Chapter 20: Chapter 20

"Your father would disagree a million times." She told me in a sob, but I shook my head and focused my eyes on her.

"Who cares! He is only interested in his business and his name, that's his reason, I don't care if he disagrees or not." I said in a rush and squeezed her hands gently.

"Malinda," I said softly as I came closer to her. "I have an idea." I searched her eyes. "Let's flee together, both of us," I whispered and she looked up at me with wide eyes and her lips parted. "Let's leave this place, Malinda."

"Russeli!" Her brow knitted as she looked up at me with dilated eyes.

"We can run away, both of us." I did not hesitate as I searched her eyes, I was ready to run away with her, run away from my father and anyone who wants us to separate.

"No Russeli." She shook her head profusely as tears rolled down her cheek, she looked at me like she had destroyed me and my heart was hit like a wave hit the ocean and I felt crushed as I stared into her frightened eyes.

"Stay away from you is another thing, but running away with you is the worst." She pressed her lips together and looked down at her feet again. "I can't be the obstacle to block your way, you have music to produce, you are popular and I will blame myself if I ruin your career and all that."

I rubbed my face and held her shoulder, I made her look me in the eyes and I could see her gloomy face, and I quickened the speech in my voice. "No Malinda, if it is the song, then we will leave after I release this hit."

I took her hands again and lifted them to my lips, giving it a gentle kiss then my eyes focused on her again. "We will both leave this place after that, we will leave together."

She pulled her hands away from mine and stepped backwards as I heard her shaky voice next. "Russelli...please."

I knew this feels like a burden, but I didn't want to lose her, if I stay here with her, I will not be allowed to see her, my father was a powerful man and who knows what else he would do to stop me from meeting her, I was scared of all these and the only solution was to leave without his notice.

"Shhh...Don't say no." I walked close to her and held her hands again, staring at her eyes with my penetrating gaze. "You love me right, you do love me right?"

"Russelli..."

"Trust me." I cupped her cheek with my hands and stared at her flawless face. "We would be free to love each other the way we want, far away from here, together.." I wiped off her tears with the tip of my fingers and her lips parted.

"I am pushing you too far, I don't want to separate you from your father." She spoke in a hoarse voice and I could feel the pain she felt through her soft voice.

"No you are not, just for once, let us live freely even if the world disagrees with it." I embrace her shoulder in a tight grip. "Don't say no, we will leave after my music tomorrow." I leaned back and gave her an assuring smile.

I walked over to my closet and brought out a sweater. "You will catch a cold if you don't put on warm clothes." I handed the sweater to her. "Put this on before going back to work."

She looks at the sweater and then back at me, her eyes searching mine, I lean over to her and kiss her lips, wrapping her in my embrace. "No matter what anyone says to you, know this... I love you so much."

I submitted the song to my father the next day, they listened to it and decided to produce it since it was good.

Then I went ahead singing the duet with Yvonne who I was featured in the music with. We sang at the studio, but all I wanted was for this music to be over for me to leave here with Malinda, this was the last song I wanted to do with my father.

I had stayed away last night, mapping out a good plan on how to leave after producing this album, start a new family with Malinda somewhere on an island, we will be so in love and won't have any cares for the world.

The music ended and the others present in the studio applauded for us. "Wow! Russeli, where did you get that emotion from?" He asked me.

I have never sung this way before, so it must have taken them by surprise and also the music sounded perfect. I put my best into it to make my father happy and to make this joy distract him when I leave with Malinda.

I looked at the direction and few producers that were present and I felt the urge to tell them the truth, at least this should be honest. "I got it from a lady, I am dedicating it to that lady," I told them as I looked down at my fingers with a smile.

"Wow!" The director glanced at his work and his eyes focused on me again. "Would you love to announce her in the music, this girl..."

"No, it won't be necessary." Yvonne cuts in with an angry voice and I could see her eyes darken as she glared at me. "It can make another crisis arise." She told them when she saw their curiosity.

I knew she was just being jealous right now. If I had mentioned her name, then she would have given them a go, but I didn't want to cause more trouble for Malinda. I was leaving with her anyway so it was not necessary.

"I don't want that lady to get hurt," I told the producers softly. "Neither do I want to see her tears, if it spreads she would blame herself, so please don't include that, but it is all because of her?"

I watch the director nod his head, he has been one of the most understanding people I know. "I am proud of you, Russell. I wish for your love life to grow and be long-lasting." He told me and I flashed him a smile before leaving the studio.

I heard angry steps behind me and I already knew who it was before she spoke. "Russell, I need to talk to you."

I closed my eyes momentarily and halted in my step as I turned to face her. "I have nothing to say to you, but I want you to know this..." I stepped closer to her, my eyes were cold as I looked at her with hatred.

"This song shouldn't have been sung by you because I am against it, and I wrote this song with Malinda's key and it matches the music better than your voice." I saw her clenched her fist, but I care less about her anger. "I can't just help but hate you more for singing this music with me."

I sized her up and walked out, just the sight of her made me angry, and I had other things to do than spend more time talking to her.

I could hear her angry shout as I walked into the elevator, but I didn't want to get what she was saying. All I wanted to do was go back to Malinda's side and plan our escape and leave this country and place.