Bound by paper

Chapter one

I stepped into Elio’s penthouse and quietly kicked off my heels and put my coat on the hanger at the entrance.

The cold was still clinging to me but the heater in the house helped.

I had to walk across the city to get here. Elio was supposed to pick me up but he couldn't because he was busy.

He promised dinner tonight.He promised we would spend time together before our engagement party, tomorrow to make up for all our canceled plans

But he cancelled again.

I walked deeper into the apartment wondering why it was so quiet.

“Elio?” I called softly.

Silence answered me.

Then I heard a giggle when I got close to the room. My body froze.

My heartbeat slammed against my ribs as I turned slowly toward the bedroom.

The door was slightly opened.

Another giggle escaped from inside.

I looked into the room to find elio tangled in the sheets with… Sheila. My step sister.

Their clothes were scattered across the floor like careless proof.The room smelled like sex.

Elio was whispering something into her ear while she traced her fingers across his chest and laughed.

I stared unable to move.

Unable to breathe.

I couldn’t remember the last time Elio had touched me like that.

Looked at me like that and now he was giving that intimacy to her.

My step sister.

I carefully and quietly turned back to leave.

My hands moved automatically as I picked up my heels and my coat and I left the apartment before they realised I had seen everything.

Only when I was outside the building did my legs threaten to give out.

I forced my heels back on and started walking.

I kept waking for what felt like hours before my father's gate came into view.

I quickly stepped inside and rang the door bell. The butler opened the door almost immediately.

“ Welcome miss jade”

“ Thank you”

I took off my coat and left my heels on, I'm sure my feet were bloody with all the walking and cold and I'd rather wear my heels than stain the floors with blood.

I scan the house a bit and unfortunately find my step mother.

“I thought I'll be able to avoid seeing you till tomorrow. I guess I'm not so lucky after all” she begins with that sick smile on her face. She was sipping on one of her organic teas she believed made her look young and attractive which was funny because she was on a surgical table every other month getting lip fillers and Botox removed extra skin and every other thing she could do on that table.

“ Where's my father?” I ask instead of responding to her jab. I was used to it already.

She pointed towards his study and I quickly walked towards the door.

I knock and step inside. He's on a call but gestured at me to sit down.

“ What's wrong jade, why are you here?”

My father asked, the impatience evident in his voice.

“ I……I…..Dad” my voice was shaking and I couldn't say a word.

“ Speak up I don't have all day”

He replied angrier. I don't know if it's because I was wasting his time or because I called him Dad. He hated both.

“ I can't continue with the marriage to Elio Sterling.” I breathe out. He was getting more angry by the second.

“ Why”

“ Father, I just got back from his apartment and I found him cheating.” I force the words out of my mouth. My father relaxed back into his chair and watched me.

“ With whom?” he asked calmly.

“ She…. Sheila” I stutter. He doesn't look shocked, he just nods.

“ You knew about this” I ask and he nods.

“ You'll continue with this marriage” my father adds with a dismissive tone.

“ But Sheil….”

“ Leave her out of this” he cuts me off.

“ I can't do this” I replied clutch the handle of my bag tightly

“ You have to. Not everyone is lucky in marriage. Plus this is more than marriage, it's an agreement between our family and Sterling’s. Stopping now will spoil our reputation.” My father replied rather unbothered.

“ Why can't he marry Sheila instead?” I ask hopefully.

“It's not in my place to tell him who to choose.” He replied again.

“ You say that like we're object”

“ I'm done with this conversation jade” my father's dismissal breaks me quietly. I hold my bag tightly and walk out of the office with shaky legs.

“ And jade,” he called out. “ If you think of disappearing at the engagement Tomorrow you can say goodbye to your inheritance and position at the company”

I felt like dropping to the ground but I held the door for support and used the walls till I was out of the house. The cab ride home was blurry. I didn't remember anything apart from curling into bed.