Christina’s POV
The soft rays of the morning sun streamed into the bedroom through the opened window, cascading over my exposed back and I began to rouse from my sleep.
A low groan rumbled from my chest as I turned onto my back, my eyes slipping open to take in my environment. I must have slept well into the day because everywhere was lit with the sunlight and I had to squint my eyes to avoid its assault.
I stretched my battered limbs on the bed and another groan fell from my lips. My body was annoyingly sore as though I’d engaged in a tiresome exercise the previous day but my night could as well be described with such terms. Thinking of it had me shuddering but then I felt my core quiver and my lower stomach curled tightly, a tingling sensation shooting up my spine as the memories of Scott’s assault flashed through my mind. Despite my resistance and my actions to keep him away for the night, he’d taken me and he didn't show any mercy while at it, but my body had betrayed me, much to my dismay.
Another shudder wracked my entire being when I recalled how well he milked my body for pleasure, drawing out each orgasm while kissing and sucking on all the right spots until I finally passed out after the third orgasm crashed into me. I didn't think I could last that long because after the first, I was like melted chocolate in his arms and my resistance weakened, leaving me to the mercy of his skilled hands.
The thoughts alone had my cheeks flaming in mortification. Slowly, I pulled the covers down my naked body to see the bite marks on my nipples and the hickeys on my inner thighs from when he used his mouth on me. I had no form of likeness for the man, but his mouth sent me to heaven, sending me on an endorphins high but heavens forbid I admit that to him.
I delicately trailed my fingers over the hickeys but my body responded, shuddering in remembrance of what it had felt like to be underneath him and I instantly retracted my hand, hating that the man who had kidnapped me was the same man to rock my world and destroy me for all other men.
“Asshole,” I muttered the curse underneath my breath, annoyed by the fact that he’d made sure to leave physical evidence of the eventful night we had.
The urge to wash him away from my skin and to scrub off his hands after the way he disrespected me was so strong that I gave in, climbing out of bed to do just that but I wasn’t prepared for the extent to which he’d worked my body.
A dull ache materialized in my core the moment I took my first step, making me wince but at the same time, it sent tingles up my spine and my nipples hardened in response. I took another step and the same thing happened. I mentally decided to sit in a hot tub so I wouldn’t leap around for the rest of the day. The thoughts of the servants seeing me in such a condition spread heat to my cheeks but I was sure Scott would be very proud of his work.
It was noon by the time I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in just a towel. I made my way to the closet and opened it to see it was filled with a collection of lovely sundresses.
He must have a thing for sundresses, or whoever that picked every item in the closet was clearly obsessed with them but I wasn’t complaining. They were all lovely, and I’d readily enjoy the luxury while it lasted.
I searched through them, looking for one to wear but then my eyes caught the price tag on one of them and I huffed.
A dress for a thousand dollars plus? Who even does that?
“Of course, always the wealthy ones showing off,” I murmured but picked it anyway. It was pretty with beautiful floral prints on it.
Thereafter, I pulled the drawer below to get new sets of undies. I was dressing up when a knock sounded on the door.
“Who’s there?”
“Your brunch is here, Ms Bell,” an unfamiliar voice responded.
It piqued my curiosity. I expected it to be Monica or the younger maid since they seemed to be the ones assigned to me.
“Give me a minute,” I called back as I hurriedly dressed up and pulled my hair into a ponytail with a head tie I’d seen on the dresser.
I opened the door to see a different maid there. This one was also around my age but her posture portrayed respect. Her head was bowed and she was carrying a tray holding a plate of my meal, a jar of lemon juice as I’d firmly instructed them and a bottle of water with a glass.
“Come in,” I moved out of the doorway and she walked in, still refusing to look at me as she placed the tray on the dresser and turned to take her leave but I stopped her.
“Excuse me,”
She instantly halted by the door.
“What's your name?” I was curious to know her as I was drawn to her meek appearance and behavior unlike the previous maid’s hostility.
“Anna, ma’am,”
“Anna…” I rolled her name on my tongue. “Please look at me, you don’t have to shy away from me,”
Slowly, she turned around and our eyes finally met.
“Was my food prepared with ginger as instructed?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she bowed again. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Ms Bell?”
“Not at all,”
Anna turned on her heels and reached for the door handle but as soon as she turned it, I called her back, needing to see the maid that had lured me into Scott’s web last evening. If she hadn’t told me the wrong things, I could have succeeded with my plans but she deceived me. I should have known her hostility towards me wasn’t ordinary and was born out of dislike but I foolishly trusted her.
“One more thing,”
Anna had already stepped out of the room but she turned around, her expressionless gaze meeting mine.
“Are you only helping my assigned maid or is this your new job?”
“I’ve just been newly assigned to you, ma’am,”
Her gaze that was on me dropped and I noticed the way she was now working hard to keep it focused on the floor while wringing her fingers nervously.
There was something she wasn’t saying.
“Why were you re-assigned to me? Where’s my old maid?”
Instead of a response, she tensed and began fidgeting. She subconsciously shifted from foot to foot, still wringing her fingers while actively avoiding my gaze.
“Anna, look at me,”
Instantly, her gaze darted to me and I saw the fright in her eyes. They were wide in what could only be terror and her hands were trembling.
“Speak,”
“M-Ms Bell, it…”
Before she could finish up her sentence, a knock sounded on the door. I glanced at the opening to see it was the butler.
“You may come in,”
He strolled in, bearing a charming smile but when he noticed the maid who was still in a nervous wreck, his smile waned. Her eyes met his and I thought they had an unspoken conversation before she scurried away.
“Good day, Ms Bell. I hope you’re having a wonderful day?” He finally spoke, turning his attention to me now that the maid was gone.
It was on the tip of my tongue to question him on what had just transpired but I decided to let it go. I wouldn’t involve myself in the affairs of the workers.
“Good afternoon…”
“It’s Adams, ma’am,”
A smile slipped onto my face at his cheerfulness.
“I’m having a good day, Adams,”
“That’s lovely. I’m here to inform you that you’ll be accompanying the young master to a banquet tonight, as his date,”
A frown settled on my face on hearing his words. I had no arrangement with Scott to be his private escort. I’m only in his home as a surrogate and I have no plans of acting out of line.
“This must be a misunderstanding, Adams. I’m not in any way, your master’s girlfriend and our contract only binds me to be his surrogate and nothing more. I’m sure he has someone else in mind,”
But Adam smiled.
“You don’t have to be his girlfriend to accompany him to the banquet, Ms Bell. You just need to know that you’re the only woman he’s ever brought home, even if you’re just a surrogate,”
Christina’s POVLong after Adams left, his words were still ringing in my head.A smile of amusement swept across my face and I shook my head at the butler’s words. If he thought I meant anything to his master other than a sex toy, then he was so wrong. Scott could never see me as a respectful woman again. I was sold to him by his debtor to bear an heir to his empire for him. No man would develop feelings of love towards such a woman. The only emotions he could develop for me are those of pity but he was too pompous and high-handed to care about my well-being. As long as I was healthy enough to fulfil my father’s end of the contract, then that was all that mattered.Deciding to ignore his comment, I settled on my bed to eat the food Anna had brought because I was sure he was bluffing or acting out of line by assuming Scott would take me to a banquet as his plus one.Later that day, I was on my bed reading a psychological thriller novel I’d gotten from Scott’s home office when a knock
Christina’s POVI stood still, watching her strut away as my heart shattered to pieces. It felt like a cold bucket of water had just been dumped on me.She was Scott’s fiancee and I’d been sleeping with him but how could he do that to her? Why drag me into this mess? Was he that shameless?Asides from the reality that Scott had deceived me to get me in his bed, my heart hurt for a different reason that was entirely foreign to me. The truth that he wasn’t a bachelor and I was just his plaything crashed into me making my heart constrict painfully. Maybe I’d allowed myself to read too much meaning into Adams’ words that they got into my head.Memories of our evening before we arrived at the banquet flashed before my eyes. So his reaction to my appearance was all a facade? He didn’t mean any of the words he said because surely, he wouldn’t think twice about me when he had such a beautiful woman as his fiancée. Just as she said, I was merely his arm candy. Anger surged through me, burning
Christina’s POV It was almost ten minutes later when Scott finally descended from the stage and headed toward me with purposeful strides. All eyes were glued on us and I forced myself to smile bitterly while nursing my anger on the inside. Getting to me, he pulled out the empty chair beside me and took his seat, before gently taking my arm and placing it on his legs with his fingers laced to mine. Rage flooded my bloodstream as I remained quiet, faking a smile while wondering what the monster was up to. He’d successfully pushed me farther into a brighter and bigger spotlight than the one Jenny had started with. What was his aim in lying to a room full of people? To keep me from escaping? I was still seething with a clenched jaw when the woman beside me suddenly nudged my shoulder with hers and when I turned to acknowledge her, she had a polite smile on her face. “You’re a lucky woman, Christina,” her smile widened and I forced myself to return it, with my cheeks hurting from how wi
Scott’s POVAfter scolding her in the car on our way home from the banquet, I was sure Christina knew her place and wouldn’t question my actions and decision regarding her henceforth. That evening, I cleaned up, and went to her bedroom, dressed in my bathrobe as I’d just gotten of the shower.Between being the host of the banquet, and striking up business deals with possible investors, I was tired and craved the comfort of my bed. Yet, the thought of checking on the woman kept assailing my mind. As much as I wanted to put her in her place, I think I may have gone too far. I’d been tired and frustrated and the moment she began yelling at me and stepping out of line, I heaped my frustrations on her.I walked towards her room with the sole intention of checking on her but on opening the door, I saw she was seated on the bed, still dressed in the dinner dress that accentuates her curvy figure, hugging her like a second skin and leaving nothing to the imagination. I drew in a deep breath,
Christina’s POVThe pain of the gashing wound in my neck ricocheted through me and I clenched my teeth to hold off the cry that was threatening to slip free as my unwavering gaze remained on my captor. His hardened gaze was locked on mine and I could feel the rage emanating from him but I managed to keep my act together. He needed to understand that I wasn’t just a puppet he could toy with. I was a human with emotions and he’d have to treat me with respect. But then, the more I stared into his darkened eyes, the more I wondered if my act was even getting through his thick walls.What if he didn’t care about my life? I mean, I was nothing more than a plaything to him with the extra bonus of bearing him an heir. What if he let me kill myself and move on with another victim? He could even dispose of me and no one would be aware. After all, my father has sold me to him.These thoughts swarmed my mind and the hand that was holding onto the scissors began quivering. Yes, I wanted to end my
Christina’s POV Instant anger surged through me the moment I heard the butler’s words. ‘Who the hell does he think he is to assume I’d bow to his will and stroke his silly ego?’ Scott Reid has all but shown me different versions of his personality disorder which has only helped in strengthening my hatred for him. He was the kind of man that would do anything to hurt people all because he can’t get them to lick his feet and worship him on his high horse and truly, I’d rather die than be one of his worshippers. “You can tell him to suck up his inflated ego and shove it up his ass for all I care,” I gritted through clenched teeth, ignoring the little discomfort I felt in my chest from when I’d hastily swallowed the remnants of the snacks I’d been eating just to hide them from the butler. “If he thinks I’d fall to his feet all because he’s stopped you from feeding me then he must be a sore loser.” I stared Adams hard in the eyes, not caring to hide my disgust that he was actively taking
Scott’s POVI tapped my fingers endlessly on the surface of the glass desk as I waited for Adams' report. I’d sent him to Christina to know if she’d decided to have a change of mind. Surely, she wouldn’t hesitate to come begging for forgiveness after her silly actions and the little show she’d put on, in hopes of getting me to fall under her whims. By now, I was sure hunger must have dealt her an ugly hand, and coupled with the pain of the wound on her neck, she’d have no choice but to be docile and obedient. She was a smart woman and I knew she’d make the right decision. It was just very sad to know that she’d let herself go through so much pain and agony, all for nothing.I was still tapping my fingers against the desk when a soft knock sounded on the door and I called out to him to get in, as I knew it was none other than the butler, Adams. There was a weary expression etched on his face, as he walked towards me, his eyes staring at everything else except me.“So?” I inquired, not
Scott’s POVThe next morning, I stepped out of my bedroom with my briefcase in hand, all dressed and ready to leave for work. I hadn’t heard anything about Christina after last evening and as I walked past her door, I stopped to listen if I’d hear any sound from her but nothing came. I stepped closer to the door and pressed my ear to it but there was nothing. A slight frown marred my face and I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob, ready to pull it open just to see what she was up to but then I stopped myself.Why do I care so much about her? She could go to hell for all I know, until she’s ready to be well-behaved. These thoughts came to me and I left the door alone. It was still very early in the morning and I wouldn’t give the little minx a chance to rile my nerves. I have a meeting to attend this morning at the company, and I needed to be in my best mood, to handle the investors that were coming.I released a deep breath and continued down the hallway, to the stairs that led t