Bought and bound

GUEST

Chapter 3:

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CHANEL****

I stood in front of the mirror, feeling like a doll as Mrs. Jenkins bustled around me, helping me into a beautiful red gown. She was chattering away, telling me about the dinner party, but I wasn't listening.

I was too busy wondering why Shaun had chosen me, why he had brought me to this mansion, and what he wanted from me.

As Mrs. Jenkins fastened the last button, she stepped back and smiled. "You look lovely, dear," she said.

I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. "Thank you, Mrs. Jenkins," I said.

She smiled again, her eyes twinkling. "I'm the only one trusted to be close to you, you know," she said. "The mansion has about 50 servants, but Shaun only trusts me to attend to your needs."

I felt a surge of curiosity. Why was that? What made me so special?

"Mrs. Jenkins?" I asked, turning to face her.

"Yes, dear?" she replied.

"Why does Shaun trust you?" I asked. "And why am I so special?"

Mrs. Jenkins' smile faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure. "Oh, dear," she said. "It's just that Shaun is a very...particular man. He likes things done a certain way, and he only trusts people who can meet his standards."

I nodded, but I wasn't convinced. There was something more to it, something Mrs. Jenkins wasn't telling me.

I turned to Mrs. Jenkins, curious about the dinner party. "Who's coming for dinner?" I asked.

Mrs. Jenkins hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's Shaun's family," she said.

I felt a surge of curiosity. What was Shaun's family like? Were they as intimidating as he was?

"Who specifically?" I pressed, trying to get more information.

Mrs. Jenkins' expression turned evasive. "Oh, just his parents and a few...relatives," she said vaguely.

I sensed that she was hiding something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"What's going on, Mrs. Jenkins?" I asked, trying to read her expression.

But she just smiled blandly. "Nothing, dear. Just a normal family dinner. You'll see."

I wasn't convinced, but I let it drop. For now.

As Mrs. Jenkins finished my hair and makeup, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Shaun's family than meets the eye.

Mrs. Jenkins held me by the shoulders, turning me to face the mirror. I gasped as I took in my reflection. The red flowing gown with a pearl outline hugged my curves perfectly, and the black stiletto heels made me feel like a completely different person. My hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and my makeup was subtle yet fresh.

"You look very beautiful, dear," Mrs. Jenkins said, her voice filled with warmth.

I felt a surge of confidence, but then Mrs. Jenkins added, "You remind me of Amanda."

I turned to her, curious. "Who's Amanda?" I asked.

But before Mrs. Jenkins could respond, Shaun walked into the room, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You look stunning, Chanel," he said, his voice low and husky.

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as he approached me, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Who's Amanda?" I asked again, trying to break the spell.

But Shaun just smiled, his eyes glinting with secrets. "Someone from my past," he said vaguely.

And with that, he offered me his arm, leading me out of the room and into the unknown.

As we walked through the opulent halls, I couldn't help but wonder who Amanda was and why Shaun's expression had softened at the mention of her name. I felt a pang of curiosity and a hint of jealousy, which I quickly pushed aside.

I turned to Shaun, trying to break the silence. "Why did you assign only Mrs. Jenkins to me?" I asked. "Why not anyone else?"

But Shaun ignored me, his eyes fixed on some point ahead. I felt a surge of frustration, but I tried again.

"Shaun, I asked you a question," I said, my voice slightly louder.

But he still didn't respond, his expression unreadable. I felt like I was walking alongside a stranger, not the man who had just moments before looked at me with such intensity.

We approached a grand staircase, and Shaun led me down to the foyer. The sound of voices and laughter drifted from the adjacent room, and I felt a sense of trepidation.

Who were these people, and what did they want from me?

As we entered the room, the conversation died down, and all eyes turned to me. I felt like a specimen under a microscope, with everyone staring at me with a mix of hatred and jealousy. The air was thick with tension, and I could sense the pride and ego emanating from the group.

Shaun's family was just as intimidating as he was, and I could see the resemblance in their features. His mother, a tall, slender woman with piercing blue eyes, gazed at me with a hint of disdain. His father, a broad-shouldered man with a chiseled jawline, looked me up and down before nodding curtly.

The others in the room, who I assumed were Shaun's relatives, seemed just as unwelcoming. I felt like an outsider, a stranger in a room full of people who shared a bond I couldn't understand.

Shaun's grip on my arm tightened, as if sensing my unease

The room remained silent, with only a few nods and curt smiles. I felt like I was on trial, with everyone waiting for me to make a mistake.

Shaun led me to a chair and pulled it out for me to sit, his manners impeccable. He then sat beside me, his presence a comforting shield against the hostile stares.

Just as I was starting to relax, a woman walked into the room, her aura and ego preceding her like a royal entourage. She was stunning, with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall.

She walked towards me, her eyes fixed on mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. She reached out a manicured hand and started playing with my hair, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through my body.

"Well, well, well," she said, her voice husky. "Look what Shaun's brought home."

I felt a surge of discomfort, unsure how to react to this sudden invasion of personal space. Shaun's grip on my arm tightened, but he said nothing, his eyes fixed on the woman.

"Patricia, leave her alone," his mother said, her voice firm but laced with a hint of amusement.

Patricia pouted, but she didn't remove her hand from my hair. Instead, she started twirling a strand around her finger, her eyes glinting with malice.

Shaun's eyes flashed with anger as he reached out and pulled Patricia's hand from my hair. "That's enough, Patricia," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Patricia's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't back down. Instead, she smirked at me, her lips curling up in a snide smile.

Shaun's grip on her wrist tightened. "Sit down, Patricia," he ordered, his voice firm.

Patricia's smile faltered, and she looked away, her eyes flashing with anger. She stalked off to the other side of the room, her heels clicking on the floor.

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. I felt a surge of gratitude towards Shaun, but I knew better than to show it.

Shaun's mother broke the silence, her voice smooth as silk. "Let's eat, shall we?" she said, gesturing to the table.

The others nodded, taking their seats. Shaun pulled out my chair, his eyes never leaving mine. I sat down, feeling like a pawn in a game I didn't understand.

I couldn't help but wonder how my world had come crashing down in just one night. One moment I was living my life, and the next I was trapped in this mansion with a family who seemed to hate me.

Just then, an old man walked in majestically, his presence commanding attention. I assumed he was Shaun's father, and he did seem different from the rest. He smiled at me warmly and walked towards the dining table, sharing a smile with Shaun.

But I noticed that Shaun's mom wasn't happy. Her eyes narrowed, and she gritted her teeth, jabbing her fork at a piece of meat with unnecessary force.

Patricia, who was sitting across from me, asked her father about his wife, and a beautiful lady walked in behind him, smiling. She was elegant, with poise and grace that seemed to radiate from within.

Shaun's mom's expression turned icy, and she hissed under her breath. Patricia followed suit, her eyes flashing with anger.

But Shaun's dad just smiled and pulled out a chair for the lady. "Is this Chanel?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with kindness.

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this man could help me navigate this treacherous family dynamic.

"Please, call me Mr. Adam," he said, his voice warm and gentle. "And this is my wife, Sandra."

Sandra smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "It's lovely to meet you, Chanel," she said, her voice melodious.

I felt a sense of ease wash over me as I smiled back at her. "Nice to meet you too, Sandra," I replied.

Mr. Adam took his seat at the head of the table, with Sandra to his right. Shaun sat to my left, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made me shiver.

Shaun's mom, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "So, Chanel, tell us about yourself," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Mr. Adam intervened, his voice firm but gentle. "Let's not interrogate our guest, dear. We can get to know her slowly."

Sandra nodded in agreement, smiling at me. "Yes, let's just enjoy each other's company tonight."

Shaun's mom's face turned red with anger as she flared at Sandra. "How dare you think you have a say at this table?" she spat. "This is still my son's home, and it's my home as well. You're just a guest, Sandra."

Sandra's expression remained calm, but her eyes flashed with a hint of steel. "I'm a guest, yes, but I'm also your husband's wife, and I will not be silenced," she replied, her voice firm but gentle.

Mr. Adam intervened, his voice calm and authoritative. "Enough, Elizabeth. This is not the time or place for this discussion."

But Shaun's mom, Elizabeth, was having none of it. "You always take her side, don't you, Adam?" she accused, her voice rising. "You always defend her, no matter what."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. I felt uncomfortable, unsure of what to do. Shaun's grip on my arm tightened, as if sensing my unease.

And then, Patricia spoke up, her voice dripping with malice. "Yes, let's talk about loyalty, Mother. Let's talk about who's really loyal to this family."

I had no idea what was going on, but I knew I didn't like it. The atmosphere in the room was toxic, and I just wanted to escape.

Shaun, already brewing with anger, suddenly yelled, "Shut up! All of you, just shut up!"

The room fell silent, with all eyes on Shaun. He stood up, his chair scraping against the floor, and walked over to me. He stood beside me, his eyes flashing with annoyance, and squeezed my shoulder gently.

I understood the gesture, and felt an urge to comfort him. He was hurting, and I couldn't do anything about it.

The tension in the room was palpable, and I knew that this was far from over. Shaun's family was toxic, and I was starting to realize that I was in grave danger.

As I ate, I could feel Shaun's anger radiating from him, like waves of heat. I knew that he was trying to control himself, but I also knew that it was only a matter of time before he lost his temper completely.

And then, Patricia spoke up again, her voice like a knife cutting through the silence. "So, Chanel, how does it feel to be the center of attention?"