Page 49 of Twisted Obsession
ME:It’s a masquerade fundraiser. I have never met him. How will I know who he is?
7% battery life.
CHLOE: He will find you. You are supposed to wear a red mask. That’s how he will know where to find you.
5% battery life.
ME: Okay. I won’t be able to contact you again. The battery life on this cell is almost dead.
CHLOE: Okay. Be safe, Lara. I love you.
ME: Love you too, Chloe.
I erased the text thread to ensure Marta wouldn’t discover that I had been in touch with Chloe. I watched the screen flash one last time as I deleted the final message, just before the cell phone powered down with a soft sigh. Holding onto a fragile hope, I believed that in a few days, I would finally be free from Dmitri and this gilded cage.
I pressed the phone against my chest for a moment, feeling the cool surface against my skin before tucking it back beneath my dress. The fabric rustled softly as I secured it in place. The only task remaining was to return the phone to its hiding spot in the pantry, where Marta would easily find it without suspecting a thing.
~***~
Just like he had promised, Dmitri had taken me shopping for a dress. Instead of trusting me with the privacy of the dressing room, he insisted on accompanying me inside. I still hadn’t confessed that Camile had aided my escape from the wedding dress boutique. I couldn’t put her at risk because of my own careless capture. As a constant reminder of Lisa’s words, I lightly traced the small scar at the base of my neck, near my shoulder, with my fingers.
I needed to remove this tracker from my body. With my rescue planned in just a couple of days, I longed to be free from Dmitri’s grasp once and for all. I shoved the thought aside when the store clerk gracefully entered with another gown. This one was a deep, elegant black, contrasting with the previous red options. I understood the reason behind the color choice—Dmitri intended to pair the dress with the red mask I was supposed to wear. Nothing complements red more strikingly than black.
“I think you will like this one,” she said with a coy smile toward Dmitri as she carefully draped it on the hook near the full-length mirror. “Let me know how you like it.” She exited the dressing room with an air of confidence, her hips swaying seductively.
Was she flirting with him?
Her words were deliberately aimed at Dmitri. I should have felt anger, but soon it wouldn’t matter. I’d be out of his life for good.
The gown’s fabric caressed my hips as it cascaded in waves of black silk, adorned with delicate raindrops of beads along the bottom half. It was a stunning dress, featuring a plunging neckline and a low back. Only slender straps held it in place, criss-crossing elegantly across my back. I wasn’t sure if this dress truly represented me, but it was undeniably beautiful, and judging by Dmitri’s reaction, it captivated him.
Dmitri moved toward me with silent grace and stepped behind me, the warmth of his presence like a whisper against my back. Gently lowering the thin black strap of my dress, he placed a tender, lingering kiss on my shoulder, his lips soft and warm against my skin. Our eyes caught and held in the mirror’s reflection, and in that silent exchange, something indefinable shifted between us. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened, but the way he gazed at me through the glass, with an intensity that seemed to see into the depths of my soul, captured a piece of my heart.
“We need to get back to the mansion. I have some things to attend to,” Dmitri said abruptly, shattering the fragile spell that had enveloped me as he stepped away, his voice a cool breeze that left me momentarily confused.
Upon our return to the mansion, Dmitri disappeared into his study, a sanctuary of dark wood and leather, while I ascended the marble staircase to our room, carrying the elegant dress he had so thoughtfully chosen for me. Inside, Marta was bent over the bed, methodically changing the sheets, her presence anunwelcome shadow in my day. The hard set of her jaw and the fire in her eyes told me she had discovered her missing phone.
Halting her task, she marched toward me, her eyes alight with accusation. Without warning, she slapped me sharply across the face, the sting blooming across my cheek like a hot brand.
“You stupid girl. I know you took my phone. I don’t know what you are planning, but I’m going to let Dmitri know,” she hissed, her voice a venomous promise.
Bitch.
“Go ahead. You have no proof I took your stupid phone,” I retorted, my voice steady despite the quiver in my chest. “Imagine what Dmitri would do if I confronted him about your threat. I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t have left it unattended in the first place.” Inside, a tempest of nerves and defiance roiled. It was high time I stood my ground against her relentless bullying, and I was done with being her scapegoat.
I swiftly hung the exquisite dress in the spacious walk-in closet and left the bedroom, determination fueling my steps. There were far more pressing matters than engaging in a pointless argument with Marta. I needed to find a knife that was small, yet sharp enough to cut out this damn tracker.
When I rummaged through every single drawer in the kitchen, the only knives I managed to uncover were butter knives. Their dull edges were utterly useless for my purpose. Dmitri had a clear motive for keeping the sharper knives out of my reach: to prevent me from plunging one into his heart while he slept, ending his tyranny over me.Think, think, think, Lara.I needed to find something sharp enough to slice open my skin and extract the tracker.
Dmitri had only ever allowed me the use of an electric shaver, rendering its blade ineffective for my needs. Surely, in this sprawling mansion, there had to be a pair of scissors hidden away somewhere. Leaving the kitchen behind, I quietly made my way down the corridor and toward Dmitri’s study, the heels of my shoes echoing softly against the polished marble floors. There, I hoped to find something with an edge keen enough to serve my desperate mission.
As I approached the study, I found the heavy, wooden door closed. Instead of barging in, I knocked softly and paused, waiting for Dmitri’s voice to grant me entry. Silence met my ears, so I cautiously pushed the door open and peeked inside. The room was empty, the air still and undisturbed in his absence. He was still away, but urgency laced my movements—I had no idea when he would return.
I hurried over to his imposing mahogany desk and sank into the plush leather chair, the scent of aged leather mingling with the faint aroma of Dmitri’s cologne. Pulling at the drawers, I found them locked tight, except for the one beneath my knees. The envelope that had once contained the truth about my father was missing. If I hadn’t stumbled upon that envelope and overheard Dmitri’s clandestine conversation in the garden, I would have remained ignorant of the existence of another family. I would have remained blind to Dmitri’s web of deceit.
The drawer turned out to be a disappointment, cluttered with an assortment of mundane office supplies. Pens of various colors, notepads filled with idle doodles, a few scattered paperclips, a tarnished cigar cutter, a tangle of rubber bands, and a remote for the oversized TV were all that met my search.Surely, this couldn’t be all there was. Determined, I reached my hand back into the drawer, probing the depths until my fingers curled around something unexpected—a smooth, cool handle. I pulled it out, revealing a letter opener with a dull, metallic gleam. Its blade wasn’t the sharpest, but the pointed tip seemed perfect for the delicate task of prying out the tracker.
With a soft click, I pushed the drawer shut and held my breath as I slowly walked to the door and cautiously opened it. My heart pounded in my chest as I contemplated my next move. Now, I needed to devise a plan for how and when to remove the tracker, all without Dmitri finding out what I had done.
