Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Edith

I find something moving on my cheek. Getting disturbed I stir and try to get rid of the obstruction. My hand comes in contact with another hand bigger and rough unlike my soft and small ones. Was this a play of some kind of evil spirit? I woke from sleep with a jerk like a zombie and look around with frightened eyes. In front of me was Allesandro gazing down at me curious in a controlled simper.

"What was that Edith, evil spirit?" I narrow my eyes at him acting innocence. "What evil spirit?" He looks sideways towards the wall lands to low chuckles and then looks back at me with a stoical countenance. "I thought you were having a dream about some evil spirit." I pick my teddy from besides feeling unsecured and hold it to my chest . His eyes pass from the teddy in my hands to my face. Smiling imperceptible he rubs the skin on his forehead above his eyebrow. "Edith?"

Why was everything relating to me so amusing to him?

"There are no evil spirits existing in the world." I look around the enormous room feeling appreciative of its beauty but careful not to meet his eyes because if I do, I'm caught. "And there is not one under your bed too." This time he doesn't control his snickers. He was speaking and laughing simultaneously. How does he come to know everything that goes in my head? I understood I was in no way going to win on this topic and try to change the argument. "What are you doing in my room?

All the jovial spirit in his tone was gone replaced to seriousness. "I was treating your swollen cheek." My temper rose to hundred degree centigrade. "You hurt me first and then you sneak into my room to treat my injuries? Haven't you learnt any manners in your childhood that you shouldn't barge into a girl's room without her permission? You have a sister I believe." I give him a death stare facing him in the eye.

No one in my family, my father my brother raised a hand on me till date. He is the first person on earth to slap me and I'm determined I am going to take a revenge on that.

"Edith" his voice hinted warning. "I was just trying to treat you." I snatch the ointment from his hands and threw it out of the window. "Get out of my room and never try to touch me again. I abhor your hands on me." Pain was instantly reflected in his eyes but this time I had no reason to care. He had suffered me enough.

I am going to do everything to blow his top each time I get a chance for what he did to me a while ago.

He looked towards the window and then to me. "You shouldn't have done that." His voice was low and guttural. I ignored his statement going ballistic. "Next time you touch me, I'm not going to throw the ointment out of the window butreport the matter to my father that you are misbehaving."

He handles my shoulder roughly. "I touched you Edith. Go and complain to your dad." He dares. "Do you think I'm frightened of your father, that you keep using this father card every time to black mail me?" He pokes the side of my head with his forefinger. "Get this inscribed in the little brain of yours, you, your brother and your father...your complete family are dependent on me to help you complete your education. If I wasn't going to help you, you would remain an undergraduate with no job no future, solely dependent on your husband."

I laugh loud with my head falling back. "Mr Allesandro Martin, you think too high of yourself and that's your problem. I'm not dependent upon you in any way." He pinches the bridge of his nose looking at me more irritated. Getting under his skin is giving me so much fun now. "My sweet Edith, I love your innocence. How are you going to prove to me that you are not dependent when you actually are?" I wanted to slap him on his face just like he did to me but giving him physical injuries is not going to satiate my detest for him. My smack would be an emotional torture that would pain him for days much stronger and louder than what he gave me.

"Very soon Mr Allesandro Martin, very soon.... but by the time you realize your mistake the damage is already done." I face him provocative. He grunts muttering something under his breath that I couldn't hear but then confronts me thinning his lips. "I'm ready to accept your challenge Ms Edith Rodriguez. Let's see who wins this game."

****

It is Regina's birthday after ten days. She has invited all our friends for the party and wants me also to attend her function but I do not think Mr Mighty Arrogant would agree for it. I asked Regina to come to Allesandro's house to help me ask him the permission. I need to employ all those girly capers on him to win his consent by hook or by crook because it is also the day I plan my escape from the beast's den.

I called Shelton and told him about my plan. He gave me some suggestions so that my scheme would work without a boomerang.

Present

It is finally my day of escape and Regina's birthday. She came to my house, rather Allesandro's house to invite me on her birthday. I thought twice, thrice about my decision but I had no choice except to take the bold step. There is no use of staying with a man who doesn't give prominence to my life, importance to my existence and regards me as nothing but a trash in his house.

I told Allesandro without a shame that I love him and he turned me down. He rejected me once when I was in school and this is the second time I had to face his refusal. I could no longer live with him. Every time I looked at him my defeat against him pinched me. The acceptance of his denial was something my heart couldn't hold anymore. I had proposals from many boys in my school but the only man I was attracted since I knew about my existance was Allesandro Martin. When I asked him the reason for my unprivileged treatment, the cause for turning down my proposal the only answer he gave me was "Edith you and I are like two railway lines that would go together but can never become one."

I called Shelton, made a plan with him. He is the only man who understands me right. He doesn't dominate me like my dumb wit brother or a moron like Allesandro. He likes me like a wife for him giving me due importance in all his decisions. He is 'the' man for me.

It is not always that love precedes marriage. Sometimes it can be the other way too. My mom's life is the brightest example for me on this. Though I did not love Shelton like Allesandro may be my life is going to turn a bed of roses after marriage just like my mother's. May be the history is going to repeat itself once again.

A smile laces my features as I think about a family, a bright future with Shelton and our kids.

Allesandro was sitting in his study reading a file. I knock the door with Regina beside me to get a little psychological support. Though my legs were shivering in anticipation of the bold step I am going to undertake I present a confident look in front of Allesandro. "Hello Good morning sir, I am Regina, Edith's friend. Today is my birthday and all my friends are coming. I will be much happier if Edith joins in my celebration."

Allesandro pushes the file beside giving me his complete attention. "Edith, would you wish to go to your friend's birthday party?" I frantically nod, unable to control my happiness. May be the beast has a heart. "Okay James will drive you to her house." Allesandro points his eyes to Regina. "Sir, I already brought my car with me. I will share with you my address and you can send your driver in the evening to bring Edith back."

Sandro places one of his legs on the knee of the other and leans back. His fingers were playing with the pen in his hands. "Ms Regina I am sorry to defy but I don't take suggestions from anyone. I only give orders. The dolt was back to his usual. I squeeze the finger of Regina cautioning her not to speak further.

"Samuel is going to drop you and get you back in the evening from Regina's house. Is that clear Edith? I have some very important appointments today in the hospital so I cannot drop and pick you but I cannot risk at your security either. So, Samuel will accompany you to Regina's house." He reopens the file in front of him and signs on the document. "And remember no drinks. I want to see you as sober as you are when you are going to her house." He points his index finger to me and eyes hinting a warning.

Freaking domination personified dunce. I thought.

This was my chance for the escape. I give him my puppy eyes like an innocent doll which I know will surely have an ebbing effect on him and just like that I could see the change of emotions in his eyes. "Will Samuel stay with me throughout the party?" I ask him getting worried. If that's going to happen my complete plan will fail like flop film even before its release. "Do not worry about that Sweet cakes, he will not be a disruption to your privacy. He will park the car somewhere nearby but he will be there for you if you require him. May God forbid but do not hesitate to call. Okay?" He asks me like I was a child of three softly patting my head.

I did a happy dance in my mind and fled from him. I fled away from his dominating rule and beat a hasty retreat from my family with no clue of tracing me back. Irrespective of my past, my future is now going to be greeny.

Allesandro crushed my confidence, my self esteem with no recollection, such a demeaning asshole that he is. All my hopes are shattered, my desires and dreams torn to bits.

Goodbye Allesandro Martin, from your swaying paramount, ruling superiority and puissant supremacy.