12. Chapter Twelve

How dare he!

Does he think because I was so willing to sleep with him on Saturday night at the club that I want to do it every day for the rest of my life? I only did it because I had to!

Or was he okay with doing it on Saturday because he already knew this was my future? What is wrong with this man? He's supposed to be my father's friend. Why the hell would he make such a ridiculous deal? Why wouldn't he help us out of the kindness of his heart? Isn't that what friends do? You help each other. Are there for each other. You don't force their child to marry you, damnit!

I ask Fernando to drive around for a little while because I can't go home right now. I need space. Need to think. I don't want to be angry with my father over this, but how can I not be? Nothing makes sense. There are so many questions. What did he do to get himself into so much trouble that he has to marry me off? What decade are we living in?

Mother would be so disappointed. She would be so upset! She would never allow my father to do such a thing.

I pull a tissue from the box in the center console and dab at my eyes to wipe up the tears.

What am I going to do? How am I going to stop this? I can't marry Enzo! He's twice my age and I know nothing about him. And aside from that, I don't want to get married right now. Maybe not ever! Men suck. They just suck. I will not marry him. I won't do it. There has to be another way.

After driving around for close to an hour, I decide it's time to go home and speak to my father about this. Had he asked for my help in the beginning, we could have figured something out before he ran to Enzo for help. Maybe it's not too late and I can help him figure out something now.

Saturday was fun, but I don't want to live my life like that. The man is obviously a control freak! I can't imagine the rules he'll have in place for me. I'll be a prisoner, no doubt. I can't have that! It's worse than Zach cheating on me!

I press the button to speak with Fernando. "Can you take me home now?"

"Of course, Miss Jordan."

I sit back and close my eyes until we pull up in front of the house. Fernando helps me out, and I hurry up the stairs, fighting back tears.

"Has my father returned yet?" I ask Jeanette, who greets me at the door.

"No, Miss. He said he had meetings all day." She frowns at me.

I grit my teeth but nod my head. Something as big as marrying off your daughter isn't grounds to cancel meetings?

"Please let me know as soon as he pulls up. It's important."

"Do you need me to call him?"

"No. This is something we need to discuss in person."

She nods, watching me with a deepening frown as I hurry up the stairs to my room.

I pace for a while, wondering what the hell I'm going to do. I move to my door, press the speaker button, and say, "Jeanette, please bring me up a bottle of Moscato. No need for a glass."

I head into my bathroom and turn on the taps to fill the tub as I undress and throw my hair into a messy bun. I sit on the edge as I wait, hating that every time I shift, there is an ache between my legs that reminds me of Enzo.

Just a few short hours ago, I was thrilled about it. Now? It makes me angry.

How dare he?

How dare he!

There is a knock on the bathroom door, and I open it enough to take the bottle. I thank Jeanette, and she leaves my room, but not before asking if everything is okay.

"I'm fine. Just want space."

"Please call if you need anything."

I go to the panel on my bathroom wall and set it to play soft classical music. I dim the lights, grab my cell phone, and get into the tub once it's full. The cork pops off the wine bottle with ease and I drink directly from the bottle until a third of it is gone.

I rest back, trying to relax, but nothing helps. Not the hot water. Not the music. Not the wine.

I grab my phone and look through my messages for someone to text. Of course I have people I chat with sometimes. People I know from school and will meet up with now and then, but none of them are close. I'm not sure I'd categorize them as friends. They're more like acquaintances. I've always been a homebody. Always preferred staying in rather than going out clubbing like all the other girls my age. I scroll through the names, but none of them stand out as someone I want to text over this. I don't want anyone to know what the hell is happening to me. It's embarrassing! How sad is that? I don't have one single person in this world I can confide in? No one I trust? How pathetic.

Because that person is your father.

Well, he's the one who screwed me over!

He's selling me off like a damn prized pig!

Tears fill my eyes as I drop my phone to the floor. It lands on the plush bath rug with a dull thud. My face cloth is perched on the edge of the tub, so I dunk it into the water and drape it over my face. I consider sinking into the water and not coming back up. Ever. I could never do that. I don't want to do that. I just want my life to be back to normal.

I'm not sure how long I stay in the tub for. Not long enough because I haven't melted yet, but the water is getting cold. I pull the cloth from my face and look at my hands. They're pruny, so I should get out. I'm not solving any problems by staying in here. Still, another ten minutes won't do me any harm.

There's a knock on the door. It better be Jeanette telling me my father is here.

"Yes?" I call out.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Miss Jordan, but you have someone here for you." Jeanette opens the door enough to poke her head inside. She looks concerned.

Someone here for me? I sit up straight, causing water to slosh around.

"Is it my father?"

"No, Miss." She frowns.

"Well, who is it?" I shout. I've always liked Jeanette. She's kind and respectful and does a lot of things for me but use your brain!

"It's Mr. Bramante."

My blood runs cold, and this bath suddenly feels like it's filled with ice cubes.

"Tell him to go away!" I shriek. How dare he come to my house? What is he thinking?

"Yes, Miss." Jeanette disappears. I huff out a sigh and rest back, only to have my door thrust open so hard it slams against the wall. In steps the bastard himself. I jerk up, water sloshing over the sides of the tub and landing on the floor with a slap. I go for the towel to cover myself, but I can't reach it before he's blocking me.

"Suddenly so shy?" He grins down at me, standing at the edge of the tub.

"Get out!" I scream.

"I'm sorry, Miss. He insisted, and your father—"

"It's fine, Jeanette," I ground out.

He looks at her over his shoulder. "You've spoken to Mr. Delise. You may go now." His words are so calm, so polite, but beneath it all is nothing but evil.

Jeanette looks from him to me, her eyes wide with fear. But she nods, and she leaves.

Traitor!

"Get out of my room, Enzo. Better yet, get out of my house!"

"No can do, darling wife."

"Don't call me that." I grab the sopping wet face cloth and throw it at him.

Water droplets fly everywhere, but the asshole raises his hand and somehow catches it. Drops land on his clothing, but not nearly as much if he were hit with the whole thing. He tosses it into the sink and crouches down. I want to punch him in his perfect teeth.

"The more you fight me, the more I love it. Makes my cock so damn hard."

He reaches inside the tub to pinch my nipple, and I swat him away.

"You can't do that anymore. The contract is done!"

He smirks. "There's a new contract, Jordan. One that says you belong to me forever."

I hold his gaze, my brain getting foggy. The adrenaline that swarmed me leaves. It just disappears. My shoulders sag, and my chest aches.

"Why are you doing this?" I whisper as hot tears fill my eyes. "Please don't do this, Enzo."

His expression turns hard. "Don't blame me for this, Jordan. Blame your father for making stupid business decisions that were too much to handle."

"But you're his friend. You're—"

He scoffs. "When is the last time you saw me in this house?"

I think about that. And I can't recall.

"What?" I breathe out, trying to stall. I wrack my brain for the last time I saw him in this house. When was it? Definitely before Zachary and me, which was over a year, but how much before? Another year? Two?

"Your father and I no longer have any sort of relationship. Well, we didn't. We do now, thanks to you." My stomach drops. What is going on in my life? How is all of this happening, and I don't know a single thing about it? "Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You can get out of the tub, get dressed, and come with me calmly, or I can fish you out and carry you to my car naked."

I grit my teeth, crossing my arms over my chest. "You wouldn't dare," I hiss.

He grins. "Try me, baby."

I search his eyes and not a single thing tells me he's lying. I don't for a second think he would drag me out of this tub and parade me through my house and outside naked though. What kind of animal would do that? I've known Enzo for years. He's never done a cruel thing. I lift my chin.

"I'm not going with you."

His eyes glimmer with excitement. "I was hoping you'd say that."

He reaches into the tub, snatching me up under the arms like I'm a toddler. I wiggle my body, trying to fight him, but his grip is impossible. He tosses me over his shoulder as he stands, hooking an arm around my thighs so I don't fly backward. I jerk my body and slam my hands against him, yelling and screaming for him to put me down.

He doesn't. He only laughs and carries me out of my room. And it's at this exact moment I know I'm totally screwed.