Strip!

"The boss did."

Alessandro Fúcking De Luca. Jesus, he was testing her patience.

"Did you say something?" Janice furrowed her brows.

"I didn't." Arabella gritted her teeth and stared back at the mirror.

"Since you are fine with it, how about we get going? It's almost time, and the boss isn't fond of lateness. But you might be an exception as he seems fond of you."

"If you only knew my situation, you wouldn't think that…." Arabella mumbled.

"Uhn?" Janice questioned.

"Nothing. Let's get going."

Arabella let out a deep breath and patted her stomach forming knots.

'Help me, dear lord.' She mumbled as she stepped out of the room with Janice.

************

"See you later," Janice said as soon as they reached the door. "This is the boss's bedroom."

"Please, Janice," Arabella gripped her hand as she was about to move. "Stay with me a bit. Don't leave me."

"Oh!" Janice exclaimed as Arabella's arms wrapped around her.

"He's really harmless, don't be scared," Janice mumbled while caressing her back.

Arabella shook her head and held on tighter. She believed they had different versions of the kind of person Alessandro was.

She had said he smiled while picking out the dress for her, and he was harmless.

Arabella doubted what Janice said was true because the man she was acquainted with was a bloody murderer. He was void of emotion and didn't care if she got hurt.

She didn't want to be in his presence even as she had resigned to her fate.

The wicked glint she had seen in his eyes promised her pure torture, and she didn't know what he had in store for her.

"That's enough now; the master is waiting!" Said a stern voice.

Arabella flinched, and Janice gripped her hand. It was one of the guards she had seen outside her door the day before.

She shifted her gaze from his narrowed toffee eyes to Janice's.

"I need to get going. I'll be around if you need me later."

Arabella nodded and heaved a breath as Janice mouthed, 'Good luck. '

She needed luck, but she wondered if she would get it.

As soon as she stepped into the room, the urge to dart outside again surged through her. She placed her sweaty palm on her thumping chest and stayed by the door.

Arabella blinked while trying to make her eyes accommodate the room's dimness.

Despite the lighting, it was too dim to see even a shadow. She doubted anyone was in the room with her as she felt no presence, but the scent that enveloped the room said otherwise.

"Come here," Sandro ordered.

Arabella stood by the door, and her eyes searched the room for him.

Sandro stood by the side of the large four-poster bed. He moved away from there to the vanity, and he set the wine glass with him on the table.

"Do I need to make you come to me before you obey my orders?"

Arabella shook her head involuntarily and staggered to the middle of the room.

Sandro met her halfway, and he gripped her hand. He lifted it to his lip and placed a kiss before chuckling.

"You look ravishing."

Arabella shuddered. It was a compliment and one she' have smiled if it was from someone else.

But, it was Sandro complimenting her. She didn't know how to react to it. Also, she wondered if it was a compliment to him.

"I told them to make something special for you. Be my guests, Bellissima."

Arabella began to protest, but Sandro's grip tightened on her, and he pulled her into the chair.

"Eat."

"I do not want to," Arabella muttered.

"You need your strength for what is about to come, and I'd hate for you to collapse midway."

Arabella's eyes flickered to his, and she bit her lower lip, "What do you intend to gain in all this? Why are you doing this to me?!"

"Hush," Sandro leaned into her and whispered into her ear, "I warned you against talking back at me. Would you rather I punish you on an empty stomach?"

Arabella trembled as his voice caressed her. His minty breath wafted into her nostril, and she inhaled before shaking her head.

"Good girl, now eat up before I change my mind."

Arabella's eyes wandered to the food in front of her. It was food meant for ten people. She didn't know what he was thinking of making them cook as much as these.

She doubted she could finish half of the food.

She grimaced as her stomach grumbled.

"Betrayer." She mumbled.

Arabella believed she had no choice. Even if she had, she couldn't fight him in her weak state. She needed her strength, and eating was what would replenish it.

As soon as she downed the content in the wine glass, Arabella shoved the food in front of her away. She was full, and she barely ate half of what was on the table as she had thought.

Or maybe it was because of Sandro sitting a few distances away from her, watching everything she was doing.

Arabella stood but stayed in the position she was in as Sandro rose as well.

"I wasn't expecting you to finish everything, but I am impressed. You have such a healthy appetite."

Arabella nodded.

"Now, where do we start?" Sandro strode towards her. His hand tapped on his chin, and his lip curved in a smile.

He sat on the sofa in the middle of the room and crossed his leg. "Come stand before me, darling."

Arabella moved slowly towards him and halted as he signalled with his hand.

"Now, strip."

"W-what?" Stunned, Arabella blinked her eyes as she gazed at her.

"I want you to strip for me slowly. And think twice about wanting to refuse because" He brought out the gun in the pocket of the leather jacket he donned and pointed it at her.

"I won't hesitate to kill you right now."