His Collateral

Chapter 6

"The Devil you know, is better than the Angel you don't."
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I eyed his tall figure standing right at the foot of the bed. He had his suit slung across his back, his tie undone and his shirt unbuttoned half way down. He looked quite rough as his eyes were red as well.

"Get up." He said. It was more like an order. He had his hand stretched out to me. I looked at him hesitantly before standing up and placing my now shaky ones in his, a million thoughts running through my head at the same time.

What is he going to do?

His grip on me was tight, a bit too tight if I may add. He pulled me roughly to the couch in the corner of the room.

"That is not your place. From now on, this is where you will sleep." Alessandro said his gaze fixed on the couch. I stared at him in disbelief. I had a lot of questions on my mind. I wanted to ask why? I was his wife, wasn't I?

He turned his gaze to me. Staring back as if he could read my mind. His brooding eyes now dark with what seemed to be anger.
"This marriage," he said raising his voice a bit and pointing between the both of us.

"Means nothing to me. You mean nothing to me. So it would be better, if you knew your place and even better if you abide by the rules."

Rules? What rules?

I felt my body tense at his tone of voice. He took a step closer to me staring at me intently with no emotions in his eyes. His breath reeked of alcohol. His voice deep and threatening.
"Three simples one's. Rule number one: You will do as I say, always, without question." He said and I took two steps back.

"Rule number two: It should be as clear as day but I don't mind reiterating it to you. You are not my wife so you do not have any place on my bed."
"That," he pointed to the couch.
"Is your place."

My back was now against the wall and his one hand was placed beside me while the other held my other hand in place above my head. I was shaking in fear, my anxiety getting the better of me.

"Rule number 3: You will not touch anything that belongs to me, excluding the food and other necessities that will be provided for you. Besides that, not even the water I drink, should be touched by you."
"Is that clear?" He asked. I nodded my head slowly, a tear escaping my eye. He let go of my hand pushing me lightly. I fell to the floor the tears now flowing freely as I watched him enter the bathroom. I slowly moved over to the couch, and laid down on my side, crying slowly.

The meaning of what Marion said had now fully sunk in. She knew, she knew everything. I indeed jumped from the frying pan into the fire. This marriage was meant to be my safe haven away from them, away from their torture.

You talk like you had a choice! You couldn't refuse even if you wanted to.

My quiet sobs were the only thing that could be heard in the room. I laid there, in the same fetal position and then the doors to the bathroom opened. I heard his footsteps echo in the room together with the ruffling of some sheets and then it became eerily silent. I looked up, to see him sleeping comfortably. I slowly folded my legs to enable my robe cover them properly before drifting off to sleep.

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"Mmm, mmmm.."

"Mmmmm!"

My hands clutched the rims of the tank tightly. Marion's grip on my hair tightened, shoving my face deeper into the water. I was partially paralyzed against her and needed air.

"That's what you get for-"

Marion's words suddenly became muffled as all I could feel was the water in my ears together with my pulsating heart. I was running out of breath. It felt like my lungs were giving up on me slowly, like I was slowly passing out when-
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I jolted up, my chest heaving up and down. I greedily took in all the air I could like it was my last before realizing it was just a dream. I looked around, taking in the foreign surroundings until my eyes landed on him, Alessandro. He was still fast asleep, the rays of the sun cutting through the now transparent curtains, shining on him. My mind drifted back to last night and everything he said.

Right! He hates me.

I slowly made my way to the walk in closet. I went through them and found some clothes, about three, that weren't there last night. I pulled out a blue summer gown and a cute blue woolen long sleeved sweater with it. Then I looked for some underwear. There was a new set containing about four cotton undies and two pairs of bra that were smaller than my actual size. With the gown and underwear, I made my way to the bathroom. I searched the cabinets and found a new pack of toothbrush. I brushed my teeth then I took a shower, got dressed and headed for the kitchen downstairs. Alessandro was still asleep.

The house looked more alive than it did yesterday. The curtains were open letting in the natural light of the sun. I stood at the bottom of the stairs, taking in the beauty of the place when something else caught my attention. I followed the sound of a frying pan sizzling and the smell of bacon and eggs lingering in the air and found the maid from yesterday.

"Good morning." I greeted walking over to where she stood.

"Good morning ma'am, your breakfast is ready." She said trying to plate the food as fast as she could. She looked like she was in a hurry.

"Please call me Bella... and..why are you in such a haste? I'm in no hurry to eat. I can help."

"I have to get Sir Alessandro's breakfast to his study." She said, hurriedly placing a cup of coffee on another tray. Not wanting to delay her any further, I went over to carry my tray of food to the dining.

"I'll get that ma'am." She said offering to carry it.

"No, it's fine. Take his breakfast to him." I smiled before exiting the kitchen. I placed my food in the dining and had just taken a seat when I heard a small yelp come from the kitchen. I stood up almost immediately and rushed back to see the maid with her hand under the faucet running cold water on it. I moved closer to her to see that she had burnt her hand and it was now red and a few blisters were already forming.

"First aid, where's the first aid kit?" I asked her

"It's fine ma'am, I'll manage." She said reaching for the tray of food once more but the pain didn't let her. The panic was clear on her face. For what it's worth, I understood why she was scared and offered to help. I spent a few minutes helping her with her wound and then I picked up the tray to take his food to him. She told me he would be in his study soon and I was already half way up the stairs when I remembered his rules.

Not even the water I drink, should be touched by you.

I looked down at the tray of food in my hands. He was still asleep when I left. He possibly couldn't be in his study so soon.

I thought before making my way to his office. Moving slowly, I used my elbow to twist the door knob open. I walked into his office and he wasn't there. With a smile on my face, I quickly walked over to a center table in the corner of the room and placed the tray of food on it. Then I turned to leave when I saw him standing just by the couch, the smile on my face disappearing just as quickly at it cane. He eyed me momentarily from head to toe and for a minute and I thought I didn't have to worry about getting him mad. I moved closer to where he stood.

"Your breakfast. The maid is hurt and-"I didn't complete my sentence as he moved past me abruptly to the table where his food was kept, and threw the tray to the ground, in my direction. My hands were quick to cover my ears in fear as the shattering noise echoed in the room.

Oh Bella!
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