Adan’s Mistake

Twenty

Adan’s story about choosing me and my family plagued me for quite a few days. No matter how hard I tried to shake it off his words lingered, layered with the fact that for some inexplicable reason he cared about me. The way he told me the story made me believe that there was no external force driving him to pursue me. The simple fact was that he cared about me. And no matter how hard I tried to find a reason there wasn’t any.

However, I couldn’t ignore that he was dangerous and ruthless and I would be an i***t to go against him. I knew there was no way I would ever be more than a slave to him or his family. But that didn’t stop me from coming up with scenarios to make him pay for what he did to me. But that all had to take a back seat because I had more pressing matters to deal with.

Like the family dinner.

I wished Adan would cancel his plans of taking me to meet his family. I understood why he chose my family but that didn’t mean I had to meet his. Yes, they knew about us but why did I have to know them?

“You pouting won’t make you look any less beautiful, Angel,” Adan said with a smile as he dropped a kiss on my nearly bare shoulder. He told me to wear a purple dress with straps that criss crossed at my back and fell halfway to my thighs. I wasn’t going to lie, it made my legs look sexy and a mile long; not to mention the dress was actually pretty and glittered like I was covered in gemstones.

“Why are we even doing this? You know there’s no point. Like you said, your family already knows about us,” I asked, even though I’d already asked him this question like twenty times since the past few days.

“My sister needs to understand that you’re the one I want. It’s a way for her to stop pursuing me,” he replied. The fact that his adopted sister lusted after him made me feel all kinds of bitter and I wished I could put her in her place.

“So you’re using me?” I deadpanned him which caused him to chuckle and drop a kiss on my neck.

“You’re mine to use,” he responded and kissed the corner of my mouth before wrapping his arms around me from behind. “Now come on, we need to go. I don’t want to be late.”

“What happens if we’re late?” I questioned.

“Nothing will happen. It’ll just delay the message I need to get across to Zilpah.”

He led me out of the room and we passed by the game room where his cousins were busy playing some games if the hoots and hollers was any indication. We got in the car and Adan started driving while I continued to sulk beside him. Whenever he caught my eye, he would just smile at me, letting me know that there was no way I could get out of this.

I tried to be prepare myself for what I was about to face, but no matter what I did, the anxiety only boiled harder and faster inside me until I was fidgeting in my seat and biting on my lip as if it would save me from having dinner with Adan’s family.

“Stop that,” he ordered in a gentle tone and I eyed him from my periphery to see him staring straight ahead.

“What?”

“Stop abusing your lips. I never gave you the permission to do so,” he replied.

“I need your permission to abuse my own lips?” I deadpanned him but it was clear he wasn’t going to be bothered.

“Your lips along with the rest of you are mine to love and mine to abuse. How many times do I need to tell you that?” He said and I tried hard not to blush at his words. What was wrong with me? Why were his words turning me on rather than pissing me off?

“Then give me something else to munch on,” I responded.

“We’ll have dinner once we reach,” he said and I just rolled my eyes.

“Can you turn around and go back to the mansion we came from?” I worded the sentence for clarification, in case he decided to be smart and take me to some other mansion.

“No. My family wants us to have dinner with them and that’s what we’re going to do. You have nothing to be nervous about,” he told me and I just huffed and settled deeper in my seat.

“Easy for you to say; you’re not the one being forced to eat with the people who own you,” I muttered. I didn’t care if I sounded immature. This was not okay for me. I never wanted to meet those people and I hated that Adan was using me to send a message to his sister.

“They don’t own you, Angel. Only I do,” he said and I sighed in resignation. There was no winning against him and I should stop trying. He wanted me to have dinner with his family and he was going to make sure it happened. I hoped after this his sister wouldn’t bother him, so in turn he wouldn’t bother me. I didn’t know his family dynamics but something told me ignorance was bliss in this case.

Not for long.

Adan continued to drive for another forty minutes and I tried my best to focus on the outside; watching the shops and houses pass me by in a blur. I wanted to stop and visit the shops and buy something I didn’t need just so I could let the time pass. At this point, I was willing to do whatever it took to get out of this dinner.

However, the Universe was clearly not on my side because after some time we entered the outskirts of the city and only after a couple of miles did I see a giant mansion looming into view.

Th structure was built like a modern day castle with round turrets and French windows which, I was sure, gave a sprawling view of the land around. I counted a total of four levels which intimidated me all the more. Adan’s family was rich and I would have to be extra careful around them.

“That’s a big house,” I commented as Adan parked the car in an underground garage.

“My Mother loves big houses. She wants every room to be big and spacious. You’ll see once I give you the tour of the house,” he said and unbuckled his seatbelt. He got out of the car and I proceeded to do the same but he was at my door before I could finish unbuckling myself and had the door open for me. He helped me out of the car and closed the door softly once I was out.

“It’s not too late to take me back home,” I said but he just chuckled in response and kissed the corner of my lips.

“You’re adorable. Did I ever tell you that?” He began leading me towards the front door which had an eagle for a door knocker.

“I can be furiously dangerous as well,” I warned.

He feigned surprise and I wished I could punch him. And there was no way I would admit that he looked absolutely adorable when he did that. As much as I loved his playful side, I couldn’t ignore the side which never failed to remind me that he owned me.

“I look forward to seeing that dangerously furious side of yours,” he said.

“It’s furiously dangerous,” I corrected.

“Of course it is,” he said and flashed me another smile which made me forget to be afraid for a moment.

Adan raised his hand to knock on the door but before he could do so, the doors swung open, giving us a wide berth.

“How did it do that?” I asked as Adan stepped inside and pulled me along with him.

“My parents installed motion sensors a few days ago. I forgot about them, otherwise I wouldn’t have tried knocking,” he answered.

My eyes ran over my surroundings, taking in the mirrors of every shape and size in every corner of the space. A waterfall chandelier hung from the ceiling and mirrors lined the wall of the staircase which spiraled up and up until it disappeared into the sky.

“What’s up with the mirrors?” I questioned.

“That’s all Zilpah,” he said. “She has an obnoxious obsession with mirrors.”

“I take it you’re not fond of this obsession,” I observed and he grimaced and shook his head.

“Not at all.”

“If you could replace the mirrors with something of your choice, what would it be?” I asked because I wanted to know what his obsession was.

His answer left me speechless.

“You. I’ll replace all these mirrors with pictures of you,” he answered.

Before I could think of a sensible response, a woman clad in a dark green dress and black, kitten heels strode over to us with a beautiful smile on her lips. I didn’t miss the diamond necklace which glinted with every kiss of the light, showing off its worth probably in millions.

“Adan, you’re right on time,” the woman said and embraced the man who owned me.

“I know how precious your time is, Mom,” Adan said, though I got a hint of an inside joke in that statement. “I brought Angel.”

The woman looked at me and then her eyes traveled downwards, scanning me from head to toe before her smile softened and she stepped closer to me.

“It’s about time,” she said and gently cupped my shoulders before air kissing both of my cheeks. “Welcome Evangeline. I hope you enjoy dinner with us.”

“Of course she will,” Adan said and I nodded because whether I liked it or not, I had to enjoy this dinner.

“It’s been a while since I’ve cooked so don’t mind it if my skills are a little rusty,” she said, speaking directly to her son. I understood that she wouldn’t care if I found her cooking skills a little rusty. I was a nobody in front of this woman. My preference didn’t matter. Adan only brought me here because he wanted to tell his sister to leave him alone. I was nothing but a pawn.

“You know I always prefer you cooking for me,” Adan said as we began walking deeper into the house.

“I know,” replied his Mother. “That’s why I get the chance to step inside the kitchen. Otherwise work keeps me busy.”

I had no idea what Adan’s parents did and I doubt anyone would tell me. So I kept a tight lid on my questions and continued walking with them until we entered what appeared to be a sitting room. A sofa lined the wall in an L-shape with a glass coffee table in front of it. A giant painting of a black horse galloping through water took up a good portion of the wall and a flat screen took up another. Lamps and light fixtures were placed in strategic locations, but it was the floor to ceiling windows that really made the room look bigger than it already was.

“Why don’t you sit here and relax and I’ll go and bring your Father,” Adan’s Mom said before shooting me a furtive glance.

“What’s he busy with now? Why can’t he come himself?” Adan asked.

“He’s busy in his study and you know he has no connection with the world when he’s in there. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just relax while you’re here,” she said and left the sitting room.

“I can’t believe you actually brought me here. Why can’t you just tell your sister to back off?” I hissed as he flopped down on the couch. instead of responding to me, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me hard which ended up with me falling on the couch beside him.

“I have told her plenty of times, but she refuses to accept it,” he said.

“And you think you bringing me here is going to get her to back off?” I asked as he wrapped an arm around me and secured me to his side.

“It has to. She needs to understand that she needs to leave me alone and I’ll achieve that through whatever means necessary,” he stated and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Tell your parents to keep her away from you. She’s adopted so they should send her away,” I said.

“They tried doing that, but it didn't work. And my parents will never disown her. Hopefully after tonight she will backoff for good,” he said.

“Why? What do you intend to do tonight?” I questioned.

I wasn’t sure if he would answer me, but I never got the chance to find out. No sooner had the question left my lips did I hear the front door slamming shut, alerting me to somebody else’s presence.

“Oh great. She’s here,” Adan said and I swallowed hard at what was about to happen.

Zilpah was here, signaling the rise of the proverbial curtain.