CHAPTER 9

A man got up from the car in front of them and slowly walked to Sands' side of the car. Sands took his time rolling down the window.

Lina looked at the guy; he was a well dressed Mexican who looked even too familiar; he was one of Miguel's gorillas. She recognized him from the shop.

"Mr. Sands, Senor Ramirez sent us here to greet you and to escort you the rest of the way", he said politely but yet making clear that this was not negotiable.

Sands glances at Lina and then answered: "Well thank you, that's very…" he searched for an appropriate word, "kind of him. How did he know we were coming?"

"A friend told us you would be coming this way", the man replied still smiling.

Lina realized it had to be the farmer who had seen them. Suddenly she grew pale as she realized something. He had actually seen a little more than he had needed to. She couldn't help but wonder if he had informed Miguel of that too.

"I'm sure you are tired from your long drive", the man continued. "Perhaps you would like to join me in the other car. Pedro can drive your car behind us."

To Lina's surprise Sands didn't even try to resist it and answered: "Yeah, of course. That would be nice. It has been a long trip."

Someone opened Lina's door and held their hand out to help her out. She gave Sands a questioning look. He nodded quietly and she let the man help her out of the car.

"Right this way, Ms. Evans", he said and began to lead her to the car that had been following them.

"Now Pedro, I'm very fond of this car, so drive carefully. I wouldn't want any damage on her", she heard Sands saying to the man taking over the wheel of his car.

The other man began leading Sands to the car ahead. Lina slowed down her steps looking over her shoulder at them. She was starting to get more and more worried. How were they going to get out of this?

"This way, miss." The man was almost pulling her arm to get her to follow.

He opened the backdoor of the car and she climbed in. He went to the front seat next to the driver and soon they were following the two other cars. The men staid quiet and she had time to unwind her thoughts. This was not good. Why did Sands go with him so easily? And what was going on in that car? What were they talking about? What if that farmer had told them he had seen them kissing in that barn? What were they going to do to him, to them? Lina's imagination was flying sky high and the possibilities it came up with weren't pretty. She had to close her eyes. She didn't like it, she didn't like it at all. Why hadn't she just let him kill that guy? Their situation might have been different if she had.

After a little less than hour they pulled up in front of big iron gates. Someone came to open them and they drove in. Lina turned and watched the gates being closed again. It wasn't very encouraging; she didn't think they could just walk out of here.
Inside the gates was a big white sand house. Or not a house, a villa, surrounded by a beautiful garden. There was a swimming pool in the front yard, filled with beautiful, turquoise colored water. The place was isolated from the rest of the world by a big stonewall. When the first car, where Sands and the other man were in, stopped in front of the building, Lina saw a man come out from the villa. She recognized him immediately. It was Miguel Ramirez.

He was dressed all in white and he approached Sands, who had gotten out of the car, and they shook hands in a very friendly manner. They talked and they were both laughing.

By that time Lina's car had pulled up too. The same man as before opened her door and led her to Sands and Ramirez. Miguel's eyes settled on her immediately and despite the sun she felt cold.

"Lina dear, how nice to see you again", he said in an almost overly sweet voice, kissing her on the hand. "I see you are looking as stunning as always."

Lina ignored him and instead stared at Sands who was standing next to him. He looked very cold and distant with his sun glasses covering his eyes again. Why was he acting like that? Didn't he understand the situation...

And suddenly she realized.

She realized the whole picture even though she didn't want to. Her mouth opened slightly and she felt like someone was squeezing her heart. He turned his eyes away and looked untouchable. He never had any intention of letting her go…

Lina felt suddenly sick and she couldn't look at him anymore, so she looked down to her feet. She felt like someone had just given her a kick in the stomach.

"Welcome to my humble home", Miguel said with no idea of the turmoil inside her. "I'm very happy to have you as my guest. I hope you will like it here." He lifted his hand to touch her face but she turned her head quickly away.

Displeased, but not wanting show it, he lowered his hand back down. Then he spoke to the man who had been escorting her. "Show Ms. Evans to her room, I'm sure she would like to freshen up after the trip." Then he pointed his words to her again. "I have some business to take care of with Mr. Sands. I will see you later, my dear."

Miguel put his hand on Sands' shoulder and began to lead him to the poolside table, talking all the time. Sands didn't even look back.

The man guided Lina into the house and upstairs. She was taken into a large room and told that everything she would need was there. When left alone, Lina took a look around. Indeed, she saw there was a bathroom with all the modern luxuries, new clothes on the bed and food and drink on the table. Everything she would need. But none of it could matter to her any less. She was numb and empty. She sat on the bed.
All of it had been an act to him; just a way to get her here without fuss so that he could collect his reward. He hadn't really felt anything for her, it had been only a game to him, that night… just a little fun on the side.

Lina rubbed her forehead. She should have known it. Why else would his behavior have changed so suddenly? She had even wondered it herself, he had been like a different man. And now she knew why. She should have seen right through it.
So why hadn't she? Why had she been so blind that she couldn't see what he had been doing? She had bought all of it. All. How stupid.
And now he had completed his task, he would take his money and continue on.
The thought almost caused her physical pain. She got up and walked to the window.

He had gotten what he wanted. And her, what did she have? She was alone, betrayed, trapped in that house with a man she didn't love. What was she supposed to do?

Just then she spotted Sands walking across the yard. He was carrying a big suitcase, undoubtedly full of cash. He walked casually toward his car.

He would be screwed if she would tell Miguel that they had slept together, she suddenly thought poisonously. But unfortunately, if she told Miguel about it, she would be in much bigger trouble.

When he was passing her window, he looked up and saw her. For some reason, unbeknownst to her, he stopped dead on his tracks and staid there looking at her. She wanted to scream at him, to shout what a bastard he was, but nothing came out of her mouth. She tried to give him the dirtiest look she could, to show him how much she truly despised him, but right then it happened. She couldn't stop it no matter how hard she tried. A single salty tear fell on her cheek and was soon followed by others. Lina looked at him standing down there, her eyes burning with silent tears.

Somehow she managed to snap out of it and leave the window. One last humiliation. She had given him her tears. Tears she didn't want to shed, tears he did not deserve.

She fell down on the bed trying to push them away. Soon she heard a car leaving the yard. He was gone. Gone for good.

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Lina had fallen asleep and when she woke it was getting dark outside again. She slowly got up and dragged herself into the bathroom. Beside her father's funeral, she didn't remember the last time she had cried, but now she had to wash her red eyes.

She stepped into the shower and let the warm water run over her. It should have felt good, but it didn't. It cleaned her skin but it didn't erase the memory of his touch. Her body still remembered and she cursed it for that. Frustrated she moved to dry herself. She chose some clothes from the bed, not really caring what she looked like.

Her hair had barely dried when there was a knock on the door and a servant entered.

"Mr. Ramirez told me to inform you that dinner is served downstairs. If you are ready, would you please follow me."

Lina had no idea how she could face Miguel, but figured there was nothing to be gained by delaying it, and followed him. He showed her to the dining hall where Miguel was waiting. He pulled out a chair for her and she sat down. The servants brought the food to the table.

"Please have some, you must be hungry", Miguel encouraged her.

She wasn't hungry, but absentmindedly picked up the fork and knife and ate. He kept up the conversation. Or actually it wasn't really a conversation; she just answered shortly yes or no or nodded. She didn't even really hear what he was saying. She was like in a trance; she spoke, she moved, she ate, but still she was somewhere else.

When they had finished their meals he asked: "Are you alright? You have barely said two words during the meal."

What did he expect her to act like after all that had happened? But then again, he didn't know everything. Lina remained quiet.

"Look, I know this was an unorthodox way of getting you here", he began apologetically, "but I was afraid I wouldn't get a chance to talk to you if I didn't do something." There was a pause. "Can you forgive me?"

Lina looked at him properly for the first time. He seemed sincere, but Sands had taught her a lesson. What he had done wasn't going to be forgotten anytime soon. And what could she say to that? She was sure she wasn't ready to forgive him.

She dodged the question and use the easiest way out. "I'm very tired, I think I should go rest."

"Of course you are tired, I understand." He looked disappointed despite his words. "Maybe I will get to enjoy your company a little more tomorrow."

Lina gave a weak smile. He called for the servant who arrived to lead her back to her room.

She wasn't really tired at all and she considered watching the TV in the corner, but she was too restless to concentrate. She looked out the window to see the night was as dark and quiet as her heart felt. She threw herself on the bed trying to shake Sands off of her mind. But when she closed her eyes, she saw his eyes.

Why couldn't he get out of her head? She hated him! Suddenly filled with anger she jumped out of the bed, grabbed the first thing that her hand caught, which happened to be a vase, and threw it into the wall. She watched it smash into hundreds of pieces, and that was exactly how she felt too. Broken.

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The night passed slowly, but during those dark hours Lina regained her mental stability again. By morning she was feeling more like a part of the world again, more like herself. Maybe the tears of yesterday had cleared her head for today.

She didn't say anything about the broken vase and the servant didn't ask, just cleaned it up. She was relieved when he told her Miguel would be out on business for most of the day. That meant she could have some time to herself and her thoughts.

She had a small breakfast before going out into the garden to get some air. Miguel had told her to make herself at home, but it didn't feel very comfortable to be under watching eyes all the time.

She wasn't blind, she had noticed his men were keeping an eye on her, but they kept their distance, maybe on his orders as well.

She had recovered from the state she was in the previous night. Or at least enough to think seriously about the situation she was in. Miguel had welcomed her as his guest, but she knew that wasn't true. He had been nice and polite, a perfect gentleman, but she hadn't been fooled by it. She wasn't a guest in the house, she was a prisoner. She couldn't leave even if she wanted to. And the worst thing was that she knew what Miguel wanted from her, although he hadn't asked for it yet. Marriage. The question was; what was she going to say when he would bring it up?

She didn't think trying to talk sense to him would solve anything. Just what he had done to get her there proved that he was out of reasons reach. She could fight him all the way, as hard as she could, but he would probably still take what he wanted and make her life miserable on the side.
Or… She could try to give him a chance. Or at least make him think she was giving him a chance. If she could get him to trust her, he would probably cut her some slack. If she just came up with a good plan and if an opportune moment would come along she might just get away.
There were probably too many if's in that idea, but what else could she do? She was on her own. Everyone who was left of her family was in the States, they couldn't help her. Her father was gone and he was the only one who could have done anything. Well, him and…

She didn't finish the thought. She closed her eyes to try and focus on her problem. If she tried to gain Miguel's trust, how long would it take? And more important, WHAT would it take? She would have to let him assume she was willing to marry him, that she had changed her mind about him. The problem was that he wouldn't just settle for holding her hand. She had enough experience of the opposite sex to know what they wanted.

And Miguel wanted it bad. He had just confused lust with love. She was that he didn't really love her, she was something he hadn't gotten and he was used to getting everything. Her refusal had probably hurt his delicate male ego and now he was ready to do about anything to get her. And if she wanted out of there, she would have to be ready to give him what he wanted.

The thought was quite repulsive and she wrapped her hands around herself. But it was the only way. It was her only chance and no matter how desperate it seemed, she had to take that chance, she had to. She didn't want to be a captive all her life.
She turned around and went back inside the house.

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R&R!

I feel horrible for not updating in ages. I swore to myself that I wouldn't be one those who start a story and then don't finish it. I apologise and I promise I will finish this story, so just stick with me. Thank you to everyone who has been reminding of this by reviewing, appreciate it!

-Defina