The slave of Alvarez

Chapter 4

A Gilded Cage

Juan turned to the lady,

“Hey mum, what are you doing here?” he asked. “By the way, this is Alicia, she's new here,” he said, pushing me forward to her.

“I hope she knows her place. " I don't want to see her anywhere close to me,” she said, glaring at my tattered dress.

“Juan Hunny come with me,” she said as she hissed at me and walked away.

Adjusting to life in the mansion was harder than it looked. Every step I took, every word I spoke, everything I did seemed to be coated with danger, as I always got myself into trouble every single day. Juan's mother, Miss Elena, was a formidable foe, her eyes narrowing with disdain every time she looked at me. She left no stone unturned to make my life a living hell, as if I had poisoned her in her past life. She doesn't even want me to breathe when she's around. I felt completely suffocated. I couldn't help but miss my mum and wondered how she and Camilla were coping with dad and I had no phone to contact them. I felt broken.

"You're nothing but a slave," she spat one day, as I was serving her lunch. A mere plaything for my son. " Don't think for a moment that you're one of us".

I remember vividly that she asked me to serve her food and I did. She went as far as telling me to taste the food and when I did, she asked why I had tasted the food and told me to throw it away and I did.

“You wasted my food, your useless energy, food that your father couldn't afford, even if he worked all his life. " How dare you,” she said to me, raising her voice.

“But Madam…I,” I tried to explain, that she told me to do it, but before I could say anything, I was faced with a slap.

It was so hard that it left a mark.

“When I talk, you lower your head and listen. " Do not try to talk to me in your life. " You filthy thing, that's why your father and mother sold you, because you were such a burden,” she spat out.

I felt a sting from her words, but I knew I couldn't respond. Instead, I kept my head down, focusing on the task at hand.

Miss Elena's insults were just the beginning. Juan's brother, Luis, was a whole different story. He was a lascivious man, his eyes always roving over me, his smile suggestive. I could feel that he wanted me and his gaze always sent a chill down my spine. He made many attempts and sometimes cornered me, but I always escaped.

One fateful day, as I was walking down the hallway, Luis caught up with me, his hand reaching out to grab my arm. As he held me firmly, pulling me to himself.

"Hey, beautiful," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear and I could tell that he was drunk. I'd been waiting for a chance to be with you alone. " You have always tried to avoid me, but this time no one is home. " You can scream as much as you want, but I'm going to have you today." His eyes gleamed with desire.

I tried to shake him off, but he was too strong. He dragged me to his room, and I screamed for him to let me go. I had expected it but it was too soon. He slammed the door shut behind us.

He pushed me to the wall, pinning me under his muscular body, and he tried to kiss my neck. I tried to gasp for breath as I looked at him, his eyes blazing with lust. I knew I was in grave danger. I finally shoved him off. I tried to run towards the door, but he grabbed my leg. I fell, and my head headed straight for the floor. I screamed again as he grabbed me by the neck and kicked me on my thigh, rendering me weak as he threw me on the bed.

“Please, please don't do this to me, there are lots of other girls please,” I cried.

He placed his hands on my neck, strangling me and telling me to keep quiet as he slid his other hand into my clothes. He leaned in and I felt my body weakening. I decided not to give up. I wasn't going to let this happen to me again. I struggled to push him off and Luis got annoyed. He tore off my clothes and gave me a dirty slap that sent me falling on the bed. My body finally gave up as I lay there hopelessly.

But just as all hope seemed lost, the door burst open, and Juan strode in.

"Luis, what the hell are you doing?" he thundered, his eyes blazing with anger. “How dare you try to force yourself on her, no means, you son of a bitch.”

Luis sneered, but Juan's anger was unmistakable. He grabbed Luis, hauling him away from me as he punched him in the nose, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Get out," he spat. "And don't ever touch her again."

Luis lay there trying to get himself as Juan turned to me, his eyes softening.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded, still shaken. I still couldn't talk, and my body was hurting.

Juan's eyes narrowed. "I'm sorry this happened to you, I will make sure Luis doesn't bother you again," he promised.

As he turned to leave, I felt a surge of gratitude towards him as I covered myself with my clothes and headed for my room. I couldn't help but think that, for the first time since I arrived at the mansion, I felt a bit of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Juan wasn't as bad as I thought. But this house was still hell for me and I knew it was just getting started.