"Yes. But I need you back in this house."
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Oh God.
Breathe. I can't wilt right now.
"I need time," I tell him again.
His eyes turn to slits and his cheeks redden.
"It's not you. It's me. Please. They...they did a lot to me. But I'm trying. I am."
His jaw clenches. "I won't have it look like we aren't together, as we were in the past. You're mine, Vanessa. If I want to touch you or kiss you, I will, and you will not react in any way, except with enthusiasm. Do I make myself clear?"
I blink hard, willing my tears not to fall and destroy my eye makeup, which will only enrage Carlos. "Yes."
His lips twitch. "Good. Kiss me and show me how much you've missed me all these months."
My insides quiver. I'm trapped. I knew this moment was coming, but I kept pushing it out of my mind. There is no way to get out of it.
After I don't move, he cups my face in his hands and dips down. The moment his lips touch mine, he pries my mouth open with his tongue and shoves it in my mouth.
I force myself to go along with the motions, feeling nothing that I used to feel when I kissed him and only more hatred stirring in my gut.
When he finally releases me, he reaches into the jewelry box and pulls out the engagement ring he forced me to accept. Taking my hand, he slides it on my finger. I'm once again shackled to him. "I've set our wedding date. In twenty days, you will be my wife. I will not allow you to deny me what is owed to me as your husband. Whatever you need to figure out, do. I'm tired of waiting, and my patience only goes so far, Vanessa."
A tear falls against my wishes, and he swipes it. "Don't ruin your makeup." He steps toward the door and then spins back. "You have an appointment tomorrow with the seamstresses to design your dress. Work with them to create whatever you think will make me proud and happy. Money is no factor." He leaves.
Shaking, I step outside, trying to stop my tears and searching for comfort in the red petals, but it doesn't come.
Guilt now takes over. My heart belongs to Hunter and I've kissed another man. And it doesn't matter how much I hate kissing Carlos. I've betrayed Hunter.
My nightmare is true. It's happening. As much as I want Hunter to save me, he can't. My fate is set in motion, and there is no way to stop it.
In twenty days, I will be Mrs. Carlos Garcia. He will own me in every way, even if only for a short time before he kills me.
26
Vanessa
"What are the details I need to know for tonight?" I ask Carlos in the car on the way to the Mexican embassy. My hand is shaking, and I'm gripping it, trying to get it to stop.
"The press thinks it's to celebrate the new Mexican ambassador. But it's really for Jorge Cano's birthday. He's been there for several days."
My hand flies to my face. "I'm sorry. I didn't know I needed to get a gift."
"Arja handled it. It's in the front seat. You weren't in any condition to go shopping."
Oh no. I'm going to pay later for this.
"I really am sorry," I blurt out. The last time I didn't know it was a birthday party for one of the cabinet members, I ended up with bruises all over my back. Carlos shoved me so hard against the wall, I thought I broke my spinal cord.
Carlos picks up my trembling hand, and I try not to get more agitated. "I've been thinking."
"What about?" I quietly ask, my stomach fluttering with nerves.
"Arja suggested I hire a personal assistant for you. I believe it's the best thing for you, considering your current state."
Why?
"I don't understand."
"There's a lot involved in being my wife. You're under a lot of pressure right now. A good assistant can take it off your shoulders. Then you don't need to worry about leaving the house for these types of tasks."
He wants to imprison me further.
My silence angers him.
"I just offered to give you an employee, and I get no response? No thank you? Nothing?" he barks.
I jump. "N-no... I'm sorry. I'm just in shock. It's very generous. Thank you. But I... I can go back to my tasks. You shouldn't have to spend your hard-earned money."
"No, I shouldn't. But you're not capable of handling everything right now. I'll have someone for you to work with by tomorrow."
I put my hand on his biceps. "Honestly, Carlos. There's no need—"
"The decision is made. However, you can thank me properly." He arrogantly cocks an eyebrow.
Kiss him, or he will hurt you.
I force a smile and kiss his cheek, but he aggressively grabs the back of my head.
The spot in my neck that he injured and has been throbbing since Torres yanked on my hair over a month ago intensifies. "Ow! My neck!"
He adjusts the angle of my head but doesn't release it. "Is that all I get? I give you an employee, and you give me a peck?"
"I... I..."
The car stops, and a valet opens the door. "Oh, I'm sorry."
Carlos lets go, turns his scowl into a smile, and chuckles. "No sorry needed." He steps out and holds his hand for me to go with him.
I place my hand in his, not wanting to anger him any more and scared about what is going to happen when I get home.
Time to put on my happy face.
I step out onto the red carpet and force a smile for the cameras flashing everywhere. Reporters call out my name and Carlos's.
He leads me to the front near the doors then spins, tugging me closer to his body.
"As you can see, Ms. Castillo has made a full recovery and is happy to be able to meet the new Mexican ambassador. We continue to ask for privacy."
"Ms. Castillo! How do you feel about your upcoming nuptials?" one reporter asks.
It's a question I should be ready for, but I'm not.
He's told the press.
Of course he has. It's happening, and there is nothing I can do about it.
The entire press corp waits for my answer, but the only person I see is Carlos. And the longer I delay answering, the more I feel his wrath. No one else would notice, but I can't escape it.
In a move to bounce back from my mistake in the car and lack of preparedness for questioning, I dig deep within. Somehow, I find a way to appear happy and say, "It can't come soon enough. Look who I get to marry! He's every girl's dream." I put my hands around his head and kiss him as if my life depended on it.
But that is the reality. Every day, whatever I do, my life depends on it.
He ends the kiss, waves to the crowd, and guides me inside and down a hall. Shoving me against the wall, he presses his body against mine and continues the kiss. His erection grows, and I try not to squirm and keep telling myself to deal with it. Any sign of weakness tonight, and I will pay for it when we get home. And it will hurt.
A man clears his throat, and Carlos releases me. When he steps back, I can't contain the wave of emotion that fills me.
"Zoe! What are—"
"I'm performing tonight! It's so great to see you again! How long has it been?" She smiles big with wide eyes.
"Ummm... I don't know..."