4- The Price of liberation

After a week, Red was discharged from the hospital and was taken to Lucifer's mansion. "Where are we going, Mr Smith?" "Ah, no need to be formal. Call me Harry, Red. And we are going to Mr Grave's mansion." "He lives in a mansion?" Her words came out like a question to which Harry replied with a nod. The car stopped in front of a Mansion which looked ravishing to its utmost extent. Her jaw dropped to see the mansion more beautiful than she could imagine. "I am sorry but isn't it too rich for an officer?" Red asked Harry. "Come in. Mr Grave is waiting for you." He replied, avoiding her question. "Are you sure he is an officer and not a businessman?" She asked but Harry just took her inside without answering her questions. She entered the mansion embellished with precious decors and an admirable architect. She walked inside, looking here and there in awe and saw a maid there. "Why am I here?" Red asked. "How can I let a pretty lady like yourself go anywhere?" Lucifer's tempting voice came. His tone and words shocked the people around Red. Lucifer walked down from the stair, boring his eyes into Red's and not breaking the gaze with the usual smile of his. He stood in front of her and offered her his hands. "Besides-" She took his hand and he kissed the back of her palm while bowing a little. "-I would love to host you." His voice made Red heart's race. She swallowed hard and smiled, trying not to blush. "T-Thank you, Mr Grave but I don't want to be a burden." "Believe me, you are not." He smiled widely, moving back but not leaving her hand. "You are my guest for as long as you are here. Come with me, I will show you your room." His voice was utterly charming and Red couldn't resist it. She nodded as he took her with him. After they left, Harry said to John; "Was Sir always this irresistible?" He shook his head no. "I have seen him with a woman for the first time." "If he remains like this, he would be on the front page of the playboy magazine." Harry said and they both nodded in approval. "Dude, just look at him. Just how temptingly he spoke his words... I guess we have to change his name from Grim Reaper to Absolute Charmer." Harry mumbled the last part to himself. "What?" John asked. "What? Nothing. Let's go." They walked after them. "Here is your room, Ms Bennet." Lucifer said, showing her room. "And she is Ava, she will attend you personally. If you need anything, tell her." He motioned at the maid who was standing at the entrance. "You don't have to bother this much, Mr Grave." Red said nervously. "You are my guest." That was his reply as he finally let go of her hand. "Mr Grave..." She called him, looking around the room. "Yes?" "When will I go home? I need to talk to my mother." She asked. "Soon. Don't worry about it." "How long will it take?" "Depends." She nodded and passed him a sincere smile. "Thank you... for everything." "It was my responsibility." After a short silence, Harry also came with John and Lucifer began to say hesitantly. "Um.. Ms Bennet. I am sorry I couldn't provide clothes. You have to wear mine. I actually don't know your size." "Oh, you don't have to do it, Mr Grave." Red said. "Please let me do what I am doing, Ms Bennet. I don't want to make this stay here more miserable than it already is. I want you to leave with a smile." He said with a smile of beautiful dimples. Red chuckled, "You sound very persuasive, Mr Grave." She said. A smirk came to his lips when he heard it, taking a step close to his dark gaze met her as her heart skipped a beat. His eyes evoked an impression which left her incapable to resist, flushing her. "Then blind yourself in the allure." He whispered seductively. She smirked back and replied in the same tone, "I don't get swayed easily." "If we meet later, then Let's give it a try. Just don't forget." He moved to her neck, making her shudder slightly, sending a satisfactory shiver to go down when he whispered in her ears. "Those who sink in my ocean... lost their way to the surface." "You are a very charming man, Mr Grave. I am sure you must have a lot of girlfriends." Red giggled, moving away but she could still feel his hot breath over her neck, forming goosebumps over it. Lucifer's smile faded as he said direly, "A heart devotes itself to one person, Ms Bennet. When the limit increases- it plays." Lucifer took a step back and formed his deceitful smile again. "Anyways, Please enjoy your stay here." And he walked out after closing the door behind him with a scowl over his face. "How many affairs do you have?" Harry asked. "What?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "N-Nothing. I didn't know you were so enticing, Sir." Harry said. "It's not enticement, mere manners." He said deadpanned and left with Harry coming after him. "Make sure this girl stays quiet and doesn't create a fuss." Even his tone to address Red changed into a matter of heartbeats. "But what if she asked or insisted?" "Delay it." "For how long?" "Until I make arrangements for her to go back." He said and went to his work while working on his plan as well. A few days later, Red was staying in her room. Bored to the utmost extent, wanting to talk to someone or do something. She was supposed to initiate her startup with her friends but seems like she is stuck for an unknown amount of time. She closed her eyes as the moments she had with her mother and sister came to her mind. Everything was going smoothly, she received her ladder to success and now stuck here in a whole new country. Remembering this, a realization hit her. Wait a minute, Isn't Graves the shipment company Bertha wanted to work at? She thought. "Ma'am." The door knocked and Ava entered. "Sir is attending to some peculiar guests. Can you stay in your room? I will serve you dinner here." She asked. Red flashed a smile and nodded. "Yeah sure... Uh Ava?" "Yes?" "Can you give me your phone for a moment?' "I am sorry, I can't." "Then can you tell me what Mr Grave does?" She asked, hoping to find the answer she was looking for. "He is the owner of Graves. A world-wide road shipping company." Red eyes widened when she heard it. Her mind went blank as unwanted thoughts stirred her mind and a sudden dread arose in her soul. Red gulped, alarmed by her surroundings. "Are you alright?" "Y-Yeah..." Her heart began to race. What does he want with me? Taking a deep breath and curling her hands in a fist, Red stood up, she is not the person who will sit back and stay quiet. Storming out of the room, she walked around and saw Lucifer in the dining hall, having dinner with an old couple- his parents. "Everything is fine, Father. Just had a little problem, so I fixed it." Lucifer said. With a scowl over her face, she barged in, "What the hell am I doing here? Why am I here?" Red asked. Walking up to Lucifer and slamming her hand on the table. She glared at him and spoke in a low voice so his parents won't hear, "I know you are not a police officer. Tell me, are you the one behind the trafficking and now hiding it to avoid the police?"