It is then I realise that I have to attempt to push my fear away somehow and try to make an Oscar winning performance for Tony. If this is what it takes to survive, then this is what I have to do. Survival instincts kick away the fear, as I try to relax.
“I will, Tony. I promise.” I smile sweetly at him and his face lights up. For a moment he has the most angelic look about him. It is so hard to imagine what seemed to be the most charming, gentle person, is actually a real fucked up monster underneath.
Chapter 26
After what seems to be an age, we get off the I-95 south and veer towards the VA-76 south. If the situation wasn’t so frightening, this place here seems to be beautiful. There are lots of greenery on the trees which are gently swaying in the breeze. It does seem like an ideal spot to live and bring up lots of children.
“We’re almost there, Ana. I think you’ll love it.”
My intrigued piqued. “Is this place we’re going to yours, Tony?”
We pull into a driveway that continues for a while, until a house starts to emerge in the distance. The house looks picturesque in white. It looks a moderate size, but surrounded by acres upon acres of land.
“This is ours now, Ana. I inherited it from my father when he died just over a year ago. I have dreamed of bringing someone here to start a family with, but I never seem to meet the right one. Until I met you of course. All the women around just seem to be after one thing. It makes me sick how they are, but you and your innocence. Your soul just seems to breathe it from every pore. It makes people want to look after you. But then sometimes the wrong people like to take advantage of that. I can’t let my delicate flower be crushed by men like that.”
He looks like he is getting angry now and I have to try and calm the situation—especially now that he has stopped driving and put the car in park. I gently put my hand on his knee.
“Tony, it’s okay. We’re here now. I would really like for you to show me around the house.” I smile my best winning smile and he visibly relaxes at my touch.
“Let’s go then, Ana. I have been waiting a long time for this.”
I get out of the car and he comes running over by my side. I don’t know if it’s because he wants to be close to me or he’s afraid I’m going to run off. How can I run off when he has a gun, and I have nothing?
We climb the three stairs towards the porch. It has a table and chairs towards the left, and to the right, two rocking chairs. The scene looks like something out of the Walton’s.
Tony gets the key out from his pocket and unlocks the door. We walk in and the house smells unlived in but not off putting. The stairs are in front and there is a door to the right that leads to the living room. The kitchen I assume is down the hall at the end of the house. It looks cosy, but modern.
A display cabinet reveals some pictures. The biggest one there in the middle was of me and Tony at the Christmas party last year. We are smiling like a happy couple in it, with his arm wrapped around me. I pick it up.
“This is my favourite photo, Ana. You look beautiful, but then you always do.”
I place it down and smile. “It does look lovely, Tony.”
I remember that night all too well.
The drinks were flowing and Jessie and I were dancing away, when Tom decides to cut in and dance with me. It made me so uncomfortable knowing full well he wanted to gyrate himself on my booty. Luckily for me, Jake noticed and decided to rescue me. At the time I welcomed it and we began to dance, but just as we were starting, the music changed, and on came Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette.” One of the most sensual, seductive songs I’ve ever heard of—despite its meaning behind it.
To say the dancing between us was uncomfortable was an understatement. I was conscious the whole time about how he felt being so close to me. Just like the song, I wondered if Jake could see my heart beating through my chest. It was kind of ironic really.
We felt we had to lock arms and slow dance. The proximity of his body pressed against mine was way too much of a distraction. I remember looking up into his eyes and feeling the monstrous shoulders that my small hands were hard to wrap around. I didn’t realise I had done it, but I squeezed one ever so lightly and Jake had inadvertently pressed his hand into the crevice of my back. This then lead to a gasp escaping my lips, which I couldn’t control.
The song and the alcohol were all too much to bear. Soon after my gasp, Jake let go of me and made an excuse to leave.
I was so horny that night I even seriously considered sleeping with someone just to release the tension between my legs. It was just all too much. The one and only big problem was that I only wanted Jake. The rest of the night they say is history, but we certainly kept apart from each other the remainder of the evening.