The night wasn't going exactly as Adele had planned in her head. She had planned to sit as far as she could from Triston but she was forced by her mother to sit right next to him. She wanted nothing more blend into the background at the grand dinner her foster parents had arranged, even planned her escape from it entirely, an early retreat back to her isolated corner of the family mansion but when her foster mom, Elena Reid, placed a hand on her shoulders and pointed it to the seat beside Tris, Adele knew her plans were shattered. Reluctantly, she had sat next to Tristan.
Throughout the entire dinner, she tried to keep her gaze downwards or on her plate, avoiding Tristan's presence and her parents penetrating stares. But it was impossible to ignore him entirely, all through the dinner, Tristan's hands kept finding it's way under the table. She could feel his hands trailing on her thighs in a way that made her stomach twist while she tried as much as she could to keep a straight face praying that no one that the table would notice. She desperately wanted to move away but even the slightest shift would earn her a suspicious glare from her mother, Elena and a icy comment from her foster father Zach. The Reid's expectations for her behavior was clear, she was to play her part, whatever that might mean.
Soon it was starting to get unbearable. Tristan's hands had reached too far up her thighs and Adele could not take it any longer. She mumbled an quiet excuse, something about wanting to use the restroom and pushed back her chair, standing up. Her heart pounded as she walked away from the table, feeling both relief and dread knowing her absence wouldn't go unnoticed for long.
Inside the washroom, she locked herself in and let out a shaky breath. She stepped up to the mirror and stared at her reflection, trying to calm her racing heart.
Her makeup perfectly applied by the family's hired artist that was designed to complement the fancy dress Elena had picked out for her was beginning to smudge.
Adele had grown up in a foster home, shuffled from one family to the next, never truly belonging anywhere until Zach and Elena Reid, the city's wealthiest real estate moguls had adopted her. The Reid family was a household name, one that demand respect and opened doors as the family owned half quarter of real estate properties in the city. They were powerful and influential and for the public, adopting Adele was a generous and charitable act.
Anyone would consider Adele lucky but it wasn't as it seemed.
Behind close doors, Adele was nothing more than an accessory, a pawn for her father's polished public image, photo ops and strategically placed news articles.
The family had one child, a son and Adele was just a charity case Zach Reid, her foster father used seek praise and high recognition from the public and promote his company. Adele was neglected by the family, they never acknowledged her as a member of the Reid except it was for the public show. Eventually, Adele learned to isolate herself from the family as much as she could. Living in the same house did not make it harder because Adele was given a room in the distant wing of the mansion, far removed from the family's main living quarters. To them she was just a duty fulfilled, a good deed they had taken for the benefits of their own reputation.
Her fingers grip the end of the sink as she tried to steady herself, it was suffocating, been in a family were everyone else was allowed to shine. She had to isolate herself, to disappear even when she was expected to be present. She'd built a shell to protect herself from the Reid's coldness, a shield to hide her pain and resentment. But tonight, the shield was beginning to crack.
The loud, impatient banging on the washroom door brought Adele consciousness back. She quickly splashed water on her and dabbled it with a towel before moving to open the door. Elena, Adele's foster mother was standing on the other side of the door, the frown on her face sharp enough to cut glass.
" What on earth do you think you're doing Adele?" Elena asked, her voice laced with irritation.
" I excused myself to use the..." Adele started to say.
Elena's eyes narrowed as she examined Adele's face, noticing the smudged makeup
" What happened to your face? Why is your makeup ruined?" Elena yelled.
Ah, she had forgotten she had makeup on when she had splashed water on her face.
Adele felt a flush of shame but she resisted the urge to lower her head
" I'm sorry Mrs Reid." She apologized a bit exhausted as she tried not to sigh. She kept her expression as neutral as she could but inside, a part of her wanted to scream, to push back against the ends streams of judgement.
Elena quickly snapped her finger as two maidservants who were behind her. " Get her fixed and back to the dining area in two minutes." She said and stormed off without bothering to wait for a response.
In silence, the two women touched up Adele's makeup, their hands brisk and efficient. Adele had her makeup fixed and was ushered back to the dining area in no time where Tristan's eyes followed her every steps as she made her way back to her seat. She forced herself to sit, ignoring the glint in his eyes, a gaze that lingered a bit too long.
Tris picked up her hands, his fingers lightly caressing her hands in a way that made her skin crawl.
" What took you so long?" He asked in almost a whisper.
It took Adele all willpower not to push him away. He spoke so close to her ears that she could feel his lips almost brushing her ears as his hot disgusting breath fanned her neck. She tried not to cringe as she knew she was being watched. She detested the smell of garlic and wine from his breath that mingled into a sour nauseating odour that made her stomach turn, she detested the owner of the breath even more.
Adele clutched her jaw, fighting the impulse that told her to wrench her hands away. She wanted nothing more than to shove him back, tell him to stay far, far away from her and also to brush his mouth.
But Adele felt the eyes of her parents on her from across the table, watching, waiting and searching for any sign of rebellion. Adele swallowed hard, trying to mask her repulsion, knowing she had no choice but to endure Tristan's touch. She was well aware of her role here, be silent, compliant and unnoticeable.
" I asked you a question." She felt the grasp on her hand tighten.
" I ... I had to redo my makeup." Adele answered, feeling the pain from his grasp on her hand.
" Trying to look good for me uh?"
You wish.
Adele forced a smile as a reply.
Tris has always been considered a fine man, the kind of person that naturally commanded attention. He was tall with a confident stance that came from years of privilege, his sandy blond hair added to a certain charm. His sharp, attractive manly features that easily magnet the opposite gender.
But for Tris, it was never enough. Coming from wealth and power, Tris' father had a global real estate company that had taken him to prestigious circles all his life. He saw the world as his for taking. People's opportunities and dreams, everything felt within his grasp. A merger with his dad's company would easily catapult Zach to heights he always wanted to reach.
Tris in turn wants a doll like wife who would look and act exactly how he wants, as his dad's pressure for marriage had become unbearable. He didn't need the loud high maintenance type who filled his social scene. No, he wanted someone more quieter, more refined, someone who wouldn't complicate his life or challenge him. Adele was just the ideal choice or so they thought.
She wasn't so much of a classic beauty compared to the women that hover around Tris but she had certain understated allure, a softness and feminity that was appealing.
She had attractive womanly figures that was capable of turning heads without even trying. Adele but her demeanor was far less attention seeking than the ladies Tris had dated. She had a docile nature and was far more easy to control than the celebrity women he surrounded himself with. Her gentle, agreeable nature only seemed to confirm his assumptions that she was the perfect woman he wanted to mold to his will.
For Adele, the relationship started to show it's dark side. She had thought it would be okay, that she could overlook his flaws as long as he was taking her out of this prison of a home till she got to see him for who he was. She realized that she was about to enter another prison.
She had thought that perhaps his brashness was part of his charm but as time went on she began to see the truth behind his facade.
Tris wasn't just controlling, he was a big philanderer with an ego that needed constant adoration. He went through women like he goes through business deals damning the consequences. And worse yet, his treatment of Adele turned darker as his possessiveness grew.
He had a cruel streak, one that surfaces in unguarded moments, a cutting comment here, a dismissive gesture there. Soon enough, it escalated into something more physical. She had lost count of how many times he has lashed out, pushing her, grabbing her too roughly as if testing the limits of his control over her. Even in the presence of her family as they just watched. They weren't even married yet, they had just met for a month and Adele already felt trapped in a life she hadn't anticipated.
She could feel Tris' hands on her thighs again and his breath near her ears.
" I'm taking you out."
There was a thrill in his voice, one that did not account for her discomfort.