Chapter 4
The next day, after I get up and have breakfast, Lorenzo approaches me with a gorgeous young woman in tow.
I eye her curiously, watching from the corner of my eye—she’s well-dressed, hair perfectly styled, and she looks about my age. Before I know it, I’m staring openly, and the question I can’t shake: is she another debt payment like me?
She meets my gaze and smiles, then walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“Hi, how are you?”
“Hi, I’m fine.” I touch my face and ask, “Are you another one like me?”
“Like you? I don’t understand.” The girl arches her eyebrows.
“Sara, glad you’re here.” Lorenzo turns to her. “I really need you. This is Aurora, or Lola if you prefer.”
“Welcome, Aurora. We’ll be good friends,” Sara tells me, and I don’t like how friendly she’s being.
“Thank you.”
“Sara, I’m taking Lola to buy some clothes. I want you to come along and help her pick things out.”
“Of course, I’d love to.”
“I don’t want her coming with us.” I cross my arms and frown at Lorenzo. “How many of us do you keep here?”
I can feel his patience wearing thin as he sighs and grabs my arm, pulling me aside.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Sara is my sister.”
He lets me go, gestures for us to follow, and walks off. I make a face as I leave, not even looking at Sara—I’m ashamed for comparing her to me. My face burns and I must be beet red. She follows right behind us.
We get in the car and sadness washes over me again. I sigh and furrow my brow, staring out the window. Lorenzo turns to me.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”
“And why should I be happy? Are you going to force me to feel whatever you want me to feel now?” I ask, irritated.
He keeps his eyes fixed on the road, staying silent the whole time. When we reach the city, he turns at a corner and heads toward my old house.
Before I know it, he stops—we’re in front of where I used to live. Seeing this place again really puts the mansion I’m living in now into perspective.
I grow restless, butterflies churning in my stomach. He honks, gets out quickly, walks around the car, and opens the door for me.
He’s being surprisingly kind right now, and my thoughts start racing—what if he’s bringing me back to my sister? I doubt it, but that would be so wonderful.
He said we were going to buy clothes, but what if he’s actually here to get Sofia so he can sell us both as sex slaves to some disgusting rich old man?
My stomach churns with nerves. I want to run, but one phone call from Lorenzo would send all his lackeys after me across the city. Suddenly I feel Lorenzo’s fingers under my chin. He lifts my face, forcing me to meet his serious gaze.
“Put a smile on that face. We came to pick up one more person to go shopping with us.”
He honks again and Sofia appears at the window. When she sees me, she runs to the car. I can’t help myself—I run to meet her, and she hugs me tight.
“I missed you so much, Lola! What are you doing here?”
Lorenzo walks over to us while Sara stays in the car. He smiles at Sofia.
“Hi, your sister and I came to pick you up for a shopping trip.”
Her eyes light up.
“Are you serious, Lola?”
“Of course.”
“I’m going to get ready, okay?”
“Of course, but hurry,” Lorenzo says.
Soon she comes out freshly showered, smelling of perfume.
“Where’s Dad?” I ask.
“He’s not home.”
“You’re there alone?”
“Nothing’s changed, Lola. Everything’s the same as before.”
I sigh, the sadness aching inside me. Lorenzo puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze. I feel an electric current run through my body.
“Let’s go.”
We head to a huge, fancy store in the city—one I never could have set foot in before. Lorenzo looks at us.
“Go on, choose whatever you want. I’ll wait here.”
Sofia and I head to one side while Sara goes to another. All the salesgirls in the store flock to Sara. I approach one of them.
“Excuse me, could you get that blouse for me, please?”
She looks me up and down.
“Sorry, miss, but I can’t help you.”
I glance around to see who might have heard her.
“What?” I’m confused.
“Girls, get a clue—this store isn’t for you.” She raises her finger and waves it around, gesturing at the store. “Nothing here suits you ladies. There’s a thrift shop at the end of the street—that’s the closest you’ll get to buying clothes like these.”
I swallow hard, and that’s when I see Lorenzo heading toward us. I duck my head in embarrassment—he’s going to offer to pay for my clothes, just watch.
“Sara, Aurora, and Sofia, we’re leaving.”
“Wait, sir...” She tries to speak to Lorenzo, who turns and slams his fist on the counter, his voice ringing out hard.
“Who do you think you are? If I wanted to, I could buy this entire store and throw you out on the street.”
The girl’s lips tremble as she tries to say something, but nothing comes out. She swallows hard and extends a trembling hand.
“I... I’ll show... the clothes to them.”
“No need. This store isn’t good enough for them. I’m sure the owners would love to hear that you were disrespectful and rude to the women of the Caruso family.”
The girl’s eyes widen at the surname. She must have known about the Carusos’ reputation, but she never would have imagined that people like Sofia and me would be with one of them.
Lorenzo puts his hand on me again, this time on my waist, and I feel at ease. As we head for the exit, the girl stammers.
“Sir... sir, I’m sorry, I didn’t know...”
“You’re not here to know or assume anything. You’re here to sell and treat your customers well. Let’s go, girls.”
We leave and head to another store. Lorenzo stays at the entrance while we go in with Sara, who speaks to the saleswoman.
“Hello, I’ve brought these beautiful girls, and we’re going to take everything they want.”
The girl smiles.
“Of course. Girls?” she calls, and three saleswomen come over to us. “Help these girls with whatever they need.”
Lorenzo walks in with a smile.
“That’s it, I like that. Bring out the best of everything you’ve got. Don’t worry about price. That’s definitely not a problem.”
We’re looking at some clothes, and I really like a blue dress. When I check the tag, the price startles me and I whisper to myself.
“My God, I can’t get this dress. Sofia,” I call to my sister.
“Yeah, Lola?”
“Sofia, we can’t get these clothes. The prices on these dresses are insane.”
“But Lola, they’re so beautiful.”
“But we can’t afford them.”
I hear from behind me:
“Yes, you can. Sofia, go ahead and get everything you like. Don’t worry about the price. Get shoes too.”
Sofia runs off. Lorenzo is beside me, hands in his pockets.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask.
He raises his hand to my face and caresses my cheek slowly. I feel my skin burn.
“Because I want to, and you’ll look even more beautiful in nice clothes.”
His finger caresses my lips, his thumb tracing them as if drawing my mouth. His expression is so sexy, and I feel a chill run down my spine, but I need to avoid this kind of contact because it would be a mistake. I slap his hand away.
“Show me some respect. You said you wouldn’t make me your sex slave.”
“And I won’t. I’m just being kind. Even knowing that you women are treacherous, I can’t help myself.”
“Are you trying to buy me with these clothes?”
He laughs, and his smile makes my legs go weak, and he says:
“I already bought you. Did you forget you’re already mine?” He bites his lip, and I stand there paralyzed, staring at him, and blurt out:
“I’m yours on paper. You’ll never lay your hands on me.”
I turn to leave, and he grabs my arm and leans in close to my lips, looking into my eyes.
“I don’t want to lay my hands on you, Lola.”
He says this, but his body seems to say exactly the opposite, because he’s so close that I feel all the heat radiating off him, as if saying, “you’ll beg to be mine, Lola.”
Near him, I feel like I’m burning, and I see myself being consumed by this fire.