His Collateral

Chapter 8

As I sat up on the couch, I stretched my legs and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. The room was empty, and memories of the previous night's discomfort flooded back. I had been freezing and had nearly fallen off the couch multiple times. My body ached all over. When I stood up to use the bathroom, a sharp pain shot through both knees, a reminder that folding them for so long hadn't been a good idea. It took a few moments to shake off the stiffness and walk without limping. After brushing my teeth and taking a shower, carefully avoiding the sore spot under my leg, I headed to the walk-in closet to choose an outfit for the day. As I scanned through the drawers, a sudden realization struck me.

No!" I cursed under my breath as I stared at my underwear drawer.

It had slipped my mind that there were only a few pairs here. Standing there in a towel, I deliberated my next move. I didn't want to ask Alessandro. He doesn't like me plus it would be really embarrassing but I didn't have any money either. I mentally argued with myself for over an hour before deciding on what to do.

It wouldn't hurt to ask, right?

I hastily got dressed in a woolen ash color long sleeve top and a pair of black leggings, styled my wet hair into a bun and headed out to look for Alessandro. On my way, I practiced what I was going to tell him.

"Alessandro I don't have that much underwear left."

No, no..

"Alessandro, I'm out of underwear."

Worse

"Alessandro I'm running out of underwear. I didn't get to pack after the wedding and-"

I face palmed myself. What was I saying? I walked by his office and decided to check if he was there first. I stood outside his door, taking in a huge breath to calm myself down. Then I knocked on the door and waited for a response but there was none. I knocked again and waited.

Still no reply.

Curiously, I twisted the door knob and peeked inside but it was empty.

Where did he go?

I headed downstairs to the kitchen where Mary was preparing breakfast.
"Good morning Mary." I said leaning against the island.

"Morning Bella. Breakfast will be ready soon." She smiled

I hesitated for a moment before asking
"Have you seen Alessandro anywhere? He's not in his office."

She looked at me smiling subtly. "He's probably in the pool."

Pool? I've never seen one here.

Because you haven't bothered to check.

"Where is it?" I asked her

Here's a rewritten version of the text with a few minor adjustments for clarity and flow:

"Down that passage on the right," Mary replied, pointing to a hallway behind the stairs. I thanked her and headed in that direction. The hallway was long and elegantly decorated with paintings and beautiful flower pots. I passed by a few doors but didn't bother opening them. At the end of the hall, I found a large glass door, which I carefully opened and slid through. I stepped out into the stunning backyard I had admired from Alessandro's office earlier. The porch was enormous, with a fireplace, a round white sofa, a barbecue grill, and a wooden dining table. As I took in the surroundings, I noticed a pool on the far left side of the yard. Curious, I walked towards it, enjoying the gentle breeze that tempered the day's warmth. As I approached, I saw Alessandro's figure gliding through the water, his skin glistening in the sunlight. I was captivated by his every stroke, every turn, and every splash. So engrossed was I that I didn't notice him getting out of the pool and walking towards me, drying his hair with a towel.

Now it's the time Bella. Find the right words.

As Alessandro approached, I expected him to stop, but instead, he continued walking towards the house, seemingly oblivious to my presence. I turned to face him, and he still didn't acknowledge me. Summoning courage, I called out to him, "Alessandro."

He paused, looking ahead before turning back to me with a look of disgust. "What is it?" he asked, his piercing eyes making me feel uneasy.

I stuttered, "I...I...my-" before he interrupted,

"Words, Bella! I don't have all day." His raised voice made me flinch.

I blurted out, "My underwear!" possibly irritating him further. He waited for me to continue, his eyes boring into mine. I looked away, "I...I'm running out. I wasn't able to pack after the wedding."

An uncomfortable silence followed, until he spoke up, "There's a credit card on the bedside table. A driver will take you to the mall when you're ready. Buy whatever you need and be back before five."

He turned to leave, but I stopped him, "Wait!" He turned back, looking like he could snap at any moment. I fidgeted, "I...have never been to the mall. I don't know my way around."

He asked, his tone irritated, "And that's my problem how?"

"I was wondering if I could go to the thrift store back home or maybe go with Mary," I suggested.

Alessandro's response was curt and dismissive, "No." He continued walking, leaving me to trail behind him slowly.

"I wouldn't know where to look," I explained, but he didn't seem to care. We reached the porch, and I tried again, "I thought if I could go to a place I'm already familiar with..."

But he cut me off, turning to face me with a stern expression. He stood uncomfortably close, his eyes boring down on me. "Let me make this clear, Bella, you're not wearing thrift store clothes in my house, and Mary is not going anywhere with you." His tone was firm and authoritative. "Mary is a maid, not your personal escort. If you don't want to go to the mall, then sit down."

With that, he turned and stormed into the house.
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