Vance laughed.“Good one, Mila.”He turned to Agus.“She’s a major-general in the army.That’s how we met.Dad’s the Minister for Defence and there was some army fundraiser he dragged me to.Mila was there.”
Mila wanted to be sick.She took a moment to fantasise about gagging Vance and then stood.“I have to get to my class.”
Agus stopped her with a hand on her arm.“Vance has been very forthcoming.”
A heavy dread sank to the bottom of her stomach.
Agus smiled.“Did you know I met your mother twenty years ago?”
Mila forced a polite smile to her face.“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes.Imagine my surprise when Vance told me who she was.”
Mila shot Vance a glare.He stared back confused.
“I know what it’s like to have marriage plans cancelled.You really should give Vance’s proposal proper consideration.”His grip tightened on her arm and she winced.“On this island, we believe when you make a big decision, you need to focus all your attention on it.It’s better for the soul.”He held out his hand.“You need to leave your phone here.”
She placed a hand over the bag she always wore crossed over her body.“That won’t be necessary.”
“Oh, I think it is.And your laptop as well.”
She clutched her bag to her chest.If he took both, she couldn’t contact anyone back home.“I need my laptop for my classes.”
“I’ll get Ali to collect it after each class.”
Perhaps he wanted to toy with her, or perhaps he hadn’t decided what his revenge would be.Or maybe his revenge was making her marry someone she didn’t want to marry.She had to leave the island.
Vance smirked.“Good idea.She’ll realise my offer is the best thing for her.”
Arsehole.“I can think about it while also having my phone.”
“I insist.”Agus held out his hand.“Quickly now, or you’ll be late for your class.”
She would be stuck on the island until Agus changed his mind.No one came or left without Agus knowing.
She understood the threat for what it was.“Yes, Pak.”She dug around her bag and her fingers gripped the phone.Slowly she pulled it out and handed it over, noting the strong Wi-Fi signal.So the small bar in the village wasn’t the only place to have Wi-Fi—Agus had it here too.
Not that the knowledge helped her if she didn’t have a device.
“Vance, might I have a private word before I go?”She glanced at Agus for permission.He inclined his head and smirked.She was trapped, and he was enjoying it.
Quickly she grabbed Vance’s hand and dragged him to the door.
“You’ll realise marrying me is the best solution,” Vance said.
He still had no clue what he’d done.She closed her eyes to channel some patience, because her whole body thrummed with fear.“Do you realise what Agus is, Vance?”
“He’s the only decent guy on the island.I was lucky to run into him when I arrived.”
Luck had nothing to do with it.“He’s a criminal.The reason he’s so wealthy is because he’s a smuggler.He’s dangerous.”
Vance’s eyes widened.“You’ve been watching too many movies.”
“He took my phone.”
“To give you the time to consider my offer.”
She glared at him.“Half the villagers are terrified of him.I kept under his radar and now you’ve told him who I am.What do you think a man like that will do with this information?”
