The car was filled with silence as it sped down the endless black roads. Amanda's heart racing, as she picked her phone to call her father.
"Dad, what's going on? The driver is taking me somewhere I don't know." She asked, just as the line went through.
"Don't worry sweetheart, everything will be fine. Just do as he says when you get to the house." Her father soothed, his voice calm.
She opened her mouth to speak but her father hung up. And before she could get out any more protest to the driver, the car rolled into Nicholas's massive compound.
As the luxurious car pulled up, Amanda's anxiety increased.
"Out of the car!" A hefty bodyguard swung the door open, just as the car came to a halt.
The bodyguard grabbed her by the elbow, and Amanda followed him obediently into the mansion as the bodyguard led her into a spacious study where a lawyer waited behind a desk.
Nicholas's presence couldn't also be ignored as he stood indifferently beside the desk with his arms crossed and his expression was unreadable.
The event of today's wedding have gone in a blur as Amanda was faced with a new reality, she couldn't even phantom what was going on. A few hours ago, she was happily married to Nicholas.
Nicholas looked happy when he was at the wedding, but now Amanda was faced with a man she had never met before, a side of Nicholas she was yet to see.
"Ah, mrs halligan, how nice of you to show up?" The lawyer greeted, his voice dripping with sarcastic formality.
Amanda yanked her hand form the bodyguards grip.
"What is the meaning of all this?" She asked, trying to force a confidence that wasn't there.
"Because we are married under a contract doesn't mean you can drag me anyhow you want. I'm your wife not your toy." Amanda said.
Nicholas slides his hands into his pocket, a low and sinister chuckle rumble on his chest.
He takes a step closer to her. Suddenly, without warning, he grabbed her by the neck and squeezed his hand.
"Listen here, I have paid a huge amount of money to invest in your fathers ridiculous company. I own you now, the earlier you understand that the better for you." Nicholas murmured into her ear, his voice laced with malice.
Alice choked at his grip and kick her feet helplessly, she tried to pull his tight grip from her neck but her efforts are of no use.
All she could do was listen passively to Nicholas's threat.
Her eyes watered up and her cheeks grew red, she was gradually losing her breath until Nicholas decided to release his grip and push her towards the desk.
Amanda fell to her knees at the feet of the desk, her heavy dress making it hard for her to balance herself from his push.
"Sign it!" Nicholas roared.
Amanda gets up on her feet. It all made sense to her now. Her father had told her earlier to do whatever he says, but she proved stubborn and now she faced the consequence.
Warm tears rolled down her cheek as she stared down at the piece of paper, lying on the table before her. The document that boldly spelled out her name, and the tiny countless words that stated the conditions of their agreement.
The lawyer nudged a pen closer to her. "You are to sign here."
Amanda took the pen reluctantly. It's too late for her to say no now, She is left with no choice but to sign the documents. The thoughts of her mother lying sick in the hospital was all that filled her mind as she signed away.
"Isn't that my good little cupcake?" Nicholas pulled her hair back and whispered into her ear.
Amanda swallowed a gulp of saliva, she felt Nicholas's hard-on press against her waist from behind as he whispered into her ear.
Nicholas has completed his mission and now he could have her all to himself just as he had planned. He sniffed out the sweet fragrance that Amanda was covered in, his hot breath tickled her neck and sent shivers down her spine.
The lawyer cleared his throat audibly just as he gathered his things. "I think I'm done here now, I'll leave you two to enjoy the rest of your marriage."
The lawyer extended his hand and Nicholas shook him firmly, while his other hand was still hung around Amanda's waist.
"Thank you for your time," Nicholas responded, his gaze following the lawyer leave the study.
Just as the lawyer left, Nicholas resumed sniffing her neck. His tongue found her neck and he traced a line with it to her ear.
Amanda felt irritated, she pulled away and turned to him. "Why are you doing this? You pretend to be nice to me and my father, but after the wedding you have been acting weird. Why?" She asked, swallowing her throat.
Nicholas didn't respond. He didn't even flinch, instead he looked down as he loosened his cuff links.
The room fell quiet for a moment. Amanda didn't know what else to say, she had summoned all the courage she had just to ask that question.
Nicholas dropped his cuff links on the table. His gaze seering into Amanda's soul from where he stood, as he rolled up his sleeves.
"You really are naive, aren't you? You think this is marriage? You are wrong sweetheart, it's just a business between me and your parents." Nicholas said, slowly closing the distance between them.
Amanda staggered backward until her back touched the desk and she couldn't go any further. Nicholas grabs her by the jaw, tilts her head and whispers in her ear.
"It's all about money, control and power." He sneered.
"But….. I don't understand." Amanda felt like she had been punched in the gut as tears filled her eyes.
"Don't worry, you will. Soon enough." Nicholas's voice turns even colder.
He pulled away from her and walked towards a nearby glass shelf and gently pulled out a vinyl record from its sleeve. A smirk tugging on his lips as he gently placed the disc on a recorder.
Nicholas started the recorder and gently lowered the tone arm needle on the spinning disc, a slow blues song started playing.
Nicholas sat comfortably into an all red armchair, his gaze lingering on Amanda's body.
"Take off your clothes." He whispered, his eyes roaming her figure.