Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
He smiles. “You don’t think I’m so stupid, do you, Ellie Mae?”
Of course not.
I shake my head and look away.
What sort of messed up game is he trying to play? Is he attempting to have me think I’ll ever get the opportunity to go home in hopes it’ll lift my spirits and I’ll be more willing to give him what he wants?
“Your games are fucking evil,” I grind out.
“I never said I was anything but. Now, call your family, Ellie, or I’ll take the chance away.”
That’s the first time he’s ever just used my name without adding the extra. It shocks me, because it tells me that he’s not messing around and I have a bad feeling any niceties he has been showing me, is now going to end.
I take the phone he hands me, and, with a shaky breath, I dial Carter.
His is the only number I know by heart.
“Carter Jones,” he answers, in a brisk, businesslike manner.
Another reason I don’t want to marry him.
Ellie Mae Jones.
Ugh.
“Carter, it’s Ellie.”
A long pause, before he frantically cries. “Ellie!”
“Look, I can’t talk long. I’m sorry I haven’t called sooner but...”
“Where are you? What has he done with you? We’re doing everything we can to find you. I haven’t slept for weeks, I’ve been worried sick.”
Marek raises his brows, almost sarcastically, at Carter’s dramatics.
I look away.
“Listen, Carter, I didn’t want to have to do this over the phone, but things have changed after that article was released.”
“Is he hurting you? Where are you?”
“He’s not hurting me. The article was incorrect. Those pictures were...part of a show.”
It’s a lie, but it has Marek giving me a skeptical look, as he narrows his eyes. It’s a good lie, at least, I think it is.
“What are you talking about? Ellie, you’re not making any sense.”
“I came here willingly, Carter,” I say, dropping my head because I do feel bad for what I’m about to say.
Carter loves me, even if it is a strange and weird kind of love. Almost as if it were an arranged marriage. Still, he cares, and I don’t want to hurt him, but I know I’ll never get back home if the police are hunting all over the countryside for me.
“I am in a relationship with Marek,” I go on, and this has Marek’s head whipping in my direction. I ignore his glare. “We’re sleeping together. I came here willingly because he can give me an incredible career. I felt suffocated there, like I could never be who I wanted. I’m sorry that it came to this.”
“You’re lying,” he spits, his voice shaking. “Is he making you say these things?”
“No,” I say simply. “I’m sleeping with him, Carter. Are you not hearing me? We are going to make this show incredible, and I’m going to be famous. This is what I want. The life you and my parents have set out for me, is not the life I imagined. I’m sorry.”
The scary part about that statement, is I actually meant it.
That terrifies me.
“So you just ran off with what, the fucking circus?” Carter snaps.
He rarely swears, and it pains me to know I’ve hurt him.
“It’s not a circus and yes, I have left. I will come home again sometime, but I know my parents will never accept this. I want you to move on, please.”
“Oh, I’ll be moving on. I’ll make sure the world knows that you ran away, leaving me with nothing.”
He’s angry.
I can’t blame him.
“I didn’t want to hurt you.”
He laughs, bitterly. “Oh, I’m sure. Tell me, Ellie, why there were girls in cages in those photos. We all saw it. The town went wild.”
“I told you,” I answer, blandly. “It was for an act. We were practicing for a dark show we are doing. I’d invite you along, but I don’t think you’d like it...”
That was bitchy, I know it, but I need him to believe me.
“Fuck you, Ellie. Your parents are going to never accept you back when I tell them this...”
I swallow, because that hurts. It hurts because he’s right.
They won’t.
I can only hope that one day, they’ll gather up enough love, and at least speak to me again.
They probably won’t, though. Unless it is good for their image, they won’t allow it in their lives. Even if it is their own daughter.
“I’m sorry, Carter. I really am.”
He hangs up.
Exhaling, I lower the phone and then turn to Marek, thrusting it at him. “Are you fucking happy now?”
He studies me, then murmurs, “Your little story was impressive.”
“Yes, well, what can I say. I’m a fucking fantastic actor.”
“If only it were so easy to make the world forget.”
I grunt, laying down and rolling to my side. “It is. You’re just too obsessed with being evil.”
I’m right.
Not a single thing can make me change my mind.
Marek could do better, he just doesn’t want to.