Chapter 5

The guard yanked Bianca out of the car so hard she nearly fell face-first onto the gravel driveway.

She caught herself at the last second, her palms scraping against tiny stones. When she looked up, her breath stopped.

The house in front of her was not a house. It was a mansion. Three stories tall with white columns stretching up to support a massive balcony. Windows everywhere, glowing with warm golden light. A fountain sat in the center of the driveway, water cascading down carved stone.

Under different circumstances, Bianca might have been amazed. But fear had wrapped itself around her chest. All she could think about was her father standing in the doorway of the cafe, his face twisted with grief.

Anna was already walking toward the front door, her red blazer bright in the dim light. The door opened before she reached it.

The guards pushed Bianca forward. She stumbled on the steps but kept walking because what else could she do?

Inside was overwhelming. Marble floors reflected light from a crystal chandelier. A staircase curved up to the second floor. Paintings hung on the walls in heavy gold frames.

Anna stopped in the entryway. "Well? What do you think?"

Bianca did not answer. If Anna had this much money, what was two point three million dollars to her? Pocket change.

"Come with me." Anna led her up the staircase, heels clicking against marble. At the top, she turned left down a long hallway and stopped at a door. "This is your room."

Bianca stepped inside. The room was bigger than her entire house. A massive bed dominated one wall. A polished dresser stood against another. A desk, a chair, a window with heavy curtains.

It was beautiful. The kind of room Bianca used to dream about.

But all she felt was sick.

"You are wicked," Bianca said, turning to Anna. "You know that? You are absolutely wicked."

Anna raised one eyebrow. "Am I?"

"Yes. You take me from my father on the anniversary of my mother's death. You bring me here and put me in this room like I should be grateful." Bianca's hands clenched into fists. "You are cruel and wicked and I hate you."

Anna smiled. A real smile, wide and genuine. "Good. I would be disappointed if you did not hate me."

She walked past Bianca to the window. "You will stay here tonight. There are clothes in the dresser. The bathroom is through that door. You will find everything you need."

"I do not want anything from you."

"That is unfortunate." Anna turned and looked at Bianca. Really looked at her. Her eyes moved slowly over Bianca's face, down her neck, across her shoulders, like she was memorizing every detail.

Bianca took a step back. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

Anna took a step closer. Then another. Bianca backed up until her shoulders hit the wall.

"You are very beautiful when you are angry," Anna said softly. "Did you know that?"

Bianca's heart pounded. "Get away from me."

"Why? Does it bother you when I stand this close?"

"Yes."

"Good." Anna reached out and touched Bianca's face, fingers trailing along her jaw. The touch was light but it made Bianca's whole body tense.

"Do not touch me."

Anna pulled her hand back but did not step away. "You are going to have to get used to a lot of things you do not like. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."

"I will never accept you."

"We will see." Anna finally stepped back. "Get some rest."

She walked toward the door, then paused. "Oh, one more thing. I will expect you in my room in two hours."

"What?"

"My room. Two hours. Someone will come get you."

"Why?"

"I need a massage. My shoulders are very tense."

"Get someone else. I am not your servant."

"Actually, you are exactly my servant. That is precisely what you are now." Anna tilted her head. "Two hours, Bianca. Do not be late."

She left.

Bianca stood frozen. A massage. No. Absolutely not. But if she refused, what would Anna do to her father?

She sank onto the bed and put her head in her hands.

The two hours passed too quickly.

A knock came. When Bianca opened the door, a guard stood there. "Miss Adams is waiting."

She followed him down the hallway. He knocked once, then gestured for her to enter.

Anna's bedroom was even larger. The bed was massive, covered in dark silk. Candles burned everywhere, filling the air with sweet scent.

Anna sat on the edge of the bed wearing a robe. Just a robe. Bianca could see bare skin at her collarbones, at her legs.

"You came. Good." Anna stood and walked to the bed, lying down on her stomach. "Come here."

Bianca did not move. "I do not know how to give a massage."

"Then I will teach you." Anna turned her head. "Come here. Now."

Slowly, Bianca walked to the bed.

"Start with my shoulders."

Bianca reached out with shaking hands and touched Anna's shoulders through the robe. She pressed down awkwardly.

"No, not like that." Anna sat up suddenly and grabbed Bianca's wrist, pulling her closer. "Like this."

She guided Bianca's hands, showing her where to press. But her touches lingered too long. Her fingers trailed across Bianca's skin in ways that had nothing to do with teaching massage.

Anna's hand slid from Bianca's wrist up to her forearm, then higher, her thumb brushing the inside of Bianca's elbow.

"You need to relax," Anna murmured, her voice lower now. "You are too tense."

"I am not the one getting the massage," Bianca said, trying to pull back. But Anna held firm.

"Maybe you should be." Anna's other hand came to rest on Bianca's hip, pulling her closer until Bianca was practically pressed against her. "You feel very stressed."

Bianca's face flushed. "Let go of me."

"In a minute. I am not done teaching you yet." Anna's hand on Bianca's hip slid around to the small of her back, fingers spreading wide, warm through the fabric.

This was not about massage. This was something else entirely.

Anna leaned in closer, her lips nearly brushing Bianca's ear. "You are trembling. Are you afraid of me?"

"Yes," Bianca whispered.

"Good. You should be." Anna's breath was warm against her neck. Her hand moved higher on Bianca's back, fingers tracing up her spine while her other hand remained on Bianca's arm, thumb making small circles.

Bianca tried to step back, but Anna pulled her forward instead, making her stumble. She caught herself with her hands on Anna's shoulders, and suddenly they were face to face, so close Bianca could see flecks of gold in Anna's dark eyes.

"There," Anna said softly, her hands now both on Bianca's waist, holding her in place. "Now you are in the perfect position."

Her fingers tightened slightly, pulling Bianca even closer, and Bianca felt Anna's knee slide between her legs, shifting their positions until Bianca was forced to brace herself against Anna's shoulders to keep from falling completely onto her.

"This is how you create the right pressure," Anna whispered, but her hands were wandering now, one sliding up Bianca's side, fingertips grazing the edge of her ribs through her shirt, while the other moved lower, resting dangerously close to places that made Bianca's breath hitch involuntarily.

Anna's lips curved into a knowing smile as she felt Bianca's reaction. "You see? You are learning already."