Tangled By Fate

When Sebastian left, he had no idea what those two women were planning.

The plan succeeded. The girls giggled and went to the antique shop they wanted to go to. The shop was indeed fancy from both the outside and the inside. 

"Greetings! How may I help you?" The shop owner welcomed them warmly.

"We will look around. If we find something we like to buy, we will let you know," Veronica told him.

"Sure. Please look around as much as you want." the shopkeeper smiled at them in a friendly manner. 

The girls collected some items and asked the shopkeeper about the price.

The shopkeeper observed the items and then looked at their hands full of packages. Afterward, he said, "They are only fifty gold coins.

"Gold coins?!" Catherine exclaimed in surprise. She argued, "This is completely ripped off. The highest price we know is one hundred silver coins. Gold coins are spent on expensive magic stones."

Since she worked as an accountant, she knew the value of some expensive items. No merchant could easily fool her.

The shopkeeper gave her a sly smile. "Miss, I think you are making a mistake. The items you chose are highly expensive."

Catherine put her arms on her waist. "Mister, are you trying to make fun of us? Or do you think we are some kind of foolish tourists who know nothing about the quality of the items?"

"Cathy, let's just go," Veronica held her friend's arm and pulled her. She didn't want to argue. "It's not worth it. I think we already bought enough," she added.

'Now I know why Sebastian forbade us to come here. He had a good reason for that. We should have listened to him,' she thought and repented.

"Fine, let's go. I will never come here again. This is the last time." Catherine held her friend's arm and turned around to leave.

"Where are you going ladies? You cannot come here and go away without buying anything, you know. You are breaking the rules of this shop," the shopkeeper spoke from behind. His tone was menacing. "No one goes out without spending money."

'They look rich. They are also pretty. Selling them and their products will get me some money. I shouldn't let go of this chance,' he thought. His eyes sparkled with greed.

Veronica disliked the expression on his face. She sternly replied, "No one cares about your shady rules." She got irritated by the shopkeeper's behavior. 'What's his problem?' she wondered.

Unfortunately, their path was blocked by a hill. Someone stood in front of the door, making them unable to leave.

The girls raised their heads and gasped. It was the same man Catherine bumped into at noon.

It seemed like he had been following them all this time and took this opportunity to come here. 

'Oh shoot,' Catherine cursed inwardly. 'I knew this guy was nothing but a trouble. I should have been more careful.'

However, regretting wasn't going to help them. That guy was looking down at them with a terrifying expression. He slowly raised his hands and cracked his knuckles.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Because of you, I have been humiliated in front of my subordinates."

"Well, that's too bad. I had no intention of humiliating you. Haha!" Catherine defended herself and then gave a laugh.

"Cathy," Veronica called out to her to warn her. 'I don't think it's time for you to laugh. He is mad,' she thought in her mind.

"I have had enough!" the guy roared, making the girls jump. "I will get your first and then your friend. You will taste delicious. I'm sure of it." He licked his lips perversely.

Veronica shivered. Her face was pale as she realized what was going to happen to them.

"Don't treat them too harshly. They are pretty. They will be sold well," the shopkeeper said from behind.

'Damn these perverts!' Catherine's face twisted with disgust.

The man slowly approached them. His long legs quickly send him to the girls.

"Ver! Take cover!" Catherine shouted and then threw her shopping bags at the tall guy.

Veronica dropped her packages and ran toward the wooden shelves where big items were kept.

"What are you doing?" The shopkeeper realized that these two young ladies were nothing but trouble.This precious shop was falling apart. He stood up and ran toward Veronica.

Catherine threw whatever object she could at the burly man. The man slapped away everything that came in front of him. The more items came toward him, the more he got angry.

The products fell on the stone made floor one by one. Most of the items were rather broken or damaged.

The shopkeeper was fuming mad. He sprinted in the direction of Veronica who was assisting Catherine to throw his precious items.

Two minions of the shopkeeper heard the commotion and came to see what was going on. They entered the room using the backdoor and their jaws dropped seeing two women fighting against their boss and his strongest and tallest man. 

"What are you waiting for? Catch them!" the shopkeeper shouted and ordered his minions.

Veronica realized that she was in danger. Inside the shop was spacious. She saw his underlings rushing toward her.

They split up and tried to corner her from both sides. She had nowhere to run. She was cornered. Feeling nervous, Veronica stepped back. Her back accidentally bumped into a heavy wooden shelf. It began to sway as the lower part of the shelf was slightly broken.

Even the wooden shelf was antique.

"!!!" Veronica was startled when the shelf began to stagger and fall toward her. Her soul almost left her ribcage. She swiftly moved away at the last second and the lackey behind her raised his head. His eyes were full of horror.

Crash!

The shelf landed on him and buried him with the antique objects.

The second minion tried to save his comrade but he was bickered by the shopkeeper. "Don't be stupid! Catch her!"

The underling followed his boss's order. 

Veronica knew that she was in trouble now.

However, at that time, Catherine threw a medium sized iron vase at the big man. With his strong bare hand, he shoved it away. The vase flew toward Veronica.

Veronica saw it and instantly sat down. The second lackey behind her got hit on his face. He not only broke his nose but also lost consciousness.

"Useless! The shopkeeper became restless and decided to take things in his hand. "Just let me get out. I will see how you can manage to get away from me." He strode in her direction.

Just then, he saw a sword lying on the ground. He paused.

"…" Veronica also noticed the sword. 'A weapon. If I can get it, we can leave by threatening them,' she planned.

But who will reach before?