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
ELEANOR I was jolted awake by a knock. It was still dark outside, the room heavy with silence except for the persistent rapping on the door. Groaning, I turned over, pulling the pillow over my head. Maybe if I ignored it long enough, whoever it was would go away. But the knocking continued, steady and unrelenting. I blinked at the time on the bedside clock—who could it be by 4 a.m?I sat up, my mind immediately going to Armando. But no… it couldn’t be him. He’d made it clear last night that knocking wasn’t something he did—especially not in his own house. Sighing heavily, I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled to the door, hoping this wasn’t some twisted game he was playing. I opened it to find one of the housemaids standing there, her head bowed slightly in a polite greeting.“Good morning, Miss Eleanor,” she said, her voice soft but formal. She held up a neatly folded maid uniform with both hands, offering it to me like it was some kind of gift. “Mr. Armando instructed me to bri
ELEANORSeveral days had passed since Don Salvatore’s call, but I hadn’t known peace since. My mind was stuck in a constant cycle of worry and my heart heavy with fear. I couldn’t eat because the mere thought of food made my stomach churn and my body began growing weaker—my skin pale and dry. It wasn’t hard to tell that something was wrong with me, but there was no one to confide in—not here.And Armando? Despite the way I looked or sounded, he hadn’t eased up on my duties. I should’ve been a bit relieved that someone was hired to share the workload, but instead, I felt uneasy around her. She seemed off, like she didn’t belong. There was something about the way she carried herself—always watching, always calculating—that put me on edge. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was trouble.Mabel’s presence didn’t lighten my load. Her role was clear—cook whatever Armando wanted whenever he wanted it. Meanwhile, I was still left with everything else—the cleaning, the mopping, the
ELEANORI scrubbed the last dish, letting the warm water run over my hands until my fingers felt numb. The rhythmic clinking of plates against the sink was the only sound in the kitchen, but my thoughts were far from calm. Armando’s words from earlier echoed in my mind, and then there was Don Salvatore. His threats, my sister’s pale face in that photo—it all coiled around my chest like a vice.I kept scrubbing—pretending the kitchen was my sanctuary—and for a moment it almost worked, but then the door creaked. My body stiffened.I turned slowly—the soapy plate still in my hands—and my eyes fell on the profile of Armando leaned against the doorframe, watching me. His eyes were calm, but there was an edge to his gaze—the kind that always seemed to confuse me.“You’ve been hiding yourself away a lot lately,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I don’t remember giving you permission to turn into a ghost. Not in my house.”I placed the plate on the drying rack, wiping my hands on a towel
ELEANORI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the drawer where the phone was hidden. The silence in the mansion pressed down on me like a heavy weight and I hated how quiet it was—how every shift of the wind outside seemed louder than my own heartbeat. I just had this lingering feeling that he was going to call.My hands shook as I waited—each second feeling like an eternity—and then it happened. The phone rang.The sound sliced through the quiet like a knife, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. My heart raced as I reached for the drawer—my fingers fumbling to open it—and when I finally pulled the phone out, my stomach twisted into knots.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and answered. “Hello?”The line was silent. Not a sound. Not even the faintest breath on the other end. I swallowed hard, gripping the phone tighter.And then, his voice came—smooth, calm and controlled. “Eleanor.”I didn’t respond right away. My mouth was dry, and my chest felt tight.“Have you been
ELEANOR Armando’s voice shot through the mansion like a whip. “Eleanor!” he bellowed. “Get down here. Now!”I froze mid-pace, my heart hammering in my chest. Did he really just call my name, or was my panic starting to mess with my head? My mind raced, torn between the phone I had just hidden away and the constant paranoia of being found out.Before I could decide, his voice rang out again, louder this time. “Eleanor! I won’t call you again!”The echo bounced off the walls—filling every corner of the house—and for a few seconds, I couldn’t move, my mind spinning with all the worst possibilities. Had he found out i used the phone?My hands trembled as I paced aimlessly for a moment, trying to pull myself together. “Get it together,” I whispered under my breath. “Breathe. Act normal.”I rushed to the drawer, shoved the phone back inside, and slammed it shut. Adjusting my dress in the mirror, I brushed out the wrinkles and ran my fingers through my hair. My reflection stared back at me,
ELEANORThe sunlight peeked through the gap in my curtains and landed directly on my face, pulling me out of sleep. I groaned softly, turning my head to the side, but it was no use. Once the light hit my eyes, there was no going back. I blinked a few times—trying to adjust—and then stared at the ceiling for a moment before dragging myself out of the duvet.As I sat up, I glanced around my room and the mess stared back at me like a taunt. Clothes were scattered on the chair, books—which i usually read as a means of escape—were piled on the nightstand, and a few empty water bottles were sitting on the dresser.It wasn’t that I didn’t care about my space, but ever since I moved into Armando’s mansion, my days had been swallowed by cleaning everything else. His room, his library, the home office, the dining room—anywhere Armando might show up had to be spotless. My room always came last. And every time I planned to clean it, something would come up—some new task Armando would throw my wa
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