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I’d asked Ellis the previous night to join me for dinner. I was lonely, I’d told him, and I wanted some company. I’d managed to convince him, and I shook with anticipation as I got ready that night. I knew exactly what I had to do.
I would dress up, exactly the way I knew he liked, and I would wait for him in my prettiest dress and my highest heels. I would put on jewelry, makeup and perfume, and I would do my hair in the soft, pretty waves that he liked so much. The heavy liner and mascara on my eyes would make him think of the way he could make them run, and when he was distracted, I’d put the crushed sleeping pill into his food. When it took effect, I would attempt to escape.
I knew the way to Amber’s room. I knew there was a balcony in her room with a tree under it. We could escape together.
Amber had no idea yet, but I would explain everything later. I had to focus on timing everything right, on seducing Ellis until he let down his guard. I knew I could do it. I was going to get away this time around.
I hadn’t seen Pia in a few days, and I wondered why she was keeping her distance. But I didn’t question it for too long. The farther away she stayed from me, the better it worked for my plan of escaping the mansion once and for all.
The dress I wore was white, draping prettily over my body and emphasizing my curves. When I put it on and paired it with nude heels, I noticed for the first time how much my muscles had gone. I had been doing stretches and some practice every morning, but it was nothing to the training I had to endure with Madame. I was losing my edge, and I blamed Ellis for that too. I couldn’t wait to have my revenge.
I waited for him on the bed, a book in my hands, but my eyes glued to the floor. The second I heard movement outside, I switched my gaze to the page, pretending to turn it just as he walked inside.
“What are you reading, little one?” he asked, coming to sit next to me.
I looked up and he took my book away from me just like he had so many times before.
“Nothing important,” I muttered, smiling as he shut the book, disregarding the page I’d stopped at.
Another one of his annoying habits. But I paid it no mind that night, focusing on him alone. I’d noticed he’d made a special effort, wearing a tailored suit that screamed designer, and aftershave that filled my nostrils with mint and leather. I hated his scent.
“We’ll have something special for dinner,” he told me, smoothing my hair down. “I requested it just for you.”
He held out a hand and I stood up, letting him look at me, spinning around to give him a good view. He didn’t remark on my appearance, but then again, he wasn’t one of those guys to give compliments. I didn’t really give a shit, but he needed to like what he saw so my plan would work flawlessly.
I turned back towards him, slipping my dress down until my nipple peeked out, pinching it between my fingertips and smiling at him as I tucked it back into the fabric.
“Will we play later?” I asked him softly, and he grinned at me, that wolfish smile I’d come to know so well.
“Of course we will,” he promised. “A night you won’t forget.”
The mute maid entered, and Ellis and I sat down, waiting for the food to be served. The smell was peculiar, something I didn’t recognize, and the maid set two plates of steak down on the table.
“It smells delicious,” I said politely. “What is it?”
“Foal,” Ellis said simply. “A specialty. Killed this morning, so it’s fresh. Shot it between the eyes myself. I know how much you love horses.”
I raised my eyes to his. I couldn’t believe him. Couldn’t believe this. Surely he didn’t expect me to eat what he’d made them cook. Surely he couldn’t be this cruel, this fucked up, to toy with me just because he could.
I stared at him openly, looking for a sign of remorse in his dark gaze. But there was nothing behind those steely eyes. He was a cruel man, and he’d done this on purpose. He’d meant to hurt me.
“Dig in, little one,” he told me. “Don’t make me punish you for not finishing your meal like a bad little girl.”
I looked at the steak on my plate again. I felt sick to my stomach. The meat was so rare it looked raw, a small pool of blood gathering under it. I pushed the plate away, knowing I wouldn’t be able to get it past my lips. When I raised my eyes to Ellis, he looked triumphant and I hated him a little bit more.
