes I'd been given on arriving here? Those were the stuff I'd be putting on. I was sure they still were stashed in the closet. Yes, I'd have them on, even though they were far from being my size and would leave me looking like a scarecrow. It was much better than parading around in some silk dress that measured me up to the lady Matteo banged the other day.

Wasn't gonna wear my hair down. I didn't know what gave me the idea that Matteo was beginning to...like me. Issh. Even thinking about it made me wanna slap myself back to reality. But somehow, the idea was stuck. And so, I had decided to appear as plain as possible. I was going to settle for a sleek low ponytail. Always. That should make him keep his lips to himself.

And oh, whenever I was in the dining with him, I would think about home. The good things that awaited me: Leah and my college life. That would be enough distraction in keeping my mind off Matteo-wondering what was going on in his mind, or why he was stealing glances at me. Henceforth, nothing about him mattered to me. He was just another guy who was unworthily fortunate to have good looks.

This was my strategy. And heaven help me, I was gonna stick by it. If not for myself, but for Leah. I had to be reunited with my best friend.

I sighed. You've lost this battle, Matteo. The hell you have.

==Matteo==

"It belongs to Lyons Fredrickson. That's the name the plate was registered under."

I stared, a blank expression on my face. The name, I'd never ever heard it before. So, basically, some random guy just decided to creep up on me? For the thrill of it, I guessed.

"We ran the necessary background check, and, well, it appears he's quite close to home."

I frowned. "How do you mean?"

My butler handed me the tablet and I almost gasped as I saw the picture on the screen. That face, what the f**k? The guy from the other time. The dude that'd wanted to take what belonged to me. "Lyons is his name?" "Yes....sir". I shot my head up at my butler. He'd replied with a tone of surprise or amusement. Something along the lines. "What's it, Yosef?"

He pinned his lips, repositioning himself in a way that would make him say whatever he had to say better. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to sound condescending."

"It's the memory fart, isn't it?" I closed my eyes, fingers pinching my nose. I was losing it.

"It could be stress. It happens once in a while."

I let out a narrow stream of breath. Lyons. "Isn't that the other guy?"

"Certainly, sir."

"He's after her." I laughed mirthlessly. "The hell I should have known."

I placed the tablet on the side stool. The lowlife Pete had set me with. The f*****g bastard that had planned on cornering Olivia.

"What other information do you have on him?"

"Mr. Fredrickson is the CEO of Baker & Taylor. A skincare company based in Northern Brooke hurt. Age twenty-four, he's the first and only son of his parents Baker and Geneva..."

I quirked my brow, wondering why he had stopped mid-air.

"With all due respect sir, still haven't grabbed the picture?"

I shot him a glare, but of course that was the highest I could do. Yosef was my trustworthy butler. Was almost indispensable.

"I'm sorry, sir. What I mean is, Lyons Fredrickson...he is the brother of the late Peggy Fredrickson."

"What?"

Yosef pinned his lips, pulling his gaze down to the floor. "I'm afraid, sir. She was his sister, and from what I gathered, they had a really strong bond."

Peggy? I blinked, the information hard to swallow. Peggy Fredrickson.

"He was in Berlin," I said. I couldn't even recognise my voice anymore.

"Yes, sir. He used to be, until three years ago."

My throat had gotten dry, and the room had suddenly become airless.

"We've got some pictures. Family photos." My gaze was still far off, but Yosef went ahead to pick the tablet and searched up the photos. He handed the device to me. Absentmindedly, I took the tablet from him.

And there, it was confirmed. Lyons was Peggy's brother. Her elder brother. I could see the resemblance. The sameness of smile. One sided, appearing to be tilting to the right. The same smile I teased Peggy about. My heart squeezed harder as the thought came. I let go of the tablet, but Yosef was fast enough to grab it before it hit the floor.

I covered my eyes with my hands. Those emotions I had long buried had been exhumed. My past was catching up with me. After these many years.

"I'm so-"

"F**k that bullshit!" I slammed my fist on the arm of my chair. "Don't tell me that. You for one know how bad I hate that word."

I left my seat and walked to a wall, placing my hand on it. I closed my eyes as guilt weighed down on me. "Lyons Fredrickson. How could I have forgotten that name? How the f**k could I have!"

I ran my fingers on the wall paper, causing a slash on it. "The hell with all this forgetfulness? What in f***s name is wrong with..." I punched the wall. "Me!"

Arrgh! F**k!

I left the wall, jutting up my chin. Eyes closed. What's wrong with you, Matteo? How could something that important have escaped your memory?

"If I could make a suggestion, sir, Dr. Joelle..."

My eyes shoot open. I gazed at Yosef. His expression was stoic. Just like I had taught him. "You won't go there."

He gave a curt nod.

Dr. Joelle my a*s. I gritted my teeth. The latest development was messy to say the least.

"You may leave."

I needed to get my shit together. I needed some quiet time to process this new piece of information, because I swore I didn't see this one coming. The f**k. Why did my life have to be this...eventful, loaded with a string of misfortune. Just when I thought I was getting the peace I so badly craved, another stuff cropped up. From no f*****g where.

No doubt, Lyons was here for revenge. Oh yes. And to think that I'd had no f*****g idea of who he was, huh? What was up with my memory? Did it have anything to do with stress as Yosef had suggested? But that seemed unlikely. I mean, I hadn't been stressed out lately. Not in anyway, so what the f**k?

Oh boy. Here comes another enemy. I'd have to update my record, then.