Elaine was sitting in her hotel room for hours now. After spending breakfast time  with Cristofero, he had dropped her off in that room. He had left and Elaine had not asked him where he was going and why. She had witnessed enough from Cristofero to know he would have hurt her if she argued or defied him more that morning. What unsettled her was how serious he had become at breakfast when she had argued with him about how he treated the staff serving them breakfast. She did not dare test Cristofero when he had come close to punish her. He seemed on Edge. De Luca calling his step father Enzo had not sat well with him. So she did not want to push it as Cristofero was not in a good mood.

Elaine was worried about De Luca. Elaine was now sitting on a sofa watching TV but her mind was with what Cristofero had done to his brother for his crime.

A knock came on the door. She turned the TV off and said "Come in." She then gasped as she turned and saw De Luca come in. 

Elaine ran to De Luca who closed the door behind him.

Elaine asked "Are you okay? What did Cristofero do... Did he punish you?"

De Luca nodded and looked away as he winced "It doesnt matter...."

Elaine wasnt sure what had happened to De Luca. She asked worriedly "What did he do to you for talking to your step father?" He seemed in pain.

De Luca stated "He beat me  ... Threw punches until he thought I had enough and learnt my lesson...."

Elaine couldn't see any bruises visible. But then she noticed him rubbing his abdomen. "He punched you in the gut?"

De Luca nodded "That is his favourite part to punch me... It leaves no visible bruises and he thinks it toughens me up to be punched there...." De Luca walked slowly to the sofa as he winced "He kept me waiting in my room making me anticipate my punishment. He just came to my room in the last hour and gave me a long lecture and then gave me a beating. He punched my gut until I begged him to stop... But I didnt have to beg for very long... He had business to attend to... So he asked me to come over and keep you company while he is away on business outside the hotel." He on a sat down on a sofa while he winced.

Elaine walked slowly to him and sat down on a sofa opposite him "Why was he so harsh? You just made a phone call to your step father... That is no crime..."

De Luca said "Disobeying his orders carries a heavy punishment. He would have killed anyone else if they disobeyed him... But trust me... It could be worse...."

Elaine asked "How? How could it be worse?"

De Luca said in a whisper "I didnt call my step father...He called me..."

Elaine gasped "What?"

De Luca said "I took the blame to save Enzo. He is already walking on egg shells with my brother... He doesnt deserve to be hurt for wanting to check on me and  asked me to write to him because he would be sick with worry... He will be guarded... So the men wont give him any letters unless Cristofero orders them to ... I will need to convince Cristofero to let me do that even if he wont let me receive any communication from him. He has made it clear. In the eyes of Critofero, my step father is making me soft... He is so brave making this call when he was not watched closely for a few minutes... He knew this hotel as it's our usual spot.... He took a big risk... But he shouldn't have to... I need to convince my brother to let me write to him to say all is ok..."

Elaine said in a sad tone "I am so sorry De Luca you had to make such a big sacrifice and take a beating because of your step father calling you.... Your life is out of your control..."

De Luca said "This is only the beginning... My brother is going to unleash hell... And I will be forced to endure and witness his extreme approaches and participate in his schemes. His business is going to expand even further in coming months... I guess there are like minded businessmen like him who have extreme methods and are heartless like him..."

Elaine said "Dont take this the wrong way... But have you ever thought of running away? You are still a minor... Only seventeen. You can get away from this life, finish school somewhere away from your brother and build a life...."

De Luca shook his head vigorously "Elaine... Dont... Dont ever say something like that... There are many reasons I have never considered that option and never will... He will find me if I run... My brother wont let me get away and I am sure if he catches me after running away, he will make me wish I was never born. It would never be worth the risk. Have you lost your mind Elaine? Dont you know the kind of organisation my brother is running? No one escapes my brother.... No one... You can get in but cant get out of my brother's organisation. No employee of his will dream of leaving.... You and I are in Cristofero's life for as long as he wishes it..."

Elaine said "I still think you should save yourself... You dont belong in his life..."

De Luca said "If he hears you say this, he will punish you badly... Please never talk about running... What if he thinks you are thinking of running from him... Running is equal to betrayal... It carries. heavy sentence..." He then closed his eyes and groaned as he rubbed his stomach "Damn he punches hard..."

Elaine said "Do you want an ice pack?"

De Luca opened his eyes "No... I had pain killers... The pain should stop... I am lucky... He wont break my bones... He would with anyone else who disobey his orders..."

Elaine felt chills down her spine.

De Luca said "Enough about me.... How are you?"

Elaine said "I have accepted my fate... But running seems like my only option because there is no way I can keep this up ... He is so dangerous and cruel. How can I live with him?...Maybe if he does not see me he will give up..."

De Luca shook his head "It will make things worse... Trust me.... He will never give up on you... He loves you..."

Elaine said "I know he loves me.... I used to love him too before he revealed his business side to me..."

De Luca smiled sadly.

Elaine and De Luca made small talk and watched TV before Cristofero came inside the room without knocking startling De Luca and Elaine who stood up upon seeing him. They both said "Hi..."

Cristofero said "De Luca... Go to Theo at the bar... He needs you to greet our guests who have just arrived. Be at your best behaviour and have a few drinks with them until I join... They are our new business partners in a new business venture  ..."

De Luca walked to the door silently and he winced as he closed the door.

Cristofero said "Aren't you going to greet me..."

Elaine said "I did say Hi."

Cristofero walked towards her and said "Tsk tsk... Thats no greeting for your man... I told you at breakfast you need to get used to us living together and you need to start practicing being  my woman... You wait for me to come back when I leave for business and you must greet me like how a woman greets his man..." 

Elaine wanted to say "You are no man. You are a monster." But decided against it. She stared at him silently as he approached her.

Cristofero stood in front of her. He said "So let's practice... Imagine I am home from work... Greet me..."

Elaine could not believe the nerve of Cristofero. She said "How was your day?"

Cristfero said "Thats it? You can be more practical that that... A hint.... You are the only one who can actually touch me ... No one else can... So feel free... Its all yours... 

Elaine asked "So you expect me to hug you?"

Cristofero said "That would be nice... Yes... A greeting kiss would be nice too..."

Elaine put her hands slowly on his shoulders and leaned close. She kissed him on his cheek and let go quickly and took a step back. 

Cristofero rolled his eyes "I expected something more like this..." He then closed the distance between them, grabbed her waist and attached his lips to hers kissing her lips deeply.

Elaine closed her eyes. She tried to imagine she was kissing the Cristofero she wished this man was. The one she had been attracted to. He was a handsome young man when they had met years ago. She had no idea of his dark thoughts and dark mind until he revealed his business side and made her wish she never saw him again. She thought she would not bump into him again. Unlucky she was wrong.

Cristofero let go and looked into her eyes "You didnt resist my touch.... I love it when you are obedient... Then I dont have to teach you the hard way to obey me..."

Elaine asked "Are you leaving again? Are you going to De Luca ?"

Cristofero said "No... We go together but before that I need to go over the rules with you... You will not defy me in public Elaine..."

Elaine said "I know that... You have told me that before..."

Cristofero said "I mean it... Dont defy me in public... You wont like the consequences...."

Elaine said "I am not planning to defy you..." She thought to herself. "I want to run away from you..."

Cristofero nodded "All right... I believe you.... So tell me where is your ring?"

Elaine noticed her ring was missing. She panicked and looked around "Oh.... I dont know..."

Cristofero said "You left it in the ladies room of that venue where we had breakfast..." He took it out of his pocket and handed it to her. "Wear it and dont lose it..."

Elaine took the ring and wore it.

Cristofero said "You are lucky the staff there found it and returned it to me...  To me this is a keepsake ring that I gave you when I fell in love with you... So I got you a chain to attach the ring to... So you will wear it like a necklace..." He then gave Elaine a box.

Elaine opened the box. Cristofero was always specific about his instructions. He had certain expectations and wanted it met. 

Cristofero said "Now I should really punish you for losing the ring carelessly. But I let it go ..." He then sat down on the sofa and grabbed Elaine's arms and pulled her towards him.

Elaine found herself seated on his lap suddenly.

"What are you doing?" She tried to get off his lap but he pulled her back. This was too intimate. She wondered where Cristofero was going with this. She was scared. 

Crsitofero said " I want to hold you for a while... Like this..." He ran his hands up and down her back "I cant believe you belong to me now... I dont want any other woman but you Elaine... I love you..."

Elaine looked away. There was now silence. Did Cristofero expect her to say it back.

Cristofero grabbed her chin and tilted it towards him "Look at me Elaine when I am talking to you... Why did you look away?"

Elaine looked into his merciless cold eyes. He saw nothing but cruelty in those eyes. Her body shook.  Those eyes held no emotion in them. None at all. 

Crsitofero said "I asked you a question.... . I don't expect you to ignore me... I said I love you... Why did you not say it back?"

Elaine decided she had to be honest as his grip on her chin tightened "I am scared ... Very much."

Cristofero let go of her chin "Scared? Of what? I will protect you... I wont let anything happen to you... What are you afraid of? When you are with me you dont need to be afraid..."

Elaine was afraid of him. How could he not tell? But she decided against saying anything. He didnt want him to get angry. He seemed relaxed right now for some reason. But again she remembered he always said being with her calmed him down.

Cristofero continued "Next time when I ask you a question, you answer it... And dont look away when I look at you... If I say I love you and you cant say it back because you are scared I forgive you... But you dont ignore me... You are my woman but you have to follow my rules... Everyone has to follow my rules.... Do you have any questions because I can see you seem abit worried..."

Elaine said hesitantly  "What if ... What if I dont follow your rules?" Was he going to punch her like how he had punched De Luca?  Or was he going to hurt her aunt and uncle like how he had promised he will do at the hotel if he did not do as he said. 

Cristofero said "If you break any rules in public I will give you a punishment that I will enjoy but you wont... For instance I will make you sit on my lap .... in front of others for the entire time we are in public if you defy me..."

Elaine gasped "Thats embarrassing...."

Cristofero said "It is... But it is painless.... I always believe punishment must fit the crime... And now that you are more compliant I am going to give you lighter punishments if you break my rules... Go back to being disobedient and you will be begging me to punish you this way if I catch you breaking my rules..." He stared at her with ice cold eyes with a serious expression. His tone had been very hard uttering the last sentence.

Elaine shivered. The thought of her plans for running away came to her. She had to rethink them. He meant every word. Was it worth placing herself at his mercy. What mercy? There was no mercy in his eyes. She had to take it one day at a time with him and hope not to anger him enough to hurt her and her loved ones.