Chapter 542 - Five Hundred And Fourty-Three: A Twisted Soul
The third point of view:
"Why would you think I want to kill you?!"
Maggie winced at the anger in his tone. He grabbed her shoulder real tight and it was beginning to hurt but she didn't dare to make a sound, afraid that it would vex him further.
"Answer me!" he roared.
"We've been going through the forest for a while now, who wouldn't be scared? You have a gun and I'm a woman, alone in a car with you, a stranger!" She made him see her perspective as well.
Andrew sighed, then explained to her, "You didn't see any house because that's the base and it's supposed to be impervious,"
Although there was still a trace of doubt on her face, she was no longer destructive - thank God. With the second punch, he had been close to losing it had he not controlled himself.
Her breathing was chaotic but so was his and then he saw a blush on her face. His brows furrowed and that was when he realized he was in between her legs.
Flustered, he got off her and she stood as well, an awkward feeling enveloping them. But Andrew was quick to notice the way she shifted her weight on one foot.
"You're hurt," He glanced at her swollen ankle.
"Yeah," Maggie added, "But it's nothing,"
"Yeah, it would have been nothing if you had more patience for fifteen minutes. We would have arrived and your leg wouldn't be injured,"
"I said I'm fine," She almost snapped at him.
"Alright, since you're fine, find your way down," He turned and strode away.
"Bastard!" Maggie cursed even though she didn't even know why she was pissed at him. She was the one who misunderstood him and took off, getting injured in the process. Why was she angry? More like, what was she expecting?
So much lost in thought was Maggie that a scream tore from her throat when she was suddenly lifted off the ground.
"I'm sorry, but you're slowing me down," Was the only excuse Andrew offered her before walking ahead with her in his arms.
He had firm muscles, Maggie was finally able to achieve her curiosity clear-headed. He was her type. But unfortunately, she was done with men. No more men. She would die single. Fernandez was the last of them. Her soul was too dark, twisted, and shattered to accommodate another. Her heart was dead; it would no longer beat. Not for anyone else till she died.
Andrew wondered why her expression was suddenly grim but that wasn't his concern. His only responsibility was to take her to the base and his job was over. He would never see her again, hence there was no reason to mull over her expression and all.
He finally reached the car and placed her inside even though she wanted to do it herself. After making sure the seat belt was in place, he went over to the driver seat, eased himself in, and took off.
Although they didn't speak, the tension from earlier had relaxed. It relieved him to know someone wouldn't throw a sucker-punch at him and risk crashing into one of these trees - he still loved his life.
Andrew saw the astonishment on her face the moment they arrived at the base and wasn't surprised - First-timers were always like that. It was almost like stepping into another world humans didn't know existed. Who was the crazy man who built a mega-mansion in the middle of nowhere? Yeah, that was Sakuzi, the master strategist.
The hectares of woodlands leading to the base were all owned by him so he had no communication with the outside world. Anyone who got in was a trespasser and would be spotted before they even knew it. Over the years, Sakuzi had worked on his security and succeeded in installing security cameras in strategic spots in the woods.
Unless they attack from the air, it's easier starting a revolt than breaking into the base. Just like the name, it was an impenetrable fortress.
The huge gate was remotely opened for Andrew as he went in and they walked the rest of the huge perfect lawn with Maggie astonished. The place was simply beautiful.
"Is she the one?" A man at the foyer asked.
That question ended her admiration.
"Yes," Andrew answered.
"What?" Maggie was confused. Why does it sound like things were about to change?
"You don't have to worry, you're safe. This is where my mission stops, he'd lead to your patron," Andrew explained to her even though he had no idea what Emerald or Sakuzi had in store for her. But he had a strong feeling she would live else he would have been given the order to end her right away.
"I'm not going to see you again," Maggie didn't understand why she was disappointed. Perhaps, because he was the only male that treated her well since Fernandez.
"Probably," He answered curtly.
Maggie simply drew him into a hug; a long bone-crushing one. However, before she let go, she whispered into his ears, "I remembered what happened last night,"
At once, Andrew went red in the face. Let's just say last night he had done some pretty ridiculous things that he would rather not remember - none of it was sexual. He was not a fool to think that a woman who experienced such huge trauma would want romance anytime soon. So goodbye to the crush that was never meant to happen.
And with that, Andrew pulled away before he made the crazy mistake of asking to take her directly to Sakuzi instead - just to spend more time with her. Sakuzi's order was not to be disobeyed, even one as simple as this - he would be punished.
He was gone before she could say a word, Maggie realized. Maybe, it was better than way. So Maggie confidently went ahead to follow this strange man with Andrew's assurance that she wouldn't be hurt.
Maggie wondered many times what her patron would look like and though she didn't know, she had been expecting a much younger man, not this old… Well, he was not that old, probably in his early sixties. She was just about to bow down and worship, no, greet him, when she caught movements at the corner of her eyes and she turned to see,
"Cecil!"
"Hi Maggie," her kind smile welcomed her.