Chapter Three

ANNIE 

We sat quietly eating.

  I stabbed the peas on my plate picking at it with my fork, biting my lips and hating the silence, though it was better to be quiet than to face another moment of torture from this man that claimed I was his own. I could feel his gaze piercing my forehead which of course made me uncomfortable.

I looked up at him and back at my plate. “You eat quite slow, Annie”. I was quite taken aback by the way he had called my name. That deep voice that came out as a whisper made my body shiver.

Annie?

  This wasn't like him. He usually called me flower, love , milkweed or any other thing that was not my name. And yes!

Toy.

“I don't just like peas but I'm certainly grateful for the dinner. It was… lavish”, I said putting on the most pretentious smile. The food was indeed lavish for a prisoner but I couldn't just stomach it. “Then I should stop adding them to the dish. I like them”, he said, taking a sip from his glass of wine. 

“No! If you love them then you should eat them”

“But my toy doesn't want them. It's quite inappropriate that I should take what my milkweed doesn't want, don't you think?” He said grinning—his stoned face brought me more peace than his grin... it made me weak and vulnerable. I said nothing, gulping down a cup of water.

Perfect.

    The room became quiet once more and more awkward than ever. Should I have answered his questions? Was he going to kill me now? I didn't think he was because he didn't look like someone that was going to end my life anytime soon. I placed my fork on the plate about to call it a night when he whispered. “Humour me”

“What?” I asked and he looked at my eyes. His eyes were enchanting, that dark colour that screamed domineering. “I said humour me , my love”, he said again and I saw a spark in his eyes but it died as quickly as it came.

“ I … I don't know what you mean”. I honestly didn't know, he shut his eyes and opened them letting out a groan. “Oh wildflower, humour me”, he said, now visibly upset. But I just didn't know how to humour him, so I thought I should tell him my mind, that I didn't want to be here and I would promise to keep my mouth shut since he looked calm and happy today.

“I don't know what to do, I … I just want to go home”, I said without looking at him. 

   There was no noise and everywhere was getting too awkward so as I looked up at him, something hit my arm making me scream. I hadn't seen it on time, this man was too fast for a normal person. He had thrown a knife at my arm and it stuck there. I wanted to pull it out but he chuckled. “Oh darling, pull it out and you'll lose too much blood you might be rushed to the hospital and or maybe, lose an arm”, he said laughing.

“Now Annie, you humour me”

Annie.

    I gritted my teeth so as not to shout while waiting for Sophia to help me out. Dylan stood and came to me. He held my arm and smiled mischievously. 

“My daughter will be back from Paris tomorrow, you should prepare”, he said and walked away leaving me to my thoughts. So, Dylan Xavier had a daughter no one knew of and he openly telling me that meant there was no chance of escape or redemption for me. It meant that I was part of his life now. I sighed wondering what his daughter looked like.

“Sophia”, I called and she came out of nowhere and gasped at the sight of the knife in my arm. “I'll treat you now”, she said and disappeared into the darkness.

    I was always frightened at how she moved so quickly for a maid, but then all the maids were like that. They were fast and wore no expression and I thought once that was how he wanted me to be until he almost shot this same arm yesterday and told me to smile more. 

Xavier's.

***

    I sat watching the maids as they prepared for Dylan's daughter's homecoming. Sophia stood cutting onions and talking with one of the maids. This was like the best place to be, I didn't have to worry about Xavier or any punishment just watch the maids cook and help when needed.

“His daughter is a total ass”. Someone called Agnes said and they laughed. “But she's sweet. I can remember when she used to play with Dylan”, Sophia said and they agreed. I didn't know Dylan played with anyone.

“Too bad her mother passed away so tragically though I don't blame master Dylan”. Another one who would later betray the Xaviers said as she poured oil into the pan. I wondered how she had passed away and how it wasn't his fault.

“Well whether his daughter's mom died or how she died, I don't know but I'll blame it on him”, I said irritated by how they thought highly of this man.

“You think?” Someone said from behind, making my skin jump. I could recognize that voice from anywhere, it was deep yet husky, calm yet domineering.

Dylan Xavier.

   The maids stopped speaking and looked at me with so much pity on their faces, even Sophia bit her lips and looked at me apologetically.

“Leave”, he said calmly as the maids scrambled out. I stood to leave but he pushed me back on the chair. “You said…”

“You blame me, sweetheart?” He asked calmly and I said nothing. 

    I couldn't look him in the face as I pushed him away because he was almost close to me. I could hear the soft heaving of his chest as his breath brushed my skin. He looked surprised at first but it wore off immediately. He took out his gun and held it to the side of my head, I shut my eyes praying to God to accept me into his kingdom… I had of course broken the camel's back.

DYLAN XAVIER 

    I should have been angry at her but I wasn't, her face reminded me of someone I loved with everything in me and I was scared that I would hurt her. When she pushed me I groaned quietly, how could someone push you and you feel a spark…ecstasy. I pulled out my gun and pointed it to her brain and smiled as she shit her eyes, probably praying to God. That was what they all did. Prayed to God.

I put my lips on hers feeling the softness of it, shutting my eyes I couldn't stop… I didn't want to.

   I let out a groan and hit her back on the wall, whoever said I liked it soft was lying and should be killed. I held her neck digging my nails into her skin as she moaned, I needed to stop, this wasn't the time to do it and something was burning.

She pushed me a little and murmured about something burning. I let her go, turn off the cooker and I grab her waist.

“My daughter won't be coming home tonight, love”, I said as I kissed her neck, I'd swear I heard her moan and knew… she liked it hard or just liked it.

“I'm starving toy, let's eat”

ANNIE 

    I liked every bit of it, he tasted like my favourite wine and began to wonder if he had stalked me before abducting me but that wasn't necessary,I had literally walked into my own trap. 

  We sat at a small table and ate rice. I watched his Adam apple move as he swallowed the food, it was hard to resist and how he licked his lips from time to time was the hardest. I wanted to say something as his phone rang.

“Hello”, he said while still eating but suddenly stopped. His normal expression changed to a frown, he hung up and looked at me.

“I have to go now, milkweed, come to bed tonight”, was all he said and left. 

I felt quite annoyed that he left without a kiss but then a mercenary was always a mercenary.

   I sat eating my rice alone and staring at the table wondering how his daughter was like, what had led to her mother's death and how horrible a father Dylan was. He must have chained her just like he had done to me.

Poor mother.

 I didn't really have time to think about this because when I checked the time it was already 8:00pm.

“How possible”, I murmured as I left the kitchen to go shower and meet him.

***

  His room was nice and plain, it didn't have any special colour, just white and black… just like his life. I sat on the bed in my sexiest nightwear as instructed by Sophia. I checked the time, it was 10:00 and I was feeling sleepy but I had to wait for him. I didn't want him to come home and see me sleeping on his bed, that meant another punishment.

12:00am

He wasn't here and I knew he wasn't coming home tonight. I lay on his bed and slept. After all, he wasn't coming home.