Chapter 2

Natalie

One week ago

“Natalie, What are you doing here in kitchen? Why didn’t you get ready for the party?” Ana asked with concern in her eyes. She is the head maid of the Miller family

I frowned at her words as I replied, “I am not attending that party Ana. I wasn’t instructed to get ready. About being in kitchen, Amanda told me to prepare her favourite pasta for her”

“That is why I am here in…” I couldn’t complete my sentence when I heard my name being screamed out from living room and my heart dropped in the pit of my stomach.

The amount of anger and venom I can hear in the voice of Edwin who shouted my name from outside, is the proof that I am in trouble.

I gulped down the lump in my throat. Ana squeezed my shoulder with a look of pity in her eyes and this is not something new for me.

After inhaling a deep breath, I came out of kitchen. As soon as I was in the living room I heard Edwin asking in anger, “Why the f**k are you coming out of kitchen? Didn’t I tell you to get ready before six?”

“Dad, I was… I was told…” I started with stutter but Amanda cut me off saying, “Didn’t I tell you that Dad wants you to wear the dress that I left in your room and get ready”.

I looked at her in confusion, “When did…” I started but suddenly stopped in the middle of my sentence when realization hit me. Right at that moment an evil smirk appeared on Amanda’s lips.

‘She didn’t tell me on purpose. This is why she sent me in the kitchen to cook that pasta for her’ I realized.

My breath hitched when Edwin strode in my direction and grabbed my hairs in his fist, pulling on them mercilessly.

I whimpered in pain as my dainty fingers got wrapped around his wrist.

“I am sorry Dad… ahhh…” I screamed when his hold on my hairs became even more tighter.

You must be wondering why am I not telling him that Amanda never conveyed his message to me, right?

It’s because I know he won’t even care. Even if I told him the truth, he won’t believe me. He has this blind trust on his children that he would never believe anyone else’s words against theirs.

He won’t believe his step daughter who is nothing but a tool for him to make a lot of money for himself, over his biological children’s words.

“Are you trying to get stubborn with me? Do you want to act rebellious against me, huh?” he growled on my face.

“No… no Dad please…” I begged.

“I would have liked to punish you properly only if I had time in my hands. But I don’t have time right now. That is why I am letting you off this time. Go and get ready within fifteen minutes” He said dangerously over my face and pushed me away.

“And wear the dress I had sent. Don’t forget to wear makeup” he said.

I ignored the burning sensation I am feeling on my scalp. I nodded my head and turned around to make my way towards my room.

I entered into the room and closed the door behind me. As soon as I was in my room a lone tear left my eye sliding down on my cheek slowly.

I wiped it away. ‘It’s okay Nat, don’t worry. Just some more time and then you will be free from all of this. You won’t have to endure anything then. Just hang in there’.

I told myself. I sucked in a deep breath and started my work to make myself look just as my step father wants.

I came out of my room exactly in fifteen minutes, not wanting to infuriate my already angry Dad. Because consequences of making him angry would be borne by no one else but me.

I came into the living room catching the attention of my family present in the room.

My mom, my biological mother Ruby Miller is sitting beside Edwin on the couch. She is a well known fashion designer in the business.

Amanda helps out my mom in her fashion business.

You must be wondering what do I do if Amanda helps my mom and Shawn my dad, right? I also help Edwin in his business.

I have this complete family. Father mother, older brother and sister, everyone.

Despite having this complete family, with all these people around, I have always found myself alone in my life.

I was ten when my mother got married with Edwin, as my real father passed away in an accident a year before their marriage.

Edwin fulfilled his responsibilities by paying for my education and providing me with whatever is necessary to live a life.

But he never showed me the love of a father that he should have. But what am I expecting from a stranger when my own mother never cared about me.

My mother Ruby got so busy in taking care of Edwin’s children Shawn and Amanda after we moved in this house that she almost neglected her own child in the process.

But still a ten year old me was understanding enough towards my mother.

When my mother told me that she needs to do it, for both of us to be able to live happily in this house, I believed my mom.

As life was still bearable for me at that time. I learned to take care of myself knowing that my own mom is busy taking care of her new husband’s children.

I learned to be alone. I got used to everything that came my way without any complaints.

But everything changed when I turned seventeen. My life turned upside down, taking a horrible turn which snatched the remaining hope and happiness from me, making me the person I am today.

A painful nightmare that I live everyday.

My eyes were fixed on Edwin who looked satisfied with how I was looking and the dress he chose for me.

Goosebumps appeared on my skin when I felt Shawn’s presence around me. I gulped visibly upon noticing him coming towards me.

He stood right beside me but I didn’t even glanced in his direction. I tried to keep my composure.

“Let’s go now. I think I don’t have to explain much about what you have to do in the party, right?” Edwin asked.

I nodded my head with blank expression on my face. “Great, you will ride with me Nat. I will tell you the names and explain the profiles of the concerned parties”.

“Amanda and Shawn you will be in the same car with Ruby. Now get moving” saying this Edwin started making his way out of the house followed by Ruby and Amanda.

I also started walking but stopped in my tracks when Shawn held me by my elbow, making me turn around so that I was facing him now.

“Make sure that we get that deal” he said and I again nodded my head like a puppet.

He let my hand go and started walking. I was just about to take a step when he suddenly turned around causing me to stumble back on my feet.

He had a very evil smirk plastered on his lips as he said, “By the way, this dress. It’s already doing its work”. He took a step closer and whispered in a low husky voice.

“You look sexy as hell in this and I must say that your looks never disappoint.” saying this with most vicious smirk on his lips, he turned on his feet and went out of the house, leaving me feeling disgusted with myself.

I was wearing a red coloured backless full length dress. The dress had deep neckline showing a bit of my cleavage.

It had a slit on one side which was putting the skin of my left leg on display whenever I was walking. Luckily the slit was starting a little below my mid thigh.

The dress was quite revealing but as compared to what I have worn in past, this dress is much more decent.

I tried to ignore Shawn’s comments and just came out of the house, getting into the car with Edwin.

Soon we were at the venue of the party. We went inside. Everyone got busy with their business friends. I am still with Edwin.

I found out from Edwin that this is a birthday party of world renowned businessman Cyrus Knight.

I have heard a lot about him. Actually it’s impossible to know nothing about him if you exist in this world.

He is very famous and popular for both his work also his personality. He is the biggest playboy to ever exist.

He is known as the ruthless heartbreaker who plays with women as if they are his toys. And his biggest flex is that even after knowing him so well, women still die to be with him even if it’s just for a night.

One example of those woman is my step sister Amanda. She has this big crush on him and wants him like everyone else.

Well I don’t have to focus on him tonight. In fact I have been warned by Amanda to stay as far away from Cyrus as possible and I am going to do just that.

Apart from this I have to attend Mr. Smith and spend my time with him during today’s party, as per Edwin’s order of course.

He is the man with whom Edwin wants to sign a business deal and I have to convince him tonight.

I came out of my thoughts when Edwin called Mr. Smith who was talking with someone at a little distance from us.

I closed my eyes for a moment and sucked in a deep breath to prepare myself for the worse.

Mr. Smith came over with a glass of wine in his hand. He is a man in his early thirties. He is also an handsome heartthrob who can catch woman’s attention in a minute.

But to me all the man in this world are just pieces of trash who only know how to look down on others, especially woman.

Edwin introduced us and I had to force a smile on my lips to please my father who was keeping eyes on each and every move of mine.

Mr. Smith reached his hand forward for a handshake. In my heart I just wanted to swat his hand away and run away because the look in his eyes was telling me what kind of thoughts he was having about me.

But I pushed my thoughts aside and put my hand in his. He smirked as his thumb started caressing the back of my hand.

I looked at Edwin’s face and he looked happy. He nodded his head at me reminding me what I have to do.

“Okay, I will leave you two alone to enjoy the night” Edwin said and left us alone.

As soon as he was gone, Mr. Smith left my hand and the same hand of his went to rest on my bare back.

My skin got covered in goosebumps. I was fighting the urge to just push him away from me.

“Well, has anyone ever told you how sexy you are” he said in his husky voice as he started caressing my back with the tip of his fingers.

I forced a smile on my lips. “How about we go and get some drinks for ourselves?” I asked and without waiting for his reply I started walking in the direction of bar counter.

I just wanted to get away from him and remove his filthy hands from my body.

I was walking ahead and he was closely following behind me. I reached the counter and sat down on one of the chairs. He sat down beside me.

I ordered a glass of wine, he also refilled his glass with some kind of alcohol I am not aware about.

My heart was thumping loudly in my chest. I don’t like this kind of places. It’s been seven years and I am still not used to this kind of parties.

The first time I was brought to a party like this was when I was seventeen. And that horrible night took my everything away from me.

Even my hope for living a life turning me into a living dead. Everything became worthless after that moment.

I came out of my thoughts when Mr. Smith asked me, “How old are you?”

“I am twenty four” I replied distractedly. I am having this strange feeling.

I looked around at the crowd of people. I don’t know why but for a while I have been feeling like I am being watched.

As if someone is looking at me continuously. I tried to see if I can find the person but I couldn’t find anyone staring at me.

I came out of my thoughts when Mr. Smith put his hand over my exposed thigh. My eyes widened but I tried to not show my discomfort on my face.

I wanted to shove his hand away so badly. I lifted my eyes up to look at his face. He had this smirk on his lips. His eyes full of lust.

“You know what your father wants from me right? He wants to sign a deal with me” he said and his hand started drawing little circle on my skin.

I didn’t say anything. My full focus was on controlling myself so that I won’t ruin Edwin’s plan or else the consequences will be bad.

“And if you want that deal, you will have to give me what I want, right? That’s only fair” he continued.

My patience was running thin. I didn’t know for how long I will be able to bear his hands on my body.

“You know what I mean, right?” he asked and my body froze. But it wasn’t his words that made me freeze.

It was his hand. The hand which was rested on my thigh a minute ago, he started sliding it up on my bare skin.

I couldn’t take it anymore. Before his hand could slid into my dress, I got up from the chair. He looked taken aback but I couldn’t care less.

“I need to use restroom, please excuse me” I excused myself and strode in the direction of washroom.

On my way my eyes went to Edwin who was right now glaring at me. I know the reason why. But I can’t take it anymore.

I entered into the washroom and locked the door behind me. I slid down on the floor. I pulled both my knees together to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.

I looked down at my arms and I saw my body is still covered in the goosebumps.

‘What do I do? Do I just run away?’ I asked myself. I am ready to take any punishment but I can’t do this.

But then Edwin’s words repeated in my mind again, “The punishment for your disobedience will be borne by your mother”.

My mom’s crying face flashed in front of my eyes. I closed my eyes and covered my face with my palm.

‘Until when do I have to suffer like this?’ I asked and my subconscious mind replied, ‘Not for much long, don’t worry’.

I removed my hand from my face and opened my eyes.

That’s right. I don’t have to suffer for long. Soon everything is going to end and I will be free from all the suffering.

I got up on my feet and looked myself in the mirror as I told myself, “Do it for your mom Nat. I know she doesn’t deserve your concern but you can’t be heartless like her”.

I inhaled a deep breath and came out of washroom. I was making my way towards bar counter where I left Mr. Smith when I bumped into someone.

I apologized immediately without even looking up and tried to side step the man but my eyes snapped up to look at the man when he blocked my way and asked,

“Hey beautiful, do you want to dance with me?”

My eyes widened when I saw the person I bumped into. The person who asked me to dance with him is none other than the infamous,

Cyrus Knight.