Chapter 7

My trembling fingers tugged at the hem of my dress nervously, contemplating on adhering to his command and let him take my virginity or, try for an escape.

The only escape route was the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the beautiful views of Brookline skyscrapers. And, the only way I could make an escape through that was by crashing into the window and landing on the ground floor below, which could result in a broken spine, a damaged brain, or even a demise.

The door entrance wasn't an option either. It would be stupid to try for an escape through that. This was his house and he surely knew his house by every length and breadth.

He would effortlessly fish me out of any corner I hide in seconds.

My eyes watered. I had lost count of the number of times I cried today alone.

Ace’s puzzled frown knocked me back to my senses and I realized I had been keeping him waiting. I also realized something else - the wine, silky nighties he was extending to me.

“You can change into this.”

I blinked away the tears that had gathered in my eyes and accepted the nighties.

“You can take a shower. I will be in the other room.”

I watched, lips parted, as Ace grabbed the suit set he had stripped out of. Striding out of the room, he halted by the entrance.

“You can come over if you need anything.”

Then, he breezed out, closing the door with a soft click.

I breathed out, holding my pounding chest.

Wasn't he going to have sex with me?

I immediately ran to the door and locked it before he changed his mind, dashed into the room, and pounced on me at once. But, taking a shower and climbing on the king-sized bed, I realized how foolish that was. This was his mansion. If he wanted to come in, he could easily do that by grabbing a spare key.

But, he never did.

Throughout the night, anticipating Ace by the doorstep, ready to claim my virginity as he should, he never came by.

And, gradually, my shaky breath became even. My eyes flutter shut, still focused on the entrance. And I drifted off to sleep.

~

I woke up to a knock on the door, light and soft.

My eyes swept to the digital clock by the bedside table. It read past eleven.

I jerked up.

Did I sleep for that long?

I instantly got off the bed, tightening the white robe around me, which had been loosened during the night, and slowly marched to the door.

I tried to ponder on the thought of Ace coming in at some point in the middle of the night and taking me in without my knowledge.

First, I didn't feel sore. No blood either. Lastly, seeing how huge his hood was, if that ever entered me, I would have known.

I breathed out a relieved sigh.

Standing outside the room was a scowling lady, probably in her late thirties. Her face was a perfect oval-shape and her pointed nose complimented her porcelain skin. Her hazel eyes danced around my figure and her soft angled brow shot up.

Her slender, tall figure leaned into the doorframe as her frown deepened.

“You look younger than I thought.”

Her thick British accent caught me off guard.

“Who are you—?”

Rudely, the lady brought her hand to my lips to shush me and swept past me, trudging into the room, her medium champagne-colored hair in a stylish layer hairstyle, slapping my nostrils as she did.

I followed her in.

“Well, I offended Ace and now, he has assigned me to a styling duty as a form of punishment. I couldn't think of a worse punishment than dressing up as a teenager.”

I frowned. Was she referring to me?

“What are you still staring at, baby doll? Off you go to have a bath.”

She slurps into the mattress of the bed, making herself comfortable as if she owned everything within this space.

I huffed. What the hell is she?

Wait, have a bath?

“Are we going somewhere?”

I asked, leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window.

“Certainly not me. I'm not the new bride, sweetheart. You, on the other hand? You have to be somewhere with Ace. Now, hasten your step to the bathroom.”

Well, I'm even more confused. Who said I was going anywhere with Ace? Why did he decide without my involvement? I was hoping to lay low till I got comfortable with the fact that I was married to a mafia mob boss. Can't I just be left alone?

“Somewhere? Where?”

“You are becoming nosy. He didn't warn me that you are the nosy type.”

Nosy? Now, she was pissing me off.

“How am I being nosy? This concerns me!”

She suddenly gets up and starts strutting out of the room.

“Where are you going?!”

She halts and swirls around, a cocky grin painting her lips.

“To tell Ace that you've refused his request. Maybe he would come around to dress you up himself.”

What?

“Okay! I will take a shower!”

I immediately grabbed a towel and dashed into the bathroom.

Of course, everyone around Ace would be as vile as he was.

~

True to her words, I was supposed to have a date with Ace. The condescending lady Ace had brought to style me, had me dressed in a dark blue velvety bodycon spaghetti strap gown. I tried but failed to ignore the extension of the v neck collar that effortlessly exposed my cleavage and the slit of the gown to my mid thigh.

It had me wondering who picked the dress. I had my vote on Ace until the condescending lady - who had turned down my request to introduce herself - took a step backward after her final touch on my hair, admiring her work. Then, I figured she might have picked the dress.