TRAPPED: Hideo Colombo Book 1

I JUST quietly turned my eyes outside the window. Just like yesterday, my heart was still full of joy as I watched the beautiful scenery below, even though I was a little nervous because of the height. In just a few minutes, we arrived in the city and Hideo landed his helicopter on the rooftop of a tall building. After he turned off the rotor blade, he got off and circled to my place. He opened the door for me and helped me down. He just held my hand and didn’t let go.

His bodyguards immediately greeted us.

“Boss!”

The man I saw yesterday on the island approached us. He is Guilherme, right? If I heard correctly what Hideo said yesterday, that’s his name.

He looked at me seriously.

“Where is Jule?”

“She’s at the mansion now.”

Hideo started walking towards the rooftop door. I was just next to him while listening to the conversation between the two of them. After a while, Guilherme looked at me again.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“How about, Bernard?”

I suddenly stared at him and stopped walking when I heard my Papa’s name. Did he mention my father’s name? Or maybe he’s referring to a different Bernard?

Hideo stopped and turned to me. His face was serious as his eyebrows met.

“D-Did… did you… mention m-my father?” I stuttered and nervously asked as I shifted my gaze to the both of them.

Hideo let out a deep breath and looked back at Guilherme and whispered something to him. He nodded and started walking.

“Let’s go!” He pulled me again until we entered the rooftop door.

“Hideo!” I called him. “Is your bodyguard referring to my father?” I asked him.

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Yes it does,” I said quickly while trying to keep up with him going down the stairs. “I want to know if my father is okay.”

“I don’t want you to ask about your father, or about your loved ones. I would rather not ruin my day today.” He told me firmly.

But I didn’t listen to him. God! I just want to know how my father is doing because I haven’t seen or talked to him in a few days. I just miss him so much.

“Hideo… p-please! I just want to-”

I suddenly stopped talking and going down the stairs when he stopped and faced me. Furthermore, I also felt his grip on my hand tighten as he gazed at me.

“I said I would rather not hear anything-”

“But I just want to know if my father is okay. It’s easy to answer my question, Hideo.” I also told him strongly, causing him to stop talking.

Because of what I said, his jaw suddenly tightened. It’s obvious from his look now that he’s holding back his anger because of me, because of what I said. He let out a deep breath in the air.

His bodyguards who were following us were also silently looking at us.

“I just want to know if… he’s okay.” I mumbled to him. Even though there were tears in the corner of my eyes again, I tried not to let them fall. Because I know he will be more angry with me now.

Despite his sharp gaze at me, he turned around and pulled me again. Until we get inside the building and reach a bridal boutique.

“Hideo!”

A rather old woman greeted us when we entered the entrance of the shop. When Hideo released me, I immediately grabbed my wrist and gently massaged it. It hurt a bit because he was holding me so tightly earlier.

“Vena!”

The woman kissed both of Hideo’s cheeks. “How are you?” she asked, then looked in my direction. “Who is she?” she even smiled at me.

“She is Ysolde!”

“Oh! Is she your girlfriend or fiancée?”

“She is,” Hideo replied sparingly. “Come here!”

Out of my accord, I got closer to him and I felt his hand hold my back.

“Vena, help her choose what to wear for our wedding.”

The woman’s smile widened after hearing what Hideo said. “Oh, that’s why you came here? I thought you would ask me for another favor,” she said. “Come here, sweetheart. I’ll help you choose your wedding gown.”

When the woman took my arm and led me to the gowns on display… I couldn’t do anything.

When I thought my relationship with Zakhar was good… many times, it crossed my mind that one day he would propose to me, too. I used to think about what kind of wedding I want in the future. Moreover, the wedding gown I will wear on our wedding day. I was thrilled then, even though my imaginations had not yet happened. Then now… here I am, I’m getting married next week, I’m going to marry a man I don’t even know, a man I don’t love. I’m getting married because that’s what he wants to happen. I will get married even without my Papa and Aunt Salve. This is not the marriage and life I want it to be, but I try to keep it in my mind that I have to do and accept all of this for my loved ones. I don’t want them to get hurt because of me… because of Hideo.

I sighed deeply when I was in front of the lovely and beautiful wedding gowns. Furthermore, I just smiled bitterly. When I looked back at Hideo, he was already sitting on a sofa on the side while seriously looking at me.

“Come here, sweetheart, try this one.” The woman pulled my hand and led me behind the big curtain.

After I finished putting on the big and beautiful wedding gown, I went out when Hideo called me. He said he wanted to see me.

With just one look at what I’m wearing…

“I dislike it.” He says.

I immediately turned around and went back to the fitting room to take off the gown and change to a new one. Even though it was tiring to put on and take off those big gowns several times, I had no choice because that was his order.

“Try this one more time, honey!”

When Vena came to me again, she gave me a simple bohemian wedding dress. It’s a V-neck, and the long sleeves are lace. The fabric is also laced from the knee to the sole. I took it from Vena’s hand and put it on as well. The size and length are just right for my body. It’s like this wedding dress was made for me.

“That’s perfect!” said Vena with a smile.

A forced smile appeared on my lips when I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Oh, Vena is right. This wedding dress is perfect for me. So beautiful.

Later, from behind me, the big curtain opened and Hideo entered. As usual, his face was serious while looking at me.

I secretly let out a deep breath, then looked away from him.

“Do you like it, Hideo?” Vena asked.

But he didn’t bother to answer. I looked in the mirror again, and from there, I could clearly see how he was staring at me from head to toe. After a while, he turned and left Vena and me.

She sighed. “He is always like that, always serious.” Vena said, shaking her head.

I tried to smile again and crouched my head for a moment. Later, I looked at her again. “Um, c-can I ask you something?” I asked.

“Of course! What is that, sweetheart?” While she was fixing the gowns.

“Are you related to him?”

She smiled again when she looked at me for a moment. “Hideo and I are not related, sweetheart,” said Vena. “Um, he’s a good friend of mine. I mean, let’s just say that he is my guardian angel who helped to save me. To change my whole life.”

I suddenly frowned when I heard what she said. Guardian angel? Hideo, save other people’s lives? It seems hard to believe. Because I see him differently since the night we were together in the elevator, when I woke up I was on his island and until now… I know and see a different Hideo. He is not a good person. And above all, he cannot be anyone’s guardian angel!

“He’s a nice man. That’s why you’re so lucky, and you’re the woman he’s going to marry.”

I stared at Vena’s face again. I’m lucky because Hideo will marry me? Nonsense. I’m not lucky now because I’m the one he will marry. I don’t even know his real name, and even now, I’m afraid of what my life will be like when we get married.

“He’s a good man, sweetheart.” Vena said again and looked in Hideo’s direction.

I followed her gaze. He was standing at the entrance of the boutique while talking to Guilherme.

As I watched him from a distance, I suddenly felt something strange to myself. I don’t understand, but… it’s like my heartbeat suddenly slowed down, and my surroundings went into slow motion. I don’t understand why I feel this way suddenly. Whereas, from the beginning, my heart felt pure anger for him.

Later, Hideo looked in my direction. When our eyes met, my heart suddenly pounded. Oh, God! What is happening right now? Why do I suddenly feel this way? I shouldn’t feel this way.

“In the years Hideo and I have known each other, he has only loved one woman, and that was his mother. He had a girlfriend before, but he definitely didn’t love her anymore.”

I turned to Vena again when I heard her speak. I was about to ask more about Hideo, but I saw him walking towards me.

“We have to get back to the island.” He said without emotion while staring into my eyes. “Vena,” when he turned to look at the woman.

“Alright. I’ll just send the wedding gown she chose earlier to the island.”

Without saying a word, Hideo held my hand again. And in the moments when he intertwined our palms, I suddenly felt my heart beat faster. I stared at it. Until he pulled me out of the boutique, I couldn’t take my eyes off our hands.