'What in hell are you talking about?'
Treyton growled.
'What does Erisha have to do with this?'

'Aaahhh, I see!'
David raised his eyebrows in amusement.
'You are unaware..'
David clapped his hands.
'Atleast she did something right..'

'Just spit out what you are saying!'
Treyton snarled.

'You seriously don't know, do you?'

'Know what?'

'That Erisha works for me!'

Treyton was stunned, unable to process that statement.
'What rubbish? Erisha has her own business..'
He spoke after a pause.

'Oh yes, she does! But she also helps me out..'

'Why would she need to work for a scum like you?'
Treyton's tone was scornful.

David laughed derisively.
'Oh, needs can make one do anything..'

The double meaning was not lost on Treyton, and he clenched his fists.
'Shut up!'

'Ha ha ha! You know nothing, Elrod!'

'I'm sure you will enlighten me!'
Treyton clenched his teeth too, wanting to punch the man.

'Hmm..sounds like someone is really interested in the woman..'
David put his hands on the armrests of Treyton's chair, and leaned over him.
'What? You got the hots for her?'
He chuckled jeeringly, at the anger in Treyton's eyes.

'Shut up, I tell you!'

'No, I won't! How else would I tell you then, that everything she did, or said, was on my instructions?'

'That's a pack of lies!'
Treyton bellowed, his face reddening with fiery.
'You are a filthy liar!'
Treyton brought his head forward to hit him, but David dodged it, moving back.

'Easy, man! Never been duped by a woman, have you?'
David gave Treyton a look of pure hatred.
'You, with the big business, the good looks, the beautiful  women..you think you have it all?'

'You are lying about Erisha!'
Treyton's mind was stuck on that still.
'So just stop it!'

'You don't believe me, that's your wish! But it's the truth! Every meeting, even coincidental, was preplanned! A set up! For you to fall for!'

No! This can't be true! Whatever had happened between them..there had been no acting in it..it had been a mutual pleasure...
'Hurensohn! You son of a bitch! How dare you?'
Treyton wanted to strangle the man.

'Tch, tch, tch! You still don't believe me? Let me remind you..'
David lifted his hand, and began counting on his fingers.
'First meeting! At your New Year party! That wasn't just a coincidence. I sent her there, to be seen..I knew you would find her intriguing..you are, after all a red blooded man..'

'You...!!'

'Bastard? Yes, I know!'
David laughed at him.
'The next was the Harley ride, and you saw her by the river. Again intriguing, right?'

Treyton could recall each meeting, without David having reminded him. But to know it had all been a set up, was making the bile come into his throat.

'The dinner you invited her to, the meeting in the cafè in front of your office building,  the date she invited you to..it was all a very clever way, for you to be enthralled by her..and eventually be sweetened enough to sign the damn papers!'
David was shouting now, his anger getting the better of him.

'Shut the hell up, you vile disgusting man!'
A tic was beating at Treyton's temple, as anger blazed within him.

'Don't tell me, you didn't lust after her gorgeous body..'

'Shut up, I said! I'll kill you!!'

'Yeah!'
David and the others, whose presence they both seemed to have forgotten, sneered.
'You are truly in the position to do that! What you gonna do? Get up, and beat us all, like in the movies?'
There was laughter in the room.
'You can't do anything! So it's better if you just sign these damn papers!'
David shouted, shoving the papers again at Treyton's face.

'NEVER! YOU HEAR ME? NEVER!'
Treyton's head went back, as David punched him.
'NEVER!'
As he received another blow.
'You are filth! And a freaking coward!'

'I'm not a coward! You are at my mercy, you son of a bitch!'
This time, David wasn't fast enough, as Treyton brought his head forward and butted it to David's.
The man staggered back with the blow, rubbing it with the palm of both hands.
'You mad man!'

'Yes! I'm mad, and you have totally lost it!'
Treyton snarled back at him.
'When I get my hands on you..!'

'In your dreams!'
David raged, as he backed away, his goons looking at him for instructions, guns ready.
'Let him starve, until he comes to his senses, and agrees to sign the papers!'
The men trailed off with their 'yes, boss', as David left the room in a huff, the others following him in a hurry, like trained dogs.

Treyton was left alone, with the banging of the door.
He kicked at the chair legs with his, pulled on the ropes confining him with his arms, his mind in a raging fury at the man, and all he had said.
Sign away his business? To that cheat? Never! He had worked his ass off to reach here, and it wasn't so some idiot could take it away from him.
And ERISHA! He had started liking her, wanting her..he knew when pleasure was real, and when it was faked..and she had definitely been with him all the way..or so he had assumed..
But, she had turned out to be  nothing but a conniving puppet! A puppet in the hands of her lover..to do as she was told to do..even if it meant pretending to enjoy his touch, his kisses..
God! Disgusting!

'DAMN YOU TO HELL, ERISHA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!'

***************************

Erisha stood waiting in the shadows, her eyes and ears attuned to every sound.

As soon as she had seen where David's car had turned, she hadn't been able to move from her hiding place, her limbs feeling like lead.
So, she had hidden her bike behind some trees, and stood waiting, for David to come back out.

What game is this man playing? Why did David kidnap Treyton? And I'm as sure it's Treyton inside that house, as if I can feel his presence.

What rubbish!
Erisha berated herself.
How can I feel his presence? It's surely all that talk I overheard at David's office..yes! That has to be it!

Erisha swatted at some insect that bit on her arm. She must be all red by now, considering she had been here for about forty minutes now.
What are you thinking, Erisha! You don't even like the man..or do you?
Come on! You haven't been able to think about much else, ever since you sent him away..you have started to like him, have feelings for him..
I may have had the wrong impression of him before, because of all the things I  had been told about him, or seen in the news and magazines.
Erisha contemplated.
But things had shifted..in just a couple of meetings, opinions had changed..and she couldn't deny them any more..she was drawn to him..physically, and emotionally..

Erisha's head was pounding with the turmoil inside her head, and the realisations, and she shut her eyes briefly.
Whatever has happened, I can't just let him be imprisoned here! I can't let David do what he said..no, no! Nothing can happen to Treyton! I have to save him!

A sound alerted her, and she opened her eyes, in time to see David's car coming out of the driveway of the house she had been observing. She focused, and saw David driving, and another man sitting next to him, as it drove past.
Good! He has left!
But there must be guards with Treyton..

Erisha moved out from behind the trees, and laying low, crossed the street to the driveway of the house David had just exited from.
She was glad that she had worn jeans and a top today, instead of the long skirts she preferred to wear to work. It was definitely easier to run.
She gave a mental chuckle at the thought.
As if I play spy often..

Erisha stopped, as the house came into view, and her heart began to thud in her chest.
I never thought I'd see this place again..
Tears pricked behind her eyes, and she quickly brushed them away, as she looked around for men who must be guarding the place.
Seeing no one around for now, she quickly crossed the driveway to the main house's porch.
The windows were all boarded up, and no light shone from anywhere, but Erisha had good night vision, and she found her way to the entrance.
She crouched there, and put her ear to the wooden door. Hearing no sounds from inside, she put her hand on the door handle.
Just as she was about to lower it, it lowered by itself, and eyes wide, Erisha felt her heart leap into her throat.
Oh, God! Busted!
She stood shocked, as the door was pulled open from inside, and a man stood there.

'Boss has asked us to starve him. It doesn't mean we can't eat either!'
The man's voice called out in Austrian, his face turned towards someone, obviously behind him.
'I'm going to get dinner!'
The man turned to look outside, seeing only the inky blackness outside.
'You watch over him! I'll just be back!'

'Get something meaty! Watching over this dude makes me hungry!'

'Yeah, sure! Be alert!'
The man by the door looked to the left, then to the right, and loaded his pistol.
Assured that all was clear, he walked over to a tree, and cane back out on a hidden motorcycle.
Revving it, he quickly left the driveway, the tail lights fading.

Erisha, who had been watching all this from her flattened position behind the porch wall, thanked her lucky stars, and the hunger of the men acting as guards, that she had been saved in the nick of time.
Or I'd also be locked somewhere inside right now!
She hurried out from behind the wall, wondering on her next step.
There seems to be just one man inside..should I go ahead and tackle him?
But, no! What if there are more than one inside? I'd be screwed, for good!
No! I'll have to think of something else!

Erisha moved around the house, crouched low, saddened to see the debilitated state of the place. Even in the dark, she could see damaged parts of the wood that had once been cared for..lovingly.
She shook off the thoughts, before the other man could come back, and catch her loitering about, and hurried round the rest of the house, to find some way to get inside.

Damn it!
She cursed, as she found no entry point, all the windows having been barred.
Even the back door, leading to what had once been a vegetable garden, had been double locked.
How do I get inside? I'm losing time, and my mind!
Erisha kicked at an empty flower pot, as she stood in the back garden, picking at her mind for an idea.
The pot fell, and as she hurried to catch it before it made any noise, the grass there lifted up, like a lever had been pressed somewhere.
Staring at it shell shocked, Erisha saw a black empty space. Taking her phone out of her pocket, she risked turning on its' flashlight for a couple of seconds to see.
A grin lit up her face, as she realised what this was, and she looked up to thank the heavens.
Yes! Thankyou, God!

Opening the door fully, and praying for no snakes or rats to have invaded the way, Erisha began her descent down.

***************************

Treyton was wide awake..and busy.

Ever since David and his goons had left, his mind had been active.
First with his thoughts, and next, with finding a way out of here.
After much calculation, Treyton had figured, that the only way out was either through the boarded window, or the door in front of him.
And that was being guarded.

Treyton had struggled with his ropes, trying to loosen the knots, as best as he could, but hadnt quite succeeded.
Just think about the way you will kill David! You can do it! You don't forget survival tricks! There has got to be a way...

His thought process was interrupted by what seemed to be a creaking noise, and he became fully alert.
He looked towards the door, but it didn't open, and the noise stopped.
What was that?
He strained to hear, as the noise came again.

In the dim lights of the one bulb hanging there, he struggled to look all around, but couldn't figure out where it initiated.
Are they locking me further? Taking me somewhere else? No, no! Think positive, Treyton!

As the sound came again, louder this time, he waited with bated breath for what was going to happen next.

***************************

Erisha felt as if she had been stuck in a malfunctioned elevator, as she crawled down the musty chute, with her phone's torch on, praying for nothing to deter her way.
After what seemed like ages, the tunnel ended, and another lever like the one above the ground appeared.
Turning it, Erisha opened the trap door, and climbed out, her feet touching the floor.

She quickly switched off the phone's flashlight, and dusted herself, as she blinked several times to adjust to the light.
She was surprised to see a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, and it was switched on, with a diffused light.
Before she could look around to see why, a voice stopped her in her tracks.

'Has hell frozen over already?'

To be continued...