Jen

"What do you mean by pack your bag?" flushing furiously I asked him, he doesn't even flinch with my angry stare. His face gives nothing else away, but I know him and I know he is enjoying my annoyance.

"It's simple, pack your bag" Being a jerk, he replied coldly, not even looking at me. He taps his fingers on my dining table, wandering his eyes around my room. I crossed my arms against my chest, if he wants to play, then two can play this game. Slowly, he turns his head just enough for me to see his eyes, when he realized I won't be moving until I get the answer, he exhales the angry sigh.

"Jen, stop it. You fuss too much sometime" He turns to my side, flashing a sweet smile. That smile makes my eyes hurt, it's clearly a sweet smile but I really want to tear it apart.

"We have decided to give us a month, if my memory serves me right, you agreed to it, then why questioning now?" He might seem calm, but his eyes held the fire. He is trying to control his anger, he doesn't like when I behave standoffish around him. My mind started to whir away on a ridiculous idea of staying a month with him as I finally realized the futility of this setup.

"Giving a second thought?" He shrugged dismissively, shaking his head in dismay. Instead of answering him, I headed to my room. What am I doing? Is it right to go along with this stupid plan? Where the hell are you Daniel, when I needed you most? I dialed his number and it went to the voice mail. Like always, you are not available when I need you.

Clutching the phone to my chest, I gulp the sadness and disappointments in me. I dial Daniel's number once again, again on voicemail, but this time I decided to drop the message.

"Daniel, where are you? I want to talk to you, I.." I closed my eyes to think of what actually I want to say. "I don't know what I am doing? I know you will be upset with my decision, but I have no choice. This whole week I have tried to contact you for help, because all I have is you..." I tried to control my wavering emotion "I know you will understand. Please take care of Scarlet." With that, I cut the call. I hope Daniel gets this message soon, he would definitely find a way to me. He could only put some brain in Rick's sickening mind, he could stop this. I certainly hope Daniel won't be disappointed with me, I know how he feels about me, its not hidden at all. I know Daniel would be disheartened but I want him to understand the circumstance, I don't want to lose him.

"Taking a lifetime to pack your bag" Barging into my room, Rick gave me an accusing look. His eyes landed on the phone, a tick starting in his jaw as I tried to hide the phone away from him. Our eyes only lock and hold for the briefest second, but its long enough for me to read all the signals his eyes are relaying.

"Always, relying on Daniel" If he is angry, then be it. I owe him nothing, I shouldn't be receiving all his wrath, some of it should be projected at himself.

"Then whom should I rely, you?" Rick stands in the middle of the room, looking speechless and hurt. His fist clench open and closed as he battles to leash his anger. My heart is ready to jump out of the chest with the fear, I am preparing myself for his harsh comeback. But to my utter shock, he just nods his head.

"Five minutes you have to pack your bag, just five minutes" he mutters when his composure simmer back to customary level.

"How would I pack my things in five minutes?" I interject in defense.

"You would have thought that before wasting my time... who else knows me better than you, when I sound business...I meant business" a clear threat and he decides to leave me to packing. I don't have much time to think about what to pack, gosh I have only five minutes. Hastily, I started packing the essentials first, who cares what clothes I am going to wear as I am not out to impress anyone.

Like an alarm clock, Rick came back in my room in exactly five minutes.

"Times up" he announced groggily.

"Just give me a minute, I need to pack."

"I don't care" with that he took my bag, dammit. I have not even changed my dress, still in the dress which he gifted me for Jenny's wedding. Scoffing at this entire arrangement, I followed Rick like a slack.

As we are about to leave my main door, we bumped into Mrs. Karen.

"Hey, doll, are you going somewhere?" Mrs. Karen asked me with an estranged look, her eyes halt on my bag then to me. I heard Rick saying something slowly, he is cursing, I guess.

"Mrs. Karen, I .. I.." I just couldn't find the right word, what to tell her? Hey, I am going with this bastard to conceive his baby, or hey I have sold myself to save your business, be happy. That would be crude.

"We are leaving for the business Mrs. Karen" I heard Rick saying, Mrs. Karen and I both direct our perplex gaze at Rick.

"Who are you?" Mrs. Karen's voice changed, the humbleness and sweetness of her voice is missing.

"He is Mr. Adam" I decided to jump in between, "Partner of Mr. Richards" Mrs. Karen stare him with the disapproving look, she sniffs the dangerous aura of Rick.

"What business he is talking about?" Mrs. Karen directs her question to me, again I fumble with the words.

"She agreed to organize an event for my company" Rick answered, the tick of his jaw grows, he doesn't like to answer anyone. Mrs. Karen also felt the heat of his anger but she doesn't care.

"And why I am not aware of this business?" Ignoring Rick's heating gaze, she asked again. Before Rick could lose his patience, I decided to fetch Mrs. Karen aside to talk.

"Mrs. Karen, I can explain this, but now is not the right time. Its way too complicated" I sighed, my temple resting on the tips of my fingers. Avoiding her eyes, I turn my gaze to Rick, who's eyes are transfixed on us.

"It's him, isn't it?" My heart falls from my ribcage when my eyes met with her knowing look. She found that, a piece of my past.

"He was the reason you didn't want to work with Mrs. Richards, right?" She asks as her heavy-lidded gaze drifts between mine. Pain strikes my chest and the tears ticking in my eyes. She doesn't need my answer, because its written over my face, she read it.

"Oh! I am so sorry my child, I pushed into this." Her tears cascade on her cheeks, she wipes her tears from the back of her hand and holds my shoulders with the determined look.

"You are not going anywhere with him" I could feel her protectiveness in her touch and my heart melts down. Nobody has ever tried to protect me, Daniel wanted but he couldn't.

"Jen, we are getting late" Rick called my name, my heart stop beating when his red shot eyes warn me in his unsaid words. I am worried about Mrs. Karen, he has the power to destroy everything Mrs. Karen built.

"Mrs. Karen" She stops me and shot a glare at Rick.

"She is not coming with you" She announced. Rick flinch, he put his hand in his pocket, it means he is about to explode.

"You don't have any say Mrs. Karen" Rick said in his calm tone.

"I have and you stay away from her, do you understand" Mrs. Karen march towards Rick, before I could comprehend what's happening, I heard a sound of a tight slap. Her slap left a red palm on his cheek, I gasp in a shock. Rick's hand balled into white knuckle fist, I am afraid that he would retaliate but to my surprise, he just looks at Mrs. Karen with the straight face, no emotions, nothing.

"Can we leave this to Ms. Davis? I am sure she can make her own decision" A calm before the storm, I have a feeling that the consequences of this waiting for me. I try to control my reckless nerves, I have to stop Mrs. Karen.

"I won't let you hurt her, do you hear me" I feel so grateful towards Mrs. Karen, she loves me, just like my mom. I so want to hug her and sob into her but this is not the time. Her love for me can destruct her life, and I won't let this happen.

"Mrs. Karen, please you need to stop. Nobody's hurting me, I am willingly going with him" Mrs. Karen peer me through her hurtful gaze, I hate to see the disappointment in her eyes.

"Doll, you don't need to be afraid of anything, I am with you, Daniel is with you" on the mention of Daniel, Rick lost his shit.

"I am not up for this drama Ms. Davis, don't play the victim. I am not forcing you or abducting you, so spare me out of this. If you won't come with me in a minute, the deal is off with you" "The deal is off with you" that certainly means the deal will still valid for Scarlet. He must have got the master in manipulation. I hate him to my core. Mrs. Karen couldn't understand the unsaid warning, she watches me with concern.

"Mrs. Karen, I appreciate your love and concern, but please understand I need to go." I hug her tight. "I will be coming soon" I kiss her cheek, this is the first time I showed some affection to her, but I couldn't help it, she stood for me.

"But doll" she is struggling, her voice strangled.

"Don't worry, I will be fine" She understood nothing would stop me, she just kiss my forehead choking her sob. I walk towards the car, Rick walks behind me but Mrs. Karen's voice stunned us.

"She deserves a man like Daniel, not a shit piece of you. You hurt her bad last time, if you hurt her again, I swear I will kill you." I felt Rick's body tensed but he doesn't turn to Mrs. Karen, he just walk away. I don't understand, why he is not back answering her, she is nothing to him. He has a vicious mouth, he could cut anybody into pieces with his words, yet he chose to be quiet.

We both deposited ourselves in his car and started an unpleasant journey of my life. Half miles and no words were exchanged, Rick's brow furrowed. His jaw clenched and unclenched. His eyes scanning the road ahead, he looks disconcerted, sort of angry.

"Why are you angry?" I blurted, why I don't know but his silence discomforts me.

"I am not" really?

"She is just protecting me" watching his red cheek, I thought to defend Mrs. Karen. He just gave me one of his looks... warning to stop there.

"Anyway, you deserve that slap" gosh, what am I doing, playing with fire. Again, unexpected happened, Rick dodge that bullet with his silence. But his grip on steering tightens, I don't know but I want him to talk. Because, my stupid conscience says, he is in pain, his depth of grief reaching out to me and I am freaking out.

For another hour, we drive in silent dread, he never once turned to look at me, keeping his gaze fixed on the road ahead of us.

"How far?" again I tried to communicate, he responded with a short reply.

"far" I glance outside, its getting dark, my mouth dried with the thrust.

"I need water" he doesn't reply.

"Are you listening?" no reaction.

"Rick" this time I shout louder, Rick stop the car abruptly in the middle of the road, Car jerks and I hold the seat tight. Rick almost visibly forcing back his anger, his forehead caressing into a frown.

"Go"

"What?" I ask dumbstruck.

"You want water, right, go" Is he mad, there's nothing outside.

"Rick" I mumble his name, nervously.

"No Mr. Adam, huh?" a crook smile appears on his face, I just move my gaze from him, Rick grabs my face roughly and forced me to look at him.

"Can you see anything outside?" he forced my face to see out, suddenly I feel fragile and frightened, I always scared of Rick's temper. He became distant and violent.

"Do you?" He yelled sharply, I jump on my seat, too startled.

He releases my face, his eyes soften then I realized my tears shamelessly escaped from my eyes. My hands are shivering, my throats are fully blocked as I watch Rick cursing, he hit the steering wheel a sharp crack with his hand, cursing again.

"Fuck..Fuck" His hit on the wheel became more harder and violent, he would crack his bone if he won't stop.

"Stop" I mutter, my voice doesn't reach to him. "Rick, stop it please" little louder, I raise my voice. To my relief he stops, his eyes turn on me, I must say he looks guilty. His palms became red, the knuckle became white and his hand seems swollen but the pain in his eyes is different.

He wipe the invisible sweat from his face with the back of his hand, a move to compose himself, then his intense gaze stops on me. We both are looking at each other, sitting in the car, in the middle of no way, panting heavily. His wounded hand caress my cheek gently, wiping my tears away. Before I could resist his touch, his face lean closer to mine and his forehead rests against mine. Unknowingly, I close my eyes tight, breathing in and out. His hot breathing tickle my skin. Even, my eyes are closed, I could feel the heat of his stare mauling as he hovered. Every nerve in my body is on alert at his proximity.

"I am sorry" the heat of his breath covered my face, I snap my eyes open to meet his and breathed him in. I wanted to protest him, wanted to throw the insults on him but his scent invaded my brain and I completely lost for the words. I don't know how long we stayed like that until the expression of Rick's face changed. In a swift of a moment, he is back on his seat and driving the car, like nothing happened. My eyes are still on him, unable to move from him. What just transpired between us was so intent that I almost forgot that I hate this man. I adjust myself in the seat awkwardly and turn my gaze out of the window into the dark. My eyes are heavy and tired, and my body felt numb. Rick has absorbed all my energy, no strength left in my body. Rick is too exhausting...A day with him took all in me, how would I spend a month with him?

Hello lovelies!!

The few weeks have been very hectic, the work is taking toll on me. Anyways, how are you guys? Hoping and praying for the well being of each one of you..❤❤

Like always, your sweet requests drawn me to writing ✍️✍️

So, enjoy another chapter of His Intense Love.. Shailja_chandel_ yes your comments was enough to motivate me 😘😘😘

So, the journey has just started, not even a day, Jen is exhausted with Rick... how she will pull the entire month?😅

Eagerly waiting to hear your thoughts on this chapter, show me how excited you are for another chapter, maybe I will give you a quick update..

Thanks for 210k reads 🙏🙏

Love you loads..