In the Shadows

Chapter 28

  (Author's note: If you would like to listen to chapter 28, please click the video. Thank you!)

I gaze around the bathroom, this is bigger than my living room. My eyes pulled me to modern glass large bay windows pouring in the sunlight, which brightens up the entire room, and the red curtains are open. I go to close them- you know for privacy. I turn around and notice the walk-in shower on the back white marble wall is made of glass and Italian-made matte porcelain flooring. The vanity has two double sinks and also has white marble, which sets the tone for a luxe cohesive look.

 I look up at the roof, there's a glitzy chandelier. A chandelier in the bathroom? Why do you need a chandelier here? I guess his grandfather really enjoyed chandeliers. I wonder if every single room has a chandelier. 

 I stare at myself in the immense-round mirror spiraling across the entire double sinks. Staring at myself, I shake my head, my strands of hair are sticking out from side to side. He did mess up my hair, that cruel bastard. I slide the ponytail down and use my fingers as a comb to subdue as I can to fix my hair; then tie it back into a ponytail. 

  My sensitive skin where he had tickled me is sore. I lift up my shirt and find purple bruises on my hips. What the fuck?! The fucker bruised me! This man doesn't know his own strength. 

  My subconscious is snarling at me through the mirror. So he injures you and you had agreed not to go to the party for him. Not to mention he'd tortured you not to go. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND GIRL? And I'm staring back at her, and saying out loud, "What? I did promise him and it's wrong to break a promise, even though he'd marked me with these purple bruises, a promise is a promise."

   Gosh, I am out of my mind if I'm talking to myself, alone in the bathroom. 

  I hear a knock at the door, startling me from arguing with myself.

  "Ms. Martinez?" A woman shouts from outside.

   Ms. Martinez? Who is this woman?

  "Yes," I reply. 

 "Mr. Suave informed me to let you know, lunch is ready," the woman informs me.

 "O-Okay I'll be out in a minute."

  When I finish using the bathroom, I open the door and find no one in the halls. Hmm... The woman must have left, I'm curious if that was his housekeeper or someone else.

  I head down the stairs and I didn't notice until now, a picture hangs in the corner of the wall. It's a picture of Chris on the beach, but younger, him as a teenager, and he has his arm wrapped around a girl. She looks like him, with jet black hair, but of course, it's longer than his hair, her eyes are blue almost like his, but they look grey, and she's wearing a champagne satin dress that brings out her nice curves. This must be his sister, she looks older than him in this picture. He did tell me his sister was five years older than him. They look happy and even in this picture, you can tell they're close as brother and sister.

  I continue down the stairs when a trail of a mouthwatering aroma is coming from the kitchen. It smells like grilled steak or some type of meat grilling. I follow my nose and find Chris in the kitchen. He's seated by the kitchen counter. A lady, I assume this must be the woman that called for me; she's serving him a plate of Grilled Zucchini Salad and a New York strip. Wow, is that supposed to be lunch?  

 Chris spots me coming up next to him, and he says, "Hey, I hope you're hungry," his tone is unexpectedly sweet.

  I'm not sure if it's for food or for him. What the hell? Did I just think that now?