Chapter 17: Seventeen

He had me down on the floor, preparing my body, leaving marks everywhere, especially my neck, then finally he grabbed my panties, one hand making its way down to my intimate area touching the place with his fingers and he gave me one final look. I closed my eyes tight, just when he was about to pull my underwear off his phone began ringing loudly.

I felt his hands retreat, I felt him stand up and leave. After I felt he was gone I just curled up on the floor with my eyes still closed. My heart racing.

He said he wouldn't do it but he was going to. He said he wouldn't!

But... Who am I kidding?

I'm a slave. I'm a nobody.

I clasp my hands together over my chest. It felt so empty. There was nothing to make me feel safe. I didn't even have the ring I wore as a necklace anymore.

It was always with me until I was sold off.

I wonder if it's still there at the orphanage.

I really wish I had it with me right now. It feels so cold.

I finally opened my eyes and sat up, looked at the torn clothes beside me and picked up the shirt. No good. It's torn in a weird way. I let my hair fall in front and cover my chest.

Is he coming back?

Am I allowed to move?

I don't understand him, what made him so angry?

All I wanted was cake. Was I too greedy?

I guess I was. I got ahead of myself.

I tense when I hear the footsteps come down from the stairs.

"Is it that important?" He was still talking with someone. He sighed, "Okay then." He hung up and looked at me, I stared at the floor. For a few moments he didn't move. Then walked towards me and crouched down. As he extended his hand towards my cheeks, I instinctively backed away in fear and slammed against the wall and without realizing it I shivered.

Through the corner of my eye I could see him shocked, his hand still in mid air for a few seconds before he retreated it.

"I didn't go against my word I gave you." He said.

I gulped, still not looking at him, "Y-y-you were going to."

"I wasn't." He said, his voice a bit desperate, "I wasn't. I won't."

"..." I just took a deep breath.

"Speak." He gritted his teeth.

"I-i-is m-making a friend that b-bad?"

He sighed, "Yes. You're a slave."

I looked at him, my eyes filled with hot tears that I was desperately holding back, "I-I'm sorry. I won't be greedy a-again."

"Greedy?"

"I..." My voice turned into a whisper, I felt embarrassed to say it but it was the truth, "I was tempted by the cake. H-he said he'd buy me some." I looked at my feet in embarrassment. I know it's not my fault but when he offered me the cake I just remembered how, as a child I would stare from outside the Window at those beautiful things I could never have.

I felt his fingers on my cheek, his touch made me jolt and he stopped without doing anything else and stood up.

"Is there anything you want right now?" He asked and I slowly looked up at him in confusion, "As proof that I really had no intention to go against my word I'll listen to one request."

"T-then why did you give me so many hickies."

"Because just the collar won't mark my property." He looked at me , "What do you want?"

Without thinking much, I answered, almost unconsciously, "My ring..." I touched the empty place between my chest where I always had the ring.

"Ring?"

"I-I had a ring I used to wear around my neck since it was small and didn't fit my finger."

"Is a ring all you want?"

"I-it's not just a ring. It's important. It has an engraving on it. My mother gave it to me."

"What engraving?"

"Mi tesoro."

I saw Lexus's expression change. He seemed confused. I couldn't exactly read his expressions but he seemed, conflicted?

"Is it important because your mother gave it to you?"

"No..."

"No?"

"It's important because it's the one thing that's always been with me. It makes me feel warm and ... Safe."

Lexus smiled. A sincere smile.

It was dazzling.

But I wonder what made him smile?

"An important thing huh..." He whispered so softly, I doubt anyone could hear what he said.

"Since I said I'd take one request I'll take this one." He then took out his phone and texted someone, "Get up and go rest. We have a flight to catch tomorrow night."

What? We? A flight? He's taking me somewhere? Why? He's not throwing me out now is he? But he's said we, so he's going somewhere with me. So maybe he's not throwing me away.

"A flight... Where?"

"To Paris."