The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Did seeing Ashley hurt me? Yes, but for a different reason, I was out of love for her after all these years, seeing her made me remember that night and how she had cruelly thrown away two years of our blissful relationship. I had been beaten up by Ivan's men, almost like he figured I'd be there. Yet she said yes to his proposal, made me question if she was ever a good being to begin with.

"Vodka..." I said to Hailey, others know her as the bar girl but to me she was the sister I never had, we grew up together and when my parents died in that car accident, her father took me in and raised me up till I could fend for myself. She looked at me inquisitively before withdrawing her splayed hands from the table to get my order.

"Here you go." She said passing the liquor to me. I smiled back in gratitude but she had that frown on her face and I knew she wasn't backing out.

She pulled a chair out and sat across me, leaning towards the table with a fixed gaze on me. "Tell me... What happened to you?" She asked, her eyes quickly glancing around. " I don't have much time to hang around, my boss could see me." She pressured.

I sighed before gathering the strength to speak. " I lost my job..." I looked at her and my guess was right. She was as frustrated as I was. "Ivan is behind it all." I finished my sentence. She sat up a glint of expression that said I told-you-so. She had been hinting on Ivan being the reason behind losing all the job I ever got in the past three years, but I didn't want to give my self an excuse for failure.

"What's your plan now?" I tried to speak but the sound of voices from behind which seemed like an argument drew both of our attention to the counter. A young lady elegantly dressed sat at one of the stools and this huge man opposite her, who seem to be talking to her. She didn't seem interested in whatever he had to say, and he seemed pretty annoyed at her snobbish reaction. I trailed my eyes back to the table and back to Hailey.

"Excuse me." She said and hurried off to the counter. She had said something to the man at the counter which I didn't hear but whatever it was he left the counter and moved towards a table. For some reason which I had no idea about, I couldn't keep my eyes off him till he sat amongst a group of dangerous looking men. Their focus was on the lady he seemed to be harrasing earlier and it wasn't a good look.

I decided to give more attention to this lady who had caught their attention and fury, for all I could deduce from this, she had just angered some gangsters.

In one glance I could tell she was filthy rich or from a wealthy family, I knew all the designer wears she had on, and how stupid to carry expensive jewelry to such a place. She must be at the wrong place. She seemed really uncomfortable after the encounter and in no time, she clutched her bag to her shoulder exiting the bar.

The gangsters followed shortly after her, it shouldn't be any of my business so I ignored them, downing my drink.

"Damn it!" I cursed inwardly, my butt itched from anxiety, she is a stranger and I shouldn't get in trouble just to help her. At last my conscience overrode my mind and I stood up, settling my bills with Hailey who was obviously surprised at my haste.

I hiked onto my bike, there was no trace of the girl and the men anywhere. My heart picked up the pace. What if they had taken her?

I searched the corners of the road but is was furtile effort, there was no trace of them. I realized it was a lost cause and resolved to head home since I was on track.

If I had gotten up from my chair when I needed to, then I might have saved someone, my conscience tormented.

My eyes weren't focused on the road, I was only seeing my thoughts in my head and my subconscious directed me back home. My bike made a screeching sound as I suddenly held my break. Someone had just ran in front of me. My heart thrice faster, the person had blood stains on her arms as she fell to the ground. I quickly got off my bike wondering if I had hit her.

"Please... Help me." She pleaded desperately grabbing my arms. I sighed, but that wrist watch from earlier. It was the girl at the bar. My eyes broadened and settled in worry. I overheard the distant sound of some men from the corner were she had presumably ran out from. I slowly lifted her up leading her to my bike. A simple glance revealed that the gangsters were coming after us so I hurried and placed her to seat at my back.

"If you want to live, use your last strength to hold onto me." I said to her and quickly started my engine. Her hand slowly traced to my torso and I felt her grip tighten at least for someone injured.

"H-hold on." She said softly, I felt her hand slipping off my waist. Her head sliding off my back and finally her whole body falling to the ground. I looked at the corner and the men were really getting close with angry yells. How did I get myself in trouble with a stranger. With this she was going to get us killed.

I got off my bike at once. "Hey, listen..."I tried to motivate her to stand but she cut me off just immediately.

"Help me up." She said and I carried her to seat. In few seconds we were on the run, at least they men who were after us were on foot and we were out of harm's way, or so I thought when suddenly the sound of gunshots started resounding behind us.