Chapter 4.

Billie.

"So how was work, babe?" Brian asked as we sat down for dinner.

"It went well. It's at a swanky estate that's really secure and super clean," I replied, taking a sip of the orange juice. My phone buzzed just then. A notification popped up from my bank: $3050 deposited. He even added a $50 tip.

"What are your bosses like?" Brian asked.

I hesitated for a moment as I flipped my phone upside down.

"An old couple. They’ve got a cute dog. Their grandkids might visit sometime this week."I lied casually.

I don't know why I lied, but it's better to feed him something easy to digest. As long as the pay keeps coming in, I can deal with it.

"Just don’t let them get under your skin. Old couples can be a nightmare.”He said, smiling.

I chuckled, nodding along.

~~

I came out of the shower to soft jazz playing from Brian’s old Bluetooth speaker. I decided to wear something different. A black lace dress, sheer enough to make my reflection blush. It’s been a while since we connected. Thursdays are our sex days as per church rules.

Brian closed the book he was reading. He may not be tall, handsome, or built like my bosses, but I love him. He’s cute, 5’10 with short blond hair, a little soft around the middle.

He looked up at me.

“Babe… what are you wearing?”He asked, with a frown.

I glanced down at myself.

“Something spicy.”I said with a smile.

He shook his head.

“The only lace you should be wearing is on your panties. Remember what Pastor John said.”He replied.

He pulled out the nightdress he bought me, it's pink, long-sleeved, and so shapeless it could kill a man’s erection on sight. But not Brian’s.

“Put this on.”He handed it to me.

I sighed as I took and, changed into it. The dress brushed my ankles, making me look like a kidnapped Victorian girl.

“Beautiful, now come here.”He said, patting the bed.

I sat beside him. He turned off the lights and slipped under the covers.

As he got on top of me there was no kiss or intimate teasing touches. Just silence and the squeak of the bed. I stared at the ceiling while he finished, fast and breathy.

He rolled to his side and kissed my cheek.

“Goodnight, babe.”He said.

“Same,” I whispered.

I turned away, curling into myself. Now I had to finish myself… again!

I reached for my phone, scrolling through playlists to distract myself while I... finished what Brian couldn’t.

But a new email caught my eye.

It was the contract confirmation sent by LSL enterprises, my bosses.

At first glance, it looked normal with legal terms, until I read the clauses that waived my rights to them, granted them permission to do anything with me with or without my approval.

What the hell?!

I reread it twice, my hands trembling. Disobedience, dishonesty, disloyalty and snooping around their business was punishable by death.

I gasped, and slammed my phone shut as my heart hummered in my chest. This has to be some kind of mistake. But my signature was on it. I can't afford a lawyer to help me terminate this demonic contract.

My only option was to never go back there. I’ll think of an excuse for Brian. First thing in the morning I'll go job hunting. Then when money picks up, we move out of town.

~~~

I woke up earlier than usual. My purse sat neatly on the bedside table which, I don’t remember putting it there.

When I reached for it, it slipped and spilled its contents across the floor. A grey platinum card was among them.

Huh? Where did this little guy come from. I picked it up, turning it over between my fingers. It must’ve slipped into my purse when I changed out of Silas’s shirt yesterday.

Brian was still asleep, so I quietly made breakfast and slipped out of the house with my CV in hand, ready to find a job even though the pay might be lower than the devils mansion.

I went job hunting, unsuccesfully the positions were filled or they will call. Even a dishwashing job I always knew would have vacancies was not available.

By evening, my shoes were dusty, my throat dry, and my hope barely holding on. I was starting to feel like someone was pulling the strings to make sure I don't get hired.

As I turned down our street, a silver saloon idled a few meters ahead, it's engine humming softly.

The feeling of being watched prickled down my spine.

I gripped my bag tighter, pretending not to notice, and walked faster toward the house.

The car didn’t move, neither did the shadow behind the wheel.

I rested on the couch and scrolled through my phone, still searching for job openings. A notification from the landlord popped up on my screen that my rent was two months behind. Another alert followed from my insurance company that the insurance hadn't been paid, and my car would be repossessed in the course of the week.

I got up to fetch some water to calm my nerves. When I turned on the tap, nothing came out.

Brian walked in just then, his tool box clanking against the floor.

“Brian, that money I gave you for the bills, what did you do with it?” I asked, trying to stay as calm as possible.

He avoided my eyes.

“About that… I saw this ad for a casino and then I played. I was close to winning, I just missed by one digit.”He quipped.

My heart dropped, I gulped down air.

“What else did you use to gamble?”I asked, my voice breaking.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I borrowed a few coins from your account… and used that platinum card in your purse. You didn’t tell me you got a new one. But I promise, I’ll pay everything back. It was just a small mistake.”He replied.

My hand flew to my mouth. He gambled Silas’s card, I'd taken it for grocery shopping in their estate.

I'm trying to stay away from those devils and instead he drags me back to them on a silver platter.

“Brian, do you have any idea what you’ve done?! That card wasn’t mine.” My voice trembled as I clutched my chest.

“We can take a loan. I’ll pay it back. I didn’t win and lost the card, but I’ll replace it as soon as possible.”He said quickly.

He stepped forward to touch me, but I shoved him away. Tears spilled from my eyes.

“You promised me, Brian you swore you’d stop. We’ve lost everything. How could you?”I went off.

“I did it for us! You’re acting like I killed someone. You hid your pay from me yesterday. Why?”He snapped.

“Because you can’t be trusted with money! Look what you did!”I shouted.

He sighed and finally met my eyes. “I just wanted to give you a better life.”

“You keep making it worse. You’re turning my life into a nightmare!” I sobbed

His brows arched, eyes widening.

“So I’m your nightmare now, huh? Billie you came home in a man's cologne. You think I wouldn't notice. Yet I'm the bad guy here?” He said, voice rising.

I paced around raking my hair with my fingers. We have nothing!

“I told you where I work. You messed up Brian so don't turn this on me. You swore you would stop. Did you forget what happened in San Francisco. How could you do this to me?” I ranted.

He kept defending himself, I couldn’t even look at him. I felt a little dizzy and sat on the chair holding my head as I sobbed.

“Nothing you do makes anything better. I just wish I had a reasonable husband and not a man child.” I said.

“Okay. If that's what you think of me.” He muttered, turned and slammed the door with a loud bang on his way out.