Chapter 4 Slave Contract

{Ace}

I watch as she circles the hood of the car and gets in the passenger seat. “Who did that to you?”

She holds her cheek and turns away.

“Look at me!” I pinch her chin and turn her head back to me.

There is a small cut in the corner of her lips and a bruise on her cheek. Oh, they are gonna pay!

I push the door open.

“No!” Faith grabs my hand. “Please, let's just go!”

The rain patters on my shoe and pants. I look back at her. Her light blue eyes are filled with tears and her blonde curls are pasted on her forehead. She's shivering.

I fucking hate this!

I let her go earlier so she could see for herself. So she could realize that her so-called fiancé and stepmother were using her.

But looking at her now, maybe I shouldn’t have. She's broken. More broken than she has ever been.

I put my leg back in and close the door. In silence, I drive all the way to my house.

*****

“Thank you,” I say to the nurse when she finally walks out of Faith’s bedroom. I go in and shut the door.

Faith, now wearing PJs, sits up on the couch as soon as she sees me.

I sit next to her to assess her wounds. She gapes at me, keeping unusually still.

“Spit it out, Princess.”

She finally blinks. “You knew. You knew Matthew has been cheating on me.”

I shrug. “It wasn't that hard to find out.”

“I am such a fool!” she bursts into tears, hands slapped against her face.

Yes, you are! I want to say. But instead, I say, “Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“How can I not?” She looks at me. “I have lost everything. They tricked me into signing the marriage license early, so even though the full wedding ceremony didn't happen, I am technically married to Matthew. He's going to take my inheritance.”

I grind my teeth. I am aware of all she's saying, but until now, I still can’t understand why her father would put such a clause just for his own daughter to get her inheritance.

Even in the grave, he's still a dick!

“What did you say?”

My head snaps back to her. Did I say that out loud?

“Did you say something?” she asks.

I shake my head, breathing a sigh of relief. She continues to look at me with teary eyes. I stand up.

“Please!” she grabs my hand.

My heart skips. I stop in my tracks. Turning, I look at her small hand holding mine. Her fingers are cold, but her touch sends a warmth through my whole body.

“Sorry.” She lets go abruptly.

Her lips tremble. More tears stream down her cheeks. “Please help me. Help me stop them.”

“And what do I get in return?”

She stops to think, eyes darting sideways. “I’ll pay you.”

“Huh?” I almost choke fighting a laugh.

“How about half a million?”

“Look around you, Princess. Do I look like someone who needs five hundred thousand dollars?”

Her shoulders fall. “O…kay. Name your price. I promise to give you anything you want.”

“Anything?” My lips lift in a smile. “I like the sound of that.”

When I close the space between us, I hear her breath hitch in her throat. She looks to the right, then to the left to avoid my eyes.

“Be my slave, Princess.”

She trembles at the sound of my voice. “What…what do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Be my slave and I will make sure those thieves do not get a penny from your inheritance. I will also help you get revenge.”

She stares into space for a while. “Okay, I will be your slave.”

“First, let’s set some ground rules.”

She gasps as I wrap my fingers around her neck, making her look up at me. “From now on...You will do anything I say, no questions asked. You will not talk to another man or see another man. Your body, your soul, your time, everything belongs to me.”

She nods and whimpers, “Okay…”

“Good girl.” I brush a finger on her full red lips.

Fuck! I want to kiss her again. I want to pin her against the wall and fuck her until she forgets that jerk. I want her to scream my name louder than she prays.

“Thank you.” Her words stop me.

Ignoring the ache in my groin, I let her go. “Now, go to bed.”

She climbs on the bed, lies down, and pulls the blanket over her body obediently. “Good night.”

I don't say anything. I leave the room before I lose my last bit of restraint.

*****

It’s already past midnight when Jerry walks into my office. He has worked for me for many years, and now, he's as good as a friend. As the best amongst all my men, I always delegate the most important tasks to him.

Frowning, I look at him. He's soaked from his red long hair to his boots. “Did you go for a swim or something?”

He points. “It’s raining, Boss.”

“And you couldn't take an umbrella with you?”

His head lowers. “Sorry, Boss.”

I sigh. “Is it done?”

He raises his head. “Yes, the marriage will be annulled soon. I also contacted the bank. Those two won’t gain access to shit!”

Perfect! I smile.

“Boss…” Jerry begins, “Since she came back like you said she would, does it mean she will be staying?”

“What do you think?”

He bobbles his head. “That she will be staying?”

“Of course she will! You think I am just helping her for nothing?”

“Maybe. After all, you have done that many times before.”

I chuckle.

“Ermm… Don’t you think it’s time to tell her who you really are? That might stop her from hating you so much.”

I stand up. Walking to the French window, I stare into the night. “I will tell her when the time is right.”