Chapter 12 – Ravyn
What a wonderful day!
It had been busy all morning with customers bustling in and out of my boutique. Elegance and Whimsy, the name I'd chosen for my business, had, within this short period of time, spread across the town. Some believed it was a haven of style and sophistication.
Personally, I thought that may have been an exaggeration. Although my boutique was small compared to the other establishments in the neighborhood, the size didn't matter much, considering the amount of effort I put into growing my brand.
When I’d first moved here, I wasn’t sure what business to venture into, and it took me a while before I figured it out. I studied the town, its people, and what they lacked. As much as I wanted to get on my feet and cater to my unborn kids, I was also interested in solving a problem.
I realized that if I could solve one problem, then I'd be killing two birds with one stone. It didn't take long before it dawned on me that the one thing this part of town lacked was a standard boutique. Or at least something that looked like a standard boutique.
There wasn't any functional business in this area that sold what I had in mind, and I thought to myself, “This is it.” Dad used to say, “Sometimes, people don't know what they need until you give it to them.”
The folks around these parts would often travel to neighboring communities to access a boutique. It was just a stone's throw away, so a lot of them didn't see it as a problem. However, I didn't share that opinion, and I was willing to give them what they usually went outside to look for.
So, I took the bold step to establish my brand, Elegance and Whimsy.
Dad was right. These people didn't know that they needed such an establishment next door until I brought it to their doorstep. There's a popular saying, “You don't know what you've been missing until it arrives.”
This was the case with me and the town's people. My establishment was like an eye-opener to how convenient it was to easily access a standard boutique without having to go far.
It wasn't all rosy at first, but with time, everything started to fall into place. My business had grown exponentially since its establishment five years ago. I didn't think my brand would grow this big in such a short period of time. Every day, I was grateful that I was bold enough to have started it when I did.
Now, I'd killed two birds with one stone; I'd solved a problem, and it was profitable.
I realized that subconsciously, I'd picked up a thing or two from Dad, and those things I learned, I put into practice. Perhaps I was business-minded like he was. I just hadn't known it yet.
Today, the store was alive with the hum of conversations, the soft chime of laughter, and the occasional rustling of fabrics as customers browsed the racks. The walls were adorned with an expertly curated selection of designer gowns, some of which I sketched out myself.
Resplendent in a sleek black dress with my hair styled in loose waves, I glided across the crowded store. My smile was unwavering as I greeted my esteemed customers, offered styling advice, and rang up purchases with practiced ease.
The sparkle in my eyes and the wide grin perched on my face belied the nerves that sometimes fluttered beneath my polished exterior. My business was expanding, and sooner or later, I'd have to start considering hiring workers because there was only so much I could do by myself.
The concept of having employees due to the rapid growth and expansion of my brand warmed my heart. It had always been my dream to own an establishment, and now, here I was, running one effectively.
Five years ago, I hadn’t thought I'd climb this high up the ladder of success on my own. It was incredible how lucrative my first attempt at running my own business was. Was it a dream because it was too good to be true?
I felt so free and alive.
Running away from my old life might have been a selfish and maybe even silly idea, but I was glad that I did. If only Mom and Dad could see the woman I'd become now. They might not be proud, considering my achievement was nothing compared to the plans they’d had for me.
As I arranged a display of crystal earrings, an elegant woman approached me, her heels clicking against the floor. I raised my head and beamed at her as she halted in front of me. I'd seen her around a couple of times, but we'd never really spoken before. This was because she often stopped by with a friend who always was the one to purchase a thing or two, and then they'd leave.
“Hi, welcome to Elegance the celestial canvas was a starry expanse with the crescent moon hanging somewhere behind a pillar of cloud. As the cool air blew across the town, whipping my hair into a frenzy, I headed toward my car, my keys jingling and heels clicking against the pavement.
Something seemed off tonight. I wasn't sure what it was but I couldn't shake the feeling that trouble lurked in the darkness. My heart was pounding in my chest for no definite reason, and I felt a sudden dryness in my throat.
The streets were deserted, a little quieter than usual, with the lamps casting long shadows along the sidewalks.
I paused in my tracks, taking a look around the familiar surroundings that seemed awkwardly different tonight. My eyes furrowed, creating faint creases between my brows as I wondered why this unsettling feeling plagued me.
As I neared my car, the screeching sound of an approaching vehicle caught my attention, its bright headlights enveloping me. My hands reflexively rose to shield my face from the harsh beams that blinded me for a moment.
Everything happened so fast.
I heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming at me, and before I could even think about what was happening, a needle pricked my neck. Whatever I was injected with must have been so powerful, considering the little time it took to knock me out.
Light as a feather and with blurry vision, I fell weightlessly, a pair of strong arms whisking me into the air. The world around me swirled, the muffled masculine voices of my abductors echoing in my head.
I heard one of them say, “We got her. Drive.”
As the vehicle they had me in drove away, my eyes shut, and all that existed was utter darkness.
*****
My head was throbbing hard when I awoke, blinking with heavy eyes as I finally came to. I winced at my aches, my fingers massaging my temples. As my vision cleared, my eyes caught the ceiling fan spinning, but I had yet to understand what was going on.
I recognized the scent of my living room, but how did I get here? Then, I immediately recalled the needle piercing my flesh, and my hand flew to the affected spot on my neck.
Wait a minute. I recognized the cologne filling the air around me. My eyes widened, and my heart sank into my stomach. My breath lodged in my dry throat.
I jumped off the couch, panting with cold sweat dampening my forehead. My legs turned to jelly, and breathing became impossible as I saw him sitting there in silence.
The table lamp cast an eerie glow on his chiseled face, which was devoid of emotion as he sat on a sofa, legs casually crossed. His men stood sentinel by his side, their imposing presence filling the room.
My chest heaved rapidly, eyes fixed on the devil sitting in my living room. I'd always known this day would come, but nothing would have prepared me for it.
“Lev,” I whispered under my breath, tightening my jaw as I struggled to stay calm.
He rose to his feet and approached me with slow, menacing footsteps. I'd almost forgotten how tall he was and how scary his cold stare could be. As he towered over me, my brain went blank, abandoning me for a moment.
“Ravyn Jensen,” he called softly, his voice dripping with a hint of venom, his expression stoic.
I drew a deep breath and summoned all the scrambled pieces of courage I could muster. “What—what're you here?” I asked, my lips quivering, regardless of the defiance in my tone.
He held my gaze, his deep voice and sinister reply shattering my soul. “I've come to collect what's mine.”
My throat wobbled as I swallowed hard, my heart pounding like a drum in my heaving chest.
It's over. I'm doomed.