CHAPTER 5

"Wake up," a stern voice woke me up abruptly.

For a while, I was confused when I saw the unfamiliar room I was in. It took a few good seconds before everything registered in my still hazy brain. My eyes felt heavy as I scanned the room. I could feel how they were swollen from crying.

"Your training will start today," the cold voice stated.

I looked up to see the man who bought me. I found myself shamelessly staring at him. How can he look this good despite the silver streaks in his hair? That is the only clear giveaway of his age. His body is still so fit. I bet he can crush me with ease.

"Hey," he snapped his finger in front of my face right before my thoughts went dark and dirty. I jerked back in surprise.

"I'm talking to you," he snapped.

Right. But what did he say? Training. 

"Training?" I voiced out my confusion. What training?

"You are supposed to be my wife. I can't introduce you like that," he said, looking at me with a hint of disgust in his eyes. He was scanning me like I was a bacteria under a microscope.

Excuse me. Is he trying to insult me?

I glanced at the full-length mirror across the bed. My curly red hair is like a bird's nest. My eyes were red and swollen, and even my lips were fuller from all the crying. But he can't deny that I still look good despite the imperfections. If there is one thing that I am proud of, that is how I look. That's the only thing that I can probably thank my parents about.

Oh no. Don't you dare go there, Ava!

I tilted my head to stop myself from heading back to memory lane once again. I need to focus on the present. I have to think about what to do next.

"Get up. A professional coach will come in an hour. She will teach you everything you need to know," he explained impatiently.

"Cora," he turned to look at a middle-aged woman I never noticed until now.

She politely nodded without saying anything. Then, the man left the room without another word.

Shoot. I forgot to ask his name. Again. And why the hell isn't he introducing himself? How am I supposed to address him?

"You should take a bath. Your breakfast is waiting for you," she curtly smiled.

Breakfast? I glanced outside. How long did I sleep? The violent rumbling of my stomach answered my question.

"Uhm, okay. I'm Ava, by the way," I said.

"I'm Cora. I will be your personal assistant," she smiled.

Personal what? Assistant?

"You should seriously get up now. I will prepare your clothes while you bathe. Do you have any preference?" she asked.

I am so confused. I can't wrap my head around all the information that bombarded me first thing in the morning.

First, I have a coach. Then, an assistant? Who is he? Is he America's president? Am I going to be the first lady?!

I scratched my head while heading to the bathroom. I took a shower to wake my senses up, thinking it might help clear my head.

Cora was waiting for me when I stepped out.

"I didn't know what you would like to wear, so I prepared these," she motioned at the neatly arranged sets of clothes in front of me.

They all look formal. There's a dress ensemble and a couple of pants and different tops. Honestly, I have no idea what these kinds of clothes will look on me. When I was in the ring, I only wore lingerie or nothing at all while at work. This is all new to me.

I sighed, then grabbed one of the pants paired with a button-down shirt. It looks the most comfortable, so I went for that.

"Uhm," I turned to look at Cora. Am I supposed to dress in front of her? It's no big deal to me, but I didn't want to shock the poor woman.

"I'll wait for you outside," she smiled before walking out of the room.

I stared at my reflection. It was weird to see myself like this. It was like a different woman was staring back at me. I was used to a different kind of clothes, or the lack thereof, maybe. Now that I was fully clothed, it didn't sit quite right.

I shrugged. I will get used to it in time.

After breakfast, a woman who looked like there was a stick stuck in her back entered the door. She was ushered in by a man who looked just like the bouncers back in the ring.

I frowned. So there is security outside. Just as I thought it would be easier to escape from here...

"So, are you Yvonne?" the woman sternly asked while scrutinizing me behind her thick glasses.

"Yes," I snorted. "But I'd rather you call me Ava." Yvonne was long dead, as far as I am concerned.

"I'm Helga Beaufort. I will be the one responsible to make you a civilized human being," she said.

What the hell? Civilized? What does she think of me? An ape?!

She didn't waste time. We started with things I never thought were taught to normal people. Walking, talking, even eating! Damn! What kind of world have I gotten myself into?

At the ring, they only taught us how to dance. The only subject we had to learn was art. The art of seduction. That's all. To say I was baffled is an understatement! Who would have thought one would need several spoons and knives for a single meal?!

"Oh god," I groaned loudly while massaging my feet. They hurt so bad! Honestly, I want to strangle that witch!

My back quickly straightened up when I heard someone clear his throat. He's back!

I wanted to shout at him for putting me through all that, but the stern look on his face made me shut up.

"To my office," he briefly said, then walked out on me.

Ugh. I thought I was going to be his contract wife. Why do I feel like he wanted me to be his battery-operated doll instead?

I pushed myself to get up after throwing my heels aside. I'd rather walk barefoot.

"This is a non-disclosure agreement. Sign it," he said as soon as I entered the room.

"A what?" I frowned.

"This means you can't tell a single soul about our arrangement. You can't disclose any information about me or anything that's going on in our lives," he explained, then shoved the papers to my face.

Do I have a choice? Besides, who would even be interested in my life?

I snatched them from his hand and signed it recklessly.

"Happy?" I asked sarcastically.

He chose to ignore me and handed me another set of documents instead. Ugh. What are these now?

"As long as you are with me, you will take on a new identity," he said. "You will be using Yvonne Page as your legal name."

"Yvonne?" I winced inwardly. "Can't it be Ava instead?"

He only changed the family name from the real one.

"What's the difference?" he huffed. "They sound the same to me."

I rolled my eyes. Fine. As if I have a choice!

And that's exactly how the week passed. I had no choice but to do whatever he told me to. In addition to Helga, the personality development coach, I also have a speech trainer. One day, a whole team of stylists visited. They taught me how to dress properly for different occasions and a completely different way of applying makeup.

They also changed my hairstyle and hair color. After a week, I look like a completely different person. If I were to go back to the ring, I bet no one would recognize me at first glance. My skin looked pale as I stopped tanning myself. My red, curly hair is now pin-straight and dark-colored. My face is bare from make-up; if I applied some, it would only be natural and classy colors. Goodbye, drag-queen make-up!

"I look good, though," I muttered while looking at my reflection.

Sometimes, I wonder how rich and powerful he is. Why do I need to practically change my entire personality? Do people really care that much about him? Or Perhaps he just really wanted a trophy wife.

At first, I wasn't sure about this whole situation. I was torn. A part of me was happy that finally, after years, I was out of the ring. I tried to fool myself into thinking this was actually better than the life there. But as the days passed, I felt more and more like a prisoner. It may be a golden cage, but it is still a cage nonetheless.

I think it's high time I took charge of my life. I can't let other people tell me what to do, what to eat, or when to breathe. I'm so tired of it!

He may have paid for me, but I didn't get a dime out of it! I am my own person. He can't lock me here forever! I have to do something!

I am alone now. I asked Cora to buy some personal things for me. The only problem is the security detail outside the unit.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. It's now or never.

I knocked on the main door. For the life of me, I didn't even know how to open the damn thing! There's a panel on the side. I think it needs a code or something. I knocked again.

It took a while before I heard a click. Then, I felt it being pushed from the outside.

"Hi," I tried to smile at the man standing outside.

"Is there a problem?" he asked after glancing at the wet part of my shirt.

"Uhm, there's a leak in my bathroom. Can you check it?" I told him.

He looked hesitant for a while, but then, he still stepped into the unit.

"It's at the end of this hallway," I pointed him toward my bedroom. My heart is hammering wildly inside my chest. I can barely hear anything other than the rush of blood in my ears. I gulped as I watched his back as he walked towards my room. I left the door open so he could easily walk in.

"I'm so sorry," I quietly apologized to the poor man. I'm sure he would reap the consequences of my action but I had to do this.

I took a step back instead of following. The moment he disappeared from my sight, I sprinted to the door! I have no plans whatsoever! I just have to get out of here first!

I ran as fast as I could to the elevator.

"Come on," I pressed the button repeatedly until it opened up. I was breathing heavily while waiting for it to close again.

"Hurry up!" I squealed. A sigh of relief escaped my lips when it finally closed and started moving downwards.

I fidgeted my trembling hands. This is it. I can almost taste my freedom...