ELEANORAfter Armando left the room, my legs felt weak—trembling from the overwhelming sensations still coursing through me, and my mind was a mess of scattered thoughts.I swallowed hard, taking slow breaths to calm myself, but my body refused to settle. I hated how much control he seemed to have over me. Even now—with him gone, I could still feel him like his presence had somehow soaked into the walls.“Why does he have to be like this?” I muttered under my breath. I tried to focus, to pull myself out of this haze, but every attempt was a failure.Armando was… intense. That was the only way I could describe him. I wanted to hate him for it, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny that when he touched me, it was like nothing else mattered.I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I forced myself to move, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water helped a little—washing away the tension clinging to my skin, and by the time I was done, I felt slightly more grounded.
ELEANOR "Fuck! Eleanor we have to go!" Lucy yelled as they were just about starting. "Let's go please, we can't let that pig Mr. Paulo meet us here." I certainly did not want Mr. Paulo to meet me still in the backroom trying to get my makeup properly done. Both I and the rest of the other girls were to be put on sale tonight. Yes, on sale. I was dressed in a short black body con dress going way above my knees, almost revealing my entire thighs as a means to entice whoever would buy me tonight. I hated wearing these revealing outfits but I had to bring myself to put them on because that was what Mr. Paulo ordered. Some of the other girls had put on dresses even shorter than mine so it seemed I turned out a bit lucky in getting the one I was given to wear. We all lined up to be addressed by Mr. Paulo, the fat and immensely greedy man who ran this empire. "Ascoltare girls, it is yet another time to go and make yourselves some money and make me even a lot more," a filthy smirk stir
ELEANOR The room was still full of chattering when Mr. Paulo dragged me backstage to get prepared to be handed over to my new owner, I could see how eager he was to get the deal closed and sell me off. After all, the more the price we were bought for, the more money he made. Paulo was an unbelievably greedy fat man who only cared about how much got into his pocket. "Pack up your stuff quickly while I go get the papers for you to sign. You had better be done before I got back!" He said as he left me in the dressing room. I could overhear as the rest of the auction went on while in the dressing room but all my thoughts were clouded with was what I had coming ahead of me. Who was this Armando that sent the whole room into oblivion through the sound of his voice? "There's our lucky girl! I heard you were bought for a huge sum" Camilla, one of the oldest ladies in the trade said immediately she stepped in with a few others just like her. "And for a whooping fifty million infact!"
ELEANOR After navigating several twists and turns along the dimly lit hallway, we finally reached Mr. Armando's doorstep—a black door, elegantly adorned with a golden handle. I could feel my heart palpitate rapidly as we stood right in front of it. It was one of the several private rooms which I learnt from my stay here that Mr Paulo rented for overly expensive prices to the richest set of men that visited here. The intimidating guard assigned to escort me opened the door and gestured for me to enter. Then he bowed his head and swiftly closed the door behind me, leaving me with my unfathomable new master. I stepped in with each footstep more deliberate than the last and was welcomed by the husky aroma of the expensive perfume that occupied the entire room. The elegantly marble-clad walls were softly illuminated by a dim blue light bulb, casting a gentle glow throughout the room. Majestic chandeliers burning with scented candles were set on a table next to the throne-like couch w
ELEANOR The drive to Mr. Armando's mansion was unnervingly quiet. The chauffeur didn’t say a word, and neither did Armando’s personal guard, the same one who’d practically dragged me to the car earlier. He sat in the front seat, eyes fixed forward, barely moving except for the occasional glance in the rearview mirror. I kept my distance from Armando, though the backseat wasn’t exactly large enough to offer much space. Every inch between us felt like it might disappear any moment, and I did everything I could to shrink into the corner. He didn’t even look at me, but that didn’t bring any comfort. His silence was heavier than anything he could have said. We finally pulled up to the mansion, and my breath caught in my throat. The building was massive, far more than I could have ever imagined. It looked like something out of a magazine—a sprawling estate with towering gates, pristine landscaping, and large, expensive-looking windows. Marble statues decorated the lawn, and the driveway
ARMANDO I paced back and forth in my office, my mind racing. The phone call I’d just finished still echoed in my head, and the more I thought about it, the more my blood boiled. My informant’s words had been clear—our shipment had been intercepted, and it was no ordinary operation. This was a hit from our number one rival. I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out a cigar. I needed to calm down, think things through. But even as I lit the cigar and took a few slow puffs, the anger simmered just beneath the surface. It didn’t take long before I slammed my fist down on the desk, the wood rattling under the force. How the hell did this happen? We had planned everything. The route, the timing, the security. It was all handled quietly, kept within the tightest circle. So how did they know? I grabbed my phone, my hand shaking with anger as I dialed Matteo. “Get to my office. Now.” It wasn’t long before Matteo stepped through the door. He was quick, I’ll give him that, but it didn’t
ARMANDO The music in the club was deafening; a mix of heavy bass and fast beats that rattled through the VIP section. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and perfume.Neon lights flashed over the room, painting everything in shades of pink, purple, and blue while girls in tiny bikinis moved through the space, dancing on platforms and flaunting their bodies like they were on display. It was all a blur—girls grinding against poles, hands grabbing at cash, the sound of laughter mixed with the music. None of it could drown out the storm of thoughts in my head.I sat in the corner of the VIP section, a glass of whiskey in my hand. The booth was plush, expensive, and isolated from the chaos of the main floor. Matteo was beside me, completely in his element. Two girls were draped over him, their barely-covered bodies pressed against him as they giggled and whispered things I didn't bother to catch. He had one hand wrapped around a glass, the other resting on the ass of one
ELEANOR Armando barged into my room without warning, the door flying open like it had no weight at all. I jumped, my heart leaping to my throat. He didn’t knock. He didn’t say a word before entering. He just… invaded.“W—What if I’d been naked?” I stammered, pulling the edges of my nightgown tighter against my body, every inch of me on high alert.He didn’t even blink. “So what?” His voice was cold, dismissive. “This is my house. I can walk into any room I want, anytime I want. Especially yours.”I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. “That doesn’t give you the right to—”“I own you,” he cut me off, his voice sharp and final. “You’re mine, Eleanor. Don’t forget that.” He took a step forward, his eyes boring into me like I was nothing more than a possession he’d purchased. “You have no privacy here. None.”His words hit me like a slap. I felt the sting, the weight of his control. I had no say in anything. Not in this house. Not with him.He was so rude, ugh!For a moment, I coul
ELEANORAfter Armando left the room, my legs felt weak—trembling from the overwhelming sensations still coursing through me, and my mind was a mess of scattered thoughts.I swallowed hard, taking slow breaths to calm myself, but my body refused to settle. I hated how much control he seemed to have over me. Even now—with him gone, I could still feel him like his presence had somehow soaked into the walls.“Why does he have to be like this?” I muttered under my breath. I tried to focus, to pull myself out of this haze, but every attempt was a failure.Armando was… intense. That was the only way I could describe him. I wanted to hate him for it, but at the same time, I couldn’t deny that when he touched me, it was like nothing else mattered.I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I forced myself to move, heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water helped a little—washing away the tension clinging to my skin, and by the time I was done, I felt slightly more grounded.
Chapter 76ELEANORArmando's voice came low and sharp from behind me, brushing against my ear."Do you have any idea what you're asking for, Eleanor?" His words were slow and deliberate—each syllable wrapped in a teasing chill. "You know what you're about to get yourself into?"I opened my mouth, but my throat felt dry.I barely managed to whisper, "Maybe. I'm not sure." My voice shook, and I gasped softly when I felt his breath against the side of my neck, warm and unsettling.His hand moved then, his left still firm on my waist while his right slid lower, tracing circles just below my hips. My skin burned under his touch, every nerve alive and screaming. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing so lightly against my neck that it felt like they weren't even there.He chuckled softly, the sound low and dark, sending shivers down my spine."Maybe?" he repeated, his tone mocking but somehow laced with something that made me feel small and exposed. His hand on my waist then tightened sligh
ELEANORI noticed for the first time, the small shopping bag in his right hand. It was subtle, but now that I’d seen it, I couldn’t look away. My mind immediately started racing. He’d never gotten me anything before—at least not like this—and I couldn’t remember asking him to. So what was in the bag?“What’s in there?” I asked, pointing to the bag in his hand.Armando didn’t answer right away. Instead, he smirked slightly, his expression unreadable. “If you really wanted to know,” he said, “you’d already be standing.”His words felt like a challenge, but I didn’t move right away. I wasn’t sure what I was more nervous about; the bag in his hand or how close he was standing. But after a second or two, I pushed myself up from the bed—my legs still feeling a little weak for reasons I wasn’t ready to admit—and stood beside it.I hesitated, unsure if I should step closer.“Can you see what’s in the bag from there?” he asked, his tone light but teasing.I didn’t bother answering because I co
ELEANORWhen I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was how quiet the mansion felt. It wasn’t the kind of quiet I had gotten used to since Armando locked himself in his room. This was different—heavier, like the silence had a weight to it.I turned my head slightly towards the clock on the wall, and when I saw the time, my body jerked upright before I could even think.9:30 AM.“Crap,” I muttered, throwing the covers off and scrambling out of bed.My heart raced as I tried to make sense of how I’d overslept because it felt like I’d only closed my eyes for a few minutes, but somehow, I’d lost hours.I stood there for a moment staring at the clock again, as if the numbers might somehow change if I looked hard enough—although they never did.Dragging myself to the dresser, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess—tangled from tossing and turning all night, my face was lined with faint creases from the pillow, and I looked… tired. The kind that a single n
ELEANOR As I sat there—still uneasy, I finally gathered the nerve to speak. “What could you possibly want to know about me?” I asked, my voice flat with an edge of skepticism. “I’m not exactly the most interesting person.”Armando—who had just taken another bite from his meal—didn’t even look up at me as he replied. “Tell me whatever you’ve got,” he said casually, his tone almost too indifferent. “Your family, your background...” He paused for a bit, and then added with a slight mocking lilt, “Even the most boring person has a family and a past Eleanor. Don’t they?”“Well I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t have much of either,” I answered quietly, my face neutral as I shifted in my seat. “No family, and certainly no ‘background’”That finally made Armando look up—his gaze sharp; almost as though he was scrutinizing me for the truth. It was unnerving so I turned my face away, pretending not to notice his growing impatience.After a moment, his voice cut through the silence
ELEANOR“You’re lucky I’m not the kind of man who doesn’t ask for consent,” Armando continued, his tone low but cutting. “Or I’d have had you right here and now without a second thought.”My heart skipped, and my pulse spiked at the subtle threat laced in his voice. I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to breathe. I wouldn’t let him see how his words rattled me, how much they cut straight to the core of my fear.I swallowed hard as he lifted my chin. “You’d end up in jail.“ I shot back, my voice sharper than I felt inside. “And honestly… that doesn’t sound so bad for someone like you.” I added, letting spite creep into my tone.For a second, there was silence. Then Armando let out a low, dangerous laugh—a sound that sent chills down my spine. He tilted his head, his smirk sharp and mocking.“Well,” he said, dragging the word out, “if you want me to go to jail so badly, I might as well use you as my free pass.”He then moved his arm suddenly, bringing it close to my chest in
ELEANORAs I stepped further—still clutching the tray in my hands, the only light in the room was the dim glow of the skyline seeping through the large glass window, and the faint orange ember of Armando’s cigarette.I hesitated for a second after I managed to find the light switch—wondering if turning on the lights would push him over the edge, but I flicked the switch anyway.The room lit up instantly, revealing the disarray I’d expected. Empty glasses cluttered the side table and an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts sat beside them. Armando was on a large rounded chair by the window, staring out at the city as if he was trying to count every building in sight. He didn’t even flinch when the lights came on, not a single movement.His face was rigid and blank from where I stood and the way his jaw set and his hand held the cigarette so tightly sent a clear message; he wasn’t in the mood for company.When his voice finally broke the silence, it was cold and threatening.“Who th
ELEANORArmando had been acting strange for the past few days and I couldn’t help but notice it. It had been three days now since he took me to the hospital and ever since then he hadn’t left the mansion, not even to step outside the front door into the compound. It was really so strange for someone like him—who always moved around with purpose—to suddenly become so stationary.The mansion was unbearably quiet and it wasn’t the peaceful kind of silence either. This silence was suffocating, heavy, and stretched across every corner of the house like a thick, invisible fog.Yesterday I had accidentally dropped a spoon while I was in the kitchen and the clattering sound that came from it echoed so loudly throughout the mansion—making the stillness even more pronounced—to the extent that it startled me as though I’d disturbed some fragile balance. That was how quiet everything had become.I had always wanted space—some peace and quiet—away from Armando, yet now that I had it, I wasn’t as r
ELEANORThe gentle hum of the limo filled the silence as we drove out of the hospital's compound. I leaned back against the plush seat—the outside world blurring into nothingness—as I stared outside the window, feeling hollow as though a piece of me had just been left behind.What made it worse was the glimpse of that nurse. I was almost certain she was the one but I couldn’t approach her because Matteo just had to be there like a shadow trailing me everywhere.The doctor’s words began to replay—like some sort of whisper—in my head. She seemed to be a kind woman—middle-aged with sharp glasses perched on her nose—and her demeanor was assuring as she’d handed me a prescription list, speaking in a tone that made it sound like she genuinely cared.“You’ll need to take these as directed,” she had said in a tone that was both soft and firm at the same time. “Three times a day after meals. Don’t skip a dose. And also try to get good rest as much as possible.”Then she’d given me a small, enc