Flowers of Desolation

Chapter 4

Valerie's POV (Trapped)

He gave me a keen look and chuckled mischievously. Without a word, he left the living room.

A sense of despair washed over me, my heart was heavy with a mix of sorrow and uncertainty. Sorrow that I don't get to go to work again, uncertain of what I have gotten myself into and what I should be doing at the moment.

The thought of paying hundreds of thousands, which I have never seen throughout my entire existence makes me want to accept my fate and start adapting to my new life, because there's no magic on this planet that can be done for me to get such an amount of money.

What if he's a serial killer? My heart skipped a beat the moment I heard his voice in the midst of my thoughts.

“Here, drink,” he handed a breakable ceramic cup, his closeness stirred up fear and affection in me. I gently took the cup from his hand, the cinnamon scent from the cup sneaked into my nose.

A cinnamon tea?! I thought quietly.I took a sip of the tea, trying to calm my nerves. The warmth of the liquid spread through my body, but my mind was still racing. What did he want from me? Why had he married me in such a strange and sudden way?

“What do you want from me?" I asked, trying to sound brave.

Bradford leaned back into his chair, intertwining his fingers together. "I want many things," he said. "But first and foremost, I want to get to know you."

I scoffed, "I don't understand," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You married me without even knowing me. Why?" I asked.

Bradford's smile grew wider. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, my dear," he said with a mischievous grin.

"I know more about you than you think. I know you're intelligent, resourceful, and determined, I know you're kind and compassionate, and that you have a heart of gold. Most importantly, I know that you like to work sland earn your own money. You don't like having the feeling of you being a liability to anyone."

“Ugh…less I forgot your favorite colors are fuchsia, pink, purple and the list continues. Well, the truth is you don't have a specific favorite color. Your love for a particular color is determined by your mood at a time,”

My eyes opened wide alongside my ears, as I listened to him speak I felt a chill run down my spine. How did he know all this about me? And what did he want from me? A vague thought flashed through my head.

"What do you want from me?" I repeated, trying to sound firm.

Bradford leaned forward, his eyes flaming with intensity. "I want a partner, Valerie," he said. "A partner in life, in business, and in every sense of the word. I want someone who can match me intellectually, who can challenge me and push me to be my best self. And I believe that someone is you."

I was taken aback by his words. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. No one had ever seen me as an equal, as a partner. And yet, I was wary. What did he really want from me? And what was the cost of this partnership?

"I don't know," I said, trying to sound cautious. "I need time to think about it."

Bradford's face fell, but then he smiled again. "Very well," he said. "Take all the time you need, but know this, Valerie, I always get what I want. And what I want right now is you, and you shall get”

"Thank you," I said, trying to sound calm. "This is very good tea."

Bradford smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "I had it imported from India. It's supposed to have calming features, so any moment from now you should be calm, because I can see that you're very tense."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of unease. Was he trying to drug me? I set the cup down, my heart racing.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. What did he mean by that? And why did I feel like I was trapped in some kind of web, with no way out?

I felt a shiver run down my spine as he spoke. There was something unsettling about his intensity, something that made me feel like I was being pulled into a gulp that I couldn't escape.

"I need to think about it," I repeated, trying to sound firm.

Bradford nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "Very well," he said. "But don't take too long. I'm not a patient man."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I needed to get out of there, to get some fresh air and clear my head.

“Can I stay in the guest room for now until I'm done thinking? I asked with so much hope that he agreed,

“If that will make you comfortable and hasten your thoughts, then so be it, the guest room is on the left,” he said, pointing at the top of the stairs.

“That is the room directly opposite to the master bedroom,” I said, trying to understand.

Bradford nodded, his eyes following me as I left the room. I could feel his gaze on me, like a weight that I couldn't shake.

As I walked into the so-called guest room, which didn't look anything like it, the room looked exactly like the master bedroom, the king-sized bed and the luxury furniture, I couldn't help but wonder what I had gotten myself into. Who was this man, really? And what did he want from me?

I locked the door behind me, feeling a sense of safety wash over me. But as I looked around the room, I realized that I was trapped. There was no way out, no way to escape.

My eyes scanned the room all at once and went for a second round, but this time paying more attention to details of the things I beheld, then I saw a small camera in the corner of the room, watching me.

My heart raced as I realized the truth. I was a prisoner, trapped in this mansion with a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

I quickly picked up my phone to make a call, then I realized that my network had ceased.

Ugh…I groan in frustration, and throw myself into the bed.

What have I let whiskey do to me? And now I'm stuck with a stranger in a strange mansion.

I lay quietly seeking solace from my despair.

“What if this is a way the universe has chosen to bless you? Look at this in a good way, Val,” my inner voice echoed.

“You get to eat anything you want, to live comfortably in a luxury mansion, to be respected by the high and low,” the voice continued.

“But he's mean, cruel and rude” I mouthed silently into the air.