“Do you really feel safe?” Alvarez asked me as we arrived at the level I was staying on.
That question dripped with many more unstated thoughts. One was that he must’ve assumed I was going to leave. I’d even said that I would if I feared for my life. The memory of Patricia, dead, rushed into my head. I shook it away and focused on better and calming thoughts, like the hard texture of Alvarez’s fingers as he held my hand.
“I feel safe for now.” I did have four guards watching my every move. That alone kept me calm. Plus, I planned on being around a large group of people all the time and not wandering around the castle grounds by myself. It seemed that both girls had been killed when no one was around and late at night where the cameras couldn’t see.
If I left, where in the hell would I go? Not to see Dad.
I knew Alvarez would give me a little money and send me on my way, if necessary, but the sad fact remained that I really didn’t have anywhere to go. And my goal wouldn’t happen. I longed to show Michael that all the things that he’d said about me weren’t true. I was going to prove him wrong.
“You’ve lost your light, Ellie. You’re not an inspiration to me or anyone else.” He didn’t even stop having sex with the girl as he spat those words at me. I’d caught him in his studio giving it to his new model. He didn’t even think to stop when I burst in or even to not further insult me with his words. “See what you make me do, my sweet Ellie. You force me to go to others to get inspired and the whole time you’re enjoying my riches.”
“No.” I threw one of his failed mini sculptures at him. It missed his head and crashed to the floor. The girl shrieked. She’d been hiding herself the whole time. I couldn’t see her face, not that it even mattered. “You’re a drunk and a crappy painter who is finally realizing that the gossip in the art world is true, that you’re a talentless hack. You would’ve been nothing without me!”
He laughed and grabbed the wine bottle next to him. “Close the door. We’ll talk about this when I’m done.”
“Fuck you!” Every part of me yearned to throw more things at him.
I’ll bet Michael had hoped I would throw more things at his head. I finally understood him after all these years. My trying to be a better me scared him. I saw improving myself as a benefit to us both. He considered it a threat. So he paraded his women around, called me names, and claimed I was the reason for his loss of enjoying art. But I finally knew that he was wrong.
“Have fun with her, Michael, because soon she’ll realize you’re nothing special.” I slammed the door and headed to the bedroom where my packed bags lay in the closet. I’d been waiting for months to get full access to my bank accounts. No matter how discreetly I tried, Michael’s lawyers wouldn’t allow it without his permission. I’d stupidly allowed him to put all of the accounts in his name. “Well, I’m done waiting. I’ll figure out the money thing later.”
Right as I got to my bedroom door, Michael screamed, “Don’t do anything too drastic, Ellie. You know you can’t live without me!”
“You’re wrong!”
I turned to Alvarez. “I’m going to stay.”
I would finish this job with Hex and show the world that I was still a good model, one who could work with any artist. Then I would continue to build my portfolio and eventually make a name for myself that was separate from Michael. If things worked out, I wouldn’t miss that hard earned money I’d saved in my bank accounts. I would save my own. Michael had opened those accounts for me, and like a fool I’d sat back and allowed it. That was something I would never do again.
From now on, I’ll handle my own money and career.
“The minute I think it is unsafe for you in any way, I’m going to fly you out of here.” Alvarez guided me to my bedroom.
Feeling riled up by my thoughts of Michael, I shook my head at Alvarez. “I’m sorry, but you don’t get to make that decision for me. I will let you know if I need to be flown out of here.”
An odd sound left his lips that almost resembled a growl. “You and that mouth of yours. You won’t just let me take care of you.”
“I’m not a child.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t need my help.”
“I don’t need a protector. I need a good friend who understands that I don’t like to be coddled and protected like a delicate flower. I know a couple of fighting moves.”