Chapter Five

Kayla cleaned up in a bedroom Anthony gave her, a bedroom she half-expected to be as splendid as it was since she was an enemy. She proceeded to the dining area before 7:30p.m. Given that she didn't know her way around the house, Amy took her to the dining area herself. The moment Kayla walked to the dining area and saw Anthony, her anger heightened. The very fact this strange idiot claimed to be Clinton was upsetting. 

Anthony was on the phone when Amy showed up with Kayla. He got off the phone and offered his whole focus to Kayla precisely, tracking her as she walked towards the table. Her beauty was breathtaking, no doubt someone might get spellbound staring at her. But he wanted that pretty face looking some other way, maybe… agonizing.

Kayla averted her eyes and pulled up a chair opposite him, facing him directly. When Amy left the dining area, Kayla looked down at the table, her hands nervously folded into fists. Being alone with Anthony gave her an extreme insecure feeling that made her heart wobble with fear.

“Just in time. Amy must be of good assistance to you,” he said without an expectation for answers.

 Anthony clapped thrice. After which, four chefs came walking to the dining area. They had with them, trays that contained different kinds of mouthwatering food. Kayla couldn't help but observe and question herself if some other people would join in the dinner —that was a shitload of food. She brought no appetite to the dining, so she certainly can't eat any. Moreover, Anthony did not seem like a gormandizer. Who then would eat all that food?

A minute after the chefs served the food and took their leave, Kayla hadn't taken anything into her mouth. How could she eat when her soul was in a rollercoaster of trouble?

Anthony found her refusal to eat infuriating, but he fought himself to suppress it and avoid reneging his words. The plan from the beginning was to spare her until they got married, he'd do just that.

“I want you to eat, else I'll do it myself. And it won't please you what I'll do,” He glanced at her and said with a hint of anger in the low tone of his voice.

She could not eat, regardless of how much she tried to contain her emotions. His warning managed to cause her body to fret until she started found herself restless within. Despite the uneasiness his words ignited inside her, she still couldn't bring herself to hold a spoon, let alone eat.

 She disobeyed his words. Only that was enough to force the beast inside him to creep out and devour her — she didn't even know how much it took him to put his anger to sleep to avoid hurting her. It took him even his health and life. It took him medications. He pounded his fist hard on the table to release himself. Kayla shook in response, and involuntarily grabbed a spoon to eat. 

He lifted his steaming eyes to hold her eyes in a firm gaze. That rage in his eyes deprived Kayla of air as her emotions surrendered to fear, and she was left shaking. Anthony was bad-tempered, since his history he hadn't regretted losing it. But a fucking part of him feared he would if he lost it with her.

 “If you don't eat — then get ready to starve for three more days.” He said all he had to say, the decision was left for her to take. 

Kayla frowned, unhappy that she'd again break her resolve. But if she didn't eat, she would starve for three days. She had no choice but to eat, it was for her stomach's sake after all. 

In a few more minutes, dinner was over and the table got cleaned up. Anthony went back on the phone — he was quite a busy person. However, he did not permit calls interrupting during dinner.

Kayla often glared at him, she too was a business person and she had calls to make, but she sat there like a theee-year-old because he asked her to. A brisk, clacking of heels came approaching to the dining area. Kayla swung her head to the direction and saw it was Amy. Gazing at the black file Amy held, all that rang in Kayla's mind was On Your Marks, she felt the file might contain something that would piss her off.

Amy stood beside Kayla and held out the file to her reach. “Have it, Miss Kayla,” she said. 

Kayla froze, gazing at Amy. Exactly what she thought. Now what did the file contain? Her soul fell in the deepest of thoughts. She would forever hesitate to take that file, knowing it contained something as evil as Anthony. Sorry for Amy, whose hand would hurt holding out the file.

“Miss Kayla.” 

Amy’s worry-like voice drew Anthony's attention to realize Kayla's refusal to collect the file. Dropping his phone on the table, he said, “Collect the file, Kayla; otherwise you might get hurt.” 

“I can do a lot without your threats,” Kayla had to muscle the courage, the threats were becoming more than she could take; getting her back up.

He leaned in his seat, tapping the fingers of his left hand on the table. “Prove it, then,” he said to see if she could do as she claimed.

Gazing at him with boldness in her eyes, the woman who thought she wouldn't collect the file, collected the file just to prove her bravery. She opened it and read the first line of words.

A relationship agreement between Anthony Kings and Kayla Jonathan. Rules for Kayla Jonathan.

Kayla's eyes widened, and her lips parted open as fear crept into her. Rules? When it came to rules, count yourself dead, for your existence would feel like walking around with invisible leashes only you see and feel. Your movements limited, your desires deprived.  

Her eyes tarried on the document, hiding her worried eyes from Anthony to prove she was up to her words. She read through the rules.

RULE 1: Live under the pretense of happiness. In the public and everywhere besides your house, and with everyone except Anthony Kings, act like you're happy with your life and your relationship with Anthony Kings. 

RULE 2: Signing this agreement implies you will be Anthony Kings’ property. He and only he owns you and shall be bonded with you. This states that you shall forsake the opposite gender unless Anthony Kings permits.

Kayla got fed up with the first two rules out of  twenty nerve-racking, greedy, infuriating; heartbreaking rules all set for her. She could not grasp whether she was angry or sad as emotions whelmed her. At least plonking the file on the table was a sign of aggravation, wasn't it?

“I can't do this. Don't make me do it… please,” with both sadness and anger, she pleaded.

“Do what? Live a life of pretense?” A frown creased his forehead as he asked. 

Kayla ignored the bloodcurdling aura oozing out of him, ignored the fact he was fuming up, ignored the scary frown on his face — and nodded her head.

Anthony felt his temper slipping away at her bold disagreement. With his eyes holding hers, he vigorously hit his palm against the table. Kayla cringed along with a gasp. That was not enough to simmer down his rage, he pounded his fist on the table and the part of the table where he hit depressed.

She shuddered, her breath hitched as fear seized her soul. Her eyes now flicked from Anthony to the table he just depressed with his fist. He weird her out to death, threw her into confusion she might go psycho trying to unravel. Really! That was impossible.

“You weren't forced to tell a bunch of lies that wasted the life of an innocent child, were you?” he asked, his blazing eyes ravaging her soul through her eyes.

If she arranged his words carefully, he meant that Clinton was dead. Who then was the man who just squashed the table with his fist? An imposter! She gazed fearfully at him while her mind pondered on how much danger she had gotten into. It was hard to sign the agreement. How could she sign an agreement with — a weirdo? 

“You’d regret it if you force the worst out of me, Kayla. You'll watch every single reason for your happiness crumble, but you can't say a word because no one will believe nor listen to you.” 

His last words quickly threw Kayla's heart into a deep-well of turmoil. It kinda related to Clinton. Clinton said plenty of words to prove his innocence until he couldn't speak anymore, because nobody believed him. The guilt whenever she remembered Clinton forced her to do things. He got what he wanted, she'd sign the agreement. Not only because of Clinton; for her family's sake, she would surrender to pain. 

She wiped her tears, then she plucked a pen which hung beside the file. She gazed at the rules for some more seconds, imagining what life would be after signing the agreement. Life would be terrible, yet she signed it for her people's own good. 

“Keep it with you. If possible, marry it and don't let a word from it slip your mind. It's for your own good,” he said, calmly this time.

She did not expect the fear shoved into her by his aura to keep her still until Anthony came standing right in front of her. With his eyes latched on hers, he cupped her chin with his hand, and gently lifted her to her feet. Too many urges, both carnal and malevolence submerged him at her presence. She saw harmful desires crystal clear in his eyes, making her dread over his intention.

“I have something for you.” His hand left her chin, and shackled her arm, dragging her to god-knows-where.

 Getting to a door in the hallway, he pinned her against the door and clutched at her face to make her look him in the eyes. She grabbed his hand to peel it off, moaning in discomfort. Her fear skyrocketed the second he wrapped her leg around him, holding it firmly to his body to prevent her from moving away. Kayla could feel his rock-hard body against hers — so uncomfortable. The fear he would violate her destroyed her.

The closeness of their bodies, and her response to his act tickled his desires to do dirty things to her. But that was not in his list for the time being; so he endeavored to silent his urge.

He led his hand down to her neck and clasped it softly. He leaned over as his voice, deepened with desires, whispered in her ear, “My little cage bird.” He bit her earlobe and pulled it softly with his teeth, knowing it provoked her. Kayla wriggled hard to free herself; his grip still reminded her to stop trying. “You’re mine…” His hand on her thigh started skimming toward her butt. She pushed his hand to hinder him from reaching. “And only mine.” His hand ignored her pushing, and moved up until he handled her asscheek. 

Anthony already got what he wanted and was about letting her go when she pushed him away. Pointing at his face, she raved furiously at him, “I am not your strumpet! Agreeing to your terms doesn’t mean that I’ll let you play around with me.” At that moment, she forgot his darkest side that terrified her, all she saw was red.

For a moment, he gazed impassively at her. Such bravery. Well, those were empty words, he still was in control here. He closed the space between them, trapping her under him by placing his hands side-by-side on the door behind her. She looked up at him, the graveness in his eyes awaking her fear again.

“I won't go down there, Kayla. But when I want to, you can't stop me. Nothing can.” He cupped her face. “You passed the test. Thank yourself for wearing exactly what I wanted you to wear.”

Test?

Confusion almost crept into her, but then she recalled Amy pleading with her to wear the nightclothes exactly how they were set, without mixing them up. Amy knew it was a test. It occurred to Kayla to mix up the nightclothes as they were sex appealing and didn't suit her preference, but she didn't. But what would he have done to her if she failed the test? Crush her bones with his fist?

Her mind was still spinning in confusion when he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to his body. She gasped in fear, thinking he was going to touch her yet again. But then, he placed his thumb on the fingerprint lock and opened the door behind her. The breeze which rushed out of the room, was freezing that Kayla had to turn around and look into the room.

Upon seeing the sex dungeon which glorified nothing but unholiness, her eyes pushed wide open — she was dazed. The thought that the dungeon might be for her buried her in fear. If it wasn't meant for her, why bring her to such an undesirable, scary, infernal room?

Anthony pointed upward above the bed, and said, “Welcome to your cage.”

Her eyes followed his hand to the direction he pointed at. A big picture of her was attached to the wall above the bed. She gaped in awe, both fear and confusion slew her. Anthony planned everything beforehand, meaning he'd make sure she didn't escape.