Matt's POV
"Dude! What the hell! You scared the shit out of her!" I yelled at Brian.
"You act like I did it on purpose." Brian griped.
"You don't have to be such a jackass all the time." I retorted.
"Why the hell do you care anyway? You don't even know that girl." Brian said. I stayed quiet.
He was right. I don't know her.
But she looked so small and fragile.
It made me want to protect her.
That feeling was totally weird for me. What the hell is up with this girl?
Normal POV
"Bella!" Ryan screamed.
"Yes?" I answered quietly.
I didn't get a response so I went to our room where I knew he would be.
He was laying on the bed with his hands behind his head, totally relaxed.
At least one of us are.
I stayed by the door and looked at him.
"Yes Ryan?" I said again.
"We're going out tonight. Your boss called and said we have a party to go to. So get dressed and make sure you clean your face up." He said, his voice full of hostility.
"Okay." I said quietly.
I made my way into my closet and pulled out a dress.
I walked out and set it on the bed, ready to go and pick up my shoes.
"You're not wearing that." Ryan said.
I looked at him with wide eyes.
"Why not? You bought me this dress." I said without thinking.
"Excuse me?" Ryan said loudly, getting off the bed and coming towards me.
My eyes shot to the ground and I slowly back up.
"I--um, I said what would you like me to wear." I answered, my eyes glued to the floor.
"That's what I thought you said." He spat.
I saw him go into our closet and he was scrounging around in there for a minute.
He came back out with a black, silky dress that flowed to the ground.
He set it on the bed and grabbed the one I had wanted to wear.
"You're only allowed to wear this dress when it's just us two. Not anywhere in public." He ordered.
I nodded my head and stayed quiet.
He walked back into the closet and started getting ready.
I went about my business, staying as quiet as possible so I wouldn't set Ryan off.
I didn't have enough make up to cover anymore bruises he might decide to give me.
When I was all ready, I went into the living room and waited.
I learned to be ready in under 30 minutes.
Ryan hates being late.
I waited, and waited, and waited.
Ryan waltzed out of the bedroom 40 minutes later, dressed in a black tuxedo and dress shoes.
He came up to me and yanked me up.
"Why did you take so long to get ready?" He yelled.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to look perfect for you." I said quickly, not knowing what else to say.
He calmed down a bit and a smile came on his face.
He looked me up and down and his face changed.
"Well, you definitley do look perfect. I'll show you how much I appreciate it when we get home." He said in a sick whisper.
I had to force a smile so I wouldn't cry.
I would rather take beatings from Ryan, then be forced to sleep with him.
He forced me, everytime he feels like it.
I heard making love was supposed to be sensual and loving.
I have never felt that way.
Never.
The only thing I felt, was pain.
Unbearable pain.
My body was not only being degraded by his fists, but by his sexual urges as well.
I stayed quiet the entire ride to the building where the party was being held.
Ryan kept his hand firmly on my thigh, rubbing up and down softly.
I clenched my jaw shut to keep from screaming.
I can only imagine what's going to happen to me when we're by ourselves tonight.
The party was great so far.
I tried to stay as far from Ryan as possible.
Talking to people as often as I could so he wouldn't be able to pull me away from everyone.
In public was the only place I was treated like a human being.
And I took full advantage of it each time.
Bruce, my boss walked up to me with a huge smile on his face.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer, planting a kiss on my cheek.
I gently pushed him, pretending to be playful.
Ryan hates when other men touch me.
"Behave, Bruce." I said with a laugh.
"Don't you look beautiful tonight, Bella." He said, looking me up and down.
"Well, it's a party. Have to play the part." I said with a smile.
"Music producers aren't supposed to be as pretty as you." He said with a wink.
"Thanks for the compliment. Ryan tells me that all the time." I said, even though it was a lie.
I had to put on this act, if Ryan saw, I would get it even worse later on tonight.
I felt an arm wrap tightly around my waist.
"Hitting on my woman again, Bruce?" Ryan said in a playful voice.
His hand on my waist, gripping me so tightly he could give me a bruise, was anything but playful.
"Just complimenting her. She'smy employee, have to show her my appreciation for all of her good work somehow." Bruce said, looking at Ryan.
He stuck out his hand.
"How are things going, Ryan?" Bruce asked.
"Great. Bella keeps me busy." Ryan said, giving me a kiss on the forehead.
I forced a smile again as I laughed.
"That's good to hear. Gotta keep Bella happy. Oh, by the way I almost forgot. We have some new clients coming in to meet you. Very good band, looking to make a new album on their own. They're pretty popular as well. Have a good support system in their home town. Avenged Sevenfold, is what they go by I believe." Bruce said.
"That sounds exciting. I can't wait to work with a new band. When are they coming?" I asked.
"Soon, oh look they're here." He said. I turned around and my eyes widened like saucers.
"Avenged Sevenfold, I'd like you to meet the infamous Bella. Bella, this is Avenged Sevenfold." Bruce said, pulling me in front of the men.
I couldn't get the look of being a deer caught in the head lights off of my face.
These are the guys from the super market.
" So, your name is Bella, huh? We meet again." The tall and muscular one said with a huge smile.
I couldn't help but smile back.
His smile was so warm and inviting, kind of hard not to return it.
I racked my brain, trying to remember his name.
What did he say his name was?
Oh, yeah. Matt.