Arranged: Bound By Contract (girlxintersex)

Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Stella POV

I made it through the sea of gamblers and players and arrived at my father's playing table. He was the pit manager. He enjoyed getting his hands dirty, and so did I. He reviewed all games as thoroughly as possible and moved dealers from one table to another.

I used to be his assistant. I got the dealers in. When I flirt. More money spent. More money is usually beneficial for company. I may not be next-level clever, but I have the advantages of being human.

"Hey, daddy," I excitedly welcomed; the music was so loud, louder than I remembered two weeks ago, that I had to almost yell in his ears.
He didn't appear pleased to see me, given that we didn't get to engage much at dinner last week.

He was bewildered as he looked about. "Where is Mateo?"

"Hi to you, too, Dad." I sarcastically replied.

"Oh, hello, honey. How's...How is your life?" He inquired nervously, his gaze yet to fall on me. I was triggered since this was not the greeting I anticipated or deserved, given that he sold me to the same person who didn't want me here in the first place.

He took hold of my hand and walked away from the vacant table. "Where is she? Did she allow you to come here?" He didn't seem to believe it, and his hand rested on mine, as if he was questioning if I was there.
"Really, dad, are you okay?"

"I'm OK...I just, she informed us that we shouldn't have been so engaged with you in this life. She will pay for it—"

"What?" I interjected loudly. "What're you talking about?" I laughed.

"Really hunny, it's alright. She's your wife now, and she has complete control over you."

"No! She doesn't! Do you think she should?" I questioned, expecting him to come to my defense as I looked at him. He did not. He appeared to be debating what to say to me in order to avoid pissing me off further.

"When did she say it?"

"The day of signing up." He was correct in stating that it was a sign-up rather than a wedding. Weddings are wonderful occasions. Filled with joy.
A wedding dress and documents did not constitute a wedding. I didn't understand why they felt the need to poke me in a dress. "She establishes certain ground rules and says she wants you all to herself. There wasn't much we could say or do."

"Yes. Placed me with someone less demanding."

"She was the only one who auditioned for a greater fee. 6 million a year. There is also a substantial investment in the company as well. And not just that. Most of these people are people who will die for her."

"I don't give a fuck, and did you have an auction, dad. "What the hell is that?" Whatever the narrative was, it was growing weirder. Strange. And simply absurd.

"When I noticed the money was rolling over. The first step was to file bankruptcy. But then we'd lost everything. You would not have a life."

What exactly does he mean? I already didn't have a life because they effectively traded me overnight, which I don't mind, but someone better could've been in place. He proceeds to elaborate. "I have gone to many other businessmen and offered you to be their wife. Let me simply claim they were all interested in you; it's only that her price stood out more, hunny."

How can he call me hunny after telling me "I sold you" story? My life was essentially a Wattpad story.

What the fuck was happening!

No!

My tears threaten to fall, as it basically blackmail around my eyes. But I couldn't really display my emotions in front of so many people. Nobody cries in the casino. Well, they do. Either win or lose. I was on the losing team.

"How—how did you get here?"

"Mateo brought me here."

"Did she say something?"

"Are you scared of her or what?"

He nodded slowly, his fingers scratching down his well-trimmed beard, which nearly covered his face. "Very,"

"Why?"

"We don't want her to walk away from the deal after 10 years. I'm worried my business will require more than ten years of investment to get off the ground."

They didn't care about me. I was outside in the cold. No sweater. No scarf.

Just nude in the freaking freezing cold. So basically anything Mateo wants to do to me, she can do since my father's business has to thrive. In the beginning, I had no problems. But so much was kept from me.

"Ok,"

"Ok?" He questioned, unsure what my okay meant.

"Okay, I don't want to see you or mother again. Or anyone else, for that matter. Ok. Ok."

"Stella, don't behave like that. I would have done it for you if you were in the same situation."
"No, father, you wouldn't take a peg up the ass for me. You would not suck and smile for me because if you did, you would not have done this to me. My life is finished. If I'm dead, it's because she got bored and murdered me, and you wouldn't care. Because of money!"

"Stella...."

"You have nothing to say that I want to hear, dad. You've planned this for how long?"

"1 year," The answer jumped from his mouth.

"So when I found out the week I was getting married, you and mom had been sitting on it for a year?" I was trying to piece it all together. Then then, I believe the parts were all pieced together. I was just having difficulty believing this.
He humbly nodded.

"Great! Lovely!" Tears eventually fall. "I fucking appreciate it. I don't know how to thank you for placing me in a situation where my life is no longer mine." I sarcastically denoted.

"It is for your own benefit. You would not be able to subsist out there if I declared bankruptcy. You are a stupid, spoiled girl who grew up in heaven, where everything is white and pristine. You are an angel. How would an angel endure hell if God dies?"

"My misery has just begun." I murmured, looking away from him, "Forever, I hope." I didn't need to bid him or Mom farewell. I didn't want to conclude on a nice note. That will take up very little of my mental energy.
Because I have to worry about myself and how I am going to fucking survive this. But now I've found a technique to irritate Mateo.
***************
I nearly fell off the stool as I was ready to stand up, hitting the half-empty dance floor. Everyone was practically glued to a game table or machine, with others around them. Nobody actually comes here to dance. But I always did. I enjoy entrapping men, and when I move, he moves with me.

As I stood in the center, virtually encircled by dancers, my eyes searched for a victim to draw in. After seven rounds of powerful extra añejo tequila, I felt the effects. It had knocked my body free.
Making me feel free, despite the fact that marriage hangs over my head.

It dawned on me that I had forgotten to wear my ring. I giggled as my hips shifted from a slight wobble to pressing from side to side. East and West. The music was luring me to a gentleman who stood toward the end of the bar, holding a number of empty shot glasses at his elbows. But the alcohol didn't appear to shock his system the way it did mine.

As he pointed to his chest, I stayed for what seemed like a mile, calling him over. He is ugly. He will do.
I really wanted someone to witness my awful motions, feel the groove of my hips, and possibly remember it for the rest of their lives. I know I would. Because something tells me this will be my final night at this casino or any casino in Las Vegas.

He stood up, almost too eager to dance; I think I elevated his ego as he turned around and proceeded to grind on me. His palm drove into my waist, but I was unable to feel it. I feel too free to sense any kind of control movement. I swung my hips in any direction I wanted. I moved my feet. My hands were spread out at various angles.

His tongue dropped onto my ear, and I groaned in displeasure. "Where've you been all my life?"

"Married,"

I could feel his movements change as he moved me closer. I smirked. Typical male. I could wager on any of these cards to result in a woman backing away. He appeared to be turned on, as his goal with the grind was to ensure that I felt good on his hard cock.

"Me being married turns you on, right?" I turned to see his nasty smirk. What the heck was God doing when he created these men? I couldn't find the right word to describe him. But what was I thinking when I stated I wanted to feel more free?

I stepped over his looks. Making my fingers race across his body. His goal was again for me to feel his erection. He drew me in like a magnet with one foot between my knees and one hand around my waist; the only thing that separated us was that I felt like I was being torn away from him in a way that was both forceful and hostile.

"We are fucking going home." Something terrible emanates from her, compelling me to mindlessly follow Mateo. However, the guy I was dancing with didn't like it.

"Hey dude, go get your own girl to dance with." As he attempted to hold on to me, Mateo threw me aside and gripped the man's arms instead. Unbelievably, I heard a loud crack over the music.

It makes my stomach ache and twists my face into an almost perpetual frown. Plummeted on both knees, his voice filled with imploring, his eyes shut in an attempt to bear the pain. Mateo twisted more.

He twisted so much that his entire body appeared to be going to twist, even his arms. She merely stares at the guy; it appeared that she was hearing nothing as additional people joined in to beg with him.

I strode forward. "Let's go." I grabbed for her arm, which emitted a power I had never idea existed. She pulled him away before grabbing me. I dare to say something to her.

As we stepped out, we noticed my parents and Nathalie. They all seemed scared. Not sure what to say.

"I need to speak with you. Come." Mateo commands. This was trouble, wasn't it?