His Collateral

Chapter 10

I heard a door open and close behind me and it definitely wasn't the door to the room.

I quickly turned around and saw him standing there, just by the closet. I felt my heartbeat quicken and my palms became sweaty. My mind immediately went back to the night of our wedding. I had already seen how mad he could get and I didn't want to experience it again. So I started coming with ways I would explain to him that it wasn't my fault. There was traffic and we were stuck.

"There-"

"What's the time?" He asked even before I could say anything.

"I.. can e-explain." I stuttered my hands fidgeting together.

"What.does.the.time.say.Bella?" He asked again as he approached me.

"It's..past six o'clock b-but I can-"

His strong grip on my hand shut me up almost immediately as he pulled me closer to himself.

"I believe I was clear when I said you should be back before five." He said and I nodded my head in agreement, afraid to say a word.

"I detest people who disobey me Bella." He added and I shook my head indicating that I didn't disobey him but he only tightened his grip even more. He was hurting me badly and I didn't know if it was the pain or something else but I shouted.

"I didn't... t-traffic." I spurted out. At this point I was looking anywhere but him but when it seemed like there was no reaction, I turned to face and they way his features had softened as if realizing his mistake. Then his phone beeped drawing his attention. He pulled it out of his back pocket and stared at it for a while, a more serious expression settling on his face. Between me and his phone, I didn't know who made him more angry. He quickly pushed me aside and made his way out of the room.

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It was almost 12 in the night when I woke up to use the restroom. The night lamps were on and I noticed Alessandro wasn't in the bed.

Maybe he's in the office. He's usually up till late sometimes.

I used the bathroom and was just about to lie back down when I noticed to door to our room was slightly ajar. I walked over to close but the jingling sound of keys caught my attention. It seemed like it was coming from downstairs. If Alessandro was in his study then who was downstairs? Was it Mary?

I stepped out slowly into the hallway and went downstairs. The sound grew louder accompanied with the creaking of a door. I stood at the entrance to the hallway that lead to the backyard as that was where the sound was loudest. I noticed light coming from a room and heard muffled voices. It seemed like two people were having a heated conversation. I was just about to peek into the room when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Mary. She wasn't in her maid uniform.

Of course she wasn't, it's past midnight.

She was holding a bottle of water in one hand and lead me out of there with the other. We stopped at the door of the stair case and she looked around before speaking.

"That room is off limits." She said in a hushed tone.

Off limits? What is it with rooms and being off limit in this house?

"Who's inside?" I asked making my voice as hushed as possible.

"Sir Alessandro." She replied.

But I heard someone else's voice.

She was about to say something else when we heard the sound of keys once more. Alessandro was coming out. Mary quickly bid me goodnight and walked in the direction of her room while I quietly made my way back upstairs. I quickly laid back down on the couch and pretended to be asleep. Not long after, the door creaked open and his footsteps echoed in the silent room along with the rustling of sheets.

When everywhere became silent, I turned my head slowly to see him there on the bed. He laid on his back staring blankly at the ceiling. After looking at him for a while, I decided to go to bed.

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It was Friday morning and I woke up quite excited. Maybe it was because I had a load of clothes to unpack and I couldn't wait to show them to Mary.

Alessandro wasn't in the room this morning and honestly, I couldn't care less. I checked the time and it was almost 12pm. I got up and brushed my teeth before heading downstairs for breakfast. I wanted Mary to help me with the clothes so I could have something new to wear today after taking a bath.

Mary was busy making pancakes in the kitchen when I walked in.

"Good morning Mary." I greeted her.

"Good morning Bella, how are you doing?"

"I'm alright." I replied hoisting myself unto the kitchen island. I grabbed a plate of pancakes for myself and began eating. She also had her breakfast and when we were done, we headed back upstairs.

We talked for hours while arranging my clothes. I asked her a few questions about Alessandro. She told me that he was an only child and that his parents lived back at their family house in Italy.

I also told her about my new friend, Christy and how she had helped me around the mall. When we were done, Mary left to prepare lunch while I hopped into the shower. I had also arranged a few of my body products on the opposite end of the cabinet.

After my shower I put on underwear and picked out a light blue Jean skirt that stopped a little bit above my knee and a woolen beige long sleeve sweater to match. After that I just let my hair loose and headed back downstairs to assist Mary.

"That smells divine." I complimented

"What is it?"

"Thank you. It's chicken and lentils, sir Alessandro's Favorite. He had requested I prepare it for dinner today."

"Okay. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well there's rice in the rice cooker over there. You could help me check if it's cooked."

"Alright." I replied as I walked over to the rice cooker and checked the food.

"Mary, it's cooked."

"Take the plug out and then get the salad from the fridge."

I did as she instructed, placing the salad bowl on the counter. She pulled out a set a plates and cutleries that were quite different from the rest, I assumed they were Alessandro's, and was about plating his meal when she remembered that she had left some of Alessandro's clothes in the washer at the back.

"Could you add some olive oil to the salad and help me plate them? I'll be right back." She asked

"Sure." I replied as I grabbed the bottle of olive oil while she made her way to the laundry room.

I drizzled the oil all over the salad and used a chopstick to stir it in. Then I began to dish them into the plates that she had carefully arranged when I heard footsteps.

"Mary, I'm done. It looks delicious." I smiled while placing the bowl aside. I took a step back and bumped into someone's hard chest.

"That's not Mary." I thought.

I tilted my head back ever so slowly and our eyes locked. Alessandro. Then I remembered...

Rule NO. 3

I watched him take in my appearance from head to toe before shaking his head. Then he grabbed a napkin from the counter slowly, and ran his fingers along the length of my right arm, intertwining them with mine. I could feel his breath fanning my neck and I leaned over even more, granting him more access.

"W..what are you d-doing Alessandro?" I asked but he didn't answer. At this point, I wasn't thinking straight anymore.

Then he lifted both our hands and it was then I realized what he was going to do.

"No Alessandro, don't do this. P..please I'm begging you don't-"

"Ahhh!" I screamed in pain as my palm connected with the hot pot on the burner.

"What is rule number 3?" He asked but I couldn't bring myself to speak.

"Bella, I asked what is rule number 3?"

"I am n-not entitled to touch your f..food or even the water you drink." I replied as a tear escaped my eyes and then he let go and stormed off.

I quickly rushed to the sink and three my hand under running water.

I was such a fool to let him touch me that way. Now look what happened.

It wasn't long before Mary came rushing into the kitchen. She rushed over to the sink and covered her mouth as she gasped.

"Did sir Alessandro do this?" She asked staring at my burnt palm. My silence was the answer to her question.

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