.....do you think I am stupid?

Rebecca

“Mrs. Ezra, do you not trust your own son?” I asked, holding her gaze. No blinking. No fear. If Luke’s torture gave me one good thing, it was this, a heart that does not break easy. She was just a woman standing between me and my freedom.

“Miss Rebecca, I only asked a simple question.”

“Shrimp and grits.”

I saw those words on a paper back at Collins’ place. Figured those must be his favorite meals.

“You two should spend more time together. Collins is my only son. I have to be careful about who he calls a friend.”

“I am not just a friend. I am his fiancee.”

“Well said. Then go call your fiance back here. You two should finish your drink. I got what I wanted.”

As I started to stand up, Mrs. Ezra opened her black Italian bag. Her eyes did not leave me.

Does she really think I do not love her son?

Collins had turned away from us. He was watching a dancer on the floor.

“How did it go?” he asked.

“Nothing serious. When are we leaving?”

“Rebecca, what did my mom ask you? Did she embarrass you? You have to tell me.”

“No, she did not.”

“Then why hide it?”

“Collins, let us go back. Your mother loves you so much. Just remember, my time as your fiancee will run out soon. This is all for your mom.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mrs. Ezra watching us. Then she spoke louder.

“I am lonely over here. What did I do wrong? You two came here because of me. Come on, let us drink.” Her voice changed completely.

Collins kissed my forehead. For some reason I could not explain, cold went through my whole body. This was supposed to be fake. So why can not I control my own heart?

“I guess I never upset anyone?” she asked. I waited for Collins to answer. He did not.

“I am sorry for messing things up. Now, let us toast again.” She picked up her wine glass. Collins’ glass barely had anything left.

“Collins, that wine will not be enough. Drink this alcohol the same way you spend your time making new software…”

I laughed. Did not see that joke coming. Mrs. Ezra grabbed the bottle and poured more into my glass and her son’s.

“To the birthday woman…” She raised her glass. So Collins and I did the same. We all drank everything at once.

A few minutes later, Collins could not stop looking at me. We sat so close together. His eyes should have been on his mom more since she sat right in front of us.

Then heat started spreading through my body. All I wanted was to take off my shirt. But Collins’ hand began touching my bare leg. My skirt was short—he talked me into wearing it—so my thighs were showing.

I moved away a little. But his touch gave me more relief than I expected.

“Should I book a presidential lounge for you two?” Mrs. Ezra asked. She would never say something like that. Why was she suggesting this now?

Collins leaned close and spoke into my ear. “I can not wait to put you in warm water.”

My mind showed me his naked body. And my want got so much worse.

“Why can not we just go to your house and finish there?”

“I can drive you both home. You two need to enjoy each other.”

I thought I only whispered that. But I could not tell how loud I was. My brain would not work right. That is the last thing I remember.

**********

Inside Collins’ bedroom:

My brain started working again. The first thing I noticed was someone’s hand on my breast.

Then I realized I was naked. I sat up fast. I had been lying in the same bed as Collins. He was naked too. And I felt something dry between my legs, sexual fluid from my body.

I tried to remember what happened. But then the memory of the fire that killed my parents came back. And after that, Luke’s words at the hospital, a year ago when my parents died.

“I will not tell anyone you killed your parents.”

I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I saw my clothes and Collins’ clothes on the floor.

Did he just rape me?

His eyes were closed. He was fast asleep. And I hated him right then. I knew it. His smiles and nice words were all fake. He only wanted to sleep with me.

Why did I ever agree to that fake fiancee contract? Why should I trust any man after what Luke does to me?

I can not wait for that evil man to wake up and look at me.

Tears kept falling down my face as I picked up my dress.

I have to leave this house. Who knows what he will do to me when he opens his eyes. He is a bastard.

What about the antivirus software?

My thoughts stopped. What am I going to tell Luke? But I can not stay under the same roof as the man who raped me.

Luke is cruel, but he has not touched me like that for a long time. And I love that. I have no feelings for him, so why would he need to sleep with me?

If Luke can respect my body… I started crying as I opened the door and left the house.

That feeling of being free from Luke disappeared. Then it came back when I got out of the cab and walked toward my house.

What will I tell Luke? I stumbled and almost fell.

Minutes later, I stood in the middle of the living room. Luke had a long cigarette in his hand. He sat with his legs crossed.

“Believe me, I did not see it…” My voice broke. I said those words over and over. But Luke said nothing. He just stared at me like a demon.

He smoked calmly. When the cigarette was almost half gone, he stood up. My first thought was that he would burn my skin with it.

That was normal. On my shoulder, the burn marks from his cigarettes looked like tattoos.

“How could you see it when I already took it?”

When? How? Where? I wanted to ask. But I was not brave enough.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a flashdrive. He nodded, looking pleased.

“Now that you have the flashdrive, can we please start the divorce?” I measured every word. Then I breathed in deep.

Luke slowly lifted his eyes to me.

Then he laughed. A cold laugh.

“Divorce? Did I ever promise you a divorce?”

“Rebecca, do you think I am stupid?”

Fear crawled into my chest.

“The marriage contract we signed says that the moment I divorce you or you die, I lose your father’s properties and money.”

He stepped closer.

His eyes got terrifying again.

“You are not going anywhere. Take this flashdrive and check it on my laptop. Make sure the software works.”

I could not believe he handed it to me. Should I smash this flashdrive on the floor and destroy it? Did I hear that right, if I die, he loses everything? Should I do both? Should I break this thing and then break myself just to grind him down to nothing? Since there is no hope for me to ever be free anyway.