Chapter 10

Z A R A

"I don't want this... don't..." my frightened words are cut short because of his sudden touches.

"There's a chance you may even find this punishment... pleasing," his voice is smooth as he pulls off my underwear. Alejandro slams my arms up against the wall, squeezing it painfully as I struggle in his grip. He only loosens his hold once I stop fidgeting.

"You know, if you comply with me, you might be able to enjoy this," he says while biting the soft skin at the nape of my neck.

"N-no..." I'm gasping heavily as a million different emotions flow through me, denying that I'd ever enjoy such a horrible form of punishment. I want to disappear, I've never wanted to disappear as badly as I do now. I try to not think of him, his body pressed against mine, the woody smell of his cologne, the way it's all making me feel weak and dizzy.

I bite down hard on my bottom lip, trying to vanish with no success. "I haven't heard a single, genuine apology from you. Do you plan on doing that soon?" He asks, his lips pressed closely against my ear. His fingers softly start rubbing against me as humiliation spreads across my body for feeling the pleasure of the heat.

"What I want is for you to stop," I demand yet again. And it falls on deaf ears, yet again. What will I get from being this stubborn? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'll be punished either way. Maybe apologizing would make this less painful. Alejandro's eyes get darker as he sighs, "If that's how you would like to play, I don't mind."

His fingers start moving against my clit much faster, making it hurt. Though it aches, my body found some kind of pleasure from it.

I let out a confused sob, unable to understand the fine line between pain and pleasure. "I see your father didn't discipline you enough, your stubborn act shows it well," his voice is complexly flat.

"Don't bring my father into this," I gasp bitterly, a sudden anger rises within me.

He uses his other hand to lift up my chin to meet his gaze, "I want you to look at me while I hurt you." His fingers suddenly plunge into me with a punishing force, making me wince. I cry out in splitting pain of the unexpected intrusion of his fingers in me. The stinging is unbearably painful because he stuck his finger in dry. It hurt more than I could've imagined, making me fall against him.

"If he had disciplined you, you would be more compliant and more understanding of the situations you get yourself into," there's no form of cruelty or wickedness in the actual tone of his voice. It's more conversational than anything. You would never imagine he's inflicting torturous pain upon someone from his voice. I grab onto his shoulders to stop myself from falling over while he pulls out his finger from beneath me. However, he thrusts it right back in with the same level of forcefulness, making me feel the stinging pinch that knocks the air out of my lungs.

"Maybe this is a good opportunity for me to teach you obedience and submission. Something your father failed to teach you. Right, my love?" I almost couldn't believe how calm he is, it doesn't even look like he was finger-fucking me dry.

"I-It hurts," I manage to say through my breathy sobs. "P-Please stop, I'm s-sorry..." I refuse to look up to see his expression, I refuse to see him enjoy hurting me like this humiliating me like this.

"Look at me, my love," he demands. "If you think this hurts, what if I insert two fingers to fuck you instead?" He pushes the finger higher up, making me gasp in more pain.

"Please don't..." my voice is breaking, I'm breaking. There's no remorse on his face for me, in fact, he's smiling a sickening smile.

"Alejandro, it hurts... it hurts so much..."

"I know, my love. But it is a lesson that needed to be taught. I sound like a broken record machine but this is what happens when you don't listen to me," he slowly pulls his finger out of me. "I may enjoy watching people hurt, but I don't want to hurt you."

That makes no sense, it makes no fucking sense!

"W-what do y-you want me t-to do? How d-do I make t-this stop?" I ask desperately.

"If you ask daddy nicely, I'll forgive you," he grins.

I only blink at him.

"Do you not understand still? I want you to say, 'please, forgive me, daddy'. Simple, right?" Alejandro's expression shows exactly how much he's enjoying this. I can feel bile rising up my throat. I can't... I can't say such a thing.

"Please, for—" I stop. I can't hide the disgust in my tone, the shame falling over me is a dark, permanent cloud. But my fear is far more superior than my disgust.

"Please, forgive me, daddy."

"Forgive you for what?" He asks, taunting me.

"For disobeying you," I whisper.

"I want to hear it in full sentences, loudly," he orders.

"Please forgive me for disobeying you, daddy," my voice is still hushed but loud than before. My face is burning from the embarrassment and shame drawing out from within me. But Alejandro finally moves his hand away from my trembling thighs. For the first time, in what feels like a never-ending forever, I let out a small breath of relief. The moment he lets go of my other arm, I fall to the ground with a thump.

He grabs my face in between his hand. "You're daddy's good girl, aren't you?" he cooed in a sinisterly affectionate way.

"Yes," I answer quietly.

He digs his fingers into my scalp, pulling my hair harshly, "Yes what?"

"Y-Yes, daddy," I let out a teary answer, while wincing in pain.

"Good girl, you've been disciplined well," he brushes himself off after letting go of his grip on my hair. "Clean yourself up and meet me at the dinner table in 10 minutes. Do not be late and upset me again so quickly." I pick up my black scarf, wrapping it around me with little comfort and sob quietly in my hands.

That's not the Alejandro I fell in love with in high school, I don't even think this man is human. He's the spawn of Satan himself.

Yet, crazily enough, every time I look at him, that intimate feeling reignites. He only has Alejandro's face, Zara. Let it go—let it go before it hurts you to the point where it brings you your end.

I gasp mid-sob, wondering if I wasted the 10 minutes. I run to my room, wincing as the aching continues. I grab a random dress from the closet, fix up my hair and put my scarf back on. I wipe away my tears and wash my face. Did he want me to wear something specific? He didn't say... I can't disobey him, I don't like his punishments.

Tears start pooling in my eyes,

"I'm so scared, Ammi, Abbu. I'm so scared..."

I try to pull myself together and walk towards the dining table. There's a small table set up just for the two of us. Alejandro's already seated, going through his phone. As I take a seat in front of him, my insides sting from the recent abuse it took as I shift uncomfortably on the chair.

"You look beautiful," he comments as he looks up, putting his phone away in his pocket. "It would've been much more pleasant if you had just listened to how I told you to dress the first time."

I can't look up at him, my legs start shaking from fear again. "Zara, look at me," whenever he uses my name, it sounds so much softer but it brings me closer to breaking down. I slowly look up, trying not to burst into a fit of tears.

"I don't like seeing you like this," he sighs.

And? Who put me here? Who the hell put me here? I form my hands into fists under the table, anger seething through me like steam.

"Please eat something," he pushes the bowl of pasta towards me. "I don't want you to look weak and frail. That wouldn't look good for me in front of the casa nostra when I introduce you as my fiancée."

I nod, secretly gritting my teeth. If I grit my teeth any harder, I'll either break my teeth or my jaw. How's he doing this? How did he hurt me so much, push me to the edge of breaking, and have a conversation so normally?

"How is Yasmeen?" He asks, making me freeze. "I haven't seen or heard about her in the last few years."