Irresistible Boss Succumbing to Your Touch (Maria Anita) novel Chapter 3

Manuela’s POV

I did not get a wink of sleep all night. But even if I wanted to, Calvin snored like a broken exhaust pipe, I had never seen anything like it. When he woke up, I was sitting on the bed with my back to him.

"Already awake, Manuela? You're an early riser," he remarked, and all I could think was "oh sure, because I slept like a queen listening to your snoring." Oh, how this man infuriated me!

"Calvin, please let me go. I will never marry you, there's no way in the world my mother can convince me of that." I stood up and looked at him.

"Girl, girl, I'll tame you." He laughed like a fool. I wanted to throw something at his head to wake him up from this delusion. "Look, Manuela, I'm going to tell you something, I've known Rita for a long time..." he started to say.

"Oh sure, you were even her lover! Indeed, you've known her for a long time and know her very well." I was seething with anger, not even knowing where I found the courage to say all this to him.

"So you already know." He sighed. "That was a long time ago. But as I was saying, when Rita wants something, she gets it. That woman gets everything she wants."

"But she won't make me accept this marriage." I raised my chin in defiance.

"We'll see. But now, come, let's have breakfast, and then I'll let Rita know you've arrived." He pointed to the door, and I stood still where I was. "Want me to carry you?"

I ran out before he could even think about touching me. I was horrified by this man. As he said, right after breakfast, he called Rita.

"Rita! The bird is in the cage," he said, all satisfied. "Manuela has arrived. No, I couldn't take her to your house." I could even hear my mother screaming and complaining. "Because Cam was staking out your door. She's in that place you know well, where we used to meet." She screamed and complained again. "Look, this is how it's going to be because I decided so, and that's final! She's here and she's staying here. My men will keep an eye on her. You be very careful when you come. And remember, don't hurt her!"

I found it almost amusing how he worried about warning Rita not to hurt me. He hung up the phone and looked at me.

"Manuela, I need to go to work. Make yourself at home, but don't step outside. My men are watching. Your mother will be here soon."

"You know what she wants from me, don't you? Besides this marriage." I was sure he knew.

"I have no idea, but she won't touch you." I laughed.

"You don't know Rita." I no longer bothered calling her mother, because even though she was the one who brought me into this world, she didn't behave like a mother. "She'll beat me, she'll whip me, she'll torture me and leave me raw, then she'll beat me more and continue until she gets what she wants, but since I can't give her what she wants, she'll beat me until she kills me." I looked at him bitterly.

"And what does she want so badly?" he asked.

"My inheritance. But she can't touch it, no one can." I said as I stood up, turning my back to him and sitting down on the couch.

I heard the door slam, and he was gone. Shortly after, the door slammed again. I looked back and saw his henchman, the one who had driven the car the night before, standing by the door watching me. I had no chance of escape.

She stood up and walked towards me, grabbed my hair, and held me with her nose pressed against my face.

"You are going to take this folder and sign these documents, or I will give you the worst beating of your life," she threatened again, and I did not respond.

I felt a tear roll down my face. She pulled my hair, making me stand up, and pushed me against the wall. She came at me, and I felt the whip strike my back through the thin fabric of my dress. I did not even count how many lashes she gave me, but there were many - on my back, arms, and legs. Tears soaked my face, but I cried silently. She came at me once more and slapped me, leaving the mark of that cursed ring on my face again.

"You insufferable little girl!" she screamed at me. "Come on, Manuela, sign this document and end this!"

She grabbed me by the hair again and lifted me off the ground, throwing me back onto the sofa.

"SIGN IT!" she screamed, and I remained motionless. The only thing coming from me was crying; my voice was suppressed. She slapped me again with such force that I tasted the metallic flavor of blood in my mouth.

"I will not sign," I finally managed to say. "And even if I do sign, it would not make any difference. Cam protected this inheritance, and there is nothing you can do to get your hands on it. Your documents, even if I sign them, are worthless."

"What are you saying, girl?" I just smiled and felt her brutal closed-fist punch strike my face.

She left without saying anything, taking the black folder and the whip with her. I curled up on the sofa, letting the tears flow. She would give me some time, certainly going to find out what Cam had done, but she would return with much more hatred. And when she returned, I knew she would not stop.