SIGNED TO A DEVIL

I simply stared at her, at all of them, wondering how my life constantly winds up like this.

“To be honest with you, Chelsea, you have a minute left.” Ricci said, splitting my heart open as I noticed three guards starting to approach me.

I quickly picked up the pen and signed the contract under the watchful gaze of Nathara. The second I dropped the pen after signing, I felt my soul cry. It is done.

“Very good.” Nathara whispered, smirking, “now listen, there are certain things you need to know before we proceed and it will be in your interest to adhere strictly to it, do I make myself clear?”

I nodded like a sheep at a slaughterhouse, frightened to the depth of my being.

“You live here now, Chelsea and you are not allowed to leave this mansion without my express permission, understood? Everything you want, whatsoever it may be, will be provided for you.” She paused, observing my facial reaction.

“I have to work.” I muttered, numbly.

“Not anymore.” Matteo huffed, picking up his cutlery.

“You have been relieved of your job both at the bar and at the organization, understood?” Nathara continued, sitting down.

“Ricci destroyed my bar!” I shouted suddenly, slamming my fist against the table much to the intense shock of the family. The table went dead quiet and nothing moved.

Several seconds of stillness later, I sat down, red in the face and hot on the inside.

“Let’s eat, shall we?” Blake commented and the feast began immediately.

What these people call dinner is a full blown thanksgiving meal and they eat it so causally.

We ate in complete silence with occasional whispers and laughter while I struggle to maintain focus and not zone out.

“Chelsea,” Nathara called me minutes after we started eating. What does she want again?

“Yes,” I replied.

“Stand up and place your hand on your chest.” She continued. I obeyed without hesitation. “Repeat after me, I Chelsea Ambers,”

“I, Chelsea Ambers,” I said, confused yet unfazed.

“Will remain loyal to the Rutherford family now and forever, bearing their first heir and wife to the first son.” Nathara concluded.

“First son?” Matteo objected immediately.

“Shut the fuck up, Matt!” Nathara snapped right back.

“Will remain loyal to the Rutherford family now and forever, bearing their first heir and wife to the first son.” I repeated, digging the floor with my gaze.

“It is done.” Nathara smirked, walking away immediately.

A maid walked up to me and escorted me to Ricci’s room where I sat, bawling like a helpless human.

I looked around, torn apart and confused. How did I end up here? Why was there blood in that dark warehouse and why did I fall in it? Where is my father? More importantly, where is my mother, my sister, and that bitch Aria? Why did they all go missing at the same time?

“Chelsea,” Ricci called, barging into his room and snapping me out of my thoughts immediately.

“What?” I replied grudgingly, eyeing him with disdain.

“Get used to me honey, we are married now.”

“Fuck you and fuck this marriage! Where’s my father?” I asked, sniffing and stifling my tears.

“I shoved him up my ass you dumb bitch! Do I look like I’m hiding your father in my closet? Don’t look at me like that, I don’t want you here either, okay?” He hissed, walking over to a dark-brown leather couch across the room.

“How did you know Aria’s surname? I never mentioned it to you.” I paused, trying to connect the dots.

“She told me herself.” Ricci responded before downing a glass of vodka. Must be addicted to this alcohol thing.

“Why? When did you have a conversation with her?” I asked again. Just like the mystery solving process of my sister’s murder, this is another horribly hopeless mystery just staring me in the face. How did I end up here?

“She came to the office some minutes after you left.” Ricci stopped, scanning my face so carefully. “Are you not aware of her visit?”

“Would I ask if I was aware?” I hissed, burying my head in my palm.

“You have a smart mouth, Chelsea, and that’s what got you pregnant and stuck here, with the Rutherfords. Keep up, you might have a fight with my mom before midnight.” He laughed, standing up and walking towards the bed where I sat.

I stood up very quickly, irritated as goosebumps covered me whole. He simply smirked and picked up his phone. I walked to the bathroom to wash my face. I have cried so much I feel so lightheaded.

The second I let the shower run, I heard the bedroom’s door cream open. Oh thank goodness, he’s finally leaving. I hurriedly splashed water on my face and locked the tap but the closer I got to the bathroom door, the louder the voices got. Ricci is speaking someone. I paused, pressing my ear against the door to pick up the words clearly.

“She left the country?” I heard Ricci gasp.

“Yes. Aria Rossi fled the country immediately Mrs Nathara paid her. Her flight should have landed by now.” The other person replied.

The silence continued, leaving the words to linger so painfully in my head. Nathara paid Aria? Why? How did they even come to that?

“Chelsea must not know, okay?” Ricci added, taking a deep breath.

“Mr Giovanni is now threatening. He wants his wife and daughter back.” The other person spoke in gentle, very subtle whispers.

“Fuck him!” Ricci retaliated aggressively.

“How do we silence him?” The other person asked.

Ricci broke a laugh, a subtle, evil laugh before speaking.

“We have his wife and his two daughters, right? He can go to hell.”

His wife and two daughters?

“How is that any help? He is demanding a huge sum or everything gets out.” The person persisted but Ricci doesn’t sound convinced.

Ricci laughed again, he sounds so confident, like a fucking brat!

“Tell him that if he tries to be silly with me, I will send him Chelsea’s head by midnight.”

I froze.