2. Corro Galvez

I remain standing there, unmoving. What happened was not sinking in my mind. I stare at the window, bloodshot eyes and dried tears on my face I gasped as I was trying to think of any way on how to escape this place even the low possibility of survival. I blinked twice as bring my hands to my face, wiping the tears I then palmed my head trying to clear any thoughts.

"Lady Roana, Senorito Corro said that I should assist you on your needs," Said the maid at the door, she then knocked waiting for my response but then I kept my mouth shut, not even a word escaped my mouth it may rude but I don't want to deal with this place.

I heard the rumbles of keys seconds later the door opened and then the maid came in. My stares never leave the window I just keep on staring blankly at the outside.

"Lady, Roana are you okay?" The maid asked. I remained silent I can hear her footsteps around the room doing things that her master ordered her to do, after then she walks to my side watching me then to where I was staring.

"Do you need anything, Lady Roana?" She asked again. I heard her sighed as she realizes that I am not gonna talk to her. 

"Tell your Boss I want to talk to him, immediately," I said after minutes of silence, not sounding like a request but a demand. She then bows and takes her cue to leave. Minutes passed I heard footsteps at the front door, the sounds of heavy footsteps that you can tell it's from a man.

"You should clean yourself up, Roana," He said as he walks closer to where I was sitting. I didn't answer his words instead I look at him with bloodshot eyes slightly afraid of him.

"How will I get out of here?" I ask him, the fear is gone all that I am feeling right now is numbness and I am angry.

"Well, if you want to get out of here you have to marry me and produce an heir, if that's, possible after our marriage," He said, he is like negotiating with me but I can see his playful smirk. I bit my lips as I stared at him.

"Corro Galvez, from what I heard you are not that kind of man, you're not into negotiations," I mocked him, I slowly stand up and leveled his gaze.

"You don't know me, Roana there are a lot of things people don't know about me, all they spread is nothing but rumors about how and what they think I am," He then answered, a grin plastered on his face he then puts his hand inside the pocket of his pants and looked at me like I was some type of puzzle he needs to solve.

I swallowed a lump in my throat as I stared back at him. I saw how his eyes dilated with desire and how Adam's apple moved, then his jaw tensed as he stood straight, keeping a serious face.

I can feel my heartbeats beat faster, I gasped for some air like sudden suffocation and look at the window then the air between us became awkward as seconds pass. My brows furrowed as I remembered something from what he said earlier.

"I heard you have a wife," I said to him. He then chuckled which made me look at him, his smile is telling me something and I can sense it was the dangerous type of smile, like something wicked, will happen that I will not be able to avoid.

"I had a wife but then some bastard killed her," He said, his teeth gritted with anger and his eyes show anger and sadness combined. I suddenly feel sorry for him but I quickly kill it to remember that everything happened because of him.

"If I should have listened to her and stayed by her side that day," He added, the vulnerable state of Corro Galvez is like a bomb it's something that you should not play because it's dangerous but fascinating to look at.

I mentally scolded myself as I slowly see his weakness attractive. 

"Anyway, enough with this drama you should clean yourself I will order the maid to help you, wear a dress we will have dinner in an hour, obey me or else you'll regret it, Roana, you will not like it when I'm angry." He said then left the room, I sighed and walk near the window I can see how the leaves fall from trees, how the light reflects everything it touches and creating shadows and peace. 

Minutes passed I heard footsteps from behind me and the maid's voice later. 

"Lady Roana, what do you want to do first?" She politely asks. I turn to her and smiled a little.

"I'll go shower first," I said and slowly walks to the bathroom, it was covered with glass that someone could see your shadow from the outside but enough to keep the privacy of who's inside the bathroom. I slowly unzipped my dress, my dress is dirty and a mess, I got few bruises on my hands because of the chains some dried blood cuts on my body. I quickly turned on the shower and let the water wet my body as I closed my eyes. I heard a knock on the bathroom walls.

"Lady, your dress is ready it's in your bed tell me if you need anything else," She politely said. I murmured my thank you to her and busied myself in the shower I scrub my skin as I scrub the memories of that day.

If Dad only listened to Mom, we wouldn't be in this situation I wouldn't have witnessed how my Mother suffered, I wouldn't have seen her face in tears of grief, anger, and sadness. I clenched my fists and punched the walls continuously and cried everything, I let myself scream in pain.

After minutes of crying, I finally pick myself up and finished showering. I wrapped the towel around my body letting it envelopes my curves after then wraps a towel at my hair. I got out of the shower then walks to the bed, I saw the dress and undergarments I checked each of them and wonder how they find my size. 

I dried myself and slowly dressed. I smirked as I saw how the dress looks on me. 'He has a taste' I said at the back of my mind as I look at my self the mirror.

I walk to the vanity table and saw different types of perfume, lipsticks, and other makeup of the famous brands. My left brows hitched as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I look pale and lifeless as I stared at myself blankly void of any emotion to show. I pick one lipstick and applied it to my lips. 'This is enough' I thought after I set it equally.

I heard a knock before it open, the maid came in and smiled as she sees me.

"You look beautiful, Lady Roana," She compliments me with a gentle smile on her face, I just nodded and walk to where she was standing then she motioned the door letting me come out first, and then she steps forward guiding me around the mansion towards the dining area. I look around and I can see how detailed and amazing the mansion was, it looks like some King and Queen owns this mansion as the details scream royalty you can see the paintings by the famous artists and the designs of statues placed in every right corner that says power, wealth and royalty. Every person that we passed as we walk bows down in respect and politeness.

We reached the first floor of the mansion where the lobby, garden, and kitchen, and visitor's bar lounge are located. I can say, it quite amazes me.

"We are here, Lady Roana," she announces and steps to beside as her hands motioned the table after then she bowed her head as a sign of goodbye and took her cue to leave. Corro was sitting at the end of the table looking at me, I look at him trying not to break the eye contact a was grin plastered on his face as he plays with his lips I just walk to the other chair at the other end of the table then the maid helps me sat down as she moves the chair a bit. I murmured my thank you and smile at her then she bows and leaves.

"Ah! I can see it fits you well," He said after he saw me sat comfortably in the chair, I then lean and stared at his face without any emotion plaster in my face trying to show that I'm not happy to answer him.

"I can see you have a taste in this kind of things, Mr. Galvez," I said, mocking him, but he just laughs at my mockery at him then shake his head as if he finds it amusing to hear.

"What can I do? I had a wife once Roana so I should know these kinds of things it's quite simple to do and do you want to know where else is I'm good at?" He challenges, giving a hint of seduction, clearly teasing me or my patience, the smirk on his face says it all. I scoffed at his remarks.

"I'm not interested, Mr. Galvez," I just said to end the topic but his being playful and tease didn't stop my ending of this ridiculous topic. Stupid me, I shouldn't have opened my mouth in the first place.

"Come on! Are you not curious if I'm good at what you're thinking? You said I have taste, well clearly I do have," He said, teasing like he knows what I am thinking by what he meant. My cheeks blushed as I imagined what he's talking about, I heard him laugh when he saw me blushing.

"Oh, dear you're beautiful just by looking at you blushing like that I do know you imagined things you shouldn't, don't worry you'll know it soon." He said and winked at me. I want to throw a punch at his face! How dare he teases me and he's even enjoying this! I calm myself and looked at him blankly while I slowly pick the knife placed at the side of my plate at showed him what I'm doing, I played with the knife like it was some kind of pen he then raises his brows as he watches what I'm doing.

"You know Mr. Galvez I can throw this to you without blinking my eyes so I suggest you shut up and let me have a moment with my food, peacefully if you may," I said and smirk at him, he chuckled and raise his both hands for surrender and shake his heads, as his grin still showing.

"Damn, feisty I like that," He said and continue eating his meal. "Thank you, Mr. Galvez," I said as I place back the knife at my table and eat peacefully, at last. 

The meal finished without both of us talking, all I can hear is the footsteps of the people around the mansion walking and the sound of utensils in the kitchen. 

The server places a glass of wine, I hold the glass as I slowly shake it admiring the red-colored texture of wine then slowly take a sip of it. 

"So, Roana did you already think of my proposal earlier?" Corro said after long minutes of silence. I sighed and think of it, I have no other option left I can't contact anyone and I doubt if they'll have the strength and guts to save me here. I scoff at the thought of them doing something. 

"What choice do I have? Your men killed my mother and father I have no one left," I said and place the glass at the table then stared at him. 

"What happened was not part of the plan, I already instructed them before leaving for a one-day business trip, I ordered them to scare you and your parents, especially your father but those bastards thinks I allowed them to touch your mother," He explained, but that doesn't make sense how can he have this kind of conversation when they sell women for the higher-ups of the society. 

"Why would I believe you, Mr. Galvez? You sell women for pleasure and money," I said, accusing him. I look at his eyes. "Who would believe you when you're the one giving orders to your men, selling women and illegal drugs, firearms, and even kill people for your benefit," I added gritting my teeth. 

"I don't have to explain anything to you, Roana, if you believe that I am doing things you accused me of then be my guest, I don't give a damn," His cold voice filled the kitchen he harshly stands up leaving me all alone, tearing up.

Damn, stupid tears. I'll find out the truth.