Claimed by The Rogue Alpha
Claimed By The Rogue Alpha Chapter 82

=Matteo==

Pulling shirt down my face, I was set to leave. Olivia on the other hand was still in the process of putting on her bra.

I looked away, not sure I wanted to catch sight of her pointy breasts. They were so f*****g tempting.

When I looked her way again, she was done. Her hair was tossed, an evident of the body slamming exercise we'd had moments earlier. A look on the clock on the wall confirmed it was way last our lunch time. I walked up to her; a smile appearing on her face. I picked up her scarf that laid some feet away and gave it to her. "Here."

Still having the tiny smile on her lips, she took it from me and tied up her hair.

As we left the chambers, I could sense she was exhausted from the thing we had. So, to save her any more troubles, I'd let her rest for some time before we met for lunch.

I escorted her to her room and when we got to the door, I leaned to kiss her light. Yes, a chaste kiss this time around.

"See you at lunch."

She smiled in response and stepped into her room.

I left her and walked towards my room. I didn't know how I'd move on after Olivia's gone. I didn't f*****g know. But then again, I reminded myself that I'd been attached to my parents...and Peggy. I certainly had learnt to move on when they passed, hadn't I? Yes. And so, I was going to do the same now. It was doable, I believed.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside-giving out a loud sigh as I did. I made a beeline for my bed, kicked off my slippers and climbed in. In no time, sleep descended on me.

Moments later, I tore my eyes open, awoken by a frantic knock on the door. I sprang up and headed for the door.

It was Olivia and she looked alarmed.

Before I could speak, she beat me to it, "What's happening, Matteo? Why are armed guards surrounding the gate?" "What?"

"Yes. And not just that. You didn't show up for lunch. And your butler, he was acting all weird, just having this look on his face. What's happening, Matteo, What?"

I shut my eyes, my arms on her shoulder. "Slow down." Reopening them, I said, "What are you talking about?"

She grabbed my hand and tried pulling me. I didn't budge, which made her to frown. "Just come with me. Please."

I surrendered, letting her pull me, all the while wondering what she was talking about. We made it into the living room and that was when I understood her. There were about here, and all were armed to the teeth. "What's going on here?" I asked no one in particular.

"Sir, we're resisting siege."

"What siege? Where's Yosef?" I looked across the heads of masked guards. "Yosef!"

"He's outside with the front line section, sir."

What actual f**k?

I remembered Olivia was by my side. It was clear that whatever she had seen had frighten her. I wouldn't want to put her into further stress.

I pulled her to a corner. "Go to my room. I'll join you shortly."

"What's happening?" she hushed, her concern stark.

I cupped her cheeks. "Listen to me, Olivia. Head to my room, okay? I will join you shortly."

I kissed her forehead as she goes on protesting and, stormed out of the living room. I walked away from the mace and sure enough I spotted Yosef speaking to the line up of guards at the gate. He heard my footsteps and turned. "Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Sir, we've got some bad news," he began. "One of our workers blew up on us, sir, and now a good number of people know Miss. Haynes is here."

I shut my eyes. Not sure I had heard him right. "I don't understand."

"Sir..." he began but then stopped, giving me the tablet. I took it from him, a lot of questions running through my mind. What I saw drained colour drained from my face.

It was all over the internet. It was on everyone's lips: Olivia was held captive in the Malchian Grove. And worse of it all wasn't even that my name and company had been mentioned but rather pictures of the mansion had been taken. How the f**k did that happen? "A worker did this?" "Andrea O'Neil is her name," Yosef replied.

I couldn't explain the emotions that ran through me. But it was huge. So huge I reached to the gate and punched it. Still not satisfied, I punched it again-my nose flaring. A worker, a f*****g worker had sold me out. My anger was blinding and my chest burned. "How did she leave the mansion?" I growled.

"She had a sick leave."

"And who granted her that?" I turned sharply. I could swear that I hadn't granted any servant by that name, permission. Plus my memory had improved, so I could proudly beat my chest and say that never ever did I do that. Yosef's mien broke.

The rascal had done that. What gave him the audacity?

"She was invalid, and..."

"So? Did you ask me first before giving her a sick leave?"

Yosef shook his head.

F**k! How could Yosef be this incompetent? How? "Look, it's a good thing you summoned the guards. You started this, you certainly will see to its end."

I spat, my gaze blazing.

Yosef continued to issue instructions to the guards while I leaned against a wall staring at the tablet

The hashtag: #rescueOlivia glared at me.

***

Five-thirty said the time.

Leah was literally sitting on the edge of her seat. Her legs tapped in regular beats on the floor. Her arms were crossed.

Five-thirty. An hour from now, and the vigilante would be storming Brookehurt. She was ridden with anxiety. All through the day, she'd been in tears and her emotions were mixed.

First, she was thankful that Olivia was alive after all and that soon, very soon, she would be rescued. Yes, the Fridgetonian vigilante group were skilled, if not more skilled then the local police.

Two, Leah was worried about Olivia's state of health. How had she been coping these past months? Had she been able to have a proper shower, a proper meal, a good bed? Deep down, Leah knew that was unlikely. Kidnapped victims weren't known to live a life of luxury. This fact brought about her third emotion. Self-loathe.

Leah hated herself for not being that one friend in need. She should have dragged Olivia to the police station when she heard about Pete's deal with Lyons and the other guy. That little action would have made all the difference.

Yesterday, after Lyons had left her apartment, Leah had gone to the vigilante group with the information Lyons had given her regarding Matteo. The physical description, nothing else. According to Lyons, nobody knew the exact place the Malcian Grove was. However, news had spread round Fridgeton that the grove was located along a highway that connected two Brookehurtian boroughs.

After visiting the vigilante, she went with the same information to the park rangers and Officer Grant. And now, she could feel the outrage across the city. Even her condo that had nothing much happening in it was noisy. Everyone was talking about the impending onslaught on Brookehurt.