The Devil's Sweetheart

Nick didnot spare a glance at the woman who was useless to him. His sole concentration was on Leena alone. ''Are you hurt, Leena?'' Nick dropped to a squat to help her.

''Do you care? You should be tending to your girlfriend, not a stranger like me.'' Leena swatted his hand away, refused to receive help from him. Turning to her left, she slowly rose to her feet and stood, dusting the dirt from her dress. Questions were running in her mind. Why did he come here? How did he know this place?

''Are you angry?'' Nick looked at her despondently. ''I know you are_''

''Nick.'' Nick heard a plaintive whimper that sent a rush of anger to his face. 

''What?'' He distinctly glanced in Merl's direction, his icy stares bore into her, causing her not to back away.

''What's wrong with your tone all of a sudden?'' Merl was almost on the verge of tears. The Nick she has seen is a soft and gentle person, not an aloof and distant man she sees today. She hated the side of his. ''Do you know Leena tried to kill me.''

Leena watched her, a wry smile on her face and an amused twinkle in her eyes. So, I am her new target now? Leena wondered, what's this hero going to do now? Will he soften up and rush into her lover's arms like old times?

''If you think I came here to protect you.'' Nick gave her a smug smile. ''It's time you stop living in delusion.''

''What are you_''

''Forgot to tell you, I visited Westside school recently'' Nick cut off to Merl's shock. ''But unfortunately, I didnot find any girl with the name Merl Jones studied over there.'' 

Merl felt like the world stopped in front of her. Did he investigate me?

''I assumed my girlfriend was too occupied to forget the school name. So, I did an extensive search.'' Nick looked at Leena. Her eyes rolled in a way, telling him that it's her extensive search, not his. He grinned in response and came back to the topic again. ''..and at last, I found the school name you attended, WestOyster. Was I surprised to see the picture of Merl Jones? Man yes! You are one surprise bank.''

''Stop it, Nick!'' Merl pleaded.

Pretending that he didnot hear, Nick continued. ''I went in search of your parents, and guess what I saw? The old man whom you claim to be a mental patient was your father.'' Nick exclaimed. ''I was blown up by your surrounding mysteries. I couldn't believe the innocent mind of my girlfriend is packed up with criminality.''

''Why are you making things hard.'' Merl slowly walked up to him. Without a second thought, she hugged him tightly. ''I am sorry, Nick. I am sorry for hiding my identity. You have reasons to hate me. But trust me, all the things I did were because of my love for you. I was scared to lose you. I was scared you would hate me. I may be fake, but my love for you is not a play. I loved you with all my heart.''

''To the point of killing an innocent girl?'' Without any mercy, he pushed her away. He did not attempt to hide the disgust in his eyes. ''I donnot need such kind of selfish love.''

''I wish I had given you poison on that day.'' Her words tinged with menace for Leena. ''It's all because of you.''

''Oh! No! Will you stop, woman?'' Leena sighed. ''You are not even a qualified second lead in his story.''

Leena turned to Nick. ''Let's go.'' 

''Are you leaving me, Nick,'' Merl asked. ''You still love me.''

''I fell in love with the person you pretend to be.'' He walked out without waiting to hear her reply.

As they walked, Leena could sense Nick pretending to be okay, but he is not. ''Are you okay?''

''It's not the love that hurts, Leena. What hurts most is being hurt by someone you love. I am used to getting hurt again and again.''

Leena wanted to ask if someone else has hurt him, but he is already in a depression. It's not wise to re-open the wound. ''When did you discover her identity?''

Nick explained the details of his conversation with a man when he accidentally lifted Merl's phone. Although he knew everything, he pretended so that it would be easy to know where she hid the actual Merl's location.

''I am proud of you.'' Leena patted Nick's shoulder. ''So, what do we do with her?''

''Í have a plan.'' He said. ''By the way, you have good news.''

''What is it?''

''I told Devin that you are here. He is coming_''

''What! It's not good news, idiot! OMG! I am screwed now.'' When Merl finally made a suspicious move, she followed her without telling Devin. She knows the guards would inform him later, but this is too sudden.

Speak of the devil, he doth appear. Moments later, a car pulled in front of her. Nick went back to his car. Wordlessly, Leena stepped inside to face the wrath of her husband.

His gaze remained on the laptop, but his voice gathered heaviness as he spoke. ''Welcome back.. should I say Hero Leena?''

''Umm..It's Leena Hayes. Leena is not my surname.'' She sheepishly added to fuel his anger.

''Your joke is not funny.''

''Oh.'' She pouted. ''Then I will try a different joke to impress_''

Leena caught her breath in a startled gasp of pain when Devin raised her legs, whirled them, causing her back to fall on the seat. In no time, he came on top of her. ''You have been a bad girl lately.'' 

''Then punish me tonight.'' She added on, a naughty smirk on her face.

''How about we start now?'' His fingers brushed her t.h.i.g.hs, her s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e area, Leena looked at the driver seat and back to Devin, but he didnot seem to bother. Or he was pretending to until she begs him. 

''We did it here'' He leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. ''Don't you remember?''

How can she forget the incident of her honeymoon? Feeling his hardness dangerously close to her, Leena craved more of him. If she had removed the driver's existence in her mind, their bodies would be tangling in bliss by now. But she has to stop this beast.

''Tonight, I will ride you.'' She whispered, knowing that he would agree. After all, it's sir's favorite position and, unfortunately, her least favorite. Holding onto his stamina, she gets tired of being on top and also doing all the work. 

''One week. I am trying to be generous considering your stamina.'' Countered Devin. 

''Three days.'' Replied Leena, gritting her teeth. 

''Two weeks. The number increases every time you negotiate.''

''You should have told this condition before,'' Shouted Leena. ''One week then.'' 

''Deal.'' Immediately, Devin pulled her up to the seat. One week is manageable. Not every day, he gets the chance.

''To home,'' Devin ordered the driver.

While going home, Devin gave a big class to Leena for not informing him beforehand. She listened to the same old story until he was short of words. 

''I am not caging you, Sweetheart.'' He stroked her hair warmly. ''I can't bear it if something happens to you.''

Leena hugged him. ''I will be careful. Don't worry.''

''I believe in you.''

Moments later, her gaze fell on a file at the far end of the seat. She grabbed the file and studied the contents. ''A pharma companies list?''

''It's Enger's.''

Leena nodded. Speaking of him, she decided to do a study on his company as well. She couldn't believe he is the mastermind behind Leius Pharma labs. ''Were you able to find Enger's mother's whereabouts?''

''The last few pages on the file are about Ruth's family, friends, and relatives. We haven't yet interrogated anyone.''

''She is a pro in playing Vihuela instrument. Interesting.'' She flipped onto the next page, and a name caught her attention. ''Rosalie Miles is Ruth's friend and relative?''

''Do you know her?''

''I am not sure if the person I am guessing is the same,'' Leena explained. ''But my sc.u.m father's wife shares the same name.''

''Is it?''

''If she is the one, then we can know about Ruth more,'' Leena said. ''Although my sc.u.m father is a waste fellow, Rosalie is quite an approachable woman.'' She decided to visit her jewelry company when she is free.