"Okay," I smiled. "Did you sign for it?"
"No." He shook his head. "I thought I would have to but he just said it was a personal delivery. No signature required. That was the creepy part."
"Personal huh?" That certainly didn't sound good. "I suppose I should go see what it is."
"Yeah," Franco shivered. "I got a freaky vibe. Figured I'd let you know."
"Thanks." I watched Franco spin on the heel of his shiny black dress shoes before I walked slowly to my office in the back of the store. There was a part of me that wanted to continue walking toward the box, but there was another part that wanted to run from any and all unexpected deliveries. I seriously couldn't take the stress that would accompany a transgression of letters to boxes filled with - things.
I opened the door to the office and walked inside, feeling ill to my stomach already. The box sat on my desk. I had been picturing a large brown box in the back of my mind, but what I found was a very shiny, small black box. It was wrapped with a silk red ribbon, tying into a bow on the top. It looked like a lingerie box and a relieved breath of air burst from my lungs as I thought of Jace. Could he be delivering a gift? A sexy submissive gift?
Quickly, I closed the door and scurried over to my desk. I picked up the box with a frantically beating heart. I wasn't afraid now. I was nervous and filled to the brim with anticipation of what I might find under the lid.
Slowly, with shaking fingers I untied the ribbon. My heart hammered in my chest as I pulled the lid from the box. Instantly, my heart started beating on overdrive. A black leather collar lay on the plush velvet interior. The collar was exquisite, but it made me feel queasy. A collar. Why would Jace want to put a collar on me? However nice it may be, it represented the most wretched kind of control. It was demeaning. And I was not willing to wear it. Fuck no. Instantly, I was pissed off. I wanted to call him and rip a strip off him. Here he was proposing to me one minute, without a ring I might add. Only to go and buy me a collar! If he thought a collar could stand in place of a ring then he was really more screwed up than I thought. That simply would not suffice. I didn't know what was going on in his mind, but surely he had to know that wasn't going to fly?
I sat down heavily in my chair and stared at the collar. I picked it up to inspect it and noticed with displeasure that there were notches to tighten the binding leather tighter and tighter. The notches were evenly spaced around the entire collar. What did that mean? That he wanted me to be short of air? That he wanted to control how much I took into my lungs? How twisted was the man I'd agreed to marry? And what was I going to do about it? It's not like I could just walk away. I loved him. Completely. There was no walking away from a love like this. I simply couldn't do it. It just wouldn't happen.
I set the collar down in the box and noticed for the first time that there was a small envelope. I don't know how I didn't see it before. I must have been focused entirely on the symbolism of the collar that I was completely incapable of seeing anything else.
With a heavyhearted sigh, I picked up the envelope. It was addressed to me. As my eyes scanned the cursive writing of my name my heart stopped. It was familiar. And, it was not Jace's writing. This sick little gift was not from Jace. It was from the writer of the letters. And my fear that he'd escalated his threats had just become a reality.
I knew I should put the letter down and call Jace or Gabe, but I couldn't. I couldn't do anything but stare at the envelope. My heart felt like a boulder in my chest as I read each letter of my name over and over again. I was terrified. And, I was angry that this unknown person had such a potent effect on me. Without realizing what I was doing, I had opened the envelope and pulled the paper from inside. I unfolded the creased paper and stared at the words written in scintillating handwriting I loathed.
My Dearest Olivia,
I thought I saved you. I was certain you'd come to your senses and left him to prey upon another who had less to offer this world. But you haven't. You're still seeing him and although I can see you look happy I know the truth. Do you not remember what you looked like when he left you? Do you not remember what he did to you? If you don't, just pull the velvet from the bottom of the box. This shall serve as a reminder.
Forever all my love,
Your Savior
What the hell? Instantly, I pulled the velvet from the bottom of the box and for the second time in only a few minutes my heart stopped beating in my chest. Incased in another folded letter were pictures of me during the seven weeks of life without Jace. I'd thought 'my savior' had lost interest in me when I'd been free of Jace. But, I suppose I'd been wrong. So. Very. Wrong.