My heart is beating like crazy as Alexander leads me inside the villa, the interior of which looks like a fairytale palace.
It's not fair that mob bosses are wallowing in luxury, while ordinary people, tired of hard work, live in dire conditions.
Where is the justice here? In this world, do you really have to be an evil person to live like a prince without any worries?
The hall looks like a banquet hall, emanating colors of white and gray. Everything is shining and it seems to me that the cleaners are constantly polishing the whole place.
- And how do you like your new home? - I open my eyes wide, blown away by his directness.
- Excuse me?
- Make yourself comfortable... I'm sure that soon your parents will send your things to this address.
The blood drains from my face.
I shift my gaze to Luke, who is just coming inside. He avoids my gaze, acting strangely. There is something wrong with him. He looks bad, as if he is sick.
- Go to your room. - Alexander notices that the boy is barely on his feet, so he calls out his men, who grab him before he finally faints in their arms.
- What's wrong with him? - I ask with concern in my voice, watching as they lead him up the stairs to the second floor.
- He's been sick a lot lately. He's like a son to me, which is why he lives with me so I can keep an eye on him.
The first thing that comes to my mind is that the island boy is seriously ill. He really looks very bad! It's strange that he fainted so suddenly, when he felt fine a dozen minutes before.
- Shouldn't he go to the hospital?
- Why are you concerned about my people? - A forced smile appears on his face. - You should start worrying about yourself if you've been sold out.
- I'd sooner commit suicide than become your wife! - I reply in a bitter voice.
I turn on my heel, wanting to leave with dignity, but panic grips me when I remember that I am in his house.
Where should I go?
- I have prepared a room for you on the second floor. When you go up the stairs, turn right and open the third door. - I think he is speaking to me in an amused voice, so I look over my shoulder to see his face.
- Are you making fun of me?
- You are so silly, it awakens the caring nature in me.
I open my mouth in indignation, measuring him with a penetrating gaze.
- Wait a little, and you'll see that I'm not a silly little girl who will obediently walk down the aisle with you and spread her legs before you on your wedding night! - My voice sounds loud when I say these words.
A passing housekeeper, turns red in the face. He, however, is not moved by my rude vocabulary.
- You can shout these words to your daddy when you meet him. It is to him that you should thank him for selling you in exchange for his debts.
What an insolent bastard! And may he be struck by lightning!
With my mouth open, I watch as he turns his back on me and walks away. I intend to do the same, except that my choice falls on the door.
I rush to the exit like a hurricane, but he doesn't seem to mind. He only speaks to me in a soft voice:
- If you want to escape, you have to jump over a high wall. - I keep my hand on the door handle, listening to him carefully. - Do you think my house is not secured? There are enemies lurking everywhere.
I take my cell phone out of my pocket, intending to dial the emergency number.
- Do you think the police will help you in this situation? Go ahead and try. Just remember that these people are worse than me. I have more friends there than in the gangster world.
I lower the hand in which I hold the phone and close my eyelids.
- Why did you agree to let me be the repayment for my parents' debts?
He does not answer for a long time, so I turn to face him.
I notice that he has become sad.
- Your organs are valuable. I will recover the money with interest.
I'm scared as hell! Is he serious? I think it's gone to his head!
- Are you going to kill me after the wedding? - I put my hand to my chest, being alarmed by his words. He apparently sees this, because his face regains a radiant smile. - I will commit suicide before the cursed wedding happens!
Alexander shrugs his shoulders and disappears behind the wall of another room.
With a trembling hand, I dial my parents' number, but they do not answer calls from me at all. I bite my lip, trying to hold back the crying inside me, when after two signals I hear the voice of a drunken Henry.
- Girl, why are you calling me at two in the morning? I'm stoned in three asses and I'm just returning from a good party in the company of a hot, redheaded sexbombs. I have to get her laid so the priest will have something to confess to me about. - I can't stand it and burst out crying, sobbing into the earpiece. - Did it hurt you that much? Listen... she likes one-time adventures, so I will never meet her again, and you will always be the most important woman for me, right after my mother....
- Henry, you moron, you may be talking to me for the last time, so embrace yourself and come back to your right mind!
I sit down on the stairs, feeling my knees bend under me. So much has already happened, and this day is only two hours long.
- Are you going to whack a furball on me?
- Henry, I am in serious trouble. I'm being held in a mafioso's house, for days I'm to become his wife in exchange for my parents' debts!
- What kind of hopeless soap opera are you watching in the middle of the night? You've lost your value lately. Where has your madness gone? Start going to parties with me more often, as long as you don't let loose with any countrymen.
- Stop talking nonsense, retard! - I yell into the receiver, combing my hair from my forehead. - I'm serious... I was sold to a mafioso and I have to marry him.
For a brief moment there is silence between us.
- Solar, is this some kind of stupid joke? You are not serious, are you?
- And I sound like I'm laughing!? - I yell into the receiver, and just at that moment Alexander appears in front of me and snatches the phone from my hand. He disconnects the call and hides the device in his pants pocket.
- Forget about your friends. At midnight you started a new life. - He grabs my elbow and positions me in front of him. - The only people you can talk to are the people in this house and your parents, if they have the courage to appear in front of you.
I am devastated by his idea. Excuse me very much, so I was sold to be his wife - a slave?
- This is the twenty-first century....
- And yet people have to be subservient to those who have power - he cuts into me mid-sentence.
- I don't believe a word you say.
- So I will try to bring your parents here first thing in the morning. Whether you trust me or not you still have to adjust to my life. I hope you will come to your senses in a few days, because I am patient, but my patience has its limits.
Held by the hand, I am led to the second floor, directly to the door behind which is my new room.
- You can call yourself a wife-slave, although as far as I know, women of this ilk can dream of luxury.
He closes the door behind me, and I open my eyes wide, for a moment forgetting where I am and just admiring the beauty of the room.
The white walls and the floor of the same color, match perfectly with the black furniture. The king-size bed is the size of my former room, and I must point out that I did not live in a small room at all. I thought my parents were rich and that others might envy the luxury I grew up in, until I ended up in this house.
It's like a castle, except that I'm not Cinderella, but Rapunzel trapped in one place. Will a prince appear who will help me get out of the hands of the villain?
*
The exquisite food, which was delivered on a tray by a servant, lies untouched on the table. I won't move a crumb, even though I'm starving. I'd rather torture myself than accept anything from this thug.
With my head hanging down, I lie on the bed in the darkness watching one point.
Today my life has ended. I am stuck in some horror movie with no possibility of rescue.
I tear myself off the mattress when I hear someone's footsteps outside the door. As I walk, someone pushes against the wall without stopping.
I press the door handle with my hand and poke my head out through the crack in the door, watching the island boy, who stumbles over his own feet, with concerned eyes. He struggles to take each step, breathing heavily.
I can't watch this. Although I hate him for everything he has done to me so far, on the other hand I feel terribly sorry for him, especially after he confessed to me that he too was sold to this guy, only that for a bottle of vodka.
I run up to him and grab him around the waist before he reaches the stairs. I see that he is surprised to see me.
- Leave me alone," he says frigidly.
He is pale as a corpse, wet with sweat, and his lips are chapped.
He looks very bad.
- Do you have a fever? - I ask and want to put my hand to his forehead, but he doesn't let me.
- I'm fine.
- And I have a million gold in my eye.
- What?
- Exactly.
He doesn't say another word to me, just letting me help him. It's three-thirty at night, and yet the servants are hanging around the house.
Does Alexander not let these people sleep? Are they robots or maybe aliens, since they work twenty-four hours a day?
- Be careful that no one sees us together," he says as I help him sit at the dining room table.
- He said I can talk to the people inside the house, so why can't anyone see us? He hangs up on me.
Finally, he lets me touch his face. Just as I thought, he's fired up.
- Wait here a moment, I'll ask the housekeeper for something antipyretic.
I go into the kitchen and take the medicine from the elderly woman, as well as a glass of water, which I hand to Luke.
- In the car you announced with a movement of your lips that you would protect me, so how can I ignore your condition? Since you were serious, I need you.
He forces a crooked smile.
- Do you trust me, Solar?
Standing over him, I look into his eyes.
- How am I supposed to trust you, when once you are a cool island boy, and in a moment you turn into a brute?
- I'm sorry," he says hastily, with which he surprises me. - I'm sorry if I hurt you.
- What are you apologizing for now? For transporting me in the trunk of your car to deliver into the hands of that hopeless mafioso? - He puts his finger to his lips, ordering me to speak more quietly. - My body is covered with bruises. Do you have a split ego?
- I wish it was just a split self.
I furrow my eyebrows, not understanding his answer.
- So can you explain to me what is happening to you?
- No, but right now I am myself. Now, in front of you, this is the real me," he claims, looking deeply into my eyes. - I will protect you Solar, but you must obey my boss, otherwise you will suffer.
I can't trust him, even though I still feel a weakness for him when I recall moments on the island.
He's a bastard, a damn moron who is hurting me, so why do I want to give him a chance? Is he my only salvation?