I wake up to a gentle knocking on my door.
"Aurora?" I recognise the gentle voice from before.
"Come in" I groan half-asleep as i wipe the sleep from my eyes and prop myself up.
The door slowly opens and in comes the woman from before, a small tray in her hands.
"I brought breakfast, do you like eggs benedict?"
I nod softly as she places the tray down on my lap, the rich smell invading my nostrils and making my mouth water.
"Thank you." I mutter as i shovel the food into my mouth, groaning with delight as the buttery eggs explode against my tongue,"This is really good."
She accepts the compliment with a small smile, her eyes crinkling as a result.
"Im Maggie, I was hoping to introduce myself yesterday but you had a..." she pauses as she tries to find a polite way to put the meltdown i had yesterday, "..rocky welcome."
I awkwardly smile, unknowing how to respond. I don't feel ashamed, sure I could've handled the situation a bit better, but my reaction was still justified, I was kidnapped for god sake.
"After you've eaten you should get changed, I'll show you around the house and the jobs you'll be given and then-"
"Im sorry-" I interrupt, a scowl printed on my face, "what do you mean 'jobs'?"
"Its part of the contract? One of the terms is domestic work."
"Domestic work?! Like a maid?"
"Yes, like a maid." She states calmly, like im supposed to just smile and nod and accept it.
Fuck that.
"I don't give a fuck about a contract, you people don't own me!"
"I can try and arrange for you to speak with Mr. Gravano so you can get everything cleared up? He's planned to talk to you later but I can see if you can talk with him now if that's what you'd want."
"I don't need to clear anything up with anyone! I just need you people to let me go home!"
"I understand your frustrations, dear, I really do but I can't help you, I'm just the maid."
I open my mouth to shout again but stop myself and sigh, rubbing the back of my neck and ultimately feeling bad for shouting at her.
"I know- I know I'm sorry. I- I shouldn't of shouted at you."
"Its okay, you've been wronged in this situation and you have every right to be angry with the people in this house, including me. It's not your fault, Aurora."
I try my best to give her a small smile and nod, she seems like a good person and i dont want to lash out at her despite everything that's going on.
"Would you like me to arrange for you to speak with Mr. Gravano now so you can get you're head around everything."
"Yes, please."
"Okay dear." She turns and walks out of the room, giving me one last smile before closing the door behind her.
I sigh, dreading the upcoming conversation as my loud mouth will probably get me into way more trouble than i need to be in with a fucking mafia boss. So fucking what though? I don't give a shit how powerful he is, he can't keep me hostage here, he has no right. I'd rather die than be a slave to the Gravanos, letting that smug bastard order me around. I shake the thoughts from my head and load another mouthful into my mouth.
After demolishing the food, I have a look in the closet to see what clothes are in there.
Fuck, they're beautiful.
Elegant dresses and jackets hang from the hangers, sleek pants and crisp jeans are folded neatly in the bottom of the closet. Classy tops stack the drawers along with a small jewellery box containing simple but beautiful jewellery. Its all gorgeous, but I decide to stick with my outfit from yesterday. My clothes are nowhere near worthy of anything in the closet but I don't want anything given to me by these people, I'd walk around in a trash bag before accepting anything from these pricks. I pick my shabby jeans and jumper up from the chair and get changed back into them before quickly combing through my hair. A small knock comes from the door and Maggie re enters.
"Mr. Gravano will see you now."
I thank her with a smile and follow her out of the room as she takes me to him.
"Cole should've told you that you have plenty of clothes provided in the closet." She added as we walk, clearly noticing my outfit choice.
"He told me, I'd rather just wear this that way I'm leaving in my own clothes, I don't want to owe anything."
"Dear," she looks at me sombrely "I hate to be the one breaking this all to you but from the conversation I walked into, I don't think it will be that easy.."
"What do you mean?" My brow furrows in confusion.
"I-"
"Aurora." Mr.Gravano interrupts with a charming smile, "Please, come in."
I look at Maggie one last time, my face still scrunched up, before following Mr. Gravano into what seems to be his study. I walk into Cole sat down, a large oak desk separating us.
"I want to go home." I start the conversation bluntly.
"I'm sure you do, however I have business to attend to and while ideally I'd like to be the one you have this discussion with, you'll have to have it with my son. Cole, I trust you'll be professional."
He smirks at his father's indirect warning, studying me as I take a seat opposite him.
"Completely."
"Good, if everything isn't cleared up by the end of this conversation then you can talk with me later."
Mr.Gravano walks out and I wait for the click of the door before beginning.
"Take me home."
"That's not going to happen. You see-"
"Oh, it is going to happen." I cut him off. "I'm 22, which makes me a legal adult and if you don't let me walk out of that door now and go back to my own house, I can promise you that I will be pressing charges."
"With what money? And with what lawyer? I think you'll find that any legal action will require funds, which we both know you don't have. Even if you did have the assets, I highly doubt you would win a lawsuit against me. You know who I am, princess, you know who my family is, meaning you know that I have more than enough money to hire the best lawyer there is and I presume you're smart enough to realise that I have plenty of connections. You're chances of winning a legal battle against me are slim to none, so I'd suggest you be the smart girl my research tells me you are and leave the law out of this."
That same stupid, smug smirk plasters his face and it takes everything in me not to climb over the desk and bash his head against it. I clench my fists at my sides and grit my teeth together as I watch him casually take a sip of what looks like whiskey from a crystalline glass.
"Or go ahead, press charges. Even if you do win, Im not above keeping you tied up in my room where I can keep an eye on you. Maybe I should do that anyway after your stunt last night."
"You don't have any need for me! You could have anything you're spoiled ass could ever want."
"And my spoiled ass wants you, princess" He retorts with a casual shrug and a smirk on his face.
"But why?" I yell frustrated.