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MARIA

My life for the next four days was the same.

We spent the morning cleaning, then practicing from the afternoon until the evening. After dinner, depending on his orders, we either had time to stay in the basement or continue practicing the performance that was so eager for us to be perfect at. If I did have the chance to sleep, it was the moment I dreaded most during the day.

Not a single, peaceful wink of sleep had I experienced in his bed. Giovanni stuck to the terms of the deal and simply slept in the same bed as me. He held me while he slept, and I stayed tense all night, worrying about what he could do to me, missing Leonardo every time I closed my eyes. My body was changing in such a short space of time. I was extremely exhausted every day, and I would wake with a pounding headache and a dry throat. I hated it, and I was growing more and more desperate to be free.

The good news was he stopped calling on Daisy. Even whilst he watched us perform, he didn't even spare a glance at her. I was glad she was free from his torture. Rosa had told me that her nightmares were a lot less frequent, that she was starting to eat a lot more too. Observing how Giovanni seemed to actually listen to me, I knew I could get him wrapped around my finger easier than I initially thought.

My plan to be the most effective victim of Stockholm syndrome was working. He was actually starting to buy into my facade of a woman who was falling for him. It was quicker than I had thought it would be. I was optimistic that it wouldn't be long before I could use his emotions to my own advantage.

My mind was on Leonardo that morning, and I didn't know why. My chest felt heavy, and my heart ached for him. I had forced myself to remove him from my mind; thinking about him wouldn't solve my situation. It would only make me more emotional, and that was one thing I definitely didn't need. He probably didn't care to think about me—why would he? I had kept the deepest and darkest secret of all from him. The last person he'd ever think about would be me. He had his own problems to deal with, and I wouldn't be one.

It might've been because when I woke up, Giovanni was still right next to me, his arm holding my body against his. His lips were on my shoulder; he had slowly brought down the strap of my dress and was kissing my skin, his hand on my thigh. "You're starting to push the conditions of the deal," I amorously breathed out. I restrained my disgust. The thing was with Giovanni is that he treasured me. He didn't treat me like the other girls because I was his target. He wanted me only; the other girls were simply extras in his play that were to be sold off. The man wanted to keep me alive, and for him, therefore, he wouldn't do anything life-threatening to hurt me.

"You keep tempting me, Valerie, I don't know how much longer I can hold off," he murmured. My eyebrows raised at the wrong name, and I thought about it as his hand continued to rub against me. Valerie. I was sure I had heard it from somewhere. I blinked once it came to me, Giovanni's deceased wife. I had never seen the woman before but heard about her; she was known to be a beauty, and most of his galas were always dedicated to her. I started to piece the picture together.

I continued to play my role and mentioned in a coy voice, "I don't remember being called that, Giovanni." Turning over, I faced him, a tantalising look in my eyes. Giovanni was at least in his late forties; he was way older than me and the other girls. He clearly had nympholepsy. He was a man probably triple the size of me, whose muscles and weight could crush me. His brown eyes had nets of wrinkles at the corners, showing his age. My hand slowly snaked up his shoulder as I deeply gazed at him. "Is there someone else that you care about?"

"It's only you, Maria," he murmured. I could've barfed at the deep lust he was showing me. His hand slipped down to my thigh again and lifted it up so my leg was over his body, pulling me so close to him. I masked the alarm running through me again, my body stiffening beside him. I couldn't believe what I was doing for my freedom. If he wanted me, he would've forced it earlier; he didn't treat me the way that he treated Daisy. It wasn't the first night I had slept in his bed. I realised that he must've wanted me voluntarily, which gave me a better opportunity to seduce him until he was desperate and use his lechery for my benefit. He wanted me to want him, to love him, and regard him high on a pedestal, so I had to take on that role.

"Mmm..." I purred, my face getting close to his. "Then why do you have all those other whores?" I seductively murmured, "I thought you wanted me only?" I purposely kept looking down at his undesirable lips. He seemed entranced by me, which was a good sign; his hypnotised eyes gave away his growing desire for me. "I'm jealous, Giovanni," I pushed it further by brushing my lips against his, my awful, small feminine laugh leaving me.

"They don't compare to you, kitty," he replied, completely taken over by my inviting appeal. I held back from cringing at his passion. My stomach twisted inside. "You said a naughty word, Maria." He suddenly turned us, my back against the mattress and him between my legs, holding onto my thighs tightly. My whole body was tense, my eyes wide, but I tried my best to suppress my emotions. It was a dangerous position to be in and could go wrong if I wasn't quick and smart about it. But his desire did tell me that it was finally time to bring forward my demand disguised as a request.

His hungry eyes ran all over me. "So you need to be taught to control that mouth of yours." An alluring smile stretched across my face as my hands slid up to his shoulders.

My heart pounded at the risk of it all going wrong. "Mmm..." I childishly whined, shaking my head with my lips pouted. "I'll only be a good girl if you give me what I want." I was dying on the inside; my pride was slowly being crushed the longer I was there. I brought his face to mine with my hands on each cheek, pressing an inviting and lingering kiss on his lips before he mumbled, "I'll give you anything," completely bewitched by me. He was restraining himself; I could see his ardent passion for me in his eyes, given away by his strained voice.

"Give me you and you only," I whispered attractively, my hand running up and down his arm slowly, my eyes set on his. "Release those other girls so only I can have you." It was a risky move. If I asked too early, he would suspect me straight away, but I had given it enough time, and I needed to fulfil my promise to the girls. There was no way I was going to let them stay any longer. I'd figure a way out for myself later.

He didn't respond at first and continued to intensely gaze at me. His hand ran down my face, over my lips, down to my neck. It gently pressed against my throat, and I stared into his eyes, an unwavering emotion of lust in them, tempting him. He seemed to like that I wasn't afraid, chuckling softly as he tilted his head. "And then you can only have me," I sensually added, pushing it further by bringing his hand down to my chest, guiding it down to my chest. I had never lost more dignity in my life than the days following the Grand Performance. I would do anything to free the girls.

That seemed to stir his spirits inside him, his eyes growing alive with desire. He looked overwhelmed with concupiscence, his face growing redder and his lips parting. He shakily exhaled, closing his eyes for a moment before his hand squeezed gently, practically gulping. "I'll think about it," he simply said, lifting himself off me and out of the bed. I closed my eyes in relief, swallowing before sitting up.

"Think carefully, Giovanni," I pressed further, my charming voice stopping him from leaving the room. I slowly pulled the strap of my dress back up again, the slight movement catching his attention. He was completely taken over by me.

"Very carefully..."




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We cleaned the dance hall that morning together.

I was on my knees scrubbing hard. It was the most I had cleaned in a long time, and I was growing bitter inside. I was angry and baffled that I was still there and things had gotten to that point. My back ached, and the right side of my torso was getting more and more painful as the days went on. I held onto my side, grimacing at the pain.

"You've definitely broken something," Diamond's voice nonchalantly said from the side. I turned to see her wiping the dust away, her eyes focused on her job. I sighed, looking around me. I couldn't stand staying like that, captured against my will. I tossed the rag into the bucket as the girls started to round up for practice.

I winced as I followed them, getting into position and forcing myself to stand strong. I learnt the choreography quickly over the last few days, but I was tired. I was so worn out from the lack of nutritious meals, not getting enough sleep, and dancing all day. My whole body was weak, and I tried my best not to let it show.

But if I was feeling so fatigued, Blair was even worse. She had been sick from the moment she woke up that day. Blair crouched down in the corner two hours into practice, her hand gripping onto her stomach as she squeezed her eyes closed, her whole face crumpled. "Come on, Blair," Diamond breathlessly urged in frustration as we all stopped, our eyes on Blair, worried about her state.

Slightly, I bent over, trying to catch my breath as I watched her struggle on her own. "Blair, are you alright?" Annie, one of the girls, asked her in concern, her eyes worriedly looking at her too. I approached her, placing my hand on Blair's shoulder as she groaned in pain. "I think I must've eaten something bad. I don't know—my stomach..." She let out a breath of agony, then inhaled deeply, withering. I frowned; we weren't going to get anywhere with her condition.

"Rest up by the side and drink some water," I advised her, my arms slipped beneath hers, aiding her to reach her feet. With Annie on the other side, we began taking Blair to sit down. Diamond held a disapproving stare. "This rehearsal is supposed to be observed by Giovanni any moment now. We all have to take part, Blair, suck it up." Blair winced in discomfort, unable to sit straight with her stomach bent over.

I gave her a slight glare and couldn't control myself as I muttered, "Do you have to be like that for everything?"

Diamond's eyebrows narrowed as her head snapped in my direction. "I have to be!" She sharply shot back, folding her arms. With an exhale of annoyance, she added, "So that we can all fucking survive!" I could understand Diamond. I could. Her wish for peace was valid. But Blair was genuinely in pain, and I wouldn't allow her to force Blair to continue. I was close to shooting something back at her until the doors opened and Giovanni, with two other guards, walked in with an authoritative feel around them.

He regularly watched our practice, and if it wasn't to standard, there were punishments.

We got on our knees, swallowing down our pride, and greeted him, heads down. Once he allowed us to stand, we got into position. I glanced over at Blair, and she was unable to stand straight. She tried her best to keep in her pain, but I could see that she was struggling. Giovanni always sat on the large, black chair situated before the stage with his two guards on either side of him behind. His dark eyes were intent on me that day. I felt the shivers down my back as I tried to keep my own eyes off him; he wouldn't stop staring at me.

It was by the first move, as soon as the music started playing, that Giovanni raised his hand to stop it. The girls stood in a line, our hands clasped together. Rosa was already shaking beside me, her eyes glued to the floor. I suppressed my worries and held my head high, staring right back at Giovanni as I waited for his complaints.

"Blair. Come here."

My whole body was tense the moment Blair started dragging her legs towards Giovanni. I silently gulped, my eyes intensely following Blair as she trudged, her bottom lip curled into her mouth and her eyes shaking. She was already showing her fear towards him, and he was enjoying it. He sat back on his chair, his legs wide apart with a small but significant smirk on his intimidating face, his eyes stuck on Blair's movements.

She stood in front of him with a considerable gap between them. The whole hall was silent, each girl holding in her breath as she tried to avoid eye contact with Giovanni. A punishment was coming; we could all feel it. I held back my tongue; there was a time that I would have been able to intervene, but it wasn't yet.

"Closer," Giovanni innocently commanded; his voice was low but extremely compelling. Blair's head rapidly nodded, and she shuffled forwards, a strained grunt coming from her as her hand went back to her stomach, her legs beginning to show that she was feeling weak, wobbling as she moved. My hand clutched onto the hem of my dress, squeezing the fabric tightly as I suppressed the desire to help her.

His hand suddenly wrapped around her wrist once she had gotten close enough and yanked her towards him. Blair let out a yelp, her body falling onto Giovanni's. Her hands gripped onto his shoulders, her eyes wide. My eyes expanded as my body slightly flinched, all of us startled by the sudden movements before us. His hand went to her hair next, grabbing a handful and pulling it so Blair's head bent backwards roughly as she released a scream of pain, the tears already pouring out of her. My heart began to race in my chest again; my whole body was ready to fight.

His evil eyes glinted with joy at the sight of her pain drilled into her. He scoffed, his jaw clenching before he chillingly questioned her, "Do you think that I came here wanting to watch your sloppy performance?" Blair rapidly shook her head, whimpering as his large hand continued to pull. My lips separated; I was refraining from speaking too soon, though I was eager to help Blair. "I'm sorry, Master, I—"

He slapped her. His whole hand knocked Blair down to her knees on the ground as she cried out in pain, her shaking hand holding her cheek. I took a step forward, my eyebrows narrowing at him as I was prepared to jump in until Diamond held onto my wrist, stopping me from moving. She gave me a stern look, keeping me in place.

"Strip."

My shocked eyes darted back at Giovanni, his amused, perverted eyes staring down at Blair, who was crying on the floor on her knees. "Strip down completely and dance."

My lower jaw shifted forwards as I stared down in anger. Blair let out a breath of fear; her tear-filled eyes were infused with panic. I pushed Diamond's hand off me and moved forward courageously, Giovanni's eyes slowly landing on me.

The moment was finally there; I had to use it. It was a risk I was willing to take. "They're useless," I simply insulted, my foot intentionally stepping over Blair on the floor to stand in front of Giovanni. I swallowed down my kindness and continued my pretended, "I told you these girls don't care about you. It's only me," I firmly went on, sitting myself on Giovanni's lap. His arm automatically snaked around me, his focused eyes on me, studying my face.

"I'm the only person who wants you," I whispered into his ear sweetly, my hands placing themselves on his shoulders. I leaned backwards again, deeply gazing into his dark eyes. His hand went to my cheek; I held back my alarm and let him caress it, a mesmerised look on his face. It was working. "Let them go," I murmured, my tongue slowly running over my lips. My face came closer to his as I held a teasing smile on my face. "And I promise I'm all yours."

Giovanni seemed to contemplate right there for a decision. The fact that he was still thinking about it was a good sign to me. He had at least considered it since his answer wasn't straight away. My hand smoothly slid over his, taking it and slowly bringing it to my thigh, my enthralling eyes never leaving his.

He smirked, his hand tightening on my thigh as my heart raced, hopeful for a good response.

"You really promise, my ballerina?" He murmured, an innocent question with a hidden threat underneath.

I softly chuckled, fiercely staring back at him. "Of course," the words danced off my tongue.

To save all of us, he was my master, and I would play his doll for freedom.

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~ Author's Note ~

Maria is playing a dangerous game...but will that help her release herself and the girls?

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