"Happy Birthday!" I wake up with a jolt as a feel something jump on me. "Wake up! Wake up!"
Oliver's little body is flopping all over me. I slowly open my eyes to adjust to the light. His moppy hair hanging in front of his excitement filled eyes.
"Happy Birthday Rose." Liv comes over to my bed, holding a little cupcake in her hands. Her smile almost as wide as her sons. "You're seventeen!"
"Thank you guys." I am so blessed to have them in my life. "Where did you even get this? I am so thankful, but you shouldn't be spending your money on me." I point to the cupcake.
"Oh hush up. It's your birthday! We may not be able to get you much, but you will be having a cake... or as much of a cake as I can afford!" Oliver nods along with his mother. Everyday, this little man surprises me with how much he knows and understands. At times it makes me sad because of how quickly he has to grow up.
"Yah and we will even help you lick the frosting off!" And then he says things like this, and he's cute childish side comes through.
Before Liv can interject, I quickly respond. "Thank you so much! Why don't we split it into thirds, so that we can all have a little." I can see Liv trying to stop us, but Oliver is already bouncing with excitement and I am halfway to our little table area to grab a knife.
This will be only Oliver's fifth time having any sort of cake. For all of his birthdays Liv, and now me, have saved up to buy one. Liv and I both decided to only buy sweets for Oliver's birthday, so I have no idea how she was able to buy one for mine this year and am a little upset that she spent money on me. However, looking at Oliver's happy face as he savors his third of the cupcake, I can't stay mad.
~~~
"My dear Roslyn." I jump as I feel Logan come up behind me. "I hear it's your birthday. Want me to give you a present?"
Never in a million years.
Is what I would have said if I was brave enough. Instead I quickly round the desk in his room to create some distance between us. While he usually only mentally harms me, lately he has been getting a little too touchy.
"Come on now. No need to run." His haunting laughter fills the room. "I do not know what you were thinking, I was only trying to give you this."
I stared at the wrapped box in his hand with question. What could it be? Why would he get me something? It was small and wrapped with a dark red paper. More concerning than the gift, was the mischievous smile coming from the gift giver. As I study him and his gift, I notice he is wearing his usual. A expensive white shirt, made with the finest silks and his even more expensive pants. Everything he wears in a day probably costs more than I have ever earned in my life.
"Come here. I won't bite. I just want to give my favorite girl something for her birthday." I may have thought this was nice coming from anyone else, but this was Logan. He is always up to something.
All I can do is stare at him in confusion.
"Fine. I'll just open it." He rolls his eyes, but keeps the smile on his face. Once he gets all the paper off, he hands me the white box that was underneath. A jewelry box? "Here you take it the rest of the way out." By this point he was practically jumping in his leather shoes.
I opened the white jewelry box to reveal a diamond bracelet. I've never held something so expensive in my hands, unless I was cleaning it. As I inspected it further, I noticed a little silver strip in the middle that had words carved into it. It read, "Logan's."
"Do you like it? Oh, of course you do. What a silly question. Here let me help you put it on." He quickly grabbed it from me and snapped it on. "You can read right? No matter what, it says Logan's. Now everyone will know you are mine. My maid. My girl. My anything I want you to be. I don't ever want you to take this off. Even if you tried, you can't."
Right as he said this, I heard a snap like sound coming from where he connected the two sides around my wrist. "Beautiful." He whispered as he traced his hand up my arm.
I grab the bracelet and tried to pull at it. It's locked? I flip it around and inspect the lock. There is a tiny key hole. Why would he do this? I am just his maid. But if wants me to wear it, I guess there is nothing I can do. He already practically owns me, so I guess this is just his way of letting others know. I've never seen any other servant wearing anything like this, but maybe it's a new thing they are doing.
I feel a pull on my hair as Logan tries to get my attention. I almost forgot he was still here because I was too busy worrying about this bracelet.
"You know my Roselyn, my father wants me to get married soon. I am turning twenty nine here shortly and it's time I settle down." He continues to pet my hair as he speaks. "I find you to be one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen; however, I could never marry a maid. But that does not mean I am just going to let you go. You are mine."
He traces over the bracelet as if to prove his last statement. I have an uneasy feeling in my stomach. What he was saying did not make any sense. Why would I ever marry him? What does he mean not letting me go? Does that mean he wants me to come work for him when he gets married and moves away? I don't want that! Liv and Oliver are here.
"I can see the confusion on your face. What I mean to say is I am engaged to the daughter of some duke my father knows. Her family is quite rich, but she is quite ugly. She looks nothing like you. So, even after I marry her, we can continue with our relationship." What in the world is he talking about? What relationship? "However, now that I feel you are old enough, we are going to step it up a bit. Do not worry you will love the changes. I will buy you marvelous things, anything you heart desires. All you will have to do is be my little arm candy and do everything I say."
Has this man gone insane? I would never agree to such a ridiculous agreement.
"Now before you say anything, I hope you know you do not really have a choice. You will do as I say. We would not want anything to happen to poor... what is his name?" I feel my heart fall. "The one named after a fruit? Or was it Oil? Wait, I know! Oliver! That's his name. If you do not do as I say, I will become very upset. I will need to find someone else to comfort me. The only other girl here who I fancy is that other maid girl Liv. I hate children, so I will have to send him away. I would have to separate them and it would be all your fault. You know you could never bear that horrible situation on your precious shoulders."
He puts on a sympathetic face, but I know it's fake. "First things first, we need to get you ready for the ball next week. You are going to be my dazzling star, once we wash away all the dirt and stuff off of you."
I am in tears. He is right. I could never live with myself if I caused Liv and Oliver to separate. I will have to do everything he says.
Any chances of happiness I was holding on to are long gone. I now am Logan's to do as he wishes. Why me? Why does he even like me? I knew he was controlling and loved to torture me, but I never would have imagined anything like this. Foolishly, I have always held a little bit of hope Xavier would find me. He would save me, Liv, and Oliver from the Witmens. Claim that the kiss we shared when we were young was not a mistake. He would confess his love to me.
But now, all that hope is gone.
Happy Birthday to me.
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End of Chapter 11!!!!!!
Word Count: 1480
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