CHAPTER 5 – HEAVEN OR HELL?

🦋 BENITA 🦋

Silence descended, and I didn’t dare to take any step or turn around. Mr. William also stood there shocked, but due to his desperation to sign the contract, he gave in.

“You can have her, she’s worth nothing to me.”

I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad, but the fact that it was happening on my birthday made me reluctant and frightened about the situation.

“Get your things, Benita, we will be leaving soon,” Felix announced.

Ever since my mother died, no one ever said my name, aside “Hey” it was “Fool, slut, bitch” or something worse. But he said it, this Felix Desmond said it.

Soon it was time for us to leave. When I stepped out of the mansion, I inhaled sharply, I could finally breathe fresh air.

I lost count of the men standing outside waiting for him, and it made me question just how important he is. Why would this many people guard one man?

“Why aren’t you attempting to escape?” he calmly voiced out.

I turned towards him, “I tried to escape several times, but it led to trouble each time I tried. You can’t run away from a rich man,” I calmly responded.

“Try again,” he declared, “This time nobody’s going to stop you or go after you.”

I stood there, my mind reeling in shock, as I processed the words that had just left his lips. Did he just offer me freedom? Why would he?

If I go into the world, then what? I had nowhere to go but start again in the street, and it never ends well.

“I’d rather go with you,” I murmured, walking towards the car.

“If you go into that car, you’ll never be able to escape. This is your only chance,” he stated, “Leave now, or stay locked up with me forever.”

Swallowing hard, I stepped into the car without looking back.

I could swear I heard him giggle as he said, “Don’t ever forget this was your choice.”

The drive lasted six hours, and we drove into a new city, far from the one Mr. William was in, and I was extremely grateful that I would barely set my eyes on that disgusting old devil.

The mansion was in a quiet, lonely area, sitting alone in the center of many trees and streets. It would take an hour from the mansion for you to see another building, and it was extremely quiet.

At first, I didn’t understand why anyone would build a home in such a place where humans don’t exist, but then I thought, “He probably likes being alone.”

We got to the mansion and we stepped out, the men stood beside the car and bowed their heads, and I calmly did the same, standing side by side with the bodyguard, with my head down.

“Aren’t you coming?” Felix asked calmly.

Looking around, I blinked innocently and trailed behind Felix, I guess I’m not sleeping outside with the others.

We walked into the mansion, and I followed behind.

“Where are all your things?” he blurted out, breaking the silence.

“I had nothing to carry,” I responded truthfully.

“Pick any room you want,” he stated, “Just stay far away from mine.”

I nodded promptly, and he attempted to walk away before he turned around.

“In this house. It’s just you and me, I own you now. You’ll be in charge of all the cooking and cleaning in this house. You are not permitted to take one step out of this mansion; making any little mistake could cost you your life.” He announced. “Whenever I call you, respond immediately, don’t make me call you twice, that could also cost you your life. This house must remain clean as it is right now, and at night, be on guard in this house. My men are out there guarding outside this house, but you’ll be in charge of this house. I don’t want to catch you sleeping, it might also cost you your life… I hope you understand.”

Everything blurred together, I was disoriented. Now I understand what it means when people say, “Jumping from frying pan to fire.”

“I’m glad you understand,” he muttered and turned to leave.

“I won’t do it,” I declared calmly.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his feet rooted to the spot. His mouth hung open, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Time seemed to stand still as he tried to process what he heard.

I walked closer to him, gawking at him. I was too close that he couldn’t help but take two steps back, but with every step he took, I walked closer.

“I won’t do the cooking and cleaning in this house, I’m going to take thousands of steps outside this house, I won’t respond immediately when you call me, so you’ll have to call me twice or three times. This house would not always remain clean because I will dirty it. And at night, I’m going to sleep and snore. If it’s going to cost me my life, then Felix, you might as well kill me now.”

Right then, the clock struck midnight, signaling the end of the 25th of September.