Recalling of Hue

Chapter 8: Taken

Chapter 8

"you can't force a flower to bloom or the sun to shine. It's up to the other person to feel what they feel."

-Unknown

Viella

"Tomato, potato, pomato, morello, hetero." Margaret spoke unhurriedly, her voice slow and almost drowsy as she Lay on her couch and stared blankly at the ceiling. The four of us, yes, the four of us. Because Ciara showed up at the last minute, So we were inside Margaret's café since it was her day off, and it would have been a waste if we had not used this opportunity where the café would be Our for the whole day.

"Can you shut up? I can't focus on what I'm doing." Ciara says irritatedly.

"What are you guys doing in my café anyway? Don't you know you must pay to use this building privately?"

"Aetheria give me my wallet"

"Don't. My bank account can't hold more money"

I rolled my eyes followed by a scoff "Sometimes I can't guess what came into your mind and you started a café" Literally, who starts a café when you can just begin to a massive company with the money you receive? She is living the life. meanwhile, Aetheria sat in her chair silently while sipping on her milkshake and listening to us, she placed her stuff away and spoke "So...Viella...Who was the guy you kept staring at the car window earlier?" her lips formed a smirk, Ciara looked at me confused and said "Guy? What guy? Who's the guy?!" Ah...I forgot.

Earlier as we were on the way to the café we passed by in front of Luciano's company and Theo was with him! What were the two of them doing anyway? Are they setting me up? No, I'm just overthinking "Ciara, you met him, The golden-eyed guy? Does it ring a bell?" she gasped and placed her hands to cover her mouth "0ohhhh, The handsome man that called you Carmine?" Aetheria Looked at me, shocked "he called you what?"

 Ciara noticed that? I just hope they won't get the wrong idea. On the other hand, Margaret sat there with a grin on her face.

"And guess what? Our vie got his number~" Margaret just added a bomb straight to my face "Who is he?" Aetheria let go of her milkshake and leaned on the chair with her arms crossed.

I don't like where this I going "He is...a Delacroix" I spoke shyly while fidgeting with the buttons on my clothes "Don't tell me...? Luciano?" I gave her a nervous smile "BINGO!" said Margaret

Well not surprised, He is well known in the country, and I never thought I would encounter him. "But...I heard he will soon be engaged to the daughter of the Rosenthal family" 

Aetheria spoke in a low voice. What...? Engagement? But isn't he the cold CEO type you read in books, How can he suddenly be engaged with the daughter of the Rosenthal family? maybe...it's for business matters, and they don't love each other, Right...there's no way Luciano would fall in love...Or

 maybe I'm just trying to convince myself that I have a chance with him "When...did you hear about this?" my eyebrows furrowed, curiosity rushed inside me 

"Just last night in our family dinner, but their parents are still talking about it since Luciano Is against it" I released a relieved sigh.

 Thank goodness he's against it "The answer is so obvious, why would their parents still talk about it?" my lips widened and small laughter came out of it. Margaret pointed her index finger at me "Look, she's laughing like what a crazy person would do"

 I rolled my eyes at her comment, Ciara crossed her arms, and Aetheria's eyes scanned me from top to bottom before tossing her hair back, sending her mane of blond hair flying over her shoulder and into Ciara's face "Watch it Spaghetti haired!" 

Says Ciara, Even with the chaotic event that is happening in front of me, I can't help being happy that he rejected the engagement, Aetheria leaned a little bit and spoke 

"Nena-Viella, so that you know, you don't have the right of being jealous" jealous? Who says I'm jealous? "yes I do, human rights" Aetheria scoffed and pretended to laugh at my response, Well maybe... I'm a bit envious, Well there is a reason, how could you have a perfectly handsome and REALLY rich guy, when you're the living person of the word "imperfectness"?

Just then the throbbing pain started again, I reached out for the pills in my bag only to find none, I must've left them in the house, I grabbed my bag and stood up from my seat "Guys I have to go, something urgent came up" A Lie came out of my mouth. Thankfully, they believed it

 "Alright, sure, drive safely!" Margaret says with a smile and a pang of guilt hits me, I smile back at them before exiting the café and walking behind the building to see my lonely car. 

Umeko, my new bodyguard wasn't there, I wonder where she could have gone. What kind of bodyguard leaves the one they should be protecting, alone? I stood there for a few seconds waiting for her, and it was about 11:32 AM, 2 minutes I'd been waiting for her. I can't drive on my own when my head hurts so much.

 I attempted to head back inside the café, only for a handkerchief to cover my nose, making me lose consciousness as darkness took over my sight.

I woke up with my hands and legs tied up in a chair, and three dark figures stood there in front of me. I couldn't properly see their faces because of the luminous glow behind them 

"Based on your looks, you are that painter girl" The dark figure emerged from the shadows on the left side, stepping in front of me, a voice that was eager and friendly, yet they were full of jealousy "Viella Maeve starling...wasn't it?" 

A light illuminated her face, Revealing her delicate features, but it was just for a moment. The room was dark and cold, and the pain in my head still hurt, to the point, that I couldn't think properly "What am I doing here?" My voice was weak unlike hers "1 Million every month, if you could convince him" She spoke, her response was so far from my question. Convince who anyway? "Who are you referring to?" I squint my eyes so I can see her once more

"Luciano" his name made me freeze "What?" She chuckled, but I didn't find it funny 

"Leave him, ghost him, and convince him to marry me, in exchange for 1M a month" It's easy to do, but hard to let go once you realize the decision you made was a mistake "Why are you doing this for some... guy?" I spoke with harshness and a tone of disgust. But let's be real why would you do this for some guy who doesn't even like you? Well from what she said, I'm guessing this is...Someone from the Rosenthal family. 

"I refuse." I said bluntly and Without any warning, a hand came flying across my face 

"One wrong move and your brain tumor could be your downfall, so make the decision wisely if you value your  business image."

 She says coldly. My eyes widened from her words, i never told anyone that i had a brain tumor except for luciano. and  this woman can't even understand the word 'refuse', Geez, get a dictionary.

I glared at her "So you are expecting me to say 'yes'?"

 just looking at her makes me want to cry, not from sadness, but from pity, how can an heir to their company be this stupid? I would've just find another man to marry if I were in her place, yet here I am, kidnapped.  

My relationship with Luciano is not even that deep, we are just friends, right...friends. 

"you should've, Every moment you have left is borrowed time. And if you don't shape up, those minutes will be taken away from you sooner than you think. starling. well then, you're no any use for me if you refuse, But i warned you." 

She raised her right hand and waved it, as the two figures dragged me while she turned her back and walked away. I screamed, expecting someone to at least hear my cries, the other figure fiercely yanked my hair and dragged me while pulling it, sending a jolt of pain to my scalp, my head colliding violently with one of the table legs and loose my conscious instantly.

-To be continued