Psychopath Billionaire | BBANGSAZ

xviii

Six months later

H A N N I

I lay on the bed, staring at the floral patterns on the ceiling. I usually preferred to avoid any thoughts of her, so I kept myself busy with work all day, but the moment I hit the bed, I couldn't help but think about her.

It's been six months since I escaped, and life has been good, but not great.

Although the woman was on the edge of insanity, I knew there was a part of her that struggled to resurface, like the nice side of her that I had seen on rare occasions. She had been a good listener, and we enjoyed our little chats at night. She never tried to sexually harass me after the time I punched her, but that didn't excuse any of her other behaviors. She also relied on gifts when I least expected it.

I didn't think I would say this, but I was starting to miss those nightly chats with her, until I realized it was probably because I was becoming lonely.

I couldn't share anything with anyone because, after Minji, I had some trust issues. I preferred to remain cautious most of the time. I dyed my hair back to black, as it originally was. I was myself again.

The next morning, I spent an unsettling amount of time staring at the platinum diamond earrings I had worn the night I escaped from Jake's house. I was in dire need of cash because, even after all my savings, I didn't have much left. Although Felix sometimes gave me an advance paycheck, it simply wasn't enough to cover my other expenses, so I decided to sell the expensive pair of earrings that I knew would show me good days, at least for a while.

When I went to the store to sell them, the sales clerk inspected the earrings. I noticed when he cautiously evaluated me. I knew that look.

He was probably wondering what a scruffy girl like me in cheap clothes was doing with an expensive pair of earrings.

He told me the price he was willing to pay for them. I pushed a bit more, but he stood firm on the given price, so I decided to take what I could get. I had to literally put a stone in my heart before exchanging the pair for the money because the earrings were beautiful, and I knew I could never afford them in the future.

By the time I returned to the restaurant, it was already past six in the evening, and under my pillow was an envelope full of cash that could sustain me for months if used wisely. It was almost closing time when the bell rang, indicating that another customer had entered.

Felix patted me on the back. "Chaewon will take the order."

I had forgotten to change the sign from Open to Closed. Well done, Hanni.

Now we would have to serve the customer because Felix didn't like turning away a waiting customer. Chaewon took the order. It was the weekend special Fish & Chips with tartar sauce and a Caesar salad.

"Here. Order for table number six," Felix handed me the tray with the food. "This is the last order. Could you turn the sign on the door for me?"

"Okay," I left the kitchen and headed to the table. "Here you go..." I stopped when I first noticed the familiar shiny shoes, my eyes then traveled to the face of the woman sitting at the table.

I gasped, not knowing how long I stood there in shock because I think I heard Felix calling my name. My hands shook, and the food tray crashed to the floor.

I took a step back, then another, and ran into the kitchen, collapsing on the floor beside the counter.

Those deep brown eyes had been evaluating me curiously. She seemed just as surprised to see me as I was and I wondered how it was possible. It had been six months since I last saw her. Her once pristine face was neglected and pale, and her usual dark hair was dull.

I covered my mouth with my hands and cried.

In a moment, Felix was kneeling beside me, whispering something, but I couldn't hear him because my mind was distracted by the woman in the restaurant.

There was no mistaking it.

It was Kim Minji.

"I...I can't go out there," I told Felix.

Felix was concerned and didn't seem angry about the wasted food. "Who is she, Hanni?"

What was I supposed to say?

Captor?

Kidnapper?

"Ex-girlfriend," I said. It wasn't exactly a lie because that's what people knew our relationship as.

Felix nodded. "Stay put. I'll handle it."

I grabbed his hand. "No, Felix. Please. Don't say anything to her. She's...she's very dangerous."

Felix chuckled. "I may look like this, but I can throw a punch, sweetheart." I shook my head.

If she had a weapon, which I was sure she did, Felix's punches would be useless. "Just keep her occupied. I'll sneak out the back door," I whispered.

"Alright," he said.

"Felix," I called. He turned to look at me. "I'll tell you everything tonight, but be careful." He nodded, and I watched Felix leave the kitchen.

When I was sure he was out attending to Minji, I grabbed my bag and headed to the staff back door. I could hear Felix calling me, and that's when I knew I had made the wrong decision.

I exited the restaurant, and that's when a tall, dark shadow that had been leaning against the wall stepped into the streetlight.

"Hanni," that icy voice called out to me. I was breathing heavily.

She approached me, but I stepped back.

I knew I was trapped.

There was no escape now.

Minji had found me.