•Innocence•

•5• New friend•

"Just call me Maria, no need for that ms, or madam shit." She laughs I nod.

"So how long have you been working here Arabella?"

"Not too long." I reply glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

I hate these type of awkward situations.

"Why did you choose to work here in the first place I mean of course you know my brothers line of work it's very dangerous to be associated with him at all."

"I didn't have a choice." I answer without thinking, quickly feeling the need to slap my hand against my mouth but I resisted I don't need to bring more attention to what I just said.

I don't think I should have said that though because I don't think anyone is supposed to know, I mean definitely not her.

"What do you mean you didn't have a choice?" She stops in the middle of the hall staring at me dead in the eyes.

"Uhm I don't know if Don would like me to you know." I scratch the back of my head. "Tell you how I got here I mean I don't want him to get mad at me, it's not fun when he's mad." I try to laugh it off. This is getting awkward.

"You must tell me Arabella, now I'm curious don't leave me hanging like that!" She ushers me down to the nearest seat.

"If I tell you you cant tell a single soul and especially your bother."

"Yes, yes of course I get the memo."

Okay do I tell her or do I lie? 

"Okay I'll tell you." I lean down to her ear "I-I was bought. My parents sold me to him Maria." I whispered.

Maria slaps her hand on her mouth she looks so shocked now I don't know if should have told her or not, was this a bad idea? Probably.

"I'm so so so sorry Arabella no one should ever have to go through that." She brings me into her embrace and hugs me tightly.

I literally cant breath.

She lets go of me holding my shoulders.

"Me and you," she says pointing between us. "We are going to be best friends."

•

"So how old are you Ara?" Maria asks me.

I've been sitting talking to her in her room for the past 30 minutes we've been talking like we've known each other for years.

"I'm 18 how old are you?" I question.

"Oh my gosh we are the same age I turned 18 a few days ago!" She yells back.

I swear she's crazy. Always yelling.

"You knoww, tonight there's a pool party for me i had requested I had one when I arrived and my brother agreed.."

"I mean it took a while for him to agree.. but he did in the end." She adds excitedly her hands tightening around mine.

"The best part though is maids aren't working so maybe if we go into Leon's office and ask he might let you go in the pool!" She whisper yells, nearly jumping out of seat.

She's very energetic. I wonder if she's always like this.

I cant swim but I don't want to ruin her mood so I'll just keep it to myself.

"I don't know your brother seems to hate me.." I mention.

"It's worth a try." She smiles.

•

Maria practically dragged me to Leonardo's office and now here we stand as Maria forcefully knocks on His office door not even waiting for a reply, she just storms in there like she owns the place. I follow behind her sheepishly.

"Leooooooo" she says with puppy dog eyes.

He looks up giving her a glare. "What." He grunts. Then his attention darts back down to his paper work.

"Can Arabella hang out with me tonight?" She asks nicely. "You know, at the party."

He looks up from his papers completely disregarding Maria and looks directly towards me.

"I don't know, can she?" He smirks wickedly.

What is on his mind?

"Please Leon ! It's my party." Maria begs him.

"Maria leave let me talk to Arabella, alone." Don demands and Maria makes her way toward the door and exiting without protest.

"I really shouldn't be letting you go but. You may go Arabella, under one condition." he tells me.

I nod my head in agreement.

"You will not talk to any men, and you must stay with Maria at all times."

Why is he so damn controlling I should at least be able to do what I like at a party.

"W-why cant I talk to any men sir?" I stutter.

"Don't question me and my decision, now I suggest you leave before I change my mind."

Well that was probably the fastest and most uncomfortable conversation of my life so far.

I rush out of that room so fast, as if I'd give him the opportunity to make me stay in my room all night when I could be at a party.

I shut the door behind myself softly, I turn to see Maria sitting on the other side of the door.

"Oh my gosh, so did he say yes?" She asks me getting up off the floor and following me down the hallway.

I don't reply intill we are a bit further away from his office.

"Yes he did Maria!" Maria jumps up and down in joy grasping onto my shoulders.

"We must get ready then! Guests will be here in only a hour and a half." She says ushering me into her room.

•

"There's no need for me to swim, I have no bathers. I comment as Maria lays things onto her bed.

"Nonsense I always have plenty of spares, plus you look around about my size here," she passes me a lovely hot pink bikini. "You will look so hot in that go on and try it on we don't have all day!"

She pushes me into her bathroom and shuts the door.

Sliding on the bikini I look into the Mirror. The bathing suit is very nice it hugs my curves perfectly showing just the right amount of skin, it pushes my boobs up a little bit higher making it look much more flattering on my body. I love it.

I step out into Maria's bedroom again and she gasps "you look so sexy! It looks way better on you than me you can keep it." She says. Sorting through some other bathing suits she has laid on the bed.

"I cant possibly do that it's yours you bought it!"

"I insist, I already have loads of swim suits, besides you don't have one at all."

I don't want to tell her that I never bought one because I can't swim so I just smile and start to braid my hair into two.

"Here you can borrow these denim shorts to wear around the estate in-till we get into the pool." She shoves a pair of dark blue ripped denim shorts into my hands.

I slide them on they are short but they will do.

"Im ready are you?" Maria asks, she has her hair pinned back in a half up style and a yellow bikini on with light blue ripped denim shorts that are low waisted showing off her belly button piercing.

"Yes I'm ready let's go!"

She links arms with me and we make our way down to the pool.

••