Still Breathing

Chapter 2: Look what you've done

Marley - Present day 2022

Standing on my balcony in my nightgown. Stephen walks up behind me and places a hand on my hip and kisses my cheek. I don't look away from the busy morning traffic 20 floors below. Then I feel his hand touch my hair. I can feel him watching me. I take a few breaths and then plant a smile in my face and turn to face him. he looks over my face and then his eyes drag over my body. His eyes linger on my breast. The chilly air blows and my nipples harden. He smiles at me, and says, "I will see you this evening for dinner. No fish tonight. Maybe a steak. Sounds good?"

"Yes, sounds good."

"Good girl. Will your father be joining us? It is our first night back in the states." Stephen asks as he walks back into the penthouse.

I follow him in and say, "I'm not sure. I will call to confirm."

He walks over to me and gives me one last kiss before he leaves. I slightly turn my head to avoid his lips. He freezes and I look down. I lick and bite my bottom lip. He grabs my chin to make me look at him. he asks me, "Were going to have a good day?" he smiles but its so devious and sinister. He continues, "Not like Italy... right?" he stands over me and I try to take a step back, but he grabs my face harder. "I'm talking to you!" he yells, and I jump.

"Yes...yes. I'll be good." My voice quivering. I feel the burn behind my eyes. I want to cry. But I refuse to give him that satisfaction. He likes it when I cry. I think it turns him on.

He releases my face and says, "good. Let me know about your father. Have dinner ready by 7pm and I laid out your clothes for tonight." He leaves for work and I'm finally alone.

I take a few deep breaths and walk to the bathroom. I run the bath as hot as I can stand it. I cover the mirrors in the bathroom and strip off the night gown. The burning water against my skin shocks me out of my anxiety attack. I sink down slowly and feel every inch of my body burn. I focus on the burn, instead of the fact that I'm back in New York.

I slip my head under the hot water and try to forget. Forget the life I had, forget the love I lost and forget that this is my life now. I surface and just soak. I let a few tears escape but they don't count. Any tears shed in water, simply don't count. So with that, he did not make me cry. And my circumstance did not make me cry.

I soak until the water grows cool and then I step out the tub and grab a towel. I wrap it around myself and dry my hair. My hair is usually curly, but Stephen prefers it straight. And what Stephen wants, Stephen gets. After blow drying my hair bone straighten it and then head to the closet. I slip on some jeans and simple top. Afterwards I head to the kitchen and Stephen has left me a note on the counter advising me to eat the grapefruit and that's it. I hate grapefruit. The bitter taste makes me gag. I would ignore the note and grab something else, but he keeps track and labels everything. So, if were to make me bacon and eggs, he would know, and I would end up back on 'punishment.'

I sigh as I sit and eat and remember the last time I was on 'punishment' he tied me to the bed and raped me every night for a week. I was blindfolded at the time, but I'm sure he invited some of his friends and business partners to watch. I gag remembering how I cried and begged him to stop. But all it seemed to do was make him cum faster.

I finish the grapefruit and water and I clean up the kitchen. From what I see, he had eggs benedict and bacon. At least one of us is eating good. Once I'm done cleaning the kitchen I go into the bathroom and clean up. once I step back into the bedroom, I look at the unmade bed and a flashback from last night hit me and I run back into the bathroom and throw up my hearty breakfast of grapefruit and water. Once I'm done, I take a minute to catch my breath and I clean the toilet. Then I slowly go back into the bedroom and try not to think about what he made me do last night. he said he would be a good way to celebrate being back home.