I'm Nothing Without You Chap 9

I’m shock. My eyes were widened and my mouth literally flew open. ‘Thompson? The Billionaire Heir who was missing for days?’

He just nods at me.

I can’t believe it! The missing Billionaire Heir was by my side all along. To think I boss him around, ask him to go with me to the market and all. No wonder he found cooking, washing the dishes, gardening, washing clothes, cleaning the house and buy some groceries were fun. He actually hasn’t done any of these in his entire life! He told me before that he likes to try riding a bicycle around town, walking at night under the light of the moon, star gazing and fishing no wonder he likes it! Then suddenly something struck me.

‘You insisted me to come along with you to the city as my payment for saving your life. Am I right?’ I ask to him seriously. ‘You will give us a nice job with a nice salary and you’ll take us away from the misery that we’ve been living? Thinking that you’ll want to help us by doing such thing but the truth is you just want to pay us for what we’ve done to you. Am I right, Klive?’ I said his real name with all the sarcasm I could manage.

‘No! Avie no… Okay you’re right. I want you and Mom have a job at the city for a better income- Avie please wait.’

I didn’t give him time to finish his explanation. I just heard what I needed to heard. I stand up and started to walk towards the house. ‘I didn’t need you’re money or your help.’ I said at him and throwing him with piercing glare. ‘You were all the same.’

‘Damn it! Avie please listen to me. It’s not what you think-’

‘You can now leave here.’ I said coldly. ‘I think you don’t have any reason to linger around, Mr. Thompson.’ Without a word I turn my back on him and marched towards the house. I immediately enter my room and lock my self. I didn’t bother to answer my Mom when she asks me the location of the box she’s looking for.

An hour passes by I heard someone’s knocking at my door. It is Mom informing me that the dinner is ready. The truth is I didn’t want to eat because it would only means that I have to eat with Leigh I mean Mr. Thompson. I sigh and started to move towards the table. There I see the very least person I wanted to see so far. He is just seated comfortable at the chair. He looks at me but I didn’t meet his gaze. I eat quietly without looking at him. After a few spoonful of food I ate I stand up and without a word I gather my plate and put it in the sink.

‘Finish already?’ Mom asks me.

‘Yeah. Just call me when you’re done eating. I’m just in my room.’

‘I’ll do the dishes tonight so that you can rest early. You have a rough day.’ he offered.

‘No. I’ll do it. Besides you can’t do that and you know the reasons.’ I said coldly at him.

This morning seems to be normal. But as I remember what happen last night, I wouldn’t be a normal day. I audibly sigh and gets up my bed. It’s so strange that for the first time for these past months, I haven’t woken up crying and I haven’t woke up so late in the morning. I hurriedly get dress and goes out to find no one is around the house. I check if there’s food in our table. I smile to myself as I see a post it sticks on top on the plate.

‘I’ll be going to the market for a while darling and Leigh has also some business in town so eat your breakfast okay.’ I read it loudly. I open the plate and started eating. After eating I tidy up out hut and then I check my vegetables at the backyard. As I went out I immediately notices the sky, it is blue and so is the sea. I smile and decide to have my morning walk before going to the backyard.

Not far that I would make a distance towards our hut, I see Oliver standing alone and as if waiting for me to see him. He smiled weakly at me. ‘Can I talk to you for awhile?’ he politely asks me.

‘What are you doing here Oliver?’

‘I just want to talk with you, have a bargain, that’s all.’ He said looking straight onto my eyes.

I sigh. ‘Okay then. What do you want?’

He first looks to my bruised face and arms and then sighs. ‘Did Maxine do that to you?’ He asks me referring to his ‘fiance’. I just nod at him. ‘I really don’t know she could do anything so stupid like this. I’m so sorry Avie. If only I knew it I will stop her.’

‘Just cut off your pretenses Oliver. What are you doing here?’

He took a deep breath before he answers me. ‘I’m here to have a bargain with you.’ He started.

I must admit he really catches my attention to that. ‘A bargain? And that is…’

He smiled sweetly at me. ‘To be my bride…’

‘You’re crazy! You have already a bride remember? Or have you forgotten? You were getting married at the end of this month.’ I said. I knew this man is scheming something evil and I have a very bad feeling about it.

‘I have to agree with you. I’m crazy… crazily in love with you since the very first day I saw you.’ To that I involuntarily step back. I could see evil in his eyes. ‘I know you will resist my offer so I’ve prepare something for you.’ He continues. ‘Your mother is in the plaza right now having a nice talk with someone she knew. I have posted only… about three snipers at the site. If you reject my offer I’ll kill your mother.’

To that my hand involuntarily slaps Oliver’s face making him losses his balance a bit. Enough time to escape from his radius. I run as fast as I can but still he’s able to outdistance me and grabs my arm for me to stop.

‘We both know that you can’t run away from me, sweetheart.’ He said sweetly but firmly at me. He leans closer to me.

I shiver upon hearing the endearment he uses. ‘Oliver please… Maxine loves you so much, please don’t do this to her.’ I pleaded.

‘And I love you so much.’ He said achingly at me. He tips my chin up. ‘Your mother’s life or be my bride? It’s all up to you Avie. If you reject me, your mom dies but still I can have you by more force that is. You will be my bride and my wife whatever your answer will be. If I were you, you’ll agree immediately if you want your mom alive. Hurry up and made up your mind sweetheart because my hired snipers were aching to pull the trigger.’

‘Oliver please stop this…’ I pleaded and started crying.

‘Just say ‘yes’ and it will be over, sweet.’

I started crying. All my life, I’ve seen so many deaths before me and I can’t afford to seen one today because of my expense. Gareth please help me, I though quietly. He gave me a moment to think. I have to do this. I’m sorry baby but I need to save Nana’s life, I though. I first sigh and looks at his face. I can’t look at him for a long time. He disgusted me. Every time I see his face smiling expectantly at me, I’m so disgusted that I make me want to puke!

‘What now sweet?’ he ask me as if he already knew my answer.

I wipe the fresh tears that were coming out from my mouth. ‘Ye-’ I'm interrupted by a lying kick and I though at that moment it was meant for me.

It happens so fast! Someone hit Oliver and he is now at the ground. I stood there looking at Oliver’s back. ‘Come on Avie!’ someone shouted behind me, holds my arm and drags me away from Oliver. As I’ve recover from my shock I look at the person ahead of me. It is Leigh. Ridiculous or not, I felt safe now that he is here.

We haven’t run our feet out, we hear a deafening sound of a gun. We slower our pace. I look back at Oliver. The time that his body was close to mine, I never felt that he carried a gun with him. I see him fires another at the sky and then he pointed the gun at us, at me.

‘Stop running or I’ll shot.’ He shouted behind us. ‘I’m a sharp shooter.’ And to prove his point he shoots at me.

I immediately felt weak and collided at Leigh. I assess my self and found a gunshot wound at my left arm. It pools with my blood. My chest heaving with each tortured breath. The pain keeps on increasing and increasing by the moment. I look at Leigh, he looks as if he were going to kill someone.

‘Stand up both of you.’ Oliver orders. We follow him, Leigh is assisting me to stand up. ‘You’ he pointed his gun at Leigh. ‘Stay away from her. Avie come here.’

I broke off another sob and then another and another and another. I didn’t know what to do. What SHOULD I do?

‘What’s going on here?’ someone from afar ask.

I see Mom standing not far from us. I didn’t know if I would be happy or I’ll mourn upon seeing her. I look at Oliver. He smiled weakly at me as if he knows what I’m thinking. He slowly redirects his gun towards Mom’s direction. ‘Come here Avie…’

‘Nana…’ I whisper softly.

‘Oliver…’ Leigh said with so much disgust in his voice.

‘Naah… don’t make anything stupid or your mom’s going to die.’

Shit! Damn it! Where are you guys? Leigh though. ‘Avie listen to me.’ He whispers under his breath. ‘Follow what he says. Don’t worry I have a plan. Just walk towards him slowly.’

‘What are you talking about?’ he asks us and then moments later we both hear a gun shot.

I look worriedly at Mom. There I saw her, kneeling on the sand with blood in her shoulders. ‘Nana!’ I shouted. ‘Oliver… I hate you for this.’

‘I never miss a target twice. Come here Avie.’

I gave up my fight. I’m tried and I don’t want to think anymore. So I started my pace slowly towards him. While walking I kept on weeping and praying for some miracle would happen. I’m only an arms length away from him when he fires the gun towards my Mom.

Oh my God! I look at where Mom knells before and saw that she is now lying on her own blood. My mind darkens at the sight and without thinking, I grab his gun with all my remaining force. Oliver didn’t let go of it so I didn’t gave up. We were like a toddler fighting for a ball. Suddenly I heard another three gunshots. I then felt suddenly numb all over my body and I felt my lids get heavy. Before I totally block out I heard another gunshot in the air and heard the sound of a helicopter.

‘Avie!’ Leigh shouted on top of his lungs. ‘Don’t let that guy get away.’ He said referring to Oliver. A man in a black suit follows his order. He ran towards Mrs. Henrich and winced at the pool of blood he saw. ‘Mom…’

‘Don’t mind me. How’s my…’ she coughs. ‘How’s Avie? Please take care of her Klive.’

‘Hang on there Mom.’ He said and marched towards Avie’s side. ‘Avie…’ he calls out. He felt for her pulse at her neck but he couldn’t felt for any. He started to panic and carry Avie in his arm. ‘You three,’ he orders. ‘you stay here. John, please take the women and-’ he stops when the man he called John shakes his head. ‘Were going to the hospital.’ He said started to climb to the helicopter that is waiting for him.

‘Avie… please just hold on.’ He whispers as he caresses her face. ‘Don’t die on me.’