The Arrangement

7: Imperfection at its best. . .

I walked down the stairs and to the kitchen in my black silk romper, and joined my siblings in their pyjamas at the breakfast bar. The twins and our house keeper looked at me like I had shit on my face. "What?"
"You're in sleepwear."
"So are you," I said to Amethyst, as I sat between her and André. "Yes, but you don't come down for breakfast until you're ready."
"I'm trying something new." The only reason I always got showered and dressed, before bed was because mom approved. I was tired of living to please her and dad. Completely exhausted of it. "Whose idea was this?"
"Mine. I had, inspiration, though." Ame smiled, understanding what I meant. Unfortunately, André understood too. "So the asshole's already making you disrespect your parents? What's next, Lia? Eloping?"
Now I was mad. Mad enough to kill someone. I had become very protective of Adrian over the past weeks. . .and sometimes jealous when I saw old articles of his famous girlfriends. "Oh my goodness, André could you please shut up. You are the last person to tell about disrespect towards parents. When last did you do anything you were told? And Eloping? You practically elope with a new girl every week! So don't you dare talk about Adrian like you know him, because you don't!" I got out of my chair, suddenly not feeling hungry anymore. "I don't know him. You're right. But you don't know him either Lia. Have you seen what the newspapers say about him?"
"They say a whole shit load about you that isn't true. What makes you think he's an exception?"
"Maybe some of it is fake. But you can't think you know someone after 4 weeks of seeing him. Not enough to marry him. You're still a kid, Lia," his tone softened, "I don't know why you want to grow up so fast. You're beautiful and innocent. I hate the thought of him taking that away, then dropping you like you're nothing."
"He wouldn't do that. . ." I said, trying to convince myself as well. "He's done that to plenty of young models."
"How do you know?" Suddenly I was shouting again. "I work in modelling and I know people."
"You're lying to me." Right? "Listen, I have a friend who told me Adrian was an asshole to her about things like eating, and clothing. He was controlling, and got angry quickly if 'disobeyed'."
I didn't know what to think anymore. André didn't like my soon-to-be husband, but he'd never stoop as low as planning this testimony, just to faze me. He had. . . different ways of dealing with these things. "I'd like to meet this 'friend' of yours. Hear it from the horse's mouth."
"Sure, would you like to call her yourself?" he asked sarcastically, holding his phone out to me. "You don't have to rub this in my face you know. . .I want to meet her later today. For lunch."
I don't exactly remember how I got to my room, but after a minute or two I was on my bed, trying to fight tears.

13:35-cafe in London

I had arrived ten minutes before André's model friend and I was ten minutes late of our scheduled time to meet. If I wasn't so desperate to know the truth, I would have left. "Hi!" said the clearly, American blonde. "You must be André's little sister! You look just like him!" I couldn't even force a smile, so I gave her the cold look I'd been wearing the whole day. "I heard about your engagement. Congratulations." Was that jealously in her voice? "You don't sound pleased about it."
"Im just wondering how he proposed to you after 3 weeks, when I stayed with him for a year, trying to make him love me."
"So you forced yourself on him?"
"No. He approached me. At first he seemed normal and nice. . .with dates and flowers. Then he changed."
"How?"
"He liked telling me what to do and what to wear and if I disobeyed I'd have to be 'punished'. He was very possessive. He didn't like me having male friends. . .he hated André the most. Said he'd kill him if he touched me."
"He threatened my brother?"
"Not exactly. I made sure they never met. . .for safety reasons."
"So you're saying that the man I'm about to marry is controlling and abusive?"
"More or less." She looked away from my watery eyes, "I'm sorry for ruining this-"
"No. Don't be. You've saved my life." I said standing to leave. "What's your name again?"
"Mel. Melanie Peters."
"Thanks Mel. Order whatever you want and put it on the Weston tab."
My family came to this cafe regularly and had our own tab, which we paid off at the end of the month instead of paying everytime we went there.

I was flying down the A12 to Essex. Tears ran down my cheeks at the same speed my car ran down the road. I wanted to go home, but I wasn't in the mood to handle my brother's "I told you so". So I just drove, stepping on it like I wasn't afraid of death. After an hour of driving I realised that I was driving to Adrian's estate. Tears fell in streams as I remembered that I was starting to feel more comfortable in his house. He'd told me to used to the idea of it being home and like a little idiotic lovesick puppy I smiled at him feeling a safe with him.

"Adrian!" I screamed, barging into his house, with my shoes on. I stomped down the hall to his office and pushed the door open. "Amelia?" He looked up from his laptop, in alarm. "What's going on, is something wrong?"
"Yes, idiot! Who are you and what do you want from me?"

Adrian's POV

I was finishing an important email, when I thought I heard someone say my name. Someone female. It couldn't be the staff. They all called me Sir or Mr Reed. The door to my office suddenly swung open. Amelia burst in. She'd been crying. . .still was, actually. Had someone done sonething to her. I'd kill the bastard with my bare hands. "Amelia? What's going on, is there something wrong?"
"Yes, idiot!" she screamed, looking angry and hurt, "Who are you and what do you want from me?" I wondered where all this coming from? "Speak dammit! Tell me the truth!" She was raging and her face had turned a bright ruby red. "I'm Adrian and I want to marry you. . ." I said in a 'duh' tone. "Why?"
"Because I want to."
"Stop playing the fool, Adrian!" I walked around my desk, towards her. "Calm down, pri-"
"Don't call me that! I hate it! And don't you dare touch me."
I was confused. Why was one of the calmest people I knew acting like this?
"When we're married will you tell me what to wear? Will you tell me how to act. Do you expect me to submit to you? Will you. . .punish me if I 'disobey'?"
"What are you talking about, Amelia?"
"Please don't deny it. . .please just tell me why. Do you want me or do you want a slave?"
"Why are you saying these things? Who put this bull in your head?"
"Mel Peters. Ring a bell?" Why on Earth was she talking to Melanie? "How do you know her?"
"She's friends with my. . .wait, I ask the questions here. Not you. Tell me the truth, before I walk out of that door. . .once I do you'll never see me again."
I knew exactly what she was talking about, but I couldn't introduce her to that part of my life just yet. . .she was too young. . .too innocent. She'd probably only been with one or two guys, her own age, who would never compare to me. It wasn't cockiness, it was the truth. It's why I wanted to wait. She's not ready for what's coming to her. . . that's why I had to make sure that she loved me enough. . .loved me to a point where she couldn't run away from me, when I showed her who I was. I wouldn't force the lifestyle onto her, but I'd sure try to make her see the light. . .

"Don't be dramatic. "
"Oh my goodness, you're doing it right now!"
"You're being paranoid...I have no idea what Melanie told you, Miss Weston, but I know for sure that it's nothing. . ." I stopped, when I heard what sounded like. . ."You're wearing shoes in my house!?" She looked at her feet then gave me a stubborn pout, looking kind of pleased at my anger. "You know I can't stand those things on my floors! Now you've crossed the line, Miss Weston." I was angry, my fingers were itching to give her a good spanking and show her who's in charge. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Sir, will you punish me?" If only she knew what a turn on the thought was. "Amelia, you're being ridiculous. Can you please take those off!" She shook her head and started walking and shuffling in my office. My office. What the fuck, "Get out!" She jumped a little at my sudden roar of anger. . .I hadn't meant to scare her. With fresh tears she left, probably running, not giving me a chance to apologize.

"Sophie!" I called. Within a minute the door to my office opened. "Sir?"
"Call Anne and Jade. Clean this whole house spotless."
"But, Mr Reed we already-"
"I don't pay you to talk back, Sophie, just do it! I'm gonna go take a shower."
I left her dumbstruck in my office, feeling like an asshole.