Page 73 of The Favorite Girl

“We can’t just deplete our inventory and give you free merchandise,” Mrs. Ivory retorted, sounding agitated.

“We garner millions of dollars per unit. The waiting list we have extends out to another five years.” Ian snapped his fingers and suddenly, two men I’d never seen before appeared. With one simple nod of his head, they lifted Isabella and carried her away.

“I’m feeling tense. I’ll be back in a bit.” Ian looked toward his wife, and Daphne’s face grew pale as she bit her bottom lip. A pit grew inside of my stomach. He was going to rape her.

“Listen, you can either give me a new one, or you can kiss this… little business you’ve got goin’ on goodbye.” Officer Tate stood and brushed his hands on his pants.

“Here’s your return receipt. We need a signature.” Conrad tapped the paper he had slid over to Officer Tate. My stomach churned as I stared at everyone in the room. This was surreal. How could they live like this without feeling any form of remorse?

“When can I expect to design my next one?”

“Tate… there is a wait list. This isn’t some grocery store where we have an abundance of shiny apples to hand over to you.”

“Then give me her,” he snickered as he pointed at me.

“Watch your fucking mouth before you speak about my soon-to-be wife. You’re looking at the next Mrs. Ivory, so lower you voice,” Conrad fired off without hesitation. Looking over at him, I couldn’t help but feel… thankful? Thankful that I had someone who wanted to protect me for once? What was happening to me? My chest tightened as I hated myself for even feeling this way.

Conrad’s eyes met with mine and his eyes widened slightly as he recognized my emotions. Leaning in, he tilted my chin up and planted his lips against mine.

“Mmm…” I sighed against them. Wasn’t Conrad a product of being raised in this madness? I could help him. I could… But then, as I looked into his eyes, I realized I didn’t feel anything for Conrad. I was displacing my feelings from Bradley onto the next option—the only option. Suddenly, I realized I may be experiencing Stockholm syndrome. Was I falling for my captor? I wasn’t strong enough to fight the sentiments rampaging through my body. But what scared me the most was that they weren’t negative emotions, they were positive.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I heard Mrs. Ivory shift in her seat and when I glanced over at her, she had an enormous, proud smile on her face.

She was happy for us.

They were accepting me as one of them.

Suddenly, everything changed.

CHAPTER

FORTY-THREE

I had gained a new sense of freedom. I wasn’t being dropped off and picked up by Bradley anymore. I wasn’t cleaning or expected to do anything. As Mrs. Ivory and Conrad bickered with Officer Tate, I stood and left the room. I fully expected someone to stop me and say something, but no one did.

This is what it’d be like from now on. I’d be able to roam the estate however I pleased. As I walked the empty halls, I thought about Becca. She was real, the blood and everything was real. But at the same time, how could they just make her disappear so easily without me knowing? How could someone have cleaned the entire area when I barely slept?

I felt lightheaded from every thought, every question, and every fear. How much easier would it be to simply fit into this life and just live? I’d have endless financial security. I’d have a husband, a family, and eventually, we’d have a child I could busy myself with. Maybe I could even gain enough of the family’s trust and get my college degree. I brushed my hand against my hair. It was strange having it cut this short. I felt like an entirely new person. I was a new person.

Pausing in the middle of the hall, I realized I never truly looked at the images that were hung. Bradley always had us moving so quickly, and part of me feared even looking at anything. For some reason, I always thought these images were from Mrs. Ivory’s college days or something of sorts.

But growing closer, I realized these weren’t old images and happy memories from her past. The glossy, deep walnut frames held small circular images that resembled what you’d see in a sorority house. They were all blonde women with green eyes, and rather the signature black dresses you’d expect to see, they were all donning white gowns and blank expressions.

Squinting, I brushed my finger against the engraved gold plaque.

The Ivory Graduates

“Graduates? From…” My heart sank. I already knew.

Looking at the Ossis wing, I tugged the thin card out and waved it across the keypad.

It opened slowly.

Glancing over my shoulder, my heart began to race as I waited for the door to fully shut behind me before walking down the hallway.

Dr. Ivory’s office door was open, trickling soft light out into the otherwise darkened hallway. I wanted to go see the caged girls, but I had to pass his office first.

Freezing in front of the door, I slapped my hands across my mouth.

---