Traffic

Chapter 7

It had been seven days since I was sold to Mr Fallon and things were surprisingly okay. I was no longer starving, dinner was served to me in my bedroom every night at quarter past seven, sharp. Never late, never early.
I had real clothing, expensive clothing. Dresses, shorts, jeans, all designer labels and everything fit perfectly. My hair was combed, I was allowed makeup if I wanted it, my bedroom was basically an apartment in its own right. The bed I slept in felt like a cloud, the sheets were silk and the comforter was the softest most luxurious thing I had ever touched in my life. I had my own en suite and a tiny fully stocked kitchenette where I could make myself tea and snacks any time I felt peckish. The only problem was that I wasn't allowed to leave the room unless I was called for.
As it turned out, Mr Fallon was a widower. His wife had died fifteen years earlier and apart from the people working for him and his associates, he had been alone ever since. He was a kind man with a calm aura always surrounding him and a warm friendly smile softly resting on his face. He was the CEO and owner of a large company that manufactured and sold highly addictive high powered hallucinogenic drugs as well as dangerously strong sedatives and other various pharmaceuticals. He was a very rich man and largely respected in multiple communities all over the country and it was easy to see why.
I lay on my bed staring at the large antique clock hung by the door; ten past seven.
Ms Ruby would be delivering dinner soon.
........
Tap tap tap
Ms Ruby cracked the door a smidge,
"Miss Charlotte?" her angular face popped through the open door,  "Dinner is served, dear."
Ms Ruby was the keeper of the entire house. She was in her early sixties, always smelled like lilacs and was just as sweet as she smelled.
She came into the room gently closing the door behind her. She floated over to my bedside, placing my dinner try on the side table and planting her hands on her hips. I smiled up at her but didn't move.
She cocked her head, her high bun flopping a little to the right.
"Come now, Charlie. You skipped breakfast and lunch, if you don't eat this time I'm going to have to call for Ivan."
I pushed myself up to sit glancing over at the tray of food.
Lasagne with roast vegetables. My stomach let out a low growl making Ms Ruby grin.
I huffed and picked up the plate and began picking at it while she watched. She stood over me until I had finished eating then plopped herself down on the edge of my bed. She reached up and pushed the hair out of my eyes,
"I have good news for you, dear!" her eyes sparkled, "Tomorrow you get to go outside. We're having a tea party in the garden to introduce you to everyone!"
I rolled my eyes and sank back into the pillow. Meeting people was the last thing I wanted.