Chapter Eight
"Lucas and I had a misunderstanding and he carried me out of Lily's cafe to his car. He wanted me to discontinue at Lily's cafe, so I left my job that night. The next day, I went to the cafe to get my previous month's salary but they denied me. They said that I drove away all their customers because of the drama that I caused. So they didn't pay me anything. I was returning home when the owner Lily Hudson's son, Tony attacked me with his gang of goons," said Violet, looking down as she remembered it all.
"Then? Did they harm you?" Asked officer Larson.
"They gagged me and carried me to a van. I struggled with all the strength I had in me. They threatened to rape me. I was frightened out of my mind, officer. It was then that Michael and his colleagues saw me while going to work. They saved me and called the police. Tony and two of his gang members were arrested. The rest escaped. Michael brought me home," said Violet.
Lucas stared at her, listening to every word intently. He was thankful that Michael saw her and could save her just on time.
"Then?" Prompted officer Foster.
"In the evening, my brothers had come here to this apartment and I was alone at home cooking dinner. Lily's brother Adam came with five men. They trashed my entire apartment, shredded the clothes, ransacked and destroyed every possible thing they could see. I tried to stop them but they beat me up too. They threatened me that if I stepped out of the building they would abduct me. They warned me against involving the police. They also told me to forget all my dues," she told them.
"Firstly, we want you to help us file an FIR against them, Miss Nelson," said officer Macmillan. Violet agreed and they filed an FIR against Adam, Tony and Lily. The officers entered the details and two of them got up and went to her apartment and took photographs. They took down Lily's address and names of the men involved in the crimes.
"We're calling in more officers to arrest all these people at the earliest. I will station two officers here for your security," said officer Foster.
"I'm taking Violet and her family away with me, officer," informed Lucas and the officer nodded.
"Sure Mr Parker. Just give me your details so that I can update you about the case," he said and Lucas gave him his business card. The officers went away and Lucas looked at Violet. It was already 8 o'clock at night.
"Is there anything intact that you can pack? I'm taking all three of you away with me to my penthouse tonight. Tomorrow we will decide what to do next. It's not safe to live here alone anymore. Even after the arrests are made, they would somehow get out on a bail and then take revenge," said Lucas.
Violet couldn't decide what to do. She couldn't live with Mary Jane forever. In fact now Mary Jane and her family too were in danger for helping her out.
"I can't leave Mary Jane, Michael and Emmett alone here to face their wrath," said Violet, looking down at her hands.
"Mrs Lee, would you like to shift to the hotel's staff housing in downtown LA or continue living here?" Lucas asked Mary Jane and her husband.
"Actually sir my husband works at a departmental store here as a cashier. it doesn't pay well. He's looking for a better job. Once he gets, we can afford to go to a better neighbourhood," said Mary Jane.
"There's an urgent vacancy at the hotel for a stockroom manager. Why don't you apply Michael? It pays better being a managerial position. You can shift to the hotel's staff housing for the time being and then shift to your own place later. Is this apartment your own?" Asked Lucas.
"No sir, this is rented," informed Mary Jane.
"Yes, sir. I will do that. Thank you, " said Michael with a smile as their son came to sit beside him.
Lucas looked at the boys. "William, Walter, come with me. Let's check out what we can retrieve from your apartment and pack it all up. You all are coming with me and that's final," he ordered, looking at Violet who stared at him wordlessly.
She wanted to go with him. She was too scared to live alone here but Lucas was her employer and a billionaire. Why was he doing so much for them? What was his interest? Did he really love her? She was too confused to decide.
Lucas and the boys went to their apartment to pack and she too got up and went after them. There wasn't much left to pack. A few clothes that were saved from their attack, the file of important papers that was inside the old safe at the backside of the closet. A few books and stuff of the boys. A family photograph of their parents and grandparents. A suitcase full was all they could salvage.
They hugged Mary Jane and Michael. The boys hugged their friend Emmett. "How will I walk barefoot, Lucas?" Asked Walter, suddenly realizing that his only pair of shoes were torn.
Mary Jane smiled and went inside. She came out with an old pair of shoes that belonged to Emmett. "Wear these," she said.
"Thank you aunt Mary, " said Walter, eagerly wearing them. Violet slipped on her work shoes which were intact and William wore his school shoes. They locked the apartment and thanked Mary Jane and Michael and went down the stairs to Lucas's car.
"Wow, this is such a cool car, Lucas. I too want to grow up and look after a hotel," said Walter, running his fingers along the smooth body of his Jaguar XF which shone in the bright street lights.
Lucas chuckled and opened the back door for the boys to climb in. He opened the front passenger door and ushered Violet inside. He could see that she was not her usual self. She was confused and scared. He loaded their suitcase and opened the driver's seat and climbed in.
The boys were busy admiring the car and inspecting it. Lucas looked at Violet and touched her soft cheek in a light caress. "Don't worry so much, " he advised her. Lucas noticed that she trembled at his touch. He was excited that he could convince her to go with him.
Tonight it was already late, so he would take them to his penthouse. Tomorrow he would have his new home on Santa Monica beach cleaned and they would all shift there.
He drove to the hotel and parked his car. They all clambered out of the car. Lucas unloaded their suitcase and they all entered his private elevator. Violet could feel all eyes upon her. She felt very self conscious. She knew that tomorrow she would be the hot topic of discussion. Every body would talk horrible things about her. There'd be lots of malicious gossip.
"It's no big deal. Let them talk," said Lucas and Violet looked at him with surprise. How did he know what she was thinking?
"Wow Lucas, is this place yours?" Asked William looking down from the glass capsule elevator.
"Yeah," he answered with a small smile.
"Can we live here forever? We'd eat out at the hotel everyday. Best life ever," said Walter, rubbing his growling tummy. "I'm already hungry. Can we eat dinner? Last few days at aunt Mary's we had the best dinner ever. Otherwise we eat bread and water and milk," said Walter.
"What type of dinner is that?" Asked Lucas, perplexed.
"Add water to milk and have it with bread," answered William with a grin. Violet glared at them. "Shut up, you two," she reprimanded.
They reached the penthouse and Lucas led them inside. He called room service and ordered dinner. "This is huge, Lucas. It's as big as a stadium. You live all alone here?" Asked William, looking around in awe.
"Yeah, I live alone. What else to do? I don't have anyone to call my own," Lucas answered, staring at Violet. Their eyes met and time stood still as he held her gaze daring her to look away.
He was glad that the twins announced his feelings for her. It would have taken him ages to confess to her that he loved her. Now he would do his best to prove to her that he loved her.
"Poor Lucas," said Walter and Lucas laughed. The magic was broken and Violet looked away.
"Well, dinner should be here in five minutes. Why don't you all freshen up?" He asked them and the boys looked very excited at the mention of food. He felt bad that they couldn't afford a nice meal while there was so much food wasted at the hotel everyday. He should do something about this. Maybe save the spare food and distribute it to the homeless on the streets.
He showed the boys a spare bedroom where they could wash their hands. "You both can sleep here," he announced and they jumped with joy.
"And Violet?" Asked Walter.
