Chapter 10
CLAYTON.
I saw her fall to the bed after I had hit her, her ginger hair all over her face. I could not control the anger I felt, and later, I wondered why I was so incensed.
“What the fuck did you try to do, Nadine?” I bellowed.
“Escape?
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Bitch, you’re trapped in her until I free you. There is no other way out. And you’re not doing yourself any favors by these fucking antics, you understand me?”
She lay on the bed staring at me, her eyes wild with terror. She was whimpering, but I didn’t feel any sympathy for her. I wanted to whack her across her face again.
“I’m- I’m sorry,” she managed to say.
I said nothing.
My anger had melded with my exhaustion, and I felt like there was an unquenchable ball of fire inside of me. I grabbed her by the chin very harshly, so harshly that I knew it hurt her as my nails dug into her flesh.
“Look, bitch, one thing is certain,” I told her, “You are my prisoner, and you’re not leaving here any time soon. Not until I say so. Not until I want you to. Do you understand me?”
She only whimpered. I shoved her to the bed.
“I said do you understand?”
“Yes,” she managed with eyes filled with tears.
I turned and left the room with the butler who had stayed behind as I threatened her.
When I had gotten to my room and taken my bath, I got a call from Trent.
“What’s up, Clayton Rocco?!”
From the way he slurred his words, I could tell that he was inebriated.
Loud music played in the background.
“Where the fuck are you, man?” I asked. “It’s so loud.”
“The club, of course, with a lot of sweethearts,” he said. “Come join us, let’s have a good time.”
Trent was a party animal; he lived for it. He knew where every bash was holding, who was celebrating a birthday or doing something like that. And he always made sure he carried me along.
“Fuck no,” I said.
“What?” He spoke. “You’re not interested?”
“I’m not, Trent,” I raised my voice so he could hear me. “I had a long fucking day, and I might collapse if I don’t get sleep now ” I hung up and turned my phone off afterward. I had to rest, but Nadine’s thoughts filled me.
Nadine.
“That fucking bastard!”
I screamed.
“I hate him with every bone in my body.”
I raised my hand to my face. His smacks had left welts on my cheeks. I’m sure he felt proud about it, like the arrogant bastard that he was. I’m sure he thought we were even now that he had hit me back.
My throat also hurt from where he had grabbed me, almost choking me. I wrapped my hand around it and cried gently, cursing him in my mind.
A few minutes after Clayton left, the butler came back inside. He brought in a tray of food with him. I decided to take my chance.
“Can I make another call, please?” I asked him, making sure my voice sounded like it would collapse under the weight of my pains so that he could pity me.
“Ohh, okay, but, please, be fast with it,” he said and handed me the phone.
I called Naomi’s number. She picked up almost immediately.
“Holy shit, Nadine, where the fuck have you been?” She said. “You have had me worried sick.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll explain, but not now, I don’t have time,” I told her. “What about my sister?”
“I got to her,” she said. “I’m at the house right now.”
“Ohh?” I said, excited. “Can I speak to her?”
“Erm, no, Nadine,” she said. “she’s asleep.”
“Asleep?” I said, shocked. “What does that even mean? Isn’t it too early?”
“Yes, well, she’s a bit ill,” Nadine said, her voice low as if she couldn’t bear the weight of the words in her mouth.
“What?!”
“Anna, sick?” I felt dizzy as if I had been spinning. Anna looked fragile like she would break when the smallest force was applied, but she was a strong girl. She had only been sick once, and that was a long time ago.
“Relax, girl,” Naomi said. “I’m sure it’s nothing. She had a fever earlier, her temperature spiked, but I got some pills for her and she felt much better before she slept.”
“And her temperature?” I asked.
“It’s nearly normal now,” she answered.
“Oh, no,” I said.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine,” she told me. “Now, where are you?”
I looked at the butler who had left my side and was now pacing the room contemplatively, his hand on his chin.
“I’m at Clayton’s mansion” I whispered to her. “He has me locked up in this room, which is why you don’t hear from me as often.”
“Ohh, shit,” she said. “Clayton?” What did you do, Nadine?”
“Something stupid,” I told her.
“Oh, my god, this is crazy,” she said. “Wait. Should I call the cops?”
“What? Don’t fucking do that,” I told her. “Do you think the cops, or anyone would believe you if you said there was a poor girl trapped in a billionaire’s mansion.”
“What are you going to do then?” She asked. I could hear the worry in her voice.
“Wait it out, I guess,” I told her. “He said he’ll have me here for the next six months.”
Just then the butler walked to my side and stretched his hand out.
“That’s enough,” he said. “Too much talk.”
I handed him the phone.
After he left, I found it difficult to eat. If I had been with Anna, she wouldn’t have fallen ill. I lay on the bed, mulling over my present predicament until I started to cry bitterly. I felt for my poor sister. I had started to fall asleep when I heard knocks at the door, sound, sharp as a knife.