His collateral

Chapter three; Dash for freedom.

Pov: Ivy

My eyes scanned the room I was brought to; the walls were painted a soft Ivory; a plush queen-sized bed with crisp white linens sat at the center of the room.

My eyes darted to every corner of the room.

It was too perfect for someone who was kidn*pped and forced to stay here against her will.

What game was he playing? I wondered; my legs felt weak, and I sank onto the edge of the bed without realizing it, the softness of the bed swallowing my weight. The bed made me realize how weak and tired I was and how much of a stress I had been through. For a split second, I wanted to close my eyes and let the comfort of the room ease my worries. But then I caught myself, strengthening

“No I must find a way to escape, maybe get him pissed to kill me or just run away.

The c***k of the door opening distracted my thoughts. And there he was again. He looked more calm but his intimidating stare wasn't off, yet he dropped a box beside me.

“ Go take a bath Ivy,” his voice leaving no room for arguments.

“Do I need to bathe before you kill me or sell me off? My voice cracked, but I refused to let him see my fears

The quietness that followed was deafening. I felt a lump in my throat and my body trembling slightly as the quietness stretched.

“If you are done joking, maybe you should start thinking about your place here, fear suits you better than force bravado.”

He dragged my arm pulling me up,

“And you will do whatever I want you to do for me; now go take your bath." he dropped my arm and walked towards the door.

" Put on the dress in the box when you are done; we will be leaving soon.” Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the room.

I was left alone once again. I dragged myself towards the door which seemed to be the bathroom. I closed my eyes in the shower as I let the cold water run over me, mixing with the tears streaming down my face. It wasn't just the water that made me shiver but the weight of the day. I hugged myself hoping the water could wash out the pain.

After a moment of tears and worry in the bathroom, I stood in the mirror in the bedroom as I stared at myself in the dress he gave me. It was an ash-long fitted gown and a cardigan. He doesn't have a bad choice though.

I walked out of the room and an endless corridor stretched before me, the dim lighting casting long. My footsteps echoed as I walked down the floor. There were only two doors, the one I came out from and the other door, which I had no idea of whom it belonged. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, broken only by the ornate frames housing paintings of stern faces that seemed to watch my every step.

It wasn't long to reach the stairs, maybe it was leading to the next floor. I walked down to hit another corridor, but there were more doors now and a door slightly ajar. I just walked close to the open door and tried looking in, following my intrusive thoughts.

The room had a black and white theme, a sleek desk and organized files, and a high-backed chair setting at the center of the room, probably an office. Before I could pull away, my body was locked in place.

There he was again his gaze met mine, a smirk playing at the corner of his face. My fingers tightened around the door frames, how does he always get my body to react this way?

“Curious, Ivy?” he asked, his voice low and knowing. I took a step back, I tried saying something but my brain wasn't responding. I wiped my hands on my gown, trying to get them dry again and regain my composure, but awkwardness clung to me like a second skin.

“I wasn't – uh, just passing,” I stuttered, my gaze shifting away.

He leaned against the doorframe “Just passing ?” He repeated, his voice smooth “And ended up here?”.

I swallowed hard taking a step back “I didn't mean to – I”

“Curious ?” He finished his tone teasing.

I quickly glanced up at him, then away.

“Let's go," he turned, walking towards the stairs in the middle of the corridor, unlike the first floor, which had only one staircase at the end of the corridor.

Where are we going? I wondered, following behind him, trying to move with his pace. After the second floor, the remaining floor had men dressed in black with tattoos drawn up to their necks. And women who were dressed in maid uniforms. Anyone we did pass, mostly the women, walked on tiptoes or paused like they had seen a ghost they feared.

His presence seems to send fear to anyone he passed, apart from the men who seemed a little bit normal but you could see how they bow in respect to him.

He was like a lion king in his kingdom feared by all. I felt disgusted. Does he enjoy how people feared him? I wondered what he might have done to them to fear him this way. Maybe he bought all of them off and killed their family the way he did with mine. But I know one thing for sure: I was never going to live that way. I would rather run away like I always do or get myself killed.

My dreams of becoming free all my life must come true either by death or by real freedom.

Finally, We made it through the huge building and made it to the entrance of the mansion, a man who I happened to recognize as my kidnapper. I can't forget those pairs of shoes, rushing over to the door and pulling it open for him. But he ignored it, circling the car for the other door and the man still holding the door. It took me some seconds to understand I was to step into the car. I felt stupid. But why did he have to circle the car? I would have done that.

The car ride was quiet, the tension so thick it choked me; I stared out the window, trying to memorize the streets, searching for an opening moment to escape.

My eyes darted towards him, his sleeves folded again showing off his vein, his gaze fixed ahead, exuding an effortless sense of control. Even in the dim interior of the car, his features were striking as if he stepped out of a magazine. The lines of his body, the way the suit fits him perfectly like it was tailored for him. My eyes traveled all over his body and rested on his chest the top button was open I could see a scar although it wasn't clear, I felt the urge to run my hands on them he was attractive and I wondered about his s****l life, girls would die to sleep with him with that kind of face, body, and money.

“Your gaze is distracting Ivy, if you want to touch all you have to do is ask”

I felt my cheeks burn. My mouth running dry.

His grey eyes flicked in my direction. I felt both frozen and captivated, as if he could see through me peeling the layers of my thoughts and leaving me exposed. He shifted towards me, closing the space between us and leaning more closely; a joint of electricity pulses through every nerve on my body.

“Don't always sit in my car without a seatbelt," he said, picking the seatbelt beside me.

His hands slightly brushed my tit, and my tit tightened. I felt my cheeks burn more as his eyes dart towards them. His eyes traveled back to my face.

“I won't let them go next time," he said and pulled away.

Let what go the seat belt or?

The car finally came to a halt, and the door was opened. He walked from the other side of the car to meet me. A boutique was right in front of us, and we walked in.

“Welcome Mr Leonardo,”

A woman approached us with a gentle smile playing on her lips. She leaned towards him, her lips brushing softly against his cheek in a quick.

She was dressed in a form-fitting black dress that hugged her figure, showing every inch of her curves and her upper button open, showing the cleavages.

“It's good to see you, we haven't seen you for a long time. “Her eyes gleamed with something unspoken.

“Yeah, it's been a while," he replied, his voice steady and even.

She let out a little laughter touching his arm.

Was that funny? , she couldn't even flirt properly. I almost puked watching her.

“So what are you taking from us today? We have the best model of the ….”

“Nope I am fine I would love to go to the women's section” he caught her midway

Women section? What was he doing there?

“What kind of style does she prefer?" She asked strengthening her posture, forcing a calm expression.

His eyes darted towards me; why was he looking at me? Was I supposed to provide an answer to her question?

“Was your style,?” His gazed still on me and now the both of them. Was he asking me?

But her face twisted like I was some kind of pest standing there looking me up and down, and she could finally notice me. Wow.

“My style,?" I could barely produce the word appropriately. I just shrugged.

I have never had a style just bought clothes to wear and had important things to handle more than worrying about style. Besides, is this what he always does for people he kidnaps? Buy clothes for them?

“Take us to the finest women's section”, he said, his tone smooth and confident.

“This way”, she gestured,

My eyes scanned every corner of the bouquet I needed an escape plan.

“Do you need any assistance in picking clothes,?”

“Nope, I don't thank you," I replied, still looking around.

I nun walked into the section with someone, probably a friend or sister, with the way they were talking.

Yes, I flash with hope as a plan stretches in my head. I was finally going to escape. I made my way towards her, avoiding Leonardo, using the clothes to block him from seeing my every movement.

“Please help me?” I whispered urgently, grabbing her sleeve, “ His evil. He killed my parents, and now he wants to sell me off as a s*x slave; please save me”.

She stared at me for a long moment, her face a mixture of disbelief and concern “ What do you need me to do?”

Switch clothes with me, “ I begged my voice shaking. “Please I need to get away from him”.

After a brief moment, she agreed nodding her face filled with pity “ Come with me”

We made our way to the restroom, we swapped outfits. The plain, modest outfits hung loosely on my frame.

“You will be okay”, she said, adjusting the frame of the veil on my head. “ The Lord be with you".

I slipped out of the restroom, trying to walk normally, avoiding both Leonardo and the nun’s sister. His eyes were already scanning around for me. I tried controlling my breathing and tried not to walk too fast to avoid suspense.

He stood up from his seat, his eyes scanning the room, and he passed me; my heart almost left its cage, but he didn't seem to notice.

My breath hitched as I stepped into the street, unsure where I was, where I was going, not even the name of the street nor the place I was currently at. I was in the street of an unknown town where I knew nobody. But I kept moving.