Hostage

Broken

Kimberly's POV

The rest of the day was pretty much awkward. Mum cooked a lot. "A lot" enough to feed a small army. I glued a smile to my face, laugh when she tried to be funny, ate dinner as I listened to her rant on and on about how we were finally going to be rich and how I had made the right decision "for the both of us". Finally, I went to bed with a smile on my face. It was going to be okay. As long as I convinced myself that I was fine, then I was going to be. I muttered a short prayer under my breath as I drifted off to dreamland.

It was three in the morning when I woke up screaming. I couldn't stop the tears that rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably. I stuffed my head in my pillow so that Mum wouldn't hear me.

I had fucking sold myself. I had sold myself for three million dollars and I didn't even know why. I had gone against everything I believed in just to please her... Again. And now I was the exact definition of my least favorite word...

A gold digger.

Mum wasn't around when I got up from bed. I didn't have much of an appetite so I took some milk out of the refrigerator and then poured myself a glass. I gobbled it down quickly and then got out my cellphone.

Three missed calls and one voice message from Isabel.

I dropped my cellphone and then sighed. I wasn't ready to talk yet. I raked my hand through my hair and then bit my lip.

The doorbell rang.

Probably Isabel. I sighed and then moved towards the door. I drew in a deep breath before I pulled it open.

"Delivery for Kimberly Hastings." The man in front of the door announced. I eyed him suspiciously. He didn't look like a mail man. He didn't look like the delivery boy. He was dressed in a suit and even the suit seemed rather expensive. I could spot a black jeep parked not too far from the house too.

"That's me." I answered after a while. Now, it was his turn to examine me. His eyes moved from my untidy hair, to my face. It lingered on my face for a while, probably taking in the huge eye bags beneath my eyes before they moved down to my purple pyjama, the flip flops I wore on my feet and then my face again. I shifted my gaze and then cleared my throat.

"How may I help you?" I asked impatiently. He looked at me for a short while before he spoke.

"This is for you." He stretched a bag towards me. I hesitated for a while before I collected it from him.

"Do I need to sign anywhere?" I rose an eyebrow. I knew it was stupid to ask but I did anyway. He frowned.

"No, that'll be all."

"Thank you." I shut the door and then walked into my bedroom. I shut the door quietly behind me and then dropped it on the bed. I stared down at it for a while, wondering whether or not to open it. I finally did.

The first thing I pulled out was a dress. One that made my jaw drop. It was a long, black shiny dress. Its was long sleeved and was practically plain except for the slit at the right side of the dress. Simple, but exquisite. I reached in the bag again and then pulled out a matching shoe. Next was a bag. Confusion clouded not just my face but also my mind. I frowned.

What the hell was going on?

I reached in the bag again and then pulled out a small jewelry box. My hand shook as I pulled it open.

A ring!

My heart skipped a beat and then another, and then another,and then it began to beat really fast. My head was spinning and my heart was racing. It was a beautiful silver ring with a diamond stud in the middle. I took in a deep breath and then reached in the bag once more.

Nothing.

I frowned.
There had to be something else. Some clue to what the hell this was supposed to mean, what I was supposed to do with all those things but there was nothing. My hands felt in the bag more thoroughly and when I couldn't feel anything, I turned it upside down and then shook it vigorously.

Something fell out.

My hands trembled as I reached for the piece of paper on the bed. I reached for it and then glanced through it quickly. I frowned. The note, or letter rather looked like it had been scribbled down in a hurry.

"Dinner. 7:00 . Paul will pick you up. Wear the ring, I'll introduce you to my family tonight.
*Sign
Kennan Monroe"

A light scoff escaped my lips. And then another. I was completely out of thoughts. I felt angry all of a sudden, and then confused. My eyes stung badly and my vision blurred but I was done crying. I promised myself this morning was the first and last time, but I couldn't help it. I reached for my phone and then dialed Isabel's number. She picked up after the third ring.

"Kimmy, Thank God. I've been trying to call you all day. Are you okay?"

I inhaled and then bit my lip. Apparently, I was out of words too.

" Kim?" Concern filled her voice. My heart shattered into a thousand little pieces. I shook my head like she could see me. I was far from being okay.

" I think-"I paused "Izzy, I feel broken." My voice broke. She was quiet for a moment.

"Hold on, I'm coming over."and then she hung up. I inhaled deeply and then sighed.

I had been invited to a fucking Monroe family dinner.