Chapter 9
NINE
B ria is downstairs, chewing a bright pink piece of gum while tapping away on her phone.
I've never had one; we could use the house phone at the orphanage, but who would I call?
“Ready?" she asks, linking her slender arm through mine. “Sorry, my brother is such a fucking pain.”
I shake it off. “He’s fine,” I lie, stepping onto the sidewalk out front.
In the light of day, everything appears transformed. The exterior is stunning. From outside, the house seems slender, pressed against two neighboring brick structures. You could never know the sheer size from this viewpoint.
Weathered bricks hugged by cascading ivy, form a charming facade. Elegant wrought iron railings encircle each window, not confining them like a cage but gracefully defining their shape .
A woman strolls by, guiding a stroller with a laughing baby inside.
Meanwhile, a young couple struggles to keep pace with their two energetic puppies, who are eager to explore every inch of the sidewalk. I can't help but think we should have brought Axle along to escape Sin’s glare.
He can stay in his lair, captivated by the flickering embers of the fire, but I plan to enjoy this day with Bria, discovering my surroundings and getting to know her better.
It’s incredible to witness life unfolding outside. At the orphanage, everything happened within. My entire existence was confined within those four walls. Although it was a large space, it felt limiting. Rare outings fostered a world of fantasy in my mind... but now, I get to experience life beyond those boundaries.
I may lack experience in many areas, but when I turned sixteen, I had a tutor. I believe that’s what helps prepare a girl for the harsh realities of life, especially when it seems she’ll never be adopted. She was a kind woman who taught me the basics, yet nothing can truly prepare you for the real world—except, well... the real thing.
I've always wondered what today would be like, my first day in the real world with no one to tell me what to do or how to act. This is the question I've always asked myself is, who am I?
Who am I?
No better time to find out than now.
We slip into the backseat of Mr. Rollin’s sleek black SUV. The leather seats are cool against the backs of my legs. Pants, that’s the first thing I want to get.
“What is the allowance?” I ask, not wanting to take Sin’s money, but what other choice do I have right now?
Bria gives me a smirk, pulling out a sleek black credit card. “We don’t get an allowance, Magnolia. We get whatever we want.”
My eyes widen. “I’m going to get something to apply for a job. Do you recommend any places around here?” I glance at the storefronts as we pass boutiques, florist shops, and bakeries.
Bria shakes her head. “No need; find a hobby. Do whatever makes you happy.” She shrugs.
“What if I get bored?” Bria looks at me as if this has never been a thought in her mind.
She scoots closer to me, grabbing my hands in hers. “Magnolia, listen. I’m going to be honest, I don’t have many friends.” She frowns, and it looks so odd on her sweet face. “No one will get close to me because...” she trails off. Finally, she says, “We won’t get bored, and I do hope that we become very good friends.”
I study her for a moment, wondering if she’s the answer to everything. “Did he bring me here for you to have a friend?” I murmur.
She laughs. It’s small but filled with humor. “I don’t know if Sin would ever do anything like that for me. He loves me, but he has a funny way of showing it.” She tilts her head to inspect me. “The truth is, I don’t have the slightest idea why Sin brought you home, but I’m so happy you’re here.”
This woman is so much sweeter than her brother.
Every semester we got an allowance for new uniforms, and they were always the same. I nervously smile, trying to wrap my head around the difference just a few days make.
Last week, I was waking up in the orphanage. This time in the afternoon, I would be helping with the dishes after lunch. Then it would be off to clean the floors with the other girls, but now? Shopping. None of it seems real.
Yes, I could demand that Sin take me to the place I was supposed to be going to, but what road would that lead me down? A halfway home for unwanted girls, embarking on a harsh shove into a society they're completely unfamiliar with?
Why not enjoy that beautiful home with what appears to be a truly promising friendship and a dog? Sin could be a side note, but a genuine friendship with a girl—one I'm not anxious about potentially losing to adoption—could be life-changing in itself.
Bria said she doesn't have many friends, and that is already a common ground; I don't have any either, not really.
Lost in thought, I barely register that we've stopped. I'm thankful for Bria allowing me some grace to think on our short drive here. For now, I'm going to live in the moment.
Whatever comes my way, I will be prepared, and one of those ways is finding a few outfits to help me escape my past at the orphanage. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and this is my chance.
The bell above the door jingles as we enter the spacious, well-lit boutique. The shiny marble floor is complemented by a variety of tables and racks scattered throughout the space.
Bria walks off, her long nails trailing different fabrics. I decide to do the same, walking towards the back. Rollins keeps his eyes on us both, standing in the middle of the store. He looks pretty funny here, drowning in a sea of scarlet and black dresses.
I run my fingers over a flowy yellow dress, the fabric smooth and cool against my skin. It sways gently with my touch, and I can almost envision myself twirling in it through the gardens outside of Sin’s home. I leave it behind, knowing it’s a ridiculous thought. I need something to apply for jobs in, not frolic.
Everything here catches my attention. It's all so beautiful, so captivating as it shimmers from the overhead lights.
Twenty minutes pass by and Bria catches me off guard, walking up behind me and carrying at least ten dresses. “Every woman needs a black dress,” she hints, noticing my empty arms. She disappears into the dressing room. “Grab some things, whatever you want!” she says from behind the velvet curtain.
I hear her squeal in delight as I trail off, wondering what my life has become. An orphan girl who is now surrounded by luscious fabrics, I don’t think I can fully comprehend why Mr. Hot and Cold wants me here, but for now, I’m going to pretend that this was where I was always meant to be.
I sink through the aisles, becoming increasingly aware of my surroundings. Women that look like they’re fresh from the salon. Put together, with their entire lives in order, they aren’t much older than me. A few of them give me odd looks, checking out my attire.
I focus my attention on the gleaming racks of clothes. Skirts have been my entire wardrobe, so it isn't a surprise when I gravitate to a pair of white pants that flare slightly at the bottom. There’s no world in which I need these; they’re more of a Devil Wears Prada vibe.
There’s an ever-circulating stack of contraband DVDs at the orphanage, with movies we would never be allowed to watch. I was always fond of that film, the way it was women in charge, calling the shots, dressing however they pleased. Answering to only themselves. Then morning would come, and I would wake up at the crack of dawn to clean or cook or learn. The exact opposite of a woman in charge of her life.
I admire the pants once more, wondering if I should grab them. The problem is, Bria isn’t here, and I have no idea how to style the rest of the outfit.
A woman nearby has a name tag that says ‘Avery’.
“Excuse me, Miss,” I speak softly. She turns toward me, smiling, but as she sees me, her expression shifts to almost a scowl, taking me in with a barely concealed look of disgust. I extend my hand to the rack, “Could you-”
“We don’t have your size,” she states.
I gesture to the rack. “My size is here,” I correct her. Bria squeals from the dressing room, finding something she loves.
“Our larges,” she sighs, “they fit differently. Maybe you would be better off heading to Fifth Avenue? They have better options for you . "
I frown, looking down at my feet. I wish I could be more courageous, to not allow this woman to treat me like I don't belong... but the truth is, she’s right; I don’t belong here. Whether it be from my size, or the uniform I’m wearing, I do not look like her normal clientele.
Bria appears, exiting the changing rooms, dresses draping her arms. The rude woman breaks into a wide, fake grin, turning her attention away from me completely. “Miss Donati, may I help you?”
“Yes, oh! Are you getting something, Magnolia?”
Avery looks back at me, fixing her scowl with a wide grin, "You're together?"
“Yes,” I respond in a cool, neutral tone, but Bria doesn’t miss the tears that are annoyingly starting to form in my eyes.
“Maybe…” The woman taps her chin in thought. “We have some more of those pants in the back.”
Bria reads the room, taking in my frown and stopping the woman with the lift of her hand. “Everything okay?” She asks.
"Everything is gre—" Bria cuts the woman off with a flick of her wrist.
"Magnolia," she says quietly, "are you okay?"
Stealing a little of the strength in her tone, I raise my head and say, “Avery told me I’d be better off heading to Fifth Avenue since I won’t fit into anything here.”
Bria’s gentle, soft features transform into Sin. Literally, she looks just like her brother. A scowl mangles her perfect face. She waits until another worker is close by before tossing the dresses into Avery's arms .
“This should be about nine thousand dollars’ worth of clothes that we won't be buying; you can put them back on the rack.”
Avery is speechless as the other woman walks over. “Is everything okay, Ms. Donati?”
Bria gives the woman a smile that could burn the world down, “Everything is just fucking peachy.” She sneers, grabbing a small concrete paperweight and driving it down onto the glass top of the register. It shatters and I gasp, stepping back. “You won’t be receiving any more Donati business until she is fired,” she states, pointing an accusatory nail at Avery, turning on her heels.
“It’s okay, Bria,” I try to reason, my wide eyes roaming over the glass on the floor.
“It’s not,” she insists, grabbing my things and plopping them directly on the broken counter.
We walk out, like nothing happened. “Wait, Bria, you loved that dress. I heard you in the dressing room," I try to protest. “And the glass!”
She grips my shoulders firmly, saying, “Nothing is ever worth sacrificing your honor, Magnolia.” The sun blinds me as I look at her. “We do not allow anyone to make us feel less than, not in the Donati family, not you either.”
“Where do we go now?” I wonder, wanting to get away from that moment, the fear I felt. Not from Bria, just the violence of it.
She’s distracted by her phone. “Jesus!” she exclaims, tossing her head back, causing me to pause. I’ve never heard anyone use that name for anything other than prayer .
“What?” She reels her head back at me, ignoring whatever call was coming through.
“Jesus,” I whisper back, making her laugh.
She snorts, “I’m catholic too, Magnolia. Don’t worry. We can go to confession every week to deal with our sins like any good old catholic does. You’re going to need to if you live with us.”
If you live with us sounds more like an invitation than Sin makes it out to be.
I stay outside, not wanting to feel like I did before, as Bria steps into another store. Rollins waits by my side, his eyes roaming over the crowds of people as they pass by.
She returns not long after, three bags on her arm. “Lunch?” she suggests.
We’re eating outside on an adorable little patio surrounded by lush greenery. Bria finishes her salmon and leans closer, her voice lowered so Rollins won't hear. “I’m tired of my brother’s men constantly monitoring me.” Her eyebrows dance, hinting at the mischief we might get into.
“Isn’t he here for protection?” Protection from what? The answer eludes me.
She sighs in exasperation. “We can take care of ourselves.”
I wish I could share her confidence, but my anxiety spikes amid the throngs of people flooding the city. This experience is unlike anything I've known, and I feel overwhelmed, as if my weary mind can't process the sensory overload around me .
Bria has been kind to me from the moment I met her, and she lives here she knows the city, she will keep us safe. “What’s the plan?”
“That’s my girl!” She whispers enthusiastically. “Just follow my lead.”
She grabs her bags, and Rollins starts to rise, but Bria quiets him. “We’re heading to the ladies' room.”
He settles back down and folds his arms, saying, “With your things?” She gives him a sweet smile, replying, “Yes, Rol, with our things. We might want to change into something more comfortable!” she whines, sounding like a child.
This seems to work.
We enter the vacant restroom located at the back of the restaurant, and Bria secures the door behind us. “Here,” she beams, offering me a flowy, blush pink dress. “This made me think of you.” Her phone rings once more, but she chooses to ignore it.
I smile, touched that she thought of me while at the other store. “Thank you.” I quickly take off my clothes and slip into the new dress. The soft fabric feels so good against my skin. It ends just above my knee, ideal for twirling. I’ve never had anything like this before. A wave of confidence washes over me as I glimpse my reflection in the mirror. Even though we’ve been running around all day, my raven hair still lays in nice waves against the dress.
“So cute! Ready?” she asks, practically bouncing with excitement about running from the guard. I nod sheepishly, following behind her .
We slip back into the restaurant and exit through a side door. “We’re heading through this alley to the next street; we need some new shoes.” I nearly comment on her impressive collection of heels, but I hold back.
As she switches off her phone, I notice Sin’s name displayed. I can’t picture him as someone who would easily tolerate being ignored. Of course, I don’t actually know him at all.
As we stroll leisurely pass the shops, a pair of cream pants made from a breathable, flowy fabric draws my attention. “I really love those."
“Then those it will be.” She smiles, walking inside. This store is much more inviting, and it isn’t long before we’re walking out with bags upon bags of new items.
After spending the day outside, I’m mesmerized by the beauty of the city as the sun sets and the twinkling lights come to life. More people are now out, heading to dinner, nightlife, or shopping.
This city is electrified.
“I’m sorry I’ve kept you out all day.”
I laugh, “Are you kidding? I had the best time. I’ve never done anything like this.”
I’ve learned a lot about Bria today. For instance, she’s allergic to cats, which makes her sad since she adores them. She also prefers tea to coffee. We have the same shoe size. These are all surface-level details, the kind that help spark a friendship. Honestly, I believe she needed this day just as much as I did.
“Before we head back and deal with him is there anything else you want, or need?”
“I don’t need a thing. I appreciate all of this so much, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay.”
“Nonsense.” She shakes her head. “Really think about it, okay?” She stops walking. “I want you to be set up for your new life. We’ve got you clothes, and shoes... and you can borrow any of mine anytime! We can do purse shopping another day. What’s left?”
I do think about it for a moment, but I don’t dare mention what it is that I really want.
She catches on to me holding something back. “What?”
“Maybe just a simple piece of jewelry? It’s something I have wanted for a long time. We can wait until I get a job, and a paycheck.”
“Oh! No, you can get something now!” she squeals with joy, leading me to a stunning assortment of necklaces in a store window.
We’re no match for the crowds of people that are hurrying down the street, we’re separated as she walks towards the door. I push through the crowd, trying to make it to her.
Someone knocks me over, but before I hit the ground I’m yanked upward.
I attempt to right myself but am immediately frozen in fear as I realize I’m being dragged away from the crowd, my feet barely touching the ground.
Panic courses through every nerve ending as I am being held with a force I’ve never felt. Being dragged away from civilization into a dark, deep alleyway.
Unable to scream, shout, or fight against the strong grip.
I don’t know where I am, or how to escape the tight grasp the man has on me.