Chapter 3: WHY ARE DRENCHED AND DRIPPING, ARIEL?
955 Words
The mansion felt too cold, too distant, too frightening. It was already the next day, and I woke up untouched surprisingly.
I sat in my queen-sized bed and wondered if Xavier purchased me as a possession or if he would eventually take what he bought.
But after our last conversation where he threatened me, I never saw him again.
After getting dressed for the day, I glanced at my phone only to receive the biggest shock of my life.
Twenty-five million dollars was sent to my account.
My phone fell to the ground with a loud noise and I covered my mouth with the back of my hand.
Xavier had sent the half payment to my account without touching me. I had never seen that kind of money before and so I picked up my phone and checked again and there it was staring at me, looking like freedom.
I quickly got dressed, ready to go and repossessed my mother's house– the house that stored all my childhood memories and also visited my mother on the way.
Dressing myself in a short, bodycon gown, I headed downstairs with my phone in my hand, my face plastered with joy.
Now my life is finally coming back into itself.
I halted my steps when I felt piercing eyes on me before I heard his deep voice.
Xavier.
“ Where do you think you are going?” I turned my head to look at him standing behind the counter in the kitchen, naked from the top.
My eyes threatened to bulge out of their sockets at his glistening skin and sculpted chest, and I dragged in a deep breath.
“ Can you put on a shirt please?” I stammered, my voice barely audible.
He chuckled darkly. And then he stopped. “ That does not answer my question, Ariel."
I faced him, my eyes averting his chest, and looked straight into his unreadable eyes. “ I am going out."
He dragged his eyes from my head to my toes, his gaze lingering on my short dress. “ Dressed like that?”
“ Are you questioning my dressing?” I asked angrily.
“ How many times do I have to make you understand this, Ariel? You live under this roof now, and you are mine for the next two months. So I can decide exactly how I want you”.
My cheeks reddened but I stood my ground. “ Just because you gave me money does not mean you have every control of me."
“ I saved your entire life, Ariel. You would be begging on the streets with your mother dead right now if not for me”. He growled angrily, and I shut my eyes at the effects of his cruel words.
Tears poked my eyelids and threatened to fall but I refused them. I would not show any weakness in front of this man.
“ I will be taking my leave now if you are done." I turned to walk away when I sighted a look of apology in his face and then it was gone as quickly as it came.
“ You are attending an event with me tonight," He stated. “ Be back before six in the evening”.
I nodded once and walked away.
Hours later, I was finally done settling the house matter and visiting my mother and when I glanced at the time, my heart stuck to my throat.
06:10pm.
Shit.
And he had called twice.
Shit.
Xavier would kill me today. No doubt.
I rushed into the nearest taxi when the rain started and washed down in thunderstorms. By the time I got to the mansion, I was drenched and cold. My teeth shook over each other and I could barely stand.
My dress stuck to me like a second skin and my eyes became dizzy.
I walked into the darkly lit mansion while struggling to maintain my balance.
“ Where the hell have you been?!” Xavier's angry voice boomed and bounced into my ears.
I leaned against the nearest wall, struggling to breathe well.
“ I am sorry. I lost track of time”. I answered.
He walked over to be already dressed in a black suit, his top buttons undone. And his tie was nowhere to be found.
He looked like any woman's wet dream.
“ Why did you not pick my calls?”
“ I am sorry”.
“ And why are you drenched?!”
“ That is a stupid question, don't you think?” He glared at me. I cleared my throat. “ Rain is falling”.
“ Did you not take one of the cars with you? And why did you not allow your driver to take you?”.
I shivered. “ You did not tell me I had a car to drive me around, Xavier. Stop shouting at me!”. I screamed.
“ You were careless!”
I ignored him and started moving to the direction of my room.
“ You do not walk out of me, Ariel. I am talking to you!” He yelled angrily.
My stomach churned and my eyes turned. “ Can you please not yell at me right now? I do not feel too good”.
“ What?”.
My legs wobbled and my eyes turned black. My body gave out, and I started to fall down and expected the pain. Which never came.
Because the billionaire held me before I could fall.
“ Ariel!”. He shouted. “ Don't even try to
leave me. Not again”. I thought he said but his words were tangled up in my brain.
And I blacked out.
- Writer
