CHAPTER 3: TAKE OFF YOUR MASK

Lilianna

I blink fast, my lips trembling. “I want to see the face of the man who touched me. Please… take off your mask.”

His body is still close, but his eyes are far. The warmth he gave me only minutes ago is gone. His gaze turns cold as ice.

I sit up, the sheets pulled to my chest, still catching my breath.

He doesn't respond. Instead, he moves to the bedside drawer and drags it open.

Then he throws something at me. A folded paper.

It lands on the bed between us.

My fingers shake as I reach for it. I open the paper, my eyes scanning it.

A check.

One million dollars.

“Take it and leave.” His voice is deep and harsh.

I hold the check like it’s burning my hands. Is this my worth? A million dollars?

Is it worth my husband selling me out like this?

But worse than all of it is this

The man who called me special and made me feel alive with his touch is now looking at me like I’m nothing.

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” I mumble, my voice so small it almost breaks. “I just wanted to know who you really are.”

He steps forward, towering over me. His eyes burning into mine.

“That’s your payment. Take the check and leave. Right now. You gold digger.”

What? How can he insult me after making love to me like I was his queen? The look in his eyes when he entered me showed he felt a connection between us, just like I did. Or was it all only for sex?

My chest tightens. “Gold digger?” I whisper. “I swear I’m not. I’ve never done this before with a stranger.”

He laughs.

“Oh please. You’re an escort. Don’t pretend you haven’t done this before.”

“Of course none of them have ever made you feel the way that I did,” he boasts proudly.

And he’s not wrong. I never feel this way when Robert and I have sex.

Still, why is he so cold to me?

His stare pierces me. “You have five seconds to get out or I’ll throw you out myself.”

I freeze.

My whole body goes cold under his glare, I feel it in my bones.

I grab the sheet, wrapping it tightly around me as I leave the bed. My hands tremble while I search for my dress.

“I said, get out.” He barks.

I jump. Grab my clothes and run out barefoot.

The hallway feels long. I don’t even know where I am. My hands fumble to pull the dress on as I stumble forward.

I can feel their judgmental eyes on me as people stare. But I shouldn’t care what they think.

I didn't have a choice.

It was either sacrifice my body to help Robert with his gambling debts or be out on the streets. I didn't have much of an option.

Tears rush to my eyes, blurring everything.

By the time I make it out of the building, I’m shaking. I call a cab and ride home in silence.

I hate that I still took the check after he insulted me. But my fear of Robert outweighed my need to hold on to whatever dignity I had left.

And I still can’t help but wonder… who is that man? I guess I’ll never know, I tell myself.

I’m finally home.

Robert opens the door before I can even knock, like he’s been camped there waiting for me to return.

He stands in the doorway, smiling like he’s just won a prize.

“Well, well, well,” he spits, stepping back. “Did the billionaire enjoy his night?”

I say nothing. My voice is gone.

He stretches out his hand. “Give me the money.”

I reach into my purse and pull out the check. He snatches it from me like it’s gold.

His eyes light up as he reads the amount.

“One million dollars,” he whispers, then looks back at me with a twisted grin. “Who knew you could bring me such good luck.”

My stomach turns.

“We just might have found our new business.”

“Business?”

My voice barely comes out. “I thought this was a one time thing…”

He lifts the check, waving it in my face. “Look at this. There’s more where this came from. And you’re going to bring it to me.”

“No.” I shake my head, stepping back. “This is more than enough to settle your gambling debts and pay our bills. I won’t sell my body for money ever again.”

The smile disappears from his face.

He slaps me hard across the cheek.

I crash to the floor, my head spinning as my skin burns.

Tears flood my eyes, and I cry into my palm.

“Don’t you care that he called me a gold digger?” I sob. “That another man slept with your wife?”

“I care about money!” he shouts. “Lots of it!”

He grabs me by the arm and yanks me up. “Of what use is a barren wife? Listen up. You better fall in line or I’ll divorce you and kick you back to the streets, you worthless piece of trash.”

My heart cracks.

I wipe my tears, even though more keep falling. “Maybe the streets will treat me nicer than you have,” I mumble.

His face twists. “What did you say?”

“You heard me,” I whisper, eyes lowered.

He laughs darkly, but there’s no humor in it, only rage.

“You have no degree. No money. No house. Do you really think you’ll survive out there?”

He grabs my hair and yanks it back hard. “You’ll do what I say, or I’ll beat you to death. And if you try some nonsense like running away, I’ll find you in whatever rat hole you crawl into,” he growls. His breath is foul. His eyes are deadly.

I close my eyes, wishing I could disappear. I wish I could scream him away.

He lets go of my hair and I stumble away from him.

I run into the room, slam the door shut, and lock it.

I hold my breath, hoping he doesn't try to break the door open.

I can’t let Robert sell me off to another man. But what am I going to do?