Chapter 33: Chapter 33

I muttered several expletives inside my head when I saw him locking the door.

"W-What are you doing here?" I tried my best to stay calm, but I miserably failed and still stuttered.

He flashed a maniacal grin. "Oh, I've been waiting for this moment that we'd be alone together."

Shivers run down my spine. My legs are quivering in fear right now, but I'm doing my best not to show it. I need to compose myself.

"With all due respect, sir, this is a female bathroom, just in case you didn't see the signage outside."

He chuckled and chugged the bottle of beer in his hands. My face screwed up when a rancid scent of alcohol pervaded my nose as he walked closer to me.

I took a step back and looked around, searching for something that I can use against him if he starts acting up.

"You're so fucking delectable with that dress. But I'm pretty sure that you'd be better off without it."

"Don't you dare come near me," I warned in gritted teeth when he took a step again.

He smirked. "And what are you going to do, huh?"

I was tongue-tied. Anger is surging in my chest, but I can't think of anything to defend myself.

"You're playing hard to get. And you know what? It's only making me arouse even more."

My blood run cold when he suddenly held my arms, sending shivers down my spine.

"Your skin feels so damn soft-"

Without any preamble, I slapped him. The sound of my palm hitting his face resounded in the corners of that room.

The slap was hard enough to throw him off-balance. Even my hands are hurting from its impact.

"Fuck you!"

I took his shock as an opportunity to walk towards the door despite my trembling legs. I was about to open the door when an arm pulled me.

"Argh!" I groaned in pain when he punched me in the stomach. I knelt on the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks as I clutched my stomach.

Cyrus forcefully pulled my hair and whispered in my ear, "I will fucking kill you, bitch."

I shook my head and tried to fend him off of me. "N-No. P-Please stop."

His psychotic laugh sounds like a howl of demons bruising my ears.

I flinched when I felt him touching my skin. There's a sinister smile glinting in his eyes.

"N-No..."

"You smell so fucking good."

I shuddered in fear when I felt his  hands on my legs.

"Help! Please anyone help-"

My cries for help were muffled because he covered my mouth with his hands. I wiggled, resisting him.

"I-I'm begging you, don't d-do this p-please." My voice cracked.

But he didn't listen. He attempted to unbutton my dress, but I didn't let him and tried to push him away, only get punched for the second time.

But I did not stop. I gathered all the strength that I could muster and tried to break free from his grip.

But all my efforts are futile.

"Stop this! I'm begging you!"

His expression darkened. My face was slammed to the ground as he slapped me. I caught my breath as blood starts dripping from my forehead.

He choked my neck. "Stop resisting because you'll just get badly hurt, hmmm? It will hurt at first, but you will enjoy it soon," he whispered dangerously and licked my ears.

I felt disgusted as his hands roamed around my body. I want to scream for help, but fear and his hands muffling my mouth are keeping me tongue-tied.

All I can do is cry silently as he molests my body.

The pain coursing through ever fiber of my body is getting unbearable. I can feel my consciousness slowly fading.

In the midst of that dire moment, Garren's face flashed in my mind.

"P-Please, help me."

The last thing that I heard was the loud thud of the door before I passed out.

•••••

"Is Cleo going to be okay, dad?"

"She will."

"I hope she wakes up very soon."

The familiar voices of Greyson and Garren murmuring to each other awakened me. I had to adjust my sight to the overwhelming light that greeted me as I opened my eyes.

"Shit," I cursed as excruciating pain shot through my head when I tried to get up.

My stomach is aching badly too.

"Cleo!"

Greyson rushed towards the bed.

"You finally woke up! We were so worried for you!" He said frantically.

I opened my lips, but no words came out. Even smiling feels hard for me to do.

"Don't bother her yet, Greyson. Your nanny just woke up."

I looked at Garren who's standing at the end of the bed.

"Do you need anything?" He asked.

I signaled him that I need water. A sense of relief filled my throat when my lips tasted water at last.

"T-Thank you." I finally found my voice.

I roamed my eyes around and saw the unfamiliar white walls.

"Where are we?"

"We're in the hospital."

The creases on my forehead worsened when I saw the suero attached to my wrist.

"W-What am I doing here?"

Garren frowned. "Don't you remember anything?"

I squinted my eyes at the walls, recalling what had happened last night.

I went to the comfort room. When I was washing my hands, someone entered...

My chest tightened as realization hit me. I clasped my hands against my mouth, trying to hold back my tears, but I miserably failed.

"N-No."

I furiously shook my head, convincing myself that everything's just a nightmare.

"Cleo."

I fended Greyson off when he tried to touch me. I felt guilty when I saw pain in his eyes, but I can't find the resolve to apologize.

"Get out," I uttered in between my sobs. "Please, leave me alone for now."

Garren was reluctant at first, but he sighed in defeat afterwards.

As the door shut, I let my tears fall.

I buried my face on the pillow and screamed, punching my chest relentlessly. I feel ashamed and disgusted.

I know that what happened wasn't my fault. But I can't help but blame myself. I shouldn't have gone to the comfort room. I should've fought harder to escape Cyrus.

I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks and drew a deep breath.

"This is not the end of the world. You have to stay strong. What happened won't break you that easy."

I know I'm deluding myself that I'll easily surpass this peril, but it's the only way for me not lose my sanity.

The silence was disrupted when the door opened. A doctor along with two nurses, came inside to check my vital signs.

"You have no fatal injuries. It's a good thing that you were brought here immediately and we were able to tend the bleeding on your head," the former explained.

"H-How long do I have to stay here?"

"Don't worry, after you gain your strength, you can be discharged."

I forced myself to smile. "Thank you, doc"

"You're welcome. Do you have other questions?"

I shook my head.

"Then I'll go now. Take a good rest, Ms. Sullivan."

They stormed out of the room. I want to rest, but it hasn't been long when the door opened once again.

I scowled seeing Garren.

"Sir, I told you to-"

"I know you want to be alone," he cut me off. "But you haven't eaten anything yet since this morning. You have to stuff yourself."

As if on cue, my stomach growled.

He didn't wait for my response and put the paper bag on the bedside table.

"How are you feeling?" He asked while preparing the food.

I feel weird seeing Garren, my boss, doing something for me. Nonetheless, I'm grateful.

"My head still hurts. But I'll be fine. Thank you, sir."

Garren didn't respond. After he was done putting the spinach soup in the bowl, he walked towards my bed and gave it to me.

"Eat well."

I smiled faintly before getting the spoon. My hands were quivering as I took a spoonful, so it ended up getting spilled on the table.

He heaved out a deep sigh. "Let me feed you."

I gave him a puzzled look.

"It's obvious that you can't feed yourself on your own, so I'm offering to help. Don't put any malice on it."

I shook my head. "I appreciate it, but you don't need to do that, sir. I can manage."

Once again, I tried to take the soup into my mouth, and for the second time, the spoon fell from my hand and spilled on my hospital gown.

Garren hissed. "Stop being stubborn and let me feed you."

I hadn't had the chance to refuse as he suddenly grabbed the spoon from me.

"Open your mouth."

I fought the urge to blush, but my cheeks betrayed me.

Who wouldn't be flustered if your boss is serving you, which should be the other way around?

I brushed those thoughts away and instilled in my mind that Garren is merely doing this because I'm incapable of doing it myself.

I slowly opened my mouth and let him feed me. But my tongue almost burned because of the scorching heat of the soup.

"Shit! I'm sorry!"

He quickly gave me a bottle of water.

"I'm really sorry. I forgot to fan it," he sincerely apologized.

Instead of throwing a fit, I just answered, "It's fine" when it's actually not.

Garren took another spoon of the soup, and this time, he blew it a couple of times before giving it to me.

"How does it taste?" He asked in a soft voice, a tone that I don't hear from him that often.

"It's good. Where's Greyson by the way?"

"I left him in the hospital lobby."

I frowned. "Alone?"

"He's with someone else. Don't worry about him. He's fine. It's yourself that you should be worrying about."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you laughing?" He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Nothing. You just suddenly reminded me of my father," I replied.

He frowned, obviously curious. "How?"

"That's how he acts too every time I get sick."

"Really?"

I hummed. "He's the one who gets worried the most every time I have a fever. And he always makes a soup that makes me feel better."

"He's a good father, then. Speaking of, where are your parents anyway?" He asked nonchalantly.

The smile plastered on my face vanished in a matter of seconds. I had my tongue tied.

Garren must have noticed my discomfiture and said, "You don't need to answer my question if you don't want to."

"No. It's fine, sir." I took a short pause. "My mother and my brother are in Arranmore, the province where I was born. And my father..."

I felt a lump obstructing my throat, but I fought the urge to weep.

"My father is already dead." My voice came out in a low whisper.

Silence reigned between us. Garren was speechless. Obviously, he wasn't expecting my response.

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

I laughed emptily. "You don't need to be sorry. Besides, it's been two years already. I've already moved on."

Lies. What I said was nothing but a huge lie, because there were times that I would find myself crying in silence, missing my father's presence and embrace.

"How long did I sleep?" I purposely diverted the conversation because the atmosphere is already getting thorny.

I don't want to be an emotional-wreck on front of him.

"You were asleep for a whole day yesterday."

My lips fell to the ground. Good Lord. Did my head hit the ground really bad?

"Stop asking questions and finish this already."

I internally scoffed. He's being grumpy again.

After I finished the soup, Garren gave me a bottle of water.

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it. Do you need anything more?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, sir."

Silence ruled us for a couple of minutes, until I thought of something.

"I have a question."

He turned to her. "What is it?"

I pressed my lips together, hesitating to ask what's bothering me. At the end, I mustered the resolve to speak.

"What exactly happened that night?" My grip on the blanket tightened. "The last thing that I can remember before I passed out was someone slammed the door."

Once again, I could feel the corner of my eyes hearing up. I don't know when will my eyes get tired of crying and how many gallons of tears will I shed.

But this is the only way I can at least vent out my emotions. I don't want to bottle these up.

"Please tell me that someone saved me from that hell."