A Woman's Empire

IX

CHAPTER NINE

Audrielle lied in bed wide awake. Earlier, after getting checked by the family nurse who said ankle was just bruised, she asked for a chauffeur. Antonio ended up telling her that she was staying the night and a room was already prepared for her. Tucked into the cotton sheets, Audrielle peered out of the window, watching the clouds roll over and cover the stars scattered through the dark blue sky. The moon was shining brightly, casting light into the room through the open windows.

During the summer, Audrielle always insisted on sleeping with the windows open and not the air conditioning on instead. She liked how peaceful it made the room. The way the curtains would dance delicately in the room like a prince and princess would do at their wedding. Her thoughts then wandered to her own wedding that would be happening in a couple of weeks.

She was dreading it. Within the last two weeks, Audrielle was starting to come around to the fact that she would become a married woman. But after tonight, she wanted to run away and not look back. Her eyes peered around the dark room. The moonlight only illuminated some parts of the room. The room was very dark and modern. All the walls were a charcoal grey and the bedding was all black except for the white pillows and the grey throw at the end of the bed. The bathroom conceited to the room was dark. Stone tiles from floor to ceiling trapped you in and all the faucets were matte black. The only thing that contrasted from the bathroom was the white towels hung behind the door.

Audrielle stared at the TV hanging on the wall opposite of the bed. It was very large and sleek. She stared at her figure in the TV. She looked so small lying in the California king sized bed. Her eyes were damp from all the crying she had done and her silk pajamas she had on, were making the blankets slip off of her body every time she moved.

Just as her eyes started to dry, the door suddenly slammed and Audrielle flinched, pulling the sheets closer to her body. "What are you doing in here?" Leo grunted, looking down at Audrielle's petite body. She was so small compared to the large bed she was lying in and she reminded Leo of a doll.

Audrielle didn't reply. Instead, she hit her lip and prayed that the waterworks wouldn't begin again. She felt the bed dip down and Leo crawled in. Audrielle shifted right to the edge of the bed.

Then there was silence. They both laid wide awake, their backs facing one another. The night wind howled and Audrielle shivered as the breeze brushed against her delicate skin. She laid in bed, her breath coming out shallow as she awaited Leo's next move. Leo kept tossing and turning, slowly pulling off the blankets off of Audrielle but she didn't have any energy to fight him. He had already won.

Leo suddenly stood up, muttering nothings to himself as he walked around the bed and towards the open windows.

"I don't know how you can sleep with the curtains open, it's too bright." He grumbled, harshly pulling the curtains shut. Audrielle was now in the complete darkness. It was just her and Leo in this large room. The only way to make it out alive was if she made it to the door on time but knowing Leo, he would catch her before she even had the opportunity to run.

Darkness and fear quickly consumed her thoughts, dragging her to a dark place. What happens if Leo finishes what he started? What if he doesn't understand the meaning of consent and their 'marriage' will be constant replays? What if no one heard her scream as she thrashed around, trying to escape the demon? What if this? What if that?

They were dangerous questions. They lead you into a world of unknown and before you know it, your imagination is stained. You make yourself cautious around every little thing because you're so paranoid. It eats you alive and right now, Audrielle was its victim.

Tears stained her cheeks and created a puddle on her pillow. Her heart was broken and her head was heavy from all the thoughts zooming in her brain. Leo tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. He wasn't used to sharing a bed with a woman. He was wide awake and the alcohol giving him a buzz was not helping him sleep. He wanted to touch Audrielle. Run his rough stumpy fingers up and down her spine until she fell asleep in his arms; safe and secure.

But Audrielle was more than an arm length away from him. He stared at her small frame that cowered at the edge of the bed. He wasn't used to this. He wasn't used to having women who stayed in his bed, sleep away from him. Normally, they tried to snuggle up to him but he was the one who had to physically push them away because they were too clingy. Audrielle was the complete opposite and it did not sit well with Leo.

He laid on his back and gazed at the ceiling fan. He frowned as the fan slowly spun around and around and then he suddenly heard a noise.

Audrielle sniffled quietly, wiping away the tears and biting back another sob. She wanted freedom and she was not getting it. She wanted a life of her own and she wasn't living it. Another tear fell from her eyes when she heard Leo sigh out loud.

"I am sorry Audrielle." He mumbled and Audrielle slightly shifted her body so her ear was in the direction of Leo.

"I was drunk, angry, upset about everything and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I know that this shouldn't excuse my actions but, Audrielle, I want you to know that I'm sorry." Leo declared, turning around and facing Audrielle who had her back still turned.

Audrielle didn't say anything and he groaned in frustration. "Audrielle..." Leo longed and finally she slowly turned around, her dark orbs finding Leo's.

He bit his lip at the girl in front of him. Her eyes were drained of life and her cheeks were hot and sticky from the tears. Red rims outlined her eyes and her red lipstick stained her lips.

"I-I'm sorry." Leo whispered and shuffled closer, gently taking his thumbs and delicately dragged it under her eyes. This caused Audrielle to break out into an ugly sob and Leo panicked. He didn't know what to do when a girl cried.

"N-No please, bambino, please don't cry..."

(Translation: baby)

After crying for five minutes, Audrielle stopped and her eyes cast over Leo's face. He had a frown etched onto his face, showing a hint of emotion. Audrielle's heart suddenly pulled at the sight in front of her. Leo, the dangerous man she'll ever meet, was worried about her and something warm filled her body. Leo ended up falling asleep, light snores filling the once silent room and Audrielle suddenly felt lonely. Her eyes were wide and she couldn't fall asleep. How was she supposed to fall asleep knowing that the man next to her tried to take advantage of her?

Slowly rolling to the edge of the bed, Audrielle gently placed her bare foot on the ground. Cautiously, she pushed the blankets off of her and took only one pillow with her. Her eyes cast over Leo. He wasn't wearing a shirt and even in this dark room, his tanned skin still glowed. His back muscles flexed when he shifted his arm and Audrielle had to snap herself out of it in order to look away. With quiet feet, she tiptoed to the end of the room and quickly made a bed for herself on the sofa placed in front of the TV. It want as comfy as the bed, but it would do for the night.

As hear heartbeat was steady and she felt like she could finally breathe again, Audrielle's eyes looked back over at Leo's sleeping figure and with the image of a man who had a face of a god but a soul of a devil, she closed her eyes and finally fell asleep.