As the sun sets, the orange hue from the sun bath the art works in the gallery with a soft evening light, highlighting the delicate watercolours and fine details of the artworks.
Arielle stared at them with a lump in her throat and an ache in her chest.
The gallery wasn't doing well and she couldn't keep asking money from her parents. If she doesn't find a solution soon, she'll have to close it down.
When tear pricked at her eyes was when she decided to stop thinking about it and close up for the day.
At a corner of the lobby, a sleek, minimalist reception desk stood.
Arielle walked over to it to finalize some things before closing for the day.
Suddenly, the entrance door flung opened and Bernard Everest, a thirty-five-year-old man walked in.
A smug smirked played on his lips as he walked to Arielle.
His black leather shoes stopped just in front of the desk, he adjusted his tailored navy blue suit with a subtle sheen indicting its high quality fabric then placed his hands on the desk, the almost set sun illuminating his Rolex watch.
"I've come again, Arielle." He gave a quick glance at her surroundings, "No customers today as well?" A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Arielle let out a frustrated groan internally but gave him a smile, she knew why he was here.
She thought she had made herself clear the last time they spoke but it doesn't matter as she was going to keep refusing him if that was what it took to make him understand.
"Is there anything you need, Mr Everest?" She asked in her overly sweet customer service voice, "Unfortunately, it's closing hours so you'll have to come back tomorrow."
Arielle went back to her work despite knowing all too well that that wouldn't be enough to get him off her back.
"I'm here because of the proposal I offered last time, have you thought it through?" He asked, ignoring her blatant dismissal.
"No, Mr Everest because I remember refusing, so there was nothing to think about." She shot back, not looking up from the ledger she was reviewing under the counter.
She pondered what she was going to do to get rid of him, who she was going to call to save her, praying he wouldn't force her again.
As she pondered whilst giving him a smile, she didn't know how else to handle him. He suddenly burst out laughing, an evil, and creepy grin spread across his face and Arielle's smile dropped completely as dread completely engulfed her.
She was all alone with this man, the sun completely gone from the sky. A realization dawned on her and she just knew he was going to do it again.
"Mr Everest… you…" before she could finish, he cut her off with an order.
"Come in!" He shouted and two buff looking men walked into the gallery, staring directly at her as they hurriedly closed the distance.
"Mr Everest, what's the meaning of this!" Arielle shouted as alarm bells rang in her ears, her heart thumping in her chest.
"You're going to marry me, Arielle. You're mine." Was his surprisingly calm reply.
Arielle immediately jumped off the desk and ran opposite their direction, to the hallway showcasing her vibrant and lively artworks.
"Catch her and bring her to the van." Mr Everest ordered, and the two men obeyed, chasing her down the hallway.
Her black leather ankle boots with a low heel clacked loudly on the marble floor as she tried to think of a solution from her predicament before it's too late but she was caught before she could do anything.
"Let go of me!" Arielle yelled and struggled, trying to free herself from her grip.
They dragged her out of the gallery despite her kicks and screams. They lead her into a narrow alleyway between two large buildings, dimly lit from the cloudy sky.
The walls of the buildings were covered in graffiti, the weathered bricks showed fading signs which showed the age and neglect the buildings faced.
Apart from Arielle's screams, only the meowing of a stray cat could be heard.
At the end of the Alleyway was a black SUV, blocking the entrance with the sliding door halfway opened.
"Someone help me!" Arielle screamed, tearing rolling down her cheeks. It was useless, they knew the area was deserted which was why they didn't bother gagging her.
He was kidnapping her again and there's nothing no one to stop him like last time except for a mysterious man that came to her aid and disappeared with the wind.
She shut her eyes and resigned herself to her fate when a sudden gust of wind went past her, she opened her eyes and saw one of the men dragging her on the ground.
Arielle gasped, beside the body on the ground was a pair of black leather shoes. Her eyes trailed up the figure's leg to his face and saw him—the stranger that helped her last time—standing before her in all his glory.
"Piece of shit!" The other man let go of Arielle and rushed to the strange, throwing punches at him but he missed every time.
A single punch from the stranger sent him flying to the other side of the alleyway, the breaking of his ribs and spine was audible.
"It's you." Arielle shouted, sounding excited and shocked. He saved her like this a few days ago and again there he was again to her rescue. What were the odds of this kind of coincidence?
"Dammit! Drive off." Mr Everest voice commanded from the SUV and it speeds off immediately.
"Who are you?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Why do you always show up when I'm in danger?"
Arielle shot him with question after question before he could even respond.
She stared at intently at his deep blue eyes, strangely alluring her to him. She unconsciously took a step towards him, her heart pounding in her ribcage but not out of fear but something completely different that she wasn't quite sure of yet.
"Xylan." The stranger's voice broke the silence. His voice was deep and clear, holding an authoritative tone to it.
Before she could say anything else, he walked away, his figure disappeared from view before she could comprehend what he was doing.
Arielle wanted to know who he was, just a little about him but he was gone again.
He had an eerie presence around him that she can't explain but at least she got his name.