Forgetting Archer ✔

Chapter 17

Debbie's POV.

For the rest of the drive, I was completely speechless, not to mention scared. I wanted to bawl my eyes out but I didn't want to do it in front of Archer who has been gripping the staring wheel for the last 15 minutes. He lived where there were no neighbors or main road in a relatively large half glass half brick mansion situated on a slightly raised landform but not tall enough to be a hill.

I saw that he was living the billionaire dream from the companies he inherited from his parents. He was too happy to be worrying about me.

When the car stopped I quickly unbuckled my seat belt aiming to get out when he stopped me placing a key in my hand. "Wait for me in the living room."

I then wasted no time in getting out and going up to his door opening it and entering the house. It was beautiful. The interior was mainly black and gold looking like the house of a celebrity. There was a large staircase before me that lead to the second floor which was made mostly from translucent dark glass.

I went to what seemed to be the living room and was about to sit when I thought. Why the hell do I have to listen to him? I navigated myself to the kitchen and waited there instead after admiring the Huge tv in the living room, leather sofas, and the marble surface of the kitchen.

"I could've sworn I said living room," I heard his voice say at the entrance of the kitchen a few minutes later.

"I could've sworn you were my boss," I retorted not looking at him. He didn't reply for a while.

"Let me show you your9 room," he suggested turning back to the living room so I followed him.

We climbed the stairs and stopped before a black shiny door. Inside was a king-sized bed, a balcony, a walk-in closet situated beside the bed, and an open door looking like the bathroom. The was a dark red rug covering the floor and on it were five suitcases.

"You can pack out your clothes if you want to. That's your own personal bathroom and I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"Why can't I stay with Missy or my parents?" I questioned loud enough for him to hear.

"You know why."

"Yeah but we can have bodyguards and police officers protecting us," I suggested.

"They already have 12 bodyguards for each home including your grandparents' house and it's better we stay here to keep him away from them. He has to take a long-distance traveler to get to them and for that, he needs to go through security and people who are already searching for him."

"So you're just gonna lock me up in here until he's found?"

"Not really, there are 23 bodyguards surrounding us and I have work to go to. When you leave the house it's either with me and a bodyguard or 8 bodyguards."

"This is stupid!" I raised my voice annoyed.

"It's for your protection."

I fumed. "You might be able to protect me physically but you damn well know that you'll never protect me emotionally!" I screamed at him feeling my eyes sting with unshed tears.

"I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"I don't want any food." I whimpered finally breaking. "Just go."

"Debear you-"

"DON'T FUCKING CALL ME THAT!" I scream-cried at him while I slammed the door shut breaking down in tears.

I have been avoiding this for five years and I ended up right in the pit of the fire. There is no way my heart will survive being with him, alone for a while and I kept praying that everyone will be safe and this will all be over soon.

*****

I haven't seen much less spoken to Archer in four days. I refused to leave my room or eat anything even when he comes home from work every night begging me to eat something.

I wasn't hungry. And if I was, I couldn't feel it. He would stay out there knocking for minutes before he gives up and leaves.

I have spoken to every one of my family members and thankfully they were all safe. My stomach growled for the hundredth time but I ignored it getting up to go take a shower. I put on a grey short cotton pajama shorts and a baby blue tank top. I was in the middle of braiding my hair when there was a knock on the door.

Here we go again.

"Debbie, please just for once listen and eat something. I know you're hungry. It's fatal to starve yourself," Archer said from the other side of the door just as my stomach growled.

I wanted to yell at him asking why would he care but as usual. I ignored him but he was persistent. Just as I finished braiding my hair, the door flew open shocking me.

I locked it!

He stuffed a key in his pocket and entered the room furiously. "That's it. You are going to eat tonight Debbie Steele whether you like it or not."

I rolled my eyes knowing that he had to drag me down there because I wasn't going with him. Suddenly his arm gripped under my thighs and on my back lifting me up bridal style. I began trashing against him trying to get loose but he was way too strong.

All the way to the kitchen I tried to fight him off but it was useless as fuck. When he placed me to sit in the chair before him, I decided to be stubborn folding my arms and refusing to eat. The mashed potato looked so delicious with the baked chicken at the top but I was far from giving in.

"Eat," he commanded with so much authority that I almost complied but I didn't. Instead, I turned my face away from it. "Last chance before I shove it down your throat.

I still refused to eat and we just sat there in complete silence. "If you don't eat right now, I will call your parents and tell them everything."

My head whipped around to look at him. "You. Wouldn't. Dare." I seethed angrily but he left for the living room and returned with his phone. I didn't believe him at first because I doubt he has their contact information, but then I heard my mother pick up the phone.

"Hello."

"Is this Mrs. Steele?"

"Who is this?"

"This is Archer." there was a few seconds of silence.

"Archer, I haven't heard from you in years. How are you?"

"I'm fine, though, I was calling about Debbie," he said and that had me grabbing the plate of food and shoving it down my throat. He smiled satisfied. "How is she doing?"

"She's been doing fine. I just spoke to her. Do you want her number? You could contact her I'm sure she'll be thrilled to speak to you."

I mentally scoffed.

"That won't be necessary, take care," he dismissed.

"Same to you dear." he hangs up the phone and placed it on the table.

"You're an asshole," I told him not bothering to stop eating because it tasted so good.

"I will be what you want me to be, Debear. Just know what will happen whenever you misbehave," he threatened and I rolled my eyes. "You will eat breakfast every morning and dinner every afternoon and you will stop locking up in your room and do things in the house. Understood?"

Silence.

"I'll take that as a yes. Wash the dish when you're done and get enough sleep, you're coming to work with me tomorrow," he said grabbing the phone and going to the west wing of the mansion where his office, his room, and two other guest rooms are.

I fucking hate that guy.