~~LUCA~~
I told you to be a good girl," I muttered, watching her tremble like a leaf in a storm. I clenched my jaw. Yelling would only make her shut down again—and I wasn't in the mood to pick up broken pieces today.
I rubbed my forehead tiredly as I stared at her, rooted on the spot.
"Samantha, just eat and take your meds." I dismissed the situation, knowing what was going on in her head, but I didn't have any intention of hurting her.
I stared at the wound on her cheek and how haggard she looked; I couldn't take it.
'Who the hell touched her?' I thought, remembering giving our orders to take care of her and not to hurt her.
"Sit." I pulled her to the chair and helped her sit. She flinched at my every move as she couldn't utter a word.
"Eat," I ordered, and she started eating without protesting.
"Good girl," I said, patting her head.
Watching her eat was peaceful, as she stuffed herself with food, but she didn't dare to look at me.
'Get used to it, Samantha,' I mulled in my head.
"Grrrrrr," my phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts.
I stood up from the table as I answered the call. "Hello," I said with a questioning tone, knowing who the caller was.
"Boss, you have a guest," my secretary reported.
"Tell the person to go back; I'm busy today," I said dismissively.
"The person is Mr. Perez."
I stopped hearing that name.
"Samantha's father?" I asked loudly, forgetting I didn't have the room. Samantha stood up hearing my words.
I could see her face was filled with excitement. 'You must want to live that bad?' I thought I saw how her energy renewed as she heard her father's name.
'Sorry, little girl, but you are not leaving. This will be over soon, but not now.' I thought.
"Okay, I will be there soon," I replied as I walked towards her.
"I will be back soon; be a good girl." I wanted to kiss her hair, but she dodged it.
"Tell me you'll miss me," I muttered teasingly as I lowered my body to her height, but she looked away instead.
"Cute, don't miss me too much…. Change this dress before I come back."
I left the room as she threw daggers at me with her gaze. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under the ground by now.
"Bye, sir." A maid bowed, and I stopped.
"Take care of her needs till I come back…. And if I see any wound on her body before I get back, nobody will dare hold a funeral for your family because you will be dead as well. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Don!" She bowed, and I left the mansion.
"If she tries to run away, don't hurt her; persuade her, and if she escapes, consider yourself dead," I said to the bodyguards as I entered the car.
"Yes, Don!" They chorused.
The car zoomed out of the compound at full speed, and 'no rules for Luca.' The drivers make way whenever my car shows up.
I got to the company and went straight to my office.
"Welcome, boss." My secretaries bowed.
"Where is he?" I asked, and they led the way.
I entered the room and scoffed at him, seeing a bag in his hand. 'What a headache,' I thought.
"Luca Ferrari, where is my daughter?" He asked angrily as I sat down calmly.
"You would have gone to the police station if you were here to ask that… Let's go straight to the point."
"I've brought your money. Now let her go." He threw the bag on the table.
"Are you here to joke, Mr. Perez?" I chuckled.
"What? I came here to return the money I borrowed 7 years ago, and you think it's funny?! Release my daughter this instant!" He yelled.
'Fearless,' I thought, knowing what I would have done if he wasn't Samantha's father. Nobody disrespects Luca Ferrari.
"How much is there?" I asked nonchalantly. "25 million dollars," he replied.
"I'm not taking deposits," I said, standing up, but his words made me halt my steps.
"That's the whole money!"
"That's not true, old man!"
"I owe your father, not you!" Mr. Perez slammed his palm on the table. "How will you know the amount?"
"Have you forgotten? I am his next of kin; everything was passed down to me, including his own debt. Mr. Perez, all you have to do is bring the money whenever you are ready and take your daughter."
"And if you can't—you know the rule, Mr. Perez."
"So how much is the exact amount?" His voice trembled.
"That was 7 years ago; with the interest, your money will be 75 million dollars," I revealed, and he staggered backwards.
"How? How am I supposed to get that amount?! This is too much; I took loans to get this amount…. What am I supposed to do?"
"Whenever you are ready, I will only take the money in full," I said.
"I will look for the money, but you must not touch my daughter till then, not even a finger on her skin," Mr. Perez said with a threatening voice.
"That, I can't guarantee."