The Contract

TONY

The second Callie saw me, her face turned from sleepy confusion to pure shock.

She quickly sat up, clutching the sheets around her tightly, “What…what the hell, Tony?” she stammered. "What are you doing here?"

I didn’t say a word. I just held her gaze, letting the silence speak for me. Then I gave a quick nod to my men. Instantly, they stepped forward, and moved towards her.

“No, wait….” Callie tried to pull back, but it was no use. They grabbed her, her hands clawing at the sheets as they lifted her from the bed.

“Tony!” she yelled, twisting in their grip. “You can’t do this!”

I watched calmly as they carried her out, ignoring her protests and thrashing.

When they reached the car, they pushed her into the back seat, and I slid in beside her, closing the door.

As the car started moving, she glared at me, breathing hard. “You think you can just kidnap me?” she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger.

I turned to her, meeting her stare. “I think you’ll find out that I can do whatever I want, Callie.”

I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “And you’d better remember that.”

******

Back at my house, I walked down the hallway, stopping outside the room where Callie was locked.

She had no way out, and I knew that by now she’d understand her situation.

I opened the door, and my men followed me in. She sat on the bed, her eyes red and puffy, looking angry and also scared.

"How are you doing, Callie?" I asked calmly.

She didn’t respond. Her gaze dropped to the untouched food on the table nearby, and then slowly she looked back up at me.

“Why haven’t you touched your food?” I asked, gesturing to the untouched plate.

At this, she lifted her head. "Why are you doing this, Tony?" she asked, her hands shaking uncontrollably.

"I told you…I’m sorry for coming to you. I shouldn’t have asked for your help. Just let me go, please," she pleaded, her eyes filling with unshed tears.

For a moment, I didn’t respond, just looked at her. She sat there, vulnerable and on edge, yet refusing to look defeated.

I signaled to my men, and one of them stepped forward, setting a paper on the table in front of her.

Callie’s eyes moved to the document, then back to me with confusion.

“It’s a contract,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You’re going to sign it. We’ll be married for a year, and after that, you’re free to go.”

Her face went pale, and she stared at the paper in shock, then back up at me. “No,” she shouted, standing up. “I’m not signing anything, Tony. This is insane.”

I leaned forward, my gaze locked on hers. “You don’t have a choice, Callie. Sign it, and you’ll get out of this in a year. Refuse…” I let the word hang in the air, letting her imagine the alternative.

Without breaking eye contact, I reached inside my jacket and pulled out my gun, setting it firmly against her temple.

Her body got tense, and she looked up at me, her eyes wide with shock.

"Sign it, Callie," I said, trying my best to maintain a calm voice. “This will be easier for both of us if you just cooperate.”

A tear slipped down her cheek, but she didn’t flinch. She didn’t even look at the contract. Instead, she lifted her chin and looked me straight in the eye.

“At this point,” she whispered, “I don’t care if I die, Tony. Nothing you do will make me sign that paper. Go ahead. Pull the trigger.”

The strength in her voice threw me off, just for a second. I was used to people folding under pressure, but Callie…she was different.

I pressed the gun just a bit harder, feeling my own frustration rising. But her gaze didn’t waver and her stare grew even more intense.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth as I lowered the gun. “You know, Callie, I figured you might be stubborn,” I said, almost amused by her confidence.

I reached out my hand, and one of my men quickly stepped forward, placing a phone in my palm. I then turned the screen toward her.

Her expression shifted immediately as she looked at the image on the screen…a small, scruffy dog, her childhood pet, held by one of my men.

The sight of her beloved pet made her ego falter. I could see her tough exterior beginning to crack.

“Recognize him?” I asked, tilting the phone to make sure she had a clear view. “I found him in your apartment. Guess he still means something to you.”

Her face instantly became pale, and her mouth opened, but no words came out.

I leaned closer, letting the phone linger just a few inches from her face. “Now, here’s the deal, Callie. Sign the contract, and he goes back home safe and sound. But refuse again…”

I paused, watching her eyes widen. “And I’ll make sure that loyal little friend of yours doesn’t make it through the night.”

She swallowed hard, her eyes flicking from the phone to my face, then back to the contract in front of her.

“You’re cruel,” she whispered, her voice breaking as tears started to slip from her eyes.

“I told you,” I replied. “I can do whatever I want. So, it’s your choice, Callie. You’ve got five seconds.”

For a moment, she looked like she was going to resist again, but then her hand began to tremble.

Her fingers moved slowly toward the pen on the table, her gaze still locked on the picture of her dog.

With a shaky hand, she picked up the pen, and without looking at me, she signed her name on the dotted line.

Satisfied, I took the phone back, and handed it to my men as a victorious grin spread across my face. “Smart choice.”

I leaned in close, and whispered close to her ears. “Welcome to my world, Callie,” I murmured, as a satisfied smile stretched across my lips. “You’re mine now.”

She looked away, clenching her jaw, I guess the realization was already settling in that there was no easy way out.

“The priest will be here soon to make it official,” I said casually, watching her reaction. “We wouldn’t want to keep him waiting, would we?”