CHAPTER 3: THOSE GRAY EYES OF YOURS.

Audrey.

I'm still looking at the stranger's retreating figure when Brandon speaks.

“We're done for the night. Close up the bar and come meet me in my office.”

My heart hammers in my throat as he leaves, still massaging his neck. There'll be hell to pay tonight.

I let out a shaky breath as I start wiping down the counter. I pick up the hundred dollar bill and pocket it.

Keep the change, he said. Well, that's a whole lot of change I'll be keeping.

My thoughts stray to him. He was so angry and as much as it felt good to have someone defend me, I knew Brandon would take it out on me when he leaves. That was why I stopped him.

And what did he mean by, “you’re weak, just like her”? Like who? I shake my head to dispel the thoughts.

After cleaning the counter, I go to the back to take the trash out. Glancing at the parking lot, I’m disappointed when his car is nowhere to be seen.

I guess it's too much for me to hope that he would be waiting. But then, even if he had waited, what for?

A man that could drop a hundred dollar bill to pay for thirty dollars worth of whiskey, and tell me to keep the change isn't someone that would be interested in me.

It's clear that he's from out of town. He's rich and handsome, which means he has access to a lot of beautiful ladies everyday. In fact, I believe these so-called classy ladies would be the ones throwing themselves at him. So why would he be interested in me?

But for a moment, I let myself hope. I let myself believe that he somehow found me fascinating in the short space of time that we spent together.

Brandon's office is located on the second floor and as I stand in front of the door, I take a deep breath to prepare myself for the punishment ahead.

After a moment of gathering myself together, I knock and go in.

“You sure spent a lot of time closing up the bar, Audrey.” And so it begins.

I gulp as he stands up from his chair and circles his desk, sitting on the edge while staring me down.

I immediately look down. I have learnt that the more defiant you act with Brandon, the more he is eager to break you.

“Strip,” he commands.

My eyes shoot up as I try to comprehend the order. Strip? That has never happened before. He normally beats me, sometimes cuts into my flesh but he has never asked me to get naked before.

I'm trembling as my mind races, different thoughts crossing through my brain.

“I said, strip.” His hands accompany his words and I fall to the ground from the force of the slap.

My lip is busted and I taste blood on my tongue. Tears spring in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. Brandon isn’t worth my tears.

“Don't make me repeat myself again, girl. God knows I'm angry enough to kill you as is.”

My hands go to the hem of my dress and I pull it over my head, standing in my bra and panties alone. I close my eyes, so I won't see his expression.

I have scars that crisscross my entire body and I've always hidden them from Brandon. He's the one that put them there anyway.

I never cry when he beats me, always holding onto the little dignity I have left. But standing bare in front of him breaks my resolve and for the first time in the last six months of working under him, tears run down my cheeks.

“Do you know why I bought you from that brothel and took you under my wings?” He asks.

Of course, I do. He never ceases to remind me of the miserable and immoral life I was living before he saved me. But I don't say a word.

“It's because I see something in you, Audrey.” I scoff inwardly.

“There's light in your soul but no matter how much I try to save you from yourself, you just find a new thing to taint your soul with.”

I still don't say a word.

“Now, look at you. Marred and disfigured. Come here.”

I open my eyes and see the disgusted look on his face. His words hit me deep but it's the look on his face that really shatters my heart.

Even if I manage to escape from him one day, I still will never be free from him. No one can love a disfigured person like me.

And it breaks my heart to think of a man I love, looking at me with the same expression on Brandon's face.

“Bend over on the desk,” he says when I get to him. I'm trembling as I obey.

Please, whatever he plans to do with me, let it be quick. I send a prayer to whoever is listening.

Brandon walks to the other side of the desk and pulls out a huge dildo. Tears are running down my face freely at this point.

The fact that he has it in his office drawer makes me wonder how long he has been planning this for.

“Do you know why you're being punished?” He asks as he examines the dildo.

“No,” I hastily reply, as I watch him from the corner of my eyes.

“You were lusting after that man in the bar, Audrey. I was watching you from the stairs long before I came down.”

Shit, I think. This is going to be very bad.

“And do you know the worst part of it? You somehow managed to bewitch him in that short period of time.”

He's behind me now and I'm scared. Brandon has been predictable right from time, but when he's unpredictable, that's when shit gets really dangerous.

“Brandon please. I would never–”

My words are cut short when he grabs me by the hair and slams my head on his desk. The pain is too much and I yell, but of course, he's just getting started.

And even though I know that the stranger was only defending me, I can't help but blame him for the severity of this punishment.

“I knew those gray eyes of yours were a problem but I was willing to believe you would change your immoral ways. Seems like I thought wrong,” he releases my hair and pulls on my panties.

It takes everything in me to stay still, but I know if I move, I'm only inviting more punishment.

“From now on, you'll be wearing contacts. And even with that, you're not allowed to make eye contact with anyone. Understood?”

“Yes, Brandon. I promise.”

“Good girl,” he says and I'm relieved. But I should have known that he would never let me go just like that.

“Now, since you're lusting after the things of the flesh so much, why don't I help you solve your little problem?”

He shoves the dildo into my ass and I feel my flesh tear. Hot blinding pain envelops me and I scream at the top of my voice.

He cackles behind me and removes the dildo. I'm panting heavily as I lay bent over on his desk.

When he shoves it in the second time, I black out.