"You said nothing would give you pleasure more than seeing me in pain huh?" He said as he stalked me like his prey until I was trapped between his body and the wall.
"Absolutely. " I said firing back.
"Then sex works. It causes pain..but more pleasu...
"I see you're still angry. Don't worry, I'm about to worsen it for you."
"I don't think it could possibly get any worse."
"Oh it can. Your friend Franco, he died an hour ago. Don't worry, you can go for the funeral. I'm not a monster." He walked away and left me there. Franco died? I couldn't believe it. I went out to the balcony and I felt like jumping. He killed Franco. This is all my fault. I left him here with Leo. I needed space to breathe and I wasn't going to get it here. Leo had me unhinged. I couldn't deal with this anymore. I could kill him, but how would I get out of here? I was not in any position of actual benefit here. So, I bottled it all up, gulped a glass of whiskey and headed up to bed with Leo. Sickening and awful. That was how I could describe that night. He unapologetically forced himself on me and he laughed. I had been numbed by everything. The tears dropped freely but there was no sound. It was just silent.
The next morning, he got up and went to work. I picked myself up and did the same. Leo's men were always stationed outside my office and the only person I was allowed to see was Camille. I had been distracted the whole day but I finally threw myself into work. Just then, Camille walked in.
"Ok. What's going on Soph?" She said as she locked the door and sat down opposite me. I raised my head from the laptop and just stared at her.
"Are those for me?" I asked, pointing at the documents in her hand.
"No, I just needed something to carry because your new...guards wouldn't let me come in empty handed. What's going on Sophie? You're never happy, your body and face is bruised badly, your eyes are swollen, you've lost weight and you have been delegating your personal clients to the others. Please, talk to me."
"A few slips and some falls. I'll be fine. You can go back to work now. "
"I saw the news."
"What news?"
"Franco Mauriel? Your friend. His body was found on the steps of your building." What? Leo took my phone away and the tv and literally anything of actual use. I was struggling to stay calm but I was probably going to have a mental breakdown.
"That's..unfortunate. Look, I need to be alone Cam. Please."
"What do you need me to do for you? I would do anything." I was hesitant but I was desperate.
"Ok. I need you to make an important call for me." I then went ahead to give her detailed instructions on what to do and I could only hope that she could do it.
"I promise that I'll get it done."
"Just be careful. Pass the message across and move on like nothing happened." She smiled and left me to my many problems. I attended a few virtual meetings and that was that. Months passed and I was still stuck in the same place. Franco's funeral came and because Leo was having a bad day, he didn't let me go. I was really struggling and I couldn't leave because he now had a new hostage. Franco's mom. The poor woman was probably going through what her son went through and I can't even do anything.
As for Camille and the message, things didn't really work out. She delivered the message but...I'm still here. But not for long.
"9pm tonight." Leo said as he entered the apartment. I was working on my laptop when he entered.
"And why should I care about whatever's happening by 9pm tonight?"
"Watch that tone with me. You know what I can do." He walked to the kitchen, got a bottle of water from the fridge and then he came and sat down next to me. "Well, babe..." I rolled my eyes at his words. "We have a ball to attend."
"A ball?"
"Yes. Il ballo della mafia." (The Mafia ball) I smiled sarcastically. There's no way he plans on attending that thing. He hates it! Every year, I always ask him to join me but he never does! I'm a regular there but this is my first time going with him.
"Why this one? You've been very opinionated about all the past ones."
"Well, I just fell like it. The stylist dropped some things earlier so have your pick. The ball starts in an hour." Yep, he got here by 8pm and he wants me to get ready for a ball in less than an hour.
"I can't possibly be dressed in so little time."
"Then find a way. I'm not missing that ball and I'm definitely not leaving you here alone." He offered me his hand and when I refused to take it, he grabbed my wrist. That'll definitely leave a mark. We went upstairs and got dressed. I was so unenthusiastic about this ball for the first time in over five years. But I couldn't let that show so I still had to look good.
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We arrived at the event right on time. We skipped the small talk and got into actual business talks.
"You know Sophie, we've been trying to poach you for years. My men and I have had multiple conversations with Leo about you moving." I heard that all through the night from different people. All through the night, Leo had this tight grip on my waist. I literally never had the brief breathing space.
We were talking with one of the donors when I spotted a very familiar figure. Sion. He was here. If he was here, then.... I needed a break from Leo.
"Hey, I have to go touch up my makeup." I said with a fake smile. We were with company, so he couldn't do anything. He smiled and pulled me impossibly closer.
"You try anything stupid, I'll kill you." He whispered into my ear. I smiled and excused myself. As I walked across the room, I felt those dark eyes staring at me. They followed each step that I took.
I walked into the convenience and locked the door behind me. This was the most space I had gotten to myself in months. I hadn't cried over Franco, or over the hell I had been through. I just needed a few minutes.
So, I stayed in there and cried. That was all I wanted to do. I realised that if I stayed in there for a minute longer, Leo would come looking for me. So, I fixed my makeup and headed outside. The hallway seemed clear enough. I was on my way back to the main hall when I heard that voice behind me.
