GINERVA'S POV 

I lifted my hand to give him the slap he so dearly deserved. The fact that Abel Masterson was once again belittling me as though I was a common fraudster was something I couldn't take from him. I couldn't believe that he came all the way to Dad's house to make such dirty accusations against us.

I hated the fact that a tiny part of me saw some sense in what he was saying. Dad had indeed been acting strangely, why he suddenly needed all of that money and valuables was questionable. Another question was how he had acquired such an amount of cash in the safe.

"Not again, gorgeous," Abel said, holding my hand and preventing me from hitting him.

I snatched my hand out of his hold, eyeing him bitterly. The phone rang out, but the person at the door was still ringing the doorbell.

"Will you answer the door, or should I?" Abel queried.

I walked past them and reached the door. "Hello, Mr Gallo sent me to get you. You are Ginerva Gallo, aren't you?" the man asked when I opened the door.

"Yes, I am. Wait—"

"Ms Gallo doesn't need your services anymore. You can leave," Abel said, appearing at my side.

"Mr Gallo asked me to bring Ms Ginerva to her apartment and then to the airport," the man told him, confused.

I watched Abel open his wallet to take out some bills which he handed to the surprised man. "You can leave," he said before closing the door.

"Why did you ask him to leave?" I demanded. I needed to ask the chauffeur what was going on.

"John, Patrick, please can you step outside for a minute? I would like to talk to Ms Gallo alone."

"I have nothing to discuss with you, so you can all just leave," I refused.

"We'll be outside," John said, walking out of the house with Patrick.

"Your father was the one calling wasn't he?"

"I don't have to answer your questions," I said.

Abel's expression changed from that of amusement to fury as he closed the distance between us. His face was now only inches away from mine. My senses filled with his scent. His aftershave was so pleasant, same as his cologne, it was intoxicating, definitely a designer brand I could never afford.

"You are a dirty little tramp. Your father's call just now and the driver showing up to take you to the airport only confirms everything. You were very much involved in his theft. Tell me, was it your plan to run away to some other country?"

I stepped back, not willing to keep staring into those cold black orbs of his. "I don't know what you are talking about. I only got back from an interview and—"

"Another failed interview, right?"

I squinted my eyes in suspicion, "how do you know that?"

"You messed with the wrong man two years ago. I told you that, didn't I? Of course, I had to make sure you never got employed," he confessed with a dark laugh.

"You are a monster. How dare you? I have been applying at every gallery and art school I know, but I've only received negative responses for two years. So you are the one responsible for that?" I choked out amidst unshed tears.

I couldn't cry in front of the psychopath, he was only going to feel like some king if I did that.

"That isn't the topic for today. Explain to me why you connived with your father to commit such a crime. I need to know your reason first before calling the cops on you."

"The police? Please, believe me, I don't have anything to do with any embezzlement. My father didn't do anything wrong, the driver only showed up to take me to the airport. That way I would give Dad the cases he needed for his business trip," I explained.

"That is all a lie. How do you explain the huge sums in your account? A penthouse was bought in your name as well as some stocks in Masterson Bank. From my knowledge of your revenue, you barely earn enough to meet up with your rent and other living expenses without your father's support. You make money from artworks which you sell from time to time and perhaps from wealthy men like myself. We both know that none of them could have paid you enough to buy all of that," he mocked.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I am not a prostitute? I don't own any of those things you mentioned!"

"Those men you hung out with might not have treated you well, but I will. What do you say? I can pay you more than enough if—"

"Shut up! You disgust me," I stated.

He frowned, his gaze turning cold once more, "you disgust me even more. I only said that to get back at you. Perhaps, you would have offered yourself to me if I let you off the hook, wouldn't you?"

"I did not do any of the things you are accusing me of. I am sure that if we called my father, he would be able to explain the situation and prove his innocence."

"There is no innocence to prove. You and your father are nothing, but shameless thieves. He didn't even do a smart job, he and his lover, Susan Morgan. The three of you will rot in prison by the time I am done with you."

"Not when we didn't do anything wrong," I countered.

"Really? Let's prove the fact then," he said. Abel picked up the briefcase and took out a wad of dollar bills. "How the hell do you explain your father having so much cash at home?" 

He opened the briefcase and took out the paper bag, containing the watches. "These watches are extremely expensive. With what I pay the man, there is no way he could afford all of this. He is a fucking fraudster and I need you to call him up and tell him to get down here. You will both explain why you felt the need to cross me," Abel threatened.

"Please, understand that someone must have framed my Dad. I don't know why he has these items or why he needs them for the business trip, but—"

"Are you stupid?" He snapped. "There is absolutely no business trip. In fact your father has sent in his resignation letter as of last Monday. That was an entire week ago, he hasn't been reporting to work and as far as I know he hasn't gotten any other job."

"What? Dad has been going to work," I said, confused. Could my father have been wrong after all? Everything was pointing to the fact that he was indeed using company funds for his personal benefits.

Our recent conversations when he asked for my signature on something or the other replayed in my mind as I came to terms with what was happening. Dad had been running away after getting caught. He needed the extra cash and valuables in case his accounts were frozen.

I was his accomplice without even knowing it. The properties and stocks had been bought in my name, to prevent them from being traced to him quickly. His reasons for asking me to head to my apartment and pack up my things including my passport was because he wanted to run away with him and Susan.

My mouth hung open in shock, Abel had been right about everything. What was going to happen? Was Abel really going to throw us into the hands of the authorities?

"You seemed shocked, can I assume that the reason for your shock is the fact that you are the only one who has been caught after all? Not to worry, we will get Mr Gallo and Susan Morgan. You had better call your father now!" He yelled, furious.

My hands trembled as I unlocked my phone, at this point my hands were all thumbs and fingers. I dialed Dad's number as my heart beat rapidly in my chest.

Abel snatched the phone and put the call on speakerphone. There was no response and the call rang out.

"Let's assume he is busy packing up all of that money. He had better answer the phone this time while my patience is still intact or else, you would have to pay for his crimes," Abel threatened.

I dialed his number three more times, still with no response and I came to terms with the fact that my father had probably abandoned me.

"I see, the chauffeur must have told him about my presence here. He must have figured out that I was onto him."

"Maybe he will pick it up this time."

"Don't bother, now that your father has abandoned you, what should I do with you?" 

"Please, my Dad didn't mean to," I pleaded.

Abel smiled, showing off his perfect teeth. He closed the gap between us again, placing his arm around my waist.

"I will figure out what to do with you. I guess I would like another taste of your lips again,

regardless of whether you will hit me," he said and before I could back away, he placed his lips on mine.