18

Mr Gray

"There, perfect, I knew just a small turn up at the bottom would do the trick, now let me see." She brushed the bottom of my dress before taking a step back. She smiled ear to ear "Vista meravigliosa. I was right, this colour is magnificent on you, Miss Thorn. What do you think." She gently took my shoulders and led me to the full-length mirror, as I stared confused for a few moments.

"I look different." I pressed my freshly painted red lips together as I couldn't help but notice the unbelievable resemblance I had to my mother.

"You look beautiful."

"I've never worn anything like this before, and I was never allowed to wear makeup, my mother always insisted not even a drop of gloss was to touch my lips until I was eighteen."

"Well, you have kept your promise." She dabbed the tip of my nose as I couldn't help but giggle at her.

"I can't help but feel this dress is not being used for the correct occasion." My shoulders slumped as I felt nauseous about tonight.

"Remember what we spoke about Miss Thorn you need to stay strong, you can't let them know you are afraid."

"I know, and I thank you, Lorna, for all of your kindness you have shown me since being here, I am truly grateful."

"Knock knock." Louis did not wait to be invited in as he entered the room. "Eleanor you look......" he blinked repetitively reddening slightly "you look very appropriate." He looked to the floor shaking his head as he suddenly ushered Lorna from the room. "Now Mr. Gray is awaiting your presence downstairs. When you see him you will greet him with nothing but a smile, and you will not speak unless you are spoken to, is that understood."

"Why are we going downstairs I thought everything was done in the bedroom." My lips twisted as his eyes blackened with frustration.

"Miss Thorn what was it about my instructions that you did just not understand."

"Yes I understand."

"Good, now there is one thing wrong with this picture." He studied me for a moment before stepping forward. "What was she thinking." I gasped as he pressed the diamanté clip, causing my curled hair to tumble over my bare shoulders. "Honestly, I may as well do everything myself."

"Louis." I tried to swallow the growing lump down that formed in my throat as he looked at me, this time not with anger but a troubled look, one of dread. "Sorry sir."

"Louis is fine." He bluntly stopped me.

"Will tonight hurt?" I softly whispered as his head fell slightly to the floor, losing any eye contact he was giving.

"Mr. Gray is a gentleman, I am pleased he is your first."

"I mean when he feeds from me."

"As I said Eleanor Mr. Gray is a gentleman, now come we do not want to be late."

"Where are we going?"

"You have dinner to attend."

"I'm not hungry."

"Right now Miss Thorn it doesn't matter what you are. You are at work, so you will do exactly as you are told." His dark demeanor reappeared as he gripped my arm, pulling me from the room. "Remember smile." I never thought being taken from the room that had me so scared would petrify me but being dragged to a world I knew nothing about haunted me to the bone.

"What do I talk about?"

"I knew my father had made a big mistake putting you into this hotel. I told him when I went back that you are not good for its reputation, but he never listens to me."