SARAH
"I beg your pardon?" I asked flabbergasted by his outrageous request.
How could he possibly expect me to go naked for him? Just like that? Am I a thing or a property of his?"Was I speaking Latin when I said it? Or are you just stupid and disobedient?" Mr Romano tilted his head to the side, his eyes wandering around the crook of my neck.
"I am not doing such sir" I refused, clutching on to my dress tight like it could vanish any moment.
"Penso che mi piaccia questo..." he chuckled darkly, apparently smitten by my defiance.
"And why won't you? Have you forgotten I bought you?" He rhetorically asked, his tone gravely low."Have you forgotten I own you now! You worthless piece of trash!" He suddenly yelled, almost making me jump out of my skin.
I shuddered and tears brewed up in my ears. His grip on my throat was unwavering, tightening with each passing second. He was slowly choking me.
Me? Worthless? Trash?
"I am not trash sir but a maid meant to serve you and you do not own me yet..."
He was amused by my retort."You haven't signed the contract papers so technically you do not own me...at least not yet" I added, my eyes exuding the anger raging within me.
"You are stubborn and defiant. It has been so long I encountered a bella like you. I would really enjoy playing with you" his voice, a mixture of amusement and anger, dropped low.
"My little toy" he chortled.The way he spoke sent shivers down my spine and I quivered within me, my blood toppling over.
"You have just three minutes..." he let go off my throat and I took in a sharp intake of air.
"Three minutes?" I asked.
"Oh you are deaf and disobedient? Don't piss me off Bella!" He roared.
I quivered once more. This man was making my heart palpitate at an unreasonable rate. He has such a bad temper."You have three minutes to pack your things, say your goodbyes and meet me out there in my limousine. I hate been kept waiting" He ordered sternly, his inflection was so brutal.
I watched him exit the lounge and the tears I held back came rushing out.
I have not even began working for him yet and I've been choked, yelled upon and addressed like I was a thing. Can I really survive being with this man?* * * * *
The hall was a bit rowdy and boisterous by the time I ventured out of the lounge. My belongings were just few dresses, gowns and trousers, two flat shoes, one cheap heel and just a little bag, all packed inside a bigger bagpack. Yes I was that broke.
I had been in this business for two years and all my money went in treating grandma's cancer and paying my brother's fees in school. I am singlehandedly juggling everything and none of our relatives have bothered to help.
Not that I needed them anyways. Life has shown me its tough side and I've taken it head on.
I held onto the bag tightly as I maneuvered my way through the dense crowd of men, horny old men who were here to buy young girls fit to be their daughters. Everything irked me and I just wanted to gag."Hey Sarah"
I spurn around fast to be graced with the smiling features of Daniel."G-Goodevening sir" I greeted, casting my eyes downwards. He used a finger to lift my chin so that our eyes locked.
"Why are you avoiding to look at me?" He softly asked.Man I wish he bought me and not Mr Romano! He treats me so nice, like an actual person with emotions and not a commodity he purchased.
"I am s-sorry you couldn't buy me" God why was I stuttering?A warm smile crossed his lips, "Is that why you look down? And please don't use that term buy? You are a person and not a thing" he corrected me.
I nodded, melting in the warmth and care of his tone. "Thank you sir. I mean Daniel. For trying"
He took a step closer, a sparkle of curiosity in his eyes. "The man who got you, he is Mr Romano right?"
I nodded , wondering how he knew him. It seems this man is more famous than I thought. "Yes he is. Do you know him?"
"Well I do but not personally. Can you stay with him, are you sure you can?" his tone tingled with concern.
"I can stay with him Daniel. Any issue?"
I wanted to tell him the honest truth: I can't stay with such a man, a man who abuses me and requests to see me unclad like I am not a human with emotions.
But that would be an effort in futility.Daniel can't do anything and I signed the contract already. I just have to pray I make it out alive.
"That man is quite mysterious and cunning. I've heard so many tales about him. He is dangerous as well" he divulged.
Oh hell no!Am I going to stay with a murderer? Is he a serial killer? My life can't just get any better can it?
"How do you know that he is dangerous? Your tales may not be true" I refused to believe his words."But they are..." he replied almost immediately. "I have my ears everywhere. Mr Emilio Romano is not one to be toyed with. He is the devil himself. Make sure you take extra care of yourself in his home ok"
I shook with fear but put up a stoic expression. It seems everyone has some story or another to tell about Mr Romano.
"Thank you for the sound advice Daniel. I won't forget you"I tried to walk past him but he held me back, "Sarah why don't you give me your number please so I can keep in touch with you and your welfare?" Daniel requested.
I thought about it for a while and gave in. There is nothing harmful in it anyway. I called out my digits to him and watched him store it.
"Thank you so much" he gave a broad smile.I was about to reply when that same guard that led me to Mr Romano push through the crowd and approached me.
"Mr Romano is waiting for you. You have to come with me now"he ordered rudely.Gosh. I quickly baded Daniel goodbye and walked away with the guard. But Daniel's words wouldn't stop lingering in my head.
I know two things for sure about my new owner: he is filthy rich but he is mysterious and dangerous.Who really is Emilio Romano?
SARAH I slumped my back against the cold leather seats of the limousine, my eyes narrowing to the tinted glasses the moment the car geared to life. Mr Emilio sat close to me but not too close that he could reach me. I took side glances of him, making sure as little as my dress didn't come in contact with his skin. So many people had something to say about this man.To my colleagues at work; this man was a sex addict, to Mr Dave; he was filthy rich and to Mr Daniel; he was a dangerous man that shouldn't be toyed with. All these coupled with the way he actually treated me when we were alone in the lounge made me as frightened as ever. Oh God, why didn't it get to be Daniel who bought me and not this Mr Romano? I could be sitting close to a serial killer, a criminal, a rapist, a murderer and the list goes on.Man I'm screwed. I noticed him move an inch closer to where I sat and my breathing got stumped in my throat.As if noticing the internal effect his proximity had on me, E
SARAH I woke to the sound of a mild persistent knock on my door. I grumbled to myself and used a pillow to cover my ears, hoping whoever that was knocking would just leave or walk in right away but neither of what I wanted happened. Annoyed, I shot up from the soft bed and yawned, "who is it? Come in"Could it be Emilio? No I doubt. If it was that arrogant man he wouldn't need to knock before barging into my room.The door was slowly pushed open revealing the warm features of a different maid, different from the one that showed me to my room last night. "Goodmorning miss, Mr Emilio asks for your presence in his room right now" she informed me.He needs me in his room? For what reason? My mind took a walk down memory lane, to last night when he ordered me to get naked for him in the lounge and I quickly shook the thought away.She turned to leave but I quickly called her back, "Excuse me please..." "Anything I can do for you Miss Sarah?" She smiled."Uhm did he say what he wanted
SARAH Time flew really slow in this mansion and I was still getting to know my way around. After the incident with Emilio in the morning, I never saw him again. I was later told by Grace that he had left for work. I was eternally grateful for that. I just can not stand that man! I have never seen a more vain, selfish and wicked man ever in my life. With Emilio gone, the mansion seemed safer and had an air of freedom all around it.So I did a bit of exploring around the mansion to while away the day. There was nothing else I could do. I tried assisting the maids in the house chores but they refused because Emilio had given them strict instructions on not to involve me in the house chores except he ordered it.There was nothing I could do to alter his rule or their minds so I complied. I discovered a broad but cozy library at the uppermost floor of the mansion with shelves reaching to the ceiling. Plush sofas were scattered all around, surrounded by the comforting scent of aged
SARAH The morning came with an air of melancholy for me. I was up early. Well I did not get much sleep last night. I had cried myself to sleep and I could barely stay asleep for more than an hour.Because every now and then I kept on having scary dreams of Emilio either killing me or molesting me.And I'd always wake up with a terrible fright,a palpitating heart accompanied by numerous sweat beads coating my forehead even though the room was cold.I still can't fathom who called me yesterday?I made sure to delete everyone's number and I don't even give out my numbers to strangers so who could it be? I had just less than twenty contacts on my phone and majority were just numbers of the people who offered house hold services such as the plumber, laundryman, delivery guy and so on.I barely had friends or time to even make friends. The only friend I knew was Sofia.And I could tell that wasn't her number. I knew my brother's and grandma's number by heart so it wasn't theirs either. I h
SARAH I limped to my room in pain, Emilio's hurtful words still resonating in my ears and taunting me.He called my existence a mistake. My only uncle told me that same thing once when I approached him to help lend a hand to my brother's school bills. I was going to take full responsibility of my education anyway I could but I just needed a helping hand for my brother's. He refused to do so, threatened to shoot me if he ever did see me again and called me a badluck to whoever I was with.As I sat on my bed, I recounted those hurtful words Uncle Mark said to me. According to him my existence was a mistake because my mother was not even meant to marry my father in the first place.She had a richer suitor but she chose my father and when I was born, he lost his job which plunged us into a life of struggle and hardship.And it only aggravated when mum and dad died three years ago. I was just sixteen and Noah was fourteen. How we survived up till now it's truly a miracle. I cried m
SARAH I woke up to an incredibly hungry stomach. I was starving badly and the only thing I had taken since yesterday was water, lots and lots of it.My head spinned, feeling like the weight of a dumbbell and I had the urge to throw up. Placing my feet down, my eyes drifted to the digital clock on the wall. This was 7:30 in the morning.A heavy and tired sigh left my lips. Time to go prepare breakfast and possibly the laundry before going to the supermarket to stock up the house with groceries and dairy products. The running of this house isn't easy, especially not for one hungry person alone. I limped to the bathroom to freshen up and begin the days work. Once out, I quickly applied my body lotion, a body spray and wore my clothes.I contemplated on whether I should fall my hair or pack it up. But I realised that whenever I did pack it up, it made it easier for Emilio to grip me by my hair so I let it fall. As I dressed my bed, the ringing of my phone sliced through the silenc
Sarah sprinted, her legs carrying her away from the boutique. Distance from Emilio was her only goal.Breathless, she weaved through the bustling crowd, accidentally bumping into people and nearly stumbling in her haste to escape Emilio's grasp.Glancing anxiously over her shoulder, she checked for any sign of Emilio in the sea of people. The fear that he might be closing in fueled her urgency.She figured he must have realized her escape by now. If not at this moment, soon enough. But by then, she prayed she'd be well beyond his reach. Sarah had no clue where she was going amidst the bustling crowds."I'm so sorry.""Excuse me. I am truly sorry.""I'm truly, truly sorry," were the words she kept rambling as she navigated through the people, shuffling her feet along the paved walkways.Gradually, her strength waned as she ran, breaths becoming heavy. She paused, anxiety etched on her face as her eyes scanned the surroundings. A sense ofbeing watched crept over her, a chilling feeling
SARAH "Emilio please wait" I cried at the top of my voice as Emilio dragged me by the hand roughly towards the mansion the moment we stepped out of his car.Lightening flashed across the sky accompanied by the ferocious sound of thunder. The storm was fierce, signifying the imminent storm in my life once I walk through those doors."Emilio please just hear me out! I beg you!" I pleaded, the rain drowning my pleas. Tears blurred my vision and I could barely see anything.His grip was unyielding, tight and searing hot on my skin. I felt he would break my bones."stupida stronza" Emilio cursed in italian as he shoved me into the mansion and shut the doors tight. I fell on the floor with a loud thud, bruising my already bruised knees even more."Stronza! Fucking stupid bitch!" He growled at me forcing me to snap my gaze to his.His eyes, a fiery of indignation burned on me, causing fear to evoke within me.I shivered and it was not because of the rain which I had just been drenched in