Chapter 6

• ALESSA
• Alessa heard footsteps and then a girl a few years younger than Alessa stepped out of the shadows.
• She was beautiful with pouty red lips and a round face with high cheekbones. She smiled up at Alessa. “I'm sorry, I heard someone crying, I didn't know it was you.”
• Alessa felt her cheeks become hot. She hadn't meant for anyone to catch her crying. It was bad enough that Tyra and Gideon had embarrassed her this evening. “I'm sorry to disturb you, I'll go to my room now.”
• The girl shook her head. “Oh no no. I didn't mean that. Are you okay?”
• Alessa nodded, already walking away. She would be fine as soon as she found a way out of this bondage of a marriage. “Yes, I'm fine.”
• The girl started walking with Alessa. “I'm Gideon's sister. My brother and I were looking forward to meeting you at dinner.”
• Alessa stopped and stared at her for a second. She did look like Gideon with her brown eyes and black hair. “What's your name?”
• “I'm Bianca. My twin is Matteo. I'll advice you stay away from him. He's act crazy sometimes.” Bianca said matter of factly.
• Alessa smiled. She hadn't met anyone as blunt as Bianca in a while. “Why aren't you in bed?”
• Bianca's lips tightened. “I wanted to talk to my brother, but he was with Tyra. She's a pain in our neck.”
• Alessa started walking. She had been jealous of Tyra for a moment. She wasn't sure she was ready to talk about her husband's mistress yet. “She's beautiful.”
• Bianca rolled her eyes. “She's a witch. You should send her packing.”
• Alessa reached her door and stopped. “I don't think I can send her away without Gideon’s permission.”
• Bianca took her hand. She looked earnestly up at Alessa. “This is your house, you can do whatever you want.”
• Alessa felt her throat tighten. No, this wasn't her house, this was her husband's house and she might as well be his slave for the amount of respect he gave her.
• Alessa pulled her hands away from Bianca's. “No, Bianca, this isn't my house. This is your brother's house. I am only his bought bride.”
• She opened her door, walked into the room and locked it behind her. Then she slid to the floor and laid there for a moment, thinking hard.
• Gideon didn't need her in his house, he didn't need her physically to claim her family's wealth. So if that was true, why was he keeping her in his house?
• She turned onto her back and fell asleep. The next morning, she was up early, dressed and ready by six. She knew what she would do.
• She found her phone and called Beth. Beth could help her run away. She had already tried and failed once. It didn't mean she would fail again.
• Beth picked up at once. She sounded like she had just woken up. “Hello?”
• “Yes, Beth? I need your help.”
• Alessa heard the rustle of the sheets as Beth got out of bed. “Alessa, you can't call me anymore.” She sounded cold and distant.
• Alessa’s heart slammed against her chest. Beth had never sounded this way with her before. “What do you mean? You're my best friend, Beth. I have no one else to talk to.”
• “I'm sorry, Alessa. Your dad had my father punished because I helped you run away. He says he'll kill my family if I keep helping you.”
• Alessa closed her eyes, feeling like her heart would rip it's way out of her chest. She hated her father suddenly. Beth's father had done nothing to deserve that.
• “Beth? I'm so sorry.” Alessa cried into the phone.
• “It's fine. I'd advise you to stay there. Your father sounded very angry on the phone. I don't think he'll care about you either.”
• Beth hung up and Alessa fought the urge to throw up on her bed. Her throat was too tight to allow anything past anyway. She couldn't call Beth anymore.
• She believed her father when he said he would kill her family. He didn't make idle threats.
• What options were left for her? She didn't have any money. Her father had locked her out of her accounts, and she didn't know if Gideon would give her any.
• Her life was well and truly over. She heard a knock on the door and jumped out of bed. She found a robe and threw it on as she hurried to the door.
• Alessa opened the door and stepped out. It was a young man. He looked about twenty. He held out a bag to her. “Dress up. Mr. Gideon wants you to meet his guests.”
• She took the bag from him and stepped back into the room. What was he trying to do? She had brought clothes from home with her.
• Alessa opened the bag and pulled out the dress. It was a long red dress with slits up the side. She dropped it on the bed and stood back, just staring at it.
• It was the most beautiful, and surely the most expensive dress she had ever owned. Her father was wealthy, but even he would not have spent money on a dress like this.
• Whoever Gideon's guests were, he really wanted to impress them. And it was still so early, so where were they going? Alessa shuddered. Wherever they were going, she knew she was about to be shown off like an object, on auction.
• Gideon wanted her to dress up so she would look good on his arm. She didn't know how to feel about that because she liked the dress, but she didn't like feeling as though she was his property.
• Another knock came at the door. Alessa groaned and walked over to open it. She found Tyra standing outside.
• The woman grimaced. “You look like trash. No wonder Gideon made me pick out your dress.”
• Alessa was suddenly disgusted and humiliated. With herself, her family and with Gideon. Of course Tyra had chosen the dress. Why had she thought Gideon had picked it?
• Her fist tightened and she swallowed back her rage. She couldn't afford to fight Tyra. “What do you want, Tyra?”
• Tyra slapped Alessa suddenly. Alessa looked up, her ears ringing. Tyra looked so angry her eyes had gone red. She leaned closer to Alyssa and hissed. “If you ever call me by my name again, I'll strangle you in your sleep.”
• Alessa’s fingers touched her burning cheeks as she stumbled into her room.