...

She was running down the dark street, afraid to look behind her .

The laptop tightly held to her chest as she breathes heavily. Her lungs protesting, but she refuses to stop.

Determined to reach the populated street ahead.

"Hurry up! Corner her!"

They scream behind. Heaving heavily. To only have Ezra to fasten her pace.

The hell they will!

She was an athlete in high school. Coming first in all inter school races.

She is sure those hidden muscles were not dead.

And even if they were, her will was not.

Her legs were straining, her thighs aching. The chilly winds stinging in her eyes.

Through her blurry vision she could see a croud approaching. And she couldn't help smile to herself.

She did it.

She was finally there.

Turning around she looked at them, to see them still at a distance. Making hope to rise in their chest.

But Alas , all hopes had to end.

A strong grip on her forearm pulled her to a dark alley.

"Ahhh-"

Before she could scream. She was pushed back on the brick wall. Making a sharp sting to hit her skull.

Numbing everything for a second.

Her vision turning blurry, to only see the face of that sick man...the boss seething at her.

"You bitc*! I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget."

And next she knows, he slams her back on the brick wall again. Making that sharp pain in her skull to worsen.

Her breathing turning rugged to be only muffled by the man's big hands on her mouth.

Despite her numb senses ,her grip on the laptop remained.

Tightly pressed to her chest, like a solace.

She leaves all the struggles. Staring into the man's eyes. To finally have him move back.

Lowering his hand from her mouth, she breaks into coughs. Trying to fill her already exhausted lungs.

"Give it back"

He orders, opening his palms. To only have Ezra to close her eyes. The words leaving her lips, making the man's eyes to widen.

"In hell I will."

The girls indomitable will surprised him. What was so special in it this Laptop that she was so reluctant to leave it. Even at the cost of her own life.

But before he could think much, a sharp pain hits between his legs and he staggers back. Holding his family jewels.

Fuc*!

He curses.

The girl was definitely something.

Holding the wall to get up, she didn't waste a second. To run from there. The thumping of her heart audible in her ears.

He tries to stop her but all invain, those brown orbs of the girl may be shit scared. But they were determined.

Ezra rushes out of the dark alley, seeing the man cursing behind. Trying to get up.

Tears streaming down her eyes due to the pain in her head.

Damn! Her head felt so heavy.

Finally entering the crowd, she turns around to look at her attacker. All the other men joined him as they looked around at the crowd surrounding her.

They couldn't do anything now.

She was safe.

Looking at her ,agitated. They talk amongst themselves. To nod.

Turning around they finally leave.

And Ezra settles down on a bench. Sighing. Placing her hand on her forehead.

She stays there on the very bench calming her nerves. Looking at the crowd around her.

Seeing them smiling, talking busy in their own lives. Her eyes stop at his laptop that layed in her lap.

And she couldn't help feel proud of herself.

She finally did it. She got it back.

Her thoughts are interrupted on seeing a pair of shoes in front of her and she looks up to go still.

He stood there, breathing heavily. Like he has run a mile.

Sweat running down his forehead and fog leave his lips.

His grey eyes for a change didn't looked angry. They held something else today.

Was it relief?

She couldn't pin point.

"What the hell stupid girl! I have been looking over you everywhere?"

"Where were you!"

He screams making Ezra to stand up. She looks at him surprised, wondering what he was doing here. To only hide it.

Saying nothing.

Picking up the laptop she offer it to him.

"Here. Your laptop"

He looks at his laptop and then at her face. His eyes widening.

"From where did you get it?"

She just shrugs her shoulders. Moving her fringe behind her ear, to only have his eyes to move to the cut on her forehead.

Making him clench his fist.

"What's this? From where did you get hurt? "

He says trying to touch it, to only have her pry off his hand. Moving back.

Making hurt to flash in his eyes, but he says nothing.

Veiling it behind the coldness of his grey eyes.

Her fingers move to touch her own forehead and a painful expression morphed her face to only have her shrug. Not caring about it. Focussing her attention back at him.

"It doesn't matter. Just take it Aaron. Your meeting is tomorrow....I am sure you will not loose your millions deal now."

Anger surges in him like anything to be only laced with concern this time.

Stepping closer, he closes the distance between them. His voice low, yet the anger in it burning

"Fuc* the meeting and go hell with this laptop Ezra!"

Taking the laptop, he literally throws it on the bench to move closer to her. Making her eyes to widen.

"I asked you something! Where the hell did you got this cut from?"

Looking back at those stormy eyes, she retort with the subdued frustration of her own.

"Why do you even care! You first scold me to loose your laptop when I didn't even loose it ! Your stupid girlfriend did! And now that I get it back by literally tracking those goons, fighting with them and running from near death! You throw away the laptop like this?"

His mouth opens, unable to believe her. To only grab her fore arm, pulling her to him.

"You did what ?"

She lowers her eyes. Trying to move back.

"Nothing. Just leave me."

She could feel his stare on her. But she doesn't say anything. Not meeting it.

She thought he will let her go.

That he will not bother with this anymore.

But how wrong she was.

Feeling a strong grip on her chin, her face is tilted up with a jerk. His touch still gentle.

"I haven't seen a person as stupid as you in my entire life Ezra.!"

"How can you go to an unknown place in an unknown City ,to some unknown location . And that also alone! "

"I... didn't wanted to worry anyone...plus they wouldn't have let me come .It was my mistake and I was going to correct it."

His eyes soften. As his heart thuds in his chest.Others? It's always about others, what about her?

"Oh really? So that no one is worried huh?What about it when I was searching for you like crazy? Not knowing where the hell you went alone at this hour?"

"Did it didn't matter?"

"Do you have any fuc*ing idea how I am feeling right now?"

She breathes. To only blink and lower her eyes again.

"That...that was your choice. I didn't ask you to worry about me."

She knew her words were surging his anger but she couldn't stop herself.

She wanted to say everything today.

Gripping her forearm he pulls her to him. Seething at her.

"If I worry about you , that's also my problem now huh? Fine! Do whatever!"

"Track some damn goons, get in trouble, get kidnapped or even killed. I shouldn't care right? Fine I wouldn't!

"I really don't understand why I was so crazy enough to even care!"

"To come here! Searching for you when I should be chilling with my girlfriend on a beach party right now!"

"Then go! I didn't call you here!"

She says, pushing him pack. Making his hands to drop from her.

Nodding. He utters in pure disgust.

"Not that I am dying to be here. I hate your remember."

He turns his back on her. Running his hand through his hair. Trying to calm himself.

When her next words made him go still.

"Lies. All lies. Aren't you tired saying the same lie again and again?"

He furrows his brows to only look at her. She surprisingly looked calm yet disastrous.

"What do you mean."

Her vision was a little blurry. The tears were to blame or the throbbing in her head, she couldn't tell. But she had to let it out.Now.

Stepping closer. She grabs his collar, to look him in the eye.

"You don't hate me Aaron Reed . You never did in my 22 years of existence."

"To tell the truth. You don't show but you care for me. You look out for me. You definitely feel something for me."

"But you are a coward to express it."

His heart starts beating faster, as he looked into those innocent eyes. To only let out a scoff, looking down at her.

"Wow. You are really crazy in your head Ezra."

She doesn't back away. Making that thudding to worsen and him to feel scared of a women for the first time.

"Oh really?"

"Then why you are here, looking like this ?"

"Why you are trying so hard to convince me to hate you?"

"Why your laptop password since last 8 fuc*ing years my name and DOB!"

He freezes. To look at Ezra's accusing eyes. And he for once was tongue tied. Having no justification for it.

"Why Aaron why? Tell me today.... because I am tired of this ....I..I can no longer understand you ......"

"I know this atleast that you disliked my presence in your house since the day I came."

"That you were jealous of your mother taking caring of me when earlier she only cared about you...... I understand I was an outsider that no one wanted.....you offcourse never did...."

"I also know that no matter what Ben and Neil say....I can never be a member of your family.....that I was just an orphan girl as you say. A girl whose real parents didn't wanted her to be only burdened on your family..."

"I also understand that you regret what we did that night. I mean what was I even thinking.....a boy like you with girls kissing the floor you walk on will be attracted to me....a boring looking girl wearing baggy clothes like this."

"Ezra wha-"

"No! Let me complete. See Aaron. I know I am not beautiful. I am no way of your standards let alone status. I am just an Orphan. An adopted maids daughter in your place.A girl with no one. A girl who will leave you all very soon..."

"What are you even saying Ezra-"

"No! It's the truth Aaron! You just have to bear with me for few more months! I will be married and gone then! I won't show you this face ever again...."

"I will be girl you will barely remember."

"So please... don't make it worse for me. Please tell me why you are doing all this? Let me go Aaron!" . .

"I know it's difficult but I will get over this stupid feeling everyone calls to be love. "

"I will try to forget you and love another man"

"I promise" . . .

"But please. Let me move on from you."

She was literally begging him to teach her how to hate him. Her words, doing the opposite instead.

"You want to love another man you say?"

He asks, calmly this time. Making her nod. Looking at her fumbling hands

"You want me to forget you?"

She nods again. To only have him step closer.

"Look up Ezra."

She does reluctantly. To only find his face just inches away from her.

Making her eyes to widen.

"Do I look like a man to you who you can order around and teach what when and how to feel?"

She moves her head in a no. Lowering her gaze.

"I didn't meant it that wa-"

"Then what the fuc" did you meant huh!"

She flinches under his tone. And it was now that she could feel the avalanche behind the veils of his eyes.

"And do you really think loving someone and forgetting them is that easy huh?"

"I will try..."

"Oh really? Let's test how well you are trying then?"

"Wh-"

He didn't let her complete. Grabbing her neck from behind, he literally smashes his lips on her.

Making each and every cell in her body to freeze.

He kisses deeper,and she doesn't react for few seconds. To only have his one hand move up her waist ,while other moved up her silky hair.

"Ummm"

She gives in finally. Kissing him back. To only find him kissing her with a passion ,which was missing in the ones earlier before.

Her knees felt weak all of a sudden. The throbbing in her head worsening. But she just couldn't stop.

His lips on her, syncing in perfection. Took her to heaven, and she didn't wanted to come back.

Unless, her head felt dizzy and she couldn't kiss him back anymore.

He immediately realised her lack of response and moved up his hand behind her head, to only find something wet touch his fingers.

Before he could understand much, her entire body weight falls on him and he tightens his grip on her waist.

"Ezra?"

He calls for her. Holding her face in his right palm, to find her unconscious.

And that's when he lifts his wet hand from her head, to only have his fingers to tremble.

They were red. Coated in blood.

And that's when the reality of her injuries hits him in full force.

Making each and every cell in his body to freeze in fear.

She was hurt. Bleeding and injured. Yet, she didn't share her pains. Arguing with him instead.

Gulping, he pulls her closer to his chest. To only inhale her fragrance , trying to control himself.

He wanted to kill these people for even touching her, he was seeing red .

But for the first time he found himself controlling his thoughts.

She needed him right now.

And he couldn't let anything stop him , even if this something was his own beasts instead.

......