However, this time everything was different. Instead of a tray of food, she was holding a red dress on a hanger. Her expression was softer, with a hidden grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
I sat up, watching her approach me, her flats soundless against the polished marble floor.
“I thought you only served me food,” I said, my first words to her. “It’s not dinner time yet.”
“I’m here on a separate errand.” She draped the dress over the mattress beside me.
“What’s this?” I asked, shifting my gaze between her and the dress.
“It’s what the boss wants you to wear tonight,” she answered, her head slightly bowed.
My brows furrowed in confusion. “Huh?”
“You’ll be leaving the estate with him by eight p.m. And he wants you to wear that.” She nodded at the dress.
I stared at her, still bewildered. “What if I don’t wanna go anywhere with him?”
“It’s not a request, ma’am,” she replied.
Ma’am?
The underlying threat was crystal clear. Cooperate, or face the consequences. I hated how much control he had over my life and how I had to dance to his tune. But I didn’t have a choice. My life was in this man’s hands, whether I liked it or not.
“Where’s he taking me?” I asked her.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “But he said to make you look your best, so I’m guessing it’s an important gala.”
I paused, wondering what this man was up to. He left me to rot in here for five days. And now, suddenly, he’s taking me with him to a function? Something wasn’t right.
“Would you like anything else?” she asked, glancing up at me.
I would like to not go anywhere with my kidnapper, thank you very much.
“No,” I said simply.
She gave a curt nod. “I’ll be back by seven to get you ready.”
I watched her turn around and head toward the door. “What’s your name?”
She stopped in her tracks and faced me again. “Agata.”
“I’m Ellie.”
Her response was a faint grin, and with that, she stepped out of my room.
My gaze shifted to the dress lying beside me, neat and properly pressed. I picked it up and headed to the full-length mirror across my bed. I placed the spaghetti-strapped gown in front of me, admiring the design.
From the quality of the fabric, I could tell that it must’ve cost a fortune. Money was never a problem for men like my jailer.
What’re you up to?I wondered, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
The next few hours sped by in a blur, and soon it was time to get me ready. Agata arrived at exactly seven in the evening, and this time she came with another lady.
She said she was the makeup artist hired to take care of my appearance. Together, the two women worked on my face and hair until I was completely transformed.
“Gorgeous.” Agata beamed, tilting the swivel chair to face the mirror in front of me.
I almost didn’t recognize my own reflection. The makeup, the hairstyle, and the dress made me like a different person—a high-class, sophisticated woman.
