Emma Continued... I woke up next to DeLuca in that luxurious suite, the morning sun's rays beginning to flood the room. Gazing at the Empire State Building view one last time, I felt a lump form in my throat. What had happened last night? How could I have surrendered myself like that? A wave of regret immediately washed over my heart; I knew and remembered every detail of what had happened yesterday evening. I had let myself be carried away by emotion and passion. I was confused, and at the same time, I felt a strange sensation within me. It had been my first time with a man; I wasn't the kind of girl who went to bed with the first guy. The street and life had taught me to defend myself and shout at them. I didn't have a mother, and my father needed to work, so I sold whatever I could on the street, and men catcalled me; it had created a trauma in me. And now... I had surrendered not only physically but emotionally to a criminal who had bought me. I quickly gathered my clothes, t

EmmaEverything seemed worse. The immensity of feelings that hung over my mind.I had lost my virginity to the mobster who had forced me to marry him and threatened my father. My subconscious was filled with shame and fear of what would happen next.I knew DeLuca didn't like me, he was probably incapable of feeling anything for anyone. But I gave in because at that moment it felt right.But it wasn't.Lying in bed, immersed in my thoughts, I hadn't even been out for breakfast. My stomach rumbled with hunger, but I didn't want to face it, at least not today or now.I heard a knock on the door and I kept myself slightly alert, thinking it was him coming into the room. We were supposed to sleep in the same room, but DeLuca didn't sleep in the bed either day."Emma?" I could hear Ize's soft voice behind the door and I was relieved.I tried to keep my composure to get outand she wouldn't notice how awful I looked.I approached the door slowly and unlocked the lock."Hi Ize? Did something

EmmaThe climate in this house felt stranger to me than usual.I didn't know what was worse: being connected to a man who disregarded the law or having slept with him. There was that famous saying that love and hate walked hand in hand, but I couldn't comprehend how someone could feel both simultaneously. It was a fine line.While the meal was being served, Don and his associate, or perhaps business partner, were discussing yachts, nightclubs, and other frivolous matters. I remained silent at that huge table, with Ize by my side."He's quite a looker, isn't he?" Ize whispered in my ear, looking at Derick."I didn't notice," I said with honesty.It was true; I hadn't paid attention. Derick was attractive, an elegant mafioso like Andrew. However, I wasn't interested in men's physical appearances. In the end, they all seemed the same to me. Although I hadn't been involved with many men to say for sure.All the men who had tried to enter my life were jerks. For instance, the boy I liked t

Emma I stormed up the stairs in anger after the incident that happened with Andrew in the office. He's such a jerk, a thousand times over. He thinks I'll care that I mean nothing to him, well, better that way. I don't give a damn. I couldn't sleep for a single moment; I tossed and turned in that giant bed, and sleep eluded me. My heart raced as I thought about everything that had happened downstairs. It was infuriating that he had the audacity to toy with me like this; he had no right. The agreement was no intimate contact, none of that, but the blame for everything was mine; I let myself be swayed by his beautiful eyes and appearance. Being near him felt good and weird at the same time. Living here was a drag; I couldn't confide in anyone about anything, not even Ize. Every day, I felt a stronger urge to tell her everything. At least, to have a friend who knew, but Andrew DeLuca would kill me if I did. I tossed and turned, hugging the pillow. I heard footsteps approaching, and som

EmmaA shower for me was always a way of getting away from all my problems. Ever since my mother left, when I wanted to get away from everything, I would just sink into the shower and let the water wash away everything I was feeling. Now that I'm an adult, that hasn't changed.I always thought a lot, maybe that was my blessing and my curse. Here I was in the bathtub, thinking about everything I was experiencing.Sometimes, or almost every day, I thought it might be a dream. That I wasn't here, that I couldn't be married to a man whose ego was bigger than his own nose.I wanted to get away from my thoughts. From myself, if that were possible.Is that why people commit suicide or take desperate measures?Not that I wanted that, it was just a thought, one of more than a thousand I had in one shower.I looked at myself in the mirror, and it was strange, now I felt like a woman, I don't know if it was after my first time, which wasn't as I had envisioned it. It was with a handsome man, eve