I wake up face down with a splitting headache. Trying to place my head back onto the pillow, it slides off the silk and to the bed again. I don't have silk pillows in my bed. Opening my eyes, I groan. Wine is not my friend. And I'm not in my bed. Inhaling deep, I close my eyes and the scent of Callum fills my lungs. Why am I in Callum's bed? The last thing I remember is being upset Callum wouldn't switch chairs with me, him getting loud and embarrassing me in front of everyone like I’m a peasant not worthy to take the king's chair. All I wanted to do was avoid Gee's friend. He's a dirt ball with no conscience.
I slide my hand over my belly and am slightly relieved I'm still dressed. More than slightly. That would have been really low of him to take advantage of me in my sleep. But, I'm not sure I'd put it past the man. He's nothing like I thought he'd be. Although, the fact I've only seen him in the flesh four times means I can't even make that statement.
With a groan, I slide my legs over the side of the bed and take my time sitting up. I never want to drink wine again. Looking around, I'm alone, so I take in the extreme differences of our rooms. Mine's bright and happy. His is like him; drab. With a smirk at my insult, even though it was only in my head, I get off the bed and realize too late that it's a four foot drop. Hitting the ground, I groan. Letting my eyes linger around his room, I get to my feet and move slowly. There's a rich oak dresser with an enormous mirror. Next to the dresser is an oak stand-up jewelry case. Walking over to it, I open it to at least a hundred watches. So much money. Gliding my hand over the dresser I move across the room. There's not much else, and the room isn't too big. Mine's actually bigger. There's an armoire and a hearty oak chair that matches his dresser and case. Moving toward one of the doors in the room, I slowly crack it open to an enormous closet. His closet wins out compared to mine. Money is flowing from this closet. Thousands, possibly millions of dollars in clothes, shoes, even hats. I've never seen him in a hat. I've never seen him in anything but slacks and a buttoned shirt. All these clothes make me wonder what's in that armoire thing in the corner. Turning for it, I spot a bathroom that I'll inspect next. Placing my hands on the handle of the armoire, a noise outside the bedroom door makes me jump and I bolt right out of his room.
"Mag!" Lol startles when I almost mow him down.
"Sorry, Lol." The near run in doesn't make me stop moving. I want to get to my room and out of these clothes.
"Madam, wait, please." He's hot on my tail.
I slow my pace but don't pause. What if there are cameras in Callum's room and he watched me snooping?
"Where are you headed in such a hurry?"
"To my room to sleep. All day. You up for a nap?" I throw him a glance and he chuckles.
"No, thank you. I was going to see if you had plans for the day but I understand you're not feeling well."
"Why? You want to hang or somethin'?"
"Mr. Carbon has a luncheon I thought you'd like to attend."
The pistons in my legs start to slow down.
"Did he invite me?" I shouldn't be giddy that my fiancé invited me to lunch.
"Not exactly. But it's in your house and I just thought…" When he stops talking, I stop walking.
"Thought..?"
"You should get to know these people. They're important in Mr. Carbon's life. You're in Mr. Carbon's life."
Ha! Hardly.
"Know what happens when you assume, Lol?"
"What, Madam Dude?"
"You make an ass out of U and me." I've picked up the pace again but he doesn't relent.
"I hope you’ll consider. I'm starting to worry this union won't be perceived how it should be."
I snort. No kidding.
"It's not supposed to be perceived as anything. Callum is capable of deciding if he'd like people to know about me or not. And, I'm pretty sure he would not." Stopping in front of my door, I smile at him, trying to act like that doesn't hurt. "What makes you think I want to go to a stuffy luncheon anyway?"
Leaning closer, he lowers his voice. "Earl Cupplington is attending, and he enjoys irking Callum more than you, I think." The wicked grin on his face makes me chuckle.
"What time?"
"One p.m. prompt. In the Garden Room. Wear something…you." As he walks away, I giggle all the way into my bedroom.
Standing in front of the mirror, I slowly remove the necklace I don't recall putting on the night before. I've never even seen it but it's really cute. I kind of love it. I stare at the colorful teardrops then set it on my dresser, needing to remember to ask Lol where it came from. Maybe Susan brought it for me as a gift.
After a bath in my hot tub sized tub where I soak like I'm a sponge, I drag myself out. When I arrived, I was instructed to purchase a new wardrobe that would be appropriate for social gatherings. I shopped online for two days and did as I was told; yet I don't think this was what Callum had in mind. The words didn't come directly from him. He relayed his message to Lol, prior to ever meeting me, and in turn Lol informed me what was expected of me. Yeah well, I turned up. I bought a wardrobe I deemed appropriate. It's really not that bad. But I've yet to dig into the good stuff.
Choosing an ocean blue lace two-piece dress that bares my midriff, I go through my closet for shoes. I'm not a pro in heels, so I stick to a cute pair of flats. This color with my hair makes me look like a dreamsicle. I'm in love with myself. After drying my hair and setting my Monroe curls, I apply a small amount of makeup to keep my summer look fun. Placing the necklace around my throat, I smile at my reflection. More than likely I'll be kicked out of lunch, so I don't want to overdo it when I go eat lunch alone in the yard. Maybe Gee will be around today to keep me company.
When I enter the room, all talking stops as if I was the topic. Lol stands first, followed by Callum as he wipes his mouth. It takes the others a moment, but eventually everyone pushes their chair back from the table and stands.
"Hello." I smile and move farther into the room.
"Ms. Reif." Lol offers me his chair.
"She'll be seated at my side," Callum speaks up before turning to the staff and quietly barking orders. When a chair is placed next to Callum's, I move toward him. A place setting is set out and soon food is on my plate.
"I had no idea she was here," an elderly man speaks up, "Why didn't she join us sooner?"
"Ms. Reif had prior engagements that seem to have ended early," Callum says before I can rat him out that I wasn't invited.
My gaze flits to Lol, but I keep my mouth shut. Callum pulls out my chair and I sit. When he pushes it in, I look over at him, wondering who this gentleman is. He looks over and smiles while I stare in awe that I'm marrying him. If he weren't a Duke, he should be a model. I wonder if he can still model. Probably not. I almost chuckle aloud but I softly clear my throat and pull my gaze from my fiancé. Clasping my hand, Callum kisses my knuckles and gently rests our hands on the table between us. I'm introduced to everyone and then lunch picks up where it left off. And it's so boring I could fall asleep. Callum's been stiff the entire time, but he hasn't let my hand go while we eat. His grip is tight and uncomfortable. My gaze keeps drifting to him, but he hasn't looked at me once. When I look over at Lol, he gives me a nervous smile.
"Dessert, Your Grace?"
"No. I believe we're done." Releasing my hand, Callum approaches his elderly guests and begins to say goodbye.
When I go to stand, Lol stops me and whispers, "Just stay seated." He offers a smile and softly rubs my hand.
The guests are gone and Callum turns to look at me. "Lol, leave us," he says calmly.
I like the heat in his eyes. I like the tone of his voice. I like the idea of being alone. Perhaps he's warmed up to me some.
Lol stands and takes my hand. "I'll escort Ms. Reif to the computer room for some last minute decisions on the wedding."
"I said leave us," Callum grits out, his eyes still on me and I realize I misconstrued the tone, the look, the idea of being alone. He's pissed.
With a bow, Lol leaves the room and I almost want to ask him not to go.
"How dare you intrude on my lunch," he says when the door closes. I get to my feet. "Sit down!" The words practically vibrate the china and I plop back into the chair. "How dare you barge in here like you think you have a right. This is my home. These are my family and associates. You are not to invite yourself into my affairs."
Fuck him very much. Standing, I storm toward him with my finger out. "I'm your fiancée," I match his threatening tone.
"You're a peasant I'm being forced to marry and mount. The idea of touching you makes me nauseous. You'll be inseminated medically because I wouldn't even be able to arouse around you."
I'm effectively cut down and chopped up but I'll be damned if he sees it. I'm so confused. Through lunch he held my hand. He didn't once act angry I was here. It only takes a minute for me to realize it was a show for his guests.
"You got hard just touching my feet." I snicker at him, hoping my tears stay at bay. "You are a beautiful man with an ugly soul and it makes you fucking hideous." I lift my hand to slap him. Wanting to hurt him an inkling as his words have hurt me, but before my swing connects, he grabs my wrist.
My arm is twisted behind my back and in an instant he has a grip of my hair with his other hand. I shriek as he drags me to the door, releasing my hair only long enough to yank it open. Fighting to get out of his hold while he escorts us to my room is only hurting me more but I don't give up. My bedroom door is opened and slammed against the wall before he shoves me inside.
"I don't want to see you again until our wedding day. I've been kind this far, Ms. Reif, but you've continued to stir my anger. You want anger from me?" His voice gradually raises. "Here it is. You'll be locked in your chambers until the doctors arrive!"
"Doctors?" I blurt, and I don't know why that's my only question.
Of course I don't get an answer. The door slams and keys jangle on the outside. Jumping to my feet, I try the handle but he's locked me in. He fucking locked me in this room!
"Callum!" I shriek like I'm breathing fire and my fists pound on the thick wood. "You motherfucker! Let me out of here you sadistic son of a bitch! This is kidnapping! Callum!"
No matter how much I scream or fight, I'm met with silence. Tears break through and I'm a mess. Finally gaining my bearings, I reach into my waistband for my cellphone and realize it's gone. I must have dropped it when trying to fight out of his grasp.
This is insane. This can't be happening to me. When Lol comes for me, he'll let me out.
Except he doesn't come. Someone eventually did, but I have no idea when because I cried myself to sleep. When I wake, there's food next to the bed and it looks like it's been sitting there a while; I eat it anyway.
The sun rises and when a soft knock comes over my door, I eagerly stand by it. A woman unlocks and opens it and I burst into the hall.
"Ms. Reif!" she gasps but I run to the end of the hall and grab the handle to the usually open door, tugging it; it's locked.
"Let me out!" I scream.
"Ms. Reif." The woman collects me when I collapse after fighting with the locked door. "Let's get you fed. You'll have guests soon."
I don't bother asking questions because I know she won't tell me. I wonder how she got in here if it's locked. There's got to be secret passageways. The woman stays at my side and makes sure I eat. Then she has the audacity to move me into the shower. Realizing I'm acting like a zombie and am now showering in front of this stranger, I snap out of it.
"Where is Callum?"
"Your Grace is tending to business. He'll be here soon." She smiles.
"This is illegal, you know." I rinse my hair. "This is kidnapping. He's locked me in a wing of his house! He's insane! He's going to be arrested."
She laughs at me and when I look at her, I see she really finds it humorous, which means I'm dead wrong.
"Why has he locked me away?" I start to cry.
"I don't know, madam." She helps me out of the shower and wraps me in a robe. "Let's get you dressed."
I let her help me because I'm feeling helpless. Things went from bad to worse. Not even Lol has come for me. I have no cellphone. I'm locked in my bedroom. This is a nightmare.
The woman doesn't leave. She tries her best to entertain me, but I'm so confused and starting to fear for my life. When Lol said I was his prisoner for a year, I thought it was a joke. This is no joke.
The door opens as the sun starts to set and the woman stands from the chair at the side of my bed. She bows her head and switches places with Callum.
"You're a monster," I seethe.
"You're dramatic," he counters and enters my bedroom. "The doctor is here."
"What the fuck for?" I snarl and he closes his eyes briefly like he's trying to gain composure before he drags me through the house by my hair again.
"You need to become pregnant, Ms. Reif."
"Fuck you." I slam myself to the bed and turn my back to him.
"Not a chance," he growls, suddenly over me, ripping me from the bed.
"Callum!" I squeal as he pulls my flailing arms and drags me across the floor.
"I tried to do this civilly! I tried to treat you humanely, but you're defiant! You will ruin everything for me!"
"You're not treating me civilly!" I scream at him, trying to kick free.
"I would let you up to walk on your own but I have a feeling you'd try to attack me." He is literally dragging me like dead weight down the hall.
"Let me go! I'll walk! You're hurting me! Let me go!"
Finally releasing me, I jump to my feet and adjust my shorts and shirt. His eyes drop to my breasts and I attack, swinging at his face. He fights me off from clawing him to shreds and we land on the floor with him on top of me, breathing heavily into my face while he seethes.
"I hate you," I snarl.
"Likewise. All you have to do is get pregnant. Marry me. Deliver my male child and then a few months later you can be on your way."
I spit. Right in his face. I spit finding out his disgusting plan. He never had any intentions of trying to make this work. He is only doing this because he has to. In a year he can divorce me. The paperwork I blindly signed says so. He can banish me from his home and from my child. I fucking signed that, giving him that right.
"I won't do it."
The smile on his face makes me sick as he wipes away my spit. "You're my property for the next thirteen months, Ms. Reif. Have you forgotten? You have no say."
"I do have a say. It's my body! I will tell my mother!"
"Like you, your mother has no say either."
"This isn't legal!"
"You made it legally binding by signing." His weight is pressing fully on me and it's starting to crush my lungs.
"I signed a document online."
"In front of a barrister."
Lol's a barrister? I'm not even sure what a barrister does.
"Did he not warn you he was signing first? Did he not warn you that by law your electronic signature binds you to the document? Did he not inform you you're signing away all rights to a fair life?"
Okay, so he did the first two but the last was worded much differently.
"Fight me all you want, but by the time you get any justice, you will have been locked in my home for the better part of five years before the law grants you any of your rights back. You're better off bearing my child and allowing me to divorce you a year after marriage."
My stiff body finally goes slack under him. I signed documents for imprisonment. I am so naive.
"Will it hurt?" I ask, my throat straining because I want to cry.
"What?" he asks in confusion, still pinning me down.
"Artificial insemination," I whisper.
Removing his weight from my body, he holds out his hand and pulls me to my feet. After brushing off his shirt, he adjusts his neck and clears his throat.
"I don't know," he admits tersely. "Let's find out, shall we?" He crooks his arm and I move farther away from him. "It's easier if you make them believe this isn't forced."
"Easier for who?" I snicker.
"You. Me. Both our families. Suit yourself. You can be alone through this entire process."
"I'm going to tell my sister and she will fucking burn this house down." Hope flutters in my chest. My sister's a fighter. She will rip him apart tooth and nail.
"I'll have your sister apprehended and condemned long enough to ruin any hope of a future for her, Ms. Reif. Careful who you try to rally on your side of the war. I will destroy them."
I almost call his bluff but then I remember who this man is and who we are. We're a low class family living in the Bronx.
Snatching his arm, I dig my nails through the fabric of his shirt, but he doesn't remove them as he unlocks the door.
"I wish you would have dressed more appropriately," he comments while I pad down the hall barefoot and in sleep shorts and a tank top.
"I wish you'd fucking die."
"Use that language in front of anyone but me and you'll pay." The calm to his tone is eerie enough to make me believe him.
"I hope you choke on your next meal," I whisper as we approach staff.
Callum curtly smiles and nods and I keep my gaze on that beautiful face that's an abomination. We enter a room I've never seen, which isn't surprising. I haven't been to half the rooms in this house. But it's white and sterile and looks like a creepy lab out of a sci-fi movie where bad experiments go wrong. My feet hit a cold tiled floor and my grip on Callum tightens. I move closer like he'll protect me. He's the fucking threat. What is wrong with me?
"Relax, Ms. Reif," he says calmly, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. "You're safe."
I harshly laugh and move away from him.
"Dr. Chen." He approaches a man that comes around a corner and they shake hands.
"This is her? Your fiancée?" he asks with a thick accent.
"This is the beautiful Magdelena." Callum opens his arm to gesture to me and I stare at him. The beautiful Magdelena who you would watch burn on a stake. Asshole.
"It is my pleasure." The doctor approaches me and grabs my hand, shaking and bowing his head over and over. I look at Callum to make him stop but he gives me a look like he doesn't know what the guy's doing.
"Uh, can we go over the procedure?" My eyes scan the bright room but there's no indication as to what's going to happen to me.
"Sit down, sit down." The doctor gestures to a table. "I will get a stool." He hurries behind the wall and Callum grabs my hips, setting me on the table with ease.
"If I didn't abhor you, I'd have fun impregnating you the old fashioned way." The smirk on his lips makes me want to bite him.
"Thank god I'm a disgusting piece of shit," I hiss.
"Let's not get dramatic, Ms. Reif." He pulls his hands from my hips and not until my body feels cold again do I realize he was offering me some warmth. Not only is the room cold, but I'm nervous as hell.
"Ah, very good," the doctor says when he comes back with a stool but sees I'm already on the table. "This will be painless." His hand lands on my knee and squeezes before he pulls away. I want to yank him back and use him as a blanket. "I will need a urine sample first. We will check for ovulation. Do you know your cycle?"
"No," I partially lie. I know when my period's supposed to start, but I don't know when I'm ovulating.
"That is okay." He nods reassuringly. "We will test for ovulation. Then we will use Mr. Carbon's sperm and inject it into your cervix." I wince and he puts his hand on my knee again. "No pain. Only slight discomfort." When I nod, he pulls his hand away and my shoulders sink. I'm painfully cold. "Can we get a urine sample now?" He looks from Callum to me and I almost want to be defiant, but what's the use? This is happening no matter what. The longer I prolong it, the longer it'll take for me to get away from Callum Carbon.
"Yes." I glance at Callum who's looking at me oddly.
"I will get the sample cup." The doctor lowers his raised finger then hurries away.
"What?" I hiss at Callum.
"Your lips are blue."
"I'm freezing," I grind out.
"Perhaps if you were wearing appropriate clothing, you wouldn't be cold."
"Perhaps if you didn't live in a dungeon, I wouldn't be cold," I mock him.
"Come now, Ms. Reif. It's your dungeon too." He moves close and pulls me to his side, almost making me fall off the table. "I think you enjoy looking like a whore. Were you a stripper in the states?"
"What?" I squawk and pull away from him.
"You're braless. You dress provocatively. You carry yourself like you're putting on a show. If it makes you feel any better, I would imagine you're a more high-end stripper." His hands begin to rub my bare arms and as much as I want to push him away, I need the warmth.
"Flaunt what your mama gave ya," I say with disgust.
"Indeed." He chuckles. "The Carbon name has always needed a whore stripper."
My hand flexes and I swing. I get him. Hard too. My fingers snap over his face and he flinches back, immediately grabbing his cheek.
The doctor enters the room with a cup in hand and I hop off the table, approaching him before Callum can retaliate. I don't know if he'd hit me, but he has no problem manhandling me. After peeing in the cup, I keep away from Callum while the doctor tests it. I stare at the chart on the wall that is way more in depth than any other anatomy chart I've ever seen in a doctors' office. The sexual anatomy on this chart is very detailed and even has pleasuring tips. I read that area extra carefully to see if I can pick up any self-pleasuring pointers. Apparently I'm never getting fucked. Physically that is. My hymen will be broken by childbirth; I might as well take care of it myself.
"Please give us a briefing of the procedure," Callum states and I glance behind me to see the doctor joining us again.
"Well, as you said on the phone there is a rush to become pregnant, the traditional medical procedure will take much longer."
"Yes." Callum nods. "Right, so we will skip that procedure and try the quickest method possible."
"Intercourse," the doctor says and Callum grits his teeth but manages a smile. I almost chuckle but bite my tongue, wondering what he told this doctor.
"Next to intercourse," Callum insists.
"I suppose…" He glances at me. "I will medically act as…" Hand gestures try to fill in his words, and I get it. A turkey baster will act as my fiancé's dick because my fiancé is such a huge dick. "The traditional way to be inseminated involves tests, drugs, more steps that we're not sure your lovely fiancée will need. So I will act as the penetration that could possibly impregnate you. And Callum, you will continue to provide fresh sperm samples every three days until we conceive."
Well, well, well. Callum has to jerk off into a cup every three days. I have to admit that's a sight I'd like to see, but I won't ever admit it out loud.
"So, tomorrow," the doctor says and I look at him then glance at Callum.
"Tomorrow what?"
"Late tomorrow morning. Let's say eleven? We'll try the faux traditional method, then move on to more medically sound methods if it doesn't take. You'll begin a regimen of vitamins and a prescription today though." He looks from me to Callum.
"Eleven, Ms. Reif?"
When I look at Callum, he has a blazing red mark across his cheek and I smirk.
"Eleven it is." Without another look at either of them, I head for the exit.
Callum joins me before I make it down the hall.
"Here comes the warden," I groan.
"After tomorrow's appointment you're free to roam anywhere you'd like again."
"Oh, except not into one of your little luncheons. Your embarrassing fiancée needs to keep her whore ass out of sight."
"I needed to inform my uncle I was engaged, Ms. Reif," he snarls. "He had no idea, but you showing up filled him in rather quickly."
Oh. Well, shame on him for not telling his uncle he was engaged.
"And, I found out what you did to Evelyn." He snatches my hand like he wants to hurt me, but his grip doesn't tighten.
"Oh, you mean the whore you were cheating on me with? Talk about a fucking whore, Callum. This is some double standard right here. Why can she be a whore, but I can't? Speaking of. Have you seen my phone? I have plenty of people to text nudes of myself to, but can't without my phone."
I get no verbal reply, I only get dragged faster down the hall. The second we enter the door to the hallway my room is in, he steps back and slams it, locking me inside the wing. Rolling my eyes, I stroll to my room. Lol's sitting on my bed with my phone in his hands and I would normally get excited to see him, but not anymore. He knew what I was getting myself into and he didn't stop me. He'll actually be the one to stop me from ending this.
"Madam Dude," he says solemnly as if he knows I'm pissed at him too.
"My phone." I hold out my hand and he slowly stands from my bed, placing it into my palm.
"Mag, I tried to get you to read the contract over and over."
"So my sister could get into this situation instead of me? It had to be one of us and you better be glad it was me. Callum Carbon would be dead right now if it were Mary." That's not true. It's not like Mary is a psycho capable of murder, but I'm more laid back. I accept insanity more than she does. And this is definitely insane.
"He can be a kind man," he says quietly and I snicker, moving away from him.
"He's having me inseminated with his sperm, Lol. We're beyond kindness."
"I feel as if that's kinder than him using you," he states to the carpet and I sink my shoulders.
He has a point there. But maybe I want to get used. As sick as it is, even by him. I planned to come here, get a husband, and lose my virginity. I'm gaining a psycho and going to have a child ruin my vagina before it even sees a penis. I look at Lol, wondering how far I could push him. Maybe I can get him to pop my cherry, but then think better of it. It'd probably get him killed or something equally fucked up. This whole situation has turned from a fairytale to surreal.
"I want to be alone," I tell him, turning my back while I stare at the necklace on my dresser. I want to ask Lol where it came from, but I don't want to talk anymore.
"I'll get you food." He walks out of the room and I don't protest his kindness because I'm hungry.
If anything, at least I'll eat well for a year while I'm here.