gesture, yet this was a moment of marking me, a reminder that until he decided otherwise, I would be his patient and thus in his power.
Valerie rolled the gurney into the entryway. Without a word, Tony hefted me up onto the soft, narrow mattress. Inside my head, I pictured myself screaming and thrashing and shouting for help even though this was all perfectly legal. On and on, my brain kept trying to get my body to work.
Nothing happened. If someone happened to walk by, they would have seen me lying there, docile and compliant. Working with everything I had, I managed to make one of my fingers twitch. It was a truly pathetic show of defiance, one that no one even noticed.
Once they have been on the gurney, Tony attached a set of ankle restraints while Valerie took care of my wrists. Each shackle was made of leather and had a soft inner lining to make sure I didn't hurt myself. The restraints were completely unnecessary because I couldn't move, but I could tell that Adrian wanted me humiliated. He wanted to make sure I felt trapped and powerless.
It worked.
They rolled me out into the hallway and down the corridor to the elevator. The double doors opened and from the corner my eye, I saw one of our neighbors. Mrs. Trafalgar was an older woman. She had graying hair, though I could tell she must've been very attractive in her youth.
Her eyes widened when she saw the small per session of me, Adrian, Valerie, and Tony pushing the gurney. "Oh my," she said, clearly startled. "What's going on? What happened?"
Again, I tried to work my body. This was my chance. If I could just communicate that this was happening against my will, then she could go for help. It wasn't like Adrian was a criminal mastermind who would start taking out civilians. Just one person, that was all I needed to get out of this situation.
My lower lip quivered a tiny bit, yet it wasn't enough for me to shape any of those words. I didn't make a sound as Adrian calmly explained, "Mrs. Trafalgar, I'm sorry to see this. Melanie here has had some trouble lately."
"I'm very sorry to hear that," said the woman. More frustrating than anything else, I could hear the genuine sympathy and her voice. "May I ask what happened?"
Adrian smiled at her. It was the gorgeously handsome curve of his lips, the one he usually reserved for me and investors. He only used that particular expression when he wanted to be impressive and charming at the same time. Seeing it again sent prickles of anger darting through my skin.
It was infuriating, laying there and being suddenly aware but unable to defend myself. Worst, I had to listen as Adrian said, "Stress. Melanie is always so good about taking care of other people. She is just way too selfless and now she's had something of little breakdown. I would very much appreciate your discretion."
Mrs. Trafalgar smiled and bobbed her head, "Absolutely. I wouldn't dream of breathing a word of this to anyone."
We got to the bottom floor and the doors slid open. Torn, I couldn't decide if I wanted there to be people in the lobby. Maybe someone would notice me and realize that this is against my will. I could only hope that someone would figure it out. At the same time, I dreaded anyone seeing me in this position. I must've looked so small, pathetic, and frail, as though I couldn't handle the rigors of everyday life.
I didn't even get to struggle, not that it would've meant anything with the restraints around my limbs.
For good or ill, the lobby was empty. Dr. Brent led staff and me back outside and into the parking garage where a medical transport van waited for us. It belonged to his clinic which meant that Adrian could keep me under his authority, at least until whatever legal loophole he used ran out.
After all, it wasn't like he could just adopt me and decide I required constant care indefinitely.
Could he?
That question and one hundred others swirled through my head as they loaded me into the back of the van and slammed the door
Valerie rolled the gurney into the entryway. Without a word, Tony hefted me up onto the soft, narrow mattress. Inside my head, I pictured myself screaming and thrashing and shouting for help even though this was all perfectly legal. On and on, my brain kept trying to get my body to work.
Nothing happened. If someone happened to walk by, they would have seen me lying there, docile and compliant. Working with everything I had, I managed to make one of my fingers twitch. It was a truly pathetic show of defiance, one that no one even noticed.
Once they have been on the gurney, Tony attached a set of ankle restraints while Valerie took care of my wrists. Each shackle was made of leather and had a soft inner lining to make sure I didn't hurt myself. The restraints were completely unnecessary because I couldn't move, but I could tell that Adrian wanted me humiliated. He wanted to make sure I felt trapped and powerless.
It worked.
They rolled me out into the hallway and down the corridor to the elevator. The double doors opened and from the corner my eye, I saw one of our neighbors. Mrs. Trafalgar was an older woman. She had graying hair, though I could tell she must've been very attractive in her youth.
Her eyes widened when she saw the small per session of me, Adrian, Valerie, and Tony pushing the gurney. "Oh my," she said, clearly startled. "What's going on? What happened?"
Again, I tried to work my body. This was my chance. If I could just communicate that this was happening against my will, then she could go for help. It wasn't like Adrian was a criminal mastermind who would start taking out civilians. Just one person, that was all I needed to get out of this situation.
My lower lip quivered a tiny bit, yet it wasn't enough for me to shape any of those words. I didn't make a sound as Adrian calmly explained, "Mrs. Trafalgar, I'm sorry to see this. Melanie here has had some trouble lately."
"I'm very sorry to hear that," said the woman. More frustrating than anything else, I could hear the genuine sympathy and her voice. "May I ask what happened?"
Adrian smiled at her. It was the gorgeously handsome curve of his lips, the one he usually reserved for me and investors. He only used that particular expression when he wanted to be impressive and charming at the same time. Seeing it again sent prickles of anger darting through my skin.
It was infuriating, laying there and being suddenly aware but unable to defend myself. Worst, I had to listen as Adrian said, "Stress. Melanie is always so good about taking care of other people. She is just way too selfless and now she's had something of little breakdown. I would very much appreciate your discretion."
Mrs. Trafalgar smiled and bobbed her head, "Absolutely. I wouldn't dream of breathing a word of this to anyone."
We got to the bottom floor and the doors slid open. Torn, I couldn't decide if I wanted there to be people in the lobby. Maybe someone would notice me and realize that this is against my will. I could only hope that someone would figure it out. At the same time, I dreaded anyone seeing me in this position. I must've looked so small, pathetic, and frail, as though I couldn't handle the rigors of everyday life.
I didn't even get to struggle, not that it would've meant anything with the restraints around my limbs.
For good or ill, the lobby was empty. Dr. Brent led staff and me back outside and into the parking garage where a medical transport van waited for us. It belonged to his clinic which meant that Adrian could keep me under his authority, at least until whatever legal loophole he used ran out.
After all, it wasn't like he could just adopt me and decide I required constant care indefinitely.
Could he?
That question and one hundred others swirled through my head as they loaded me into the back of the van and slammed the door
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