AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Frustration wells up inside me, and I can feel my heart pounding against my chest. Don’t panic, Ella. Don’t make this worse for yourself. Ignoring the dull ache in my shoulder from my failed attempt to force the door open, I search frantically for any sign of a key, or another way out.
I tear through drawers and rummage through the huge closets, but everything is spotlessly clean. The realization sinks in. I can’t escape. There is no way out.
Panic begins to consume me, making it difficult to think clearly. I pace back and forth across the room, my mind racing with thoughts. I should’ve known. I should’ve known he’d show up. I shouldn’t have gone to work.
I press my palms against the cold glass of the towering window in the room, my heart pounding ever so fast. I survey the sprawling cityscape that stretches out before me, its lights twinkling like stars in the night sky. Where am I?
I feel a shudder run through me as I look at the ground below. The fall from this building would ensure my death if I were foolish enough to do it. The room is lavish, adorned with opulent furnishings that I can only dream of affording.
How did I end up here? I try hard to recall but Tommaso’s face pops up in my mind every time. I feel a sudden pang of dread as the realization hits me like a bolt of lightning. My phone! That video is still on there.
Frantically, I pat my body down, searching desperately for the familiar weight of the device. My heart races as I come up empty-handed. I look around the room. I toss the carefully set pillows aside, rummage through drawers, and overturn furniture with an unprecedented frenzy. Dammit. It’s gone.
I scream out of infuriation. The sound echoes through the empty room, hanging in the air. I wonder if the walls are sound-proof too. I collapse onto the floor in defeat, tears welling up in my eyes.
“Miss Hart?” I hear two knocks on the door. I don’t respond.
“May I come in, Miss Hart?” the voice says. As if I have a choice. I still don’t respond and hear the door creak open after a second. It’s a lady, probably in her mid-forties, dressed in a black skirt and white apron. A housekeeper. It feels like an eternity since the last time I've seen another person.
As she enters the room, her eyes meet mine briefly, but she quickly diverts her gaze. I look at the ajar door. Three bulky men stand outside, facing away from it.
“I hope you’re okay, Miss Hart,” the lady smiles. Seriously? Do I look okay to you? I still don’t say anything.
She places a tray of food on the table beside the bed, and I catch a glimpse of steaming soup and a grilled sandwich. The aroma wafts towards me, and my stomach’s reaction is too loud for me to ignore. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until now.
She nods towards a wardrobe in the corner of the room and gestures at the neatly folded garments within. New clothes. Probably an attempt to make me feel more comfortable or compliant. I suppress my anger, reminding myself that showing resistance won't lead to freedom.
“You can change after dinner, Miss Hart. You will feel better.”
I can feel the weight of her concern pressing against my chest, her eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. But I can't let her see how broken I really am, not when those guards are still lurking outside the door, their presence a constant reminder of my captivity.
“Why am I here?” I know the answer all-too well but I ask anyway.
“Signor Tommaso wants you here.”
“I need to leave! This is absurd,” I try to maintain a low voice.
“I’m afraid you can’t for now,” she says politely. I look at her with a desperate look. How did I screw up so badly to end up in this hellish nightmare?
She lets out a laugh. “Please Miss Hart. You are safe. Enjoy your meal.” I blink as she retreats towards the door.
“Wait!” I stop her.
Suddenly, a question slips past my guarded facade, surprising even me. "Where is he -Tommaso?" I inquire, my voice laced with a hint of desperation. Her gaze softens a little.
“He’ll be home soon. Please, eat now.” She insists. Did she just say home?
“I’ll be outside if you need anything else, Miss Hart. Anything at all.” The door closes after her and I hear the lock twist back in place. I take a moment to let the surroundings sink in and to make sense of everything. I'm not being held captive at Tommaso's headquarters. No, it's his house.
Why would he bring me to his house. A stranger– Wait. No. I have been here before.
The memory resurfaces—the night we spent together in his bedroom. A shiver runs down my spine as I recall it. The heat of his touch, the taste of his lips on mine. I glance around the room, its bare walls mocking my desperation.
The air is thick with resentment as I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. Each passing moment feels like an eternity, as I wait for his return, hoping for a shred of compassion or even a glimmer of concern.
I look at the bed and remember the feeling of him inside me. The feeling of his hands on my breasts. I feel a tingling sensation between my legs. My desperate thoughts quiet down as I hear footsteps outside. All of a sudden, I feel my face flush.
“Who is it?” I say out loud, ashamed of hoping to see him this time. The housekeeper comes in again.
