18

Suzanne woke up in a panic, due to the horrible nightmare she had just had.

The anguish in her chest felt so real, but it worsened when she saw the other side of the bed was empty.

"He's gone," she thought, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm just a piece of meat he discarded after satisfying himself," she whispered to no one, curling up with her legs pulled close.

She felt used, despised and hurt. She didn't want to feel this way, but she couldn't help it. Nathan Strong had left her alone after their first time because he had already gotten what he wanted.

She couldn't sleep well; she woke up intermittently and stupidly waited for him all night without success, only managing to fall asleep almost at dawn, exhausted.

Her cellphone alarm went off, and she saw it was barely seven. She felt too tired to go to work and lay back down under the covers.

She jolted awake at the insistent sound piercing her head: it was the cellphone Nathan had given her.

"Why didn't you answer immediately?" was the first thing she heard him say.

"I couldn't find my phone," she excused herself, still sleepy.

"Next time, have it on hand. I don't like being kept waiting," he said, and she could hear the anger in his voice.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," she said, disappointed.

«Why does he have to be like this?» she wondered sadly.

"I hope you're ready; I'm on my way," he snapped and hung up.

"Oh, shit!" she exclaimed and got out of bed.

She took a quick shower, while images of the previous night flooded her mind.

The way he touched her, how he penetrated her... she felt her body shudder at the mere thought of being touched by him again.

"Damn it!" she exclaimed in frustration.

She didn't know what he had done to her, that just thinking about him made her want to have him inside her again.

She finished grooming herself and wrapped her body in a large white towel, tiptoeing downstairs in case there was anyone at home.

She was searching for her clothes from the previous night since they weren't in the room. She couldn't understand why he had asked her to be ready if there was no clothing there.

She heard the downstairs door opening and trembled with panic.

"Oh no. I'm in trouble."

Nathan arrived at the apartment, and everything was silent. Without delay, he headed to his room where he had left Suzanne.

The previous night, when she nestled into his chest, an unusual feeling in him arose; he wanted to hold her and stay with her all night, but he didn't want to confuse things.

That's how women were: sentimental and delusional. He couldn't cross that line.

He had always been clear with his flings, which was why he had slept in one of the guest rooms. That morning, he had a meeting, so he had gotten up very early.

He hoped she would be ready; he was a busy man.

He had made time to spend the afternoon out with her, but when he entered the room, Suzanne was sitting on the bed, only wrapped in a towel.

«Wasn't I clear enough with her?» he thought furiously.

He started to advance towards where she was and roughly grabbed her arm, pulling her abruptly from the bed.

"Why the hell aren't you ready?!" he bellowed.

"I haven't found my clothes," she responded timidly, extremely nervous.

"I left some clothes for you in the closet."

"I didn't know."

"Didn't it occur to you to look there?" he said, pointing to the place. "Seriously, when you want, you can be utterly useless."

"I won't allow you to insult me, you have no right!" she protested.

"Darling, you lost all your rights the day you accepted the money and signed the contract," he retorted, serious and cold. "Now you belong to me, and I can do whatever I want with you.”

"But..."

"You have damn five minutes to change," he said, and stormed out, leaving her trembling and on the verge of tears.

A tear rolled down her cheek, thinking she had never been so humiliated. She meant nothing to him, just an object; a sexual object he could use whenever he wanted.

What had happened to the understanding and tender man from the previous night?

What had she gotten herself into?

Once ready, she went down to the living room, and there he was. He stood up from the couch without saying a word, and she followed him.

The luxurious car was parked outside; he opened the door for her and helped her in.

"At least he still has manners," she whispered to herself, but it seemed he heard her, as he gave her a dirty look.

She got into the car, and he started driving without uttering a single word.

"We're going shopping since what you're wearing can't be called clothes," he said contemptuously after a while.

She said nothing, her eyes fixed on the window. She couldn't feel more humiliated; she didn't understand why he treated her like this and if he had really been so kind and loving the past few days, but of course, he had already gotten what he wanted.

Now she regretted giving herself to a man like him.

She sighed tiredly and got lost in her thoughts.

"We're here," he said. She got out of the car before him; she needed some fresh air.

Also, she didn't want him to touch her, but she wasn't lucky as he took her by the waist as she stepped out.

"I can walk by myself," she protested.

"Shut up and walk," he warned.

When they entered the store, several eyes were on them. She surveyed the place and knew it was one of those stores where they charged for even the air you breathed.

"Good morning, Mr. Strong. How may I assist you?" said a girl, who was eyeing Nathan hungrily.

"The new collection for the lady," he said then.

The girl looked at her for the first time, noticing her presence. He seemed to be a well-known regular customer.

"How many mistresses has he brought here?" she wondered.

"Follow me; it's a pleasure to have you here, Mr. Strong," she said, staring at Nathan, and he smiled.

She felt a pang seeing the shameless flirting between the two, but she couldn't say anything because in the eyes of others, she was nobody.