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“We’re coming in.” Gilbert opened the door and came first, looking me up and down with that critical eye. Then he raised his hands in celebration. “We did it, ladies and gentlemen. Look at her.” He flipped his finger in the air. “Spin. Now.”
Awkwardly, I turned in a circle.
He gave me a look of approval as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Miracles do exist…”
I was all dolled up with nowhere to go.
Not even outside my bedroom.
I hoped Fender would come to me, but he still hadn’t. I sat on the couch and looked out the window into the darkness, sitting in my pink dress, legs crossed. Diamonds were in my ears, and a sparkling necklace hung down my chest. I was lavished with the finest things in life, but it only made me feel lonelier.
At the camp, I could talk to the girls in the clearing. Fender visited me at night. Occasionally, I’d get a short conversation with Raven. But now, I was totally alone. All I had was Gilbert, who chose to spend his time ripping me apart like I wasn’t good enough.
Gilbert’s voice sounded from the door. “Your dinner is served.” He rounded the corner then carried the tray to the dining table. It was another gourmet meal with hot tea and dessert. He lifted the silver lid to display it to me.
I barely looked at him before I gave a nod.
He stilled, visibly offended. “Is there a problem with the meal?”
“No.” I looked out the window even though I couldn’t see anything except the outdoor lighting on the lawn. “It’s lovely, Gilbert. Thank you.”
He sighed before he placed the silver lid back on top. “Then what is it, Melanie? You’re unhappy with everything you’ve been given today? A dress that cost five thousand euros. Diamonds worth the price of a car. Makeup created by the greatest designers in this world. You’re that ungrateful?”
I turned my gaze on him, feeling a kind of anger that I couldn’t express. I’d just been a prisoner at a camp for weeks and weeks, survived a blizzard, had all my rights stripped away, and he acted like he was either unaware of that or didn’t care. “I want to talk to Fender.”
“He’s unavailable.”
The outburst came out of nowhere. “Why the fuck did he bring me here, then?” I flashed him an angry look. “I’m just supposed to sit around and wait for him to come fuck me? That’s my life now? Because that’s not what he promised when he offered to bring me here.” I silently excused Gilbert by looking out the window again.
He stood there for a few more seconds before he left. “Enjoy your dinner.”
I didn’t touch my dinner.
I wasn’t used to having three meals a day, so I didn’t need that much food. Everything was delicious and I wanted to eat every crumb on my plate, but my stomach had shrunk during my captivity. I was thinner than I’d ever been, realizing how petite I’d become when one of the personal shoppers said I was a double zero.
I remained on the couch, sitting in the dark, when I heard the door open and close.
Gilbert didn’t announce himself.
That was how I knew it wasn’t Gilbert at all.
I rose from the couch and turned around.
There he was.
In black sweatpants that hung low on his hips, bare feet on the hardwood, his chest muscular and strong like the last time I saw it. He’d had dinner, but his stomach was chiseled and tight like his muscles were permanently flexed. He was like a grizzly bear, his size doubled just by his muscle mass alone. That meant he must dedicate hours to the gym every day because no one just looked like that without sacrifice. A man didn’t have ripped arms the size of my head unless he pumped iron like his life depended on it. He was a behemoth because he chose to be.
The hostility in his gaze slowly evaporated the longer he stared at me, as he took in my new appearance, my curled hair, my flawless makeup, the dress that had been altered to fit me like a second skin. There was still anger behind his eyes, but it was impossible for him to hold on to when he loved the way I looked. He said I was the most beautiful woman in the world when he saw me at my worst. What did he think of me now, when I was at my best? “I’m here.”
I half expected him to bend me over the couch and fuck me mercilessly. I was actually disappointed when he didn’t.
He clearly wasn’t interested. “Speak.”
“It’s been three days. How are you still mad at me—”
“Because I don’t let shit go. Ever.” His eyes started to turn maniacal once more.
“I chose my sister over you. That’s an unforgivable offense?”
