Escape from the Binding Vow

"Christian...I remember him. He's arrogant as fuck. Met him once at some diner party had heard so much about his work, wanted an audience with him just for him to walk past me like a freaking nobody" Micheal said then he dropped the glass loudly. "Collins is playing a dangerous game with me. He thinks I would let that property go and to Christian of all people. Hell no!!" Ella listened quietly eating her food. She overheard the conversation between Mr Collins and Micheal. Dimitri had interrupted them in the room, informing him of Mr Collins' arrival. After Micheal had been through with her, he left her to go downstairs. As she walked to her room in her robe, she could see the old man who was looking upstairs. She decided to hide behind one of the pillars to eavesdrop on their conversation. She could tell the man was just being shady and she knew he was in the brink of death if he continued down the dishonest path he was going. She had heard of Christian, but never met him. Her husband was egotistic there was no way he would let this go. That same night, almost close to midnight, Ella was sitted in the parlor dressed up in a crimson red satin dress with a deep V neckline with a daring thigh high slight. She wore dangling gold earrings, a bracelet and a simple necklace. Holding a gold sparkly clutch purse. Her arms crossed, tapping her ankle strapped heel on the floor,impatiently. Her makeup was simple with just a bit of powder and blush with some pink lipgloss. 'So he makes me dress up for some stupid event just to make me wait here for almost an hour' she thought to herself. Micheal had instructed her to get ready for some dinner party but now he was no where to be found. "Fuck this" she stood up ready to go to her room when the doors flung open. "Ellaaaa!! Come on baby, let's go, let's go party!!" Micheal shouted drunkenly. Ella turned around to see her husband in a dark blue tuxedo but his bowtie was all messed up and hair let down. It was obvious he was tipsy "Micheal, you're drunk there's no need to go for this event" Ella saw this as an opportunity not to go anymore but Micheal didn't seem to budge "In the car now. The guards are waiting outside already" Micheal demanded turning to leave. Ella sighed adjusting her dress as she followed Micheal. The hall glowed with liquid gold, chandeliers bleeding firelight across marble floors polished enough to mirror the guests. Silk drapes fall from the ceiling like rivers, while tables float under their own spotlit halos, stacked with exotic drinks in crystal glasses. The guests were dressed extravagantly like a gallery of living art. Dresses ripple like whispers, jewels scatter light across the room, and suits mold to bodies with ruthless precision. Conversations move in currents every smile feels rehearsed, every gesture engineered to dominate or disarm. She walked side by side with Micheal, she felt a bit overwhelmed, her palms a bit sweaty. Ella never liked going out with Micheal because he was an open flirt looking at everything in a skirt while she just stood there looking like a fool. She moved to the bar tired of standing as her husband spoke to his business associates. She took drink after drink watching the exotic dancers, dressed in colorful costumes, trying to enjoy herself a little, ignoring some of the loud chatter "Ella come over here" Micheal shouted from where he stood "Ella!!" He shouted again, everyone staring at him. Ella sighed going to him "I'm here, I'm here" she said smiling tightly "You must be Ella. I'm Griffin pleasure to meet you " one of Michael's associates said bring his hand forward. He looked like he was in his 30s, he was young looking with a full beard. "Yes, uh same, pleasure is mine" she said shaking him and Micheal immediately noticed this gesture and dragged Ella's lower arm bringing her closer to him violently. "Mind yourself Ella, don't whore yourself around here" he said through his teeth, squeezing her arm. "Griffin, you should know her father is some scruffy old man who couldn't keep his business in check. He had to beg me to help him. Aren't I the nicest guy ever" Micheal taunted as he took a gulp of his whiskey Griffin felt awkward and decided to change the topic. "About the restaurant in downtown LA I think it needs some remodeling don't you think?" Griffin said sipping his drink, but Micheal wasn't even paying attention as was staring at a girl who walked past them. Ella noticing this became even more uncomfortable and decided to excuse herself. "Uhm...if you would excuse me, I need to use the bathroom " Ella said softly and Griffin nodded with a small smile, but as she turned to leave Micheal still held on to her tightly not letting her go and whispered in her ear "Don't let me begin to wonder where you flew off to" Ella just stared at him for a short while saying nothing and walked off. Ella walked into the bathroom sighing loudly. Turning the faucet on, she washed her hands frantically trying to get the prints of his hands out. She stared at her reflection gripping the side of the sink. She felt trapped. "Ugh!! That that...that bastard. He mentioning my father all for what exactly just to put me down even more??" Tears gathered in her eyes but she refused to let it fall. She was frustrated with her situation she just wanted the ground to swallow her. Micheal never failed to remind her about her father and what had happened, mocking her but she couldn't do anything about Micheal, she was powerless against him. When she first got married to him she had tried to run away that night but he found her and locked her in the dungeon for 2 days and her father had even gotten beaten up. Now she has been married to him for almost 2 years but she still couldn't accept that this was now her life. She was being held captive, her life was no longer hers and Micheal never failed to remind her of that. "I can take your life whenever I want to you are living by my mercy" Micheal would often say. He was playing God. Running her hands through her hair she sighed. She wanted to scream, to shout out her pain but she couldn't. She was trapped in something that wasn't even her fault. Something she had no control of. She was a compensation for her father's problem. Her own father betrayed her. Now she was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb at the mercy of Micheal and no one was coming to save her, she was all alone. She washed her hands more gently this time and turned it off and dried it. Applying more lipgloss staring at herself saying " Everything will be fine" with that she walked out of the bathroom only to bump into something hard. She was going to fall, closing her eyes shut ready for the impact but she didn't, instead she felt a hand wrap around her waist.