Since I Found You
Bring You Home

Vlad did not let go of Altea's delicate hand, when he came out of the luxurious Victorian building. The bright lights that lit up beautifully from every corner of the casino building, unable to distract him from the beautiful face that now ran small behind him. Vlad's heart is pounding. Either because he won the bet or because he could hold the fingers of the woman he had been looking for tirelessly.

“Can you walk faster, Miss Miller? I feel the people of Ludwig Stegen are following us,” Vlad said. He stopped and faced Altea.

“Did those high heels hinder your movement? Let me help you get rid of it.” Without waiting for Altea's reply, Vlad half crouched down. He released a pair of black-colored high heels. Vlad carried the expensive shoes on his left hand, while his right hand continued to lead Altea.

“Where will you take me, Mister?” altea asked shortly after they arrived at the side of the highway. The bustling atmosphere of the capital's main road with heavy vehicles passed by, making Vlad unable to hear clearly the sentence of the woman who now turned into much more graceful.

“Did you say something?” Vlad drew his face closer to Altea. The fragrance of the young woman's body with makeup that further adds to her beauty, managed to disperse Vlad's concentration.

“Where will you take me?” reset Altea.

Vlad did not answer. He even smiled widely, while taking Altea across the wide road. With his pace getting faster, Vlad brought Altea to the hotel where he was staying.

Upon arrival in front of the room, Vlad inserted a card that served as a key. The door opened with Vlad's hand outstretched inward, as a signal to Altea.

However, Altea was still standing in his place. He refused to enter that room. Altea shook her head slowly. “I have to go back,” he said suddenly.

Vlad nodded for a moment. “You want to go back to him?” vlad asked half in disbelief.

“You don't understand, Sir. I can't go from Ludwig Stegen's side.” Altea took a few steps back. He was already preparing to turn around and run away leaving Vlad.

Vlad is more alert. He blocked Altea's arm, then turned the slender body slowly so that it faced him. “Did that guy threaten you?” ask again.

Altea shook his head weakly.

“Then, what makes you want to go back to that man's side?” Vlad drew his face closer, until the tip of his nose came into contact with Altea's nose.

“I can't tell you,” reject Altea. That pretty face looks so moody.

“Does this have anything to do with your sister's family?” asked Vlad, who immediately made Altea slack.

“You ... know about them?” ask Altea slowly.

“Yes. Herbert has admitted all his mistakes to me. Your bastard father lied, saying that your brother and his family are in danger if you don't comply. It's all done so you're willing to give yourself up to Dietmar Kreuk. Herbert was just making it up, Miss Miller! In fact, your brother and his family are fine. No one threatened their safety. Neither is Dietmar," Vlad asserted. He spoke with complete confidence.

“Gosh.” Altea shut her mouth in disbelief. He could not express how relieved he felt when he found out that his brother and family were doing well. Half the burden in Altea seemed to be lifted.

“You're free now, Miss Miller.” Vlad smiled gently as he stroked the smooth cheeks of Altea. “Now, come in and rest for a while. Right at midnight, there will be a helicopter to pick us up,”.

Altea's expression suddenly turned tense. He bit his lips softly, as one hand of Vlad coiled around his waist. Half forced, Vlad invited Altea in. “Come, Altea," Vlad said again. "Can I call you that?” The blue-eyed man's masculine voice teased Herbert's youngest daughter's sense of hearing.

“No! You don't understand.” Altea took Vlad's hand away from his body, then retreated back.

“What do I not understand?” Vlad knitted his brows. He began to despair in the face of Altea's rejection.

“I ... I'm not a good woman, sir. I don't deserve to be around you at all." Altea looked at Vlad with sadness.

“Ludwig Stegen made me a comfort woman to pay off my father's debts.” Altea turned his head when he said so.

“Then?” Vlad raised his eyebrows.

Altea turned his head and looked straight at the man who had been filling his wishful thinking. “I became Ludwig's mistress, until my father's debt paid off,” Altea continued in a trembling voice.

“I've won a bet. That means you're free. How many times do I have to explain it to you?” vlad said with a soft tone.

“But, Sir. I am a lowly woman,” Altea said in a very soft voice. “No matter how many times Ludwig enjoyed my body, I couldn't count it anymore. She ...." Altea could not continue his words. Return to the shadow of every treatment Ludwig had on him.

Altea was hesitant. She's on the fringe of her evening dress. Exuberance was evident in the young woman's brown eyes. "I'm .. There's nothing left of me, sir."

"You left a special one for me" Vlad said.

"Don't seduce me, sir. I'm ...."

Not yet had Altea finished his words, Vlad had already silenced the woman with a warm and soulful kiss. The touch of lips was so sweet. If Altea could stop time, she would. Altea closed his eyes, as Vlad enjoyed his lips. The sensations were so different compared to when Ludwig touched them.

“Tuan.” Altea let go of the kiss, as her heart pounded even more. “I'm not a good woman, what would it be if ...”

Altea's sentence paused again, when Vlad again melted his lips without pause. Not only that, the Russian man immediately lifted Altea's body. He put her on a big bed.

Moments later, Vlad stopped the romance. He looked at Altea meaningfully. “Wait a minute.” Vlad kissed Altea's forehead, before getting off the bed. He walked over to the table, where his tote bag was located. Vlad took something from the pocket of the bag. After that, he returned to bed.

“This is yours. You left it in my room that night." Vlad thrust a pair of small jewels that he had taken before Altea who was already in a sitting position.

“Gosh. You kept it, Mister?” Altea was so moved and in disbelief.

“Of course. You left these earrings on my room table. That is, I have to give it back to you. That's why, I keep trying to bring you back." Vlad was unceasingly smiling. She tucked the beautiful brown hair of Altea behind her ears.

The fragrant aroma of the flower was oozing out, from the long strands of Altea hair that were now much more well-preserved. Vlad took a deep breath, then threw it away slowly to dispel the passion that began to craze. He focused on pairing the jamrud-eyed gibbon from Altea's ear, then replacing it with small earrings made of gold.

“Do you remember that night, Altea? You give me the most valuable thing in your life, and then you just walk away. You have no idea how screwed up I was at the time. Your touch has changed my life." Vlad's heavy breathing warmed up in Altea's ears which this time only blushed.

Vlad had intended to repeat the beautiful night he had spent with Altea, before the woman disappeared. However, the ringing of Vlad's mobile phone made him have to undo it. Manheim's name is listed there, which means Vlad had to take the call earlier.

“Ya, how?” ask Vlad without further ado.

“Helicopters to the airport are ready on the runway, sir. I've asked the hotel for permission to take off here,” replied Manheim.

“Good. I'll be ready in ten minutes.” Vlad just turned off the phone. He turned his attention completely to Altea who looked curious. “We continue our paused affairs, having arrived at St. Petersburg,” he said as he glanced mischievously.