Escape from the Binding Vow

Ella stood in the middle of the basement, with tears filling her eyes, as her husband Micheal was continuously beating up her driver, Corey. "How dare you!!" Michael's voice roared loudly as he kicked Corey's stomach.

Corey looked small as he curled up in pain, his clothes stained with his own blood and covered in dirt. He gasped in pain.

Corey was all bruised up from the beating, blood dripping from his mouth and even his nose "Please" he weakly begged " I have a sister, please she's really sick please please I won't make this mistake again" he continued to plead, tears rolling down his cheeks mixing with the sweat on his face.

Ella looked away from him in regret, she held herself from going over to where he was and protecting him from all the beatings. From crying and apologizing to him for putting him in this situation.

Ella really wanted to beg for Corey but she couldn't, she knew it would only make things worse for both of them. Her husband had a really bad temper. All she could do was pray he wouldn't kill them.

Three hours earlier, Corey was driving Ella to her hair appointment in Beverly Centre. Corey was a slim, tall black kid who didn't look like he was over 21. He had full hair and a small mustache that made him look a bit mature but still had that young look in him.

They drove in silence, the radio in a low volume playing a pop song. Corey hummed to the song, swaying a little to the rhythm. He seemed a bit carried away by the music playing. Ella looked at him with a small smile.

"What song is this?" Ella asked him. Corey looked at her in surprise through the rear view mirror. "Uh...it's sunlight..."he said almost in a whisper but Ella heard him and simply nodded "Catchy..." she said turning to face the window.

She could see now that he was a bit nervous even uncomfortable. This was the first time they were speaking and he's been driving her for almost a month. Sometimes she wondered if her husband, Micheal would warn the male staffs not to speak to her. It wasn't out of some romantic possessiveness, he wanted to be in control of her life.

Corey then cleared his throat and spoke up, "Mrs Diviski, is everything fine?Your eyes....they're bruised" Corey asked still looking at her through the rear view mirror.

Ella looked at her driver, in confusion because she had worn some makeup to cover the bruise on her eye. "It's nothing I uh I fell in the bathroom that's all" Ella said looking away but slightly touching her bruised eye.

She didn't actually fall her husband Micheal had punched her for mistakenly pouring hot tea on him. Micheal was a very abusive man with not just her but with everyone and no one could do anything about it. Corey faced the road and sighed 'He must have hit her again' Corey thought to himself.

"Uhm....could you please step out of the car" she instructed Corey once they had arrived at their destination. He did as he was told,backing the car. Ella took out her powder and applied more to cover the bruises. "All good" she said looking at herself through the rear view mirror. She sighed and got out.

After Ella's hair appointment, she got in the car ready to go home but Corey didn't start driving, instead he spoke up "Ella you could run away" this time he called her by her name. Ella looked at him confused "What did you say?" She asked, her brows knitting in confusion.

"Look I know he hits you, I've been here only a few weeks and I know what he does to you and how he treats you.You shouldn't go through this no matter how much he has or the power that he has" he said facing her this time.

Ella stared at him blankly, none of the staff had ever acknowledged what Micheal had been doing to her. She couldn't blame them because Micheal would kill them off if they tried anything.

"He's a coward and a bastard who should be locked up" he said abit loudly. Ella sighed shaking her head "I don't know if you've noticed but I really don't have a choice kid. He'll kill me if he catches me and he will catch me" Ella tried to not say too much because he was a new staff and the way he spoke with so much confidence, she knew Corey didn't know who her husband really was.

"Please just forget this....look I know you mean well but please...." Ella was worried, she had been married to her husband, Micheal for almost 2 years and he has killed quite a number of people in front of her. He did things like that to instill fear in her. He constantly reminded her she lived by his mercy and he could kill her at any time. If he catches them, this could be the time. He would kill Corey too.

"Look Ella I'll help you. You don't deserve this" he urged, but before Ella could answer he turned away from her, started the car and began to drive the opposite direction. Ella sighed 'this could be my chance to get my freedom,but what if he catches us' she thought to herself.

She wanted to tell him to turn back, she knew how ruthless her husband was but this could be her chance to run away. She felt conflicted. "Corey, please turn around. You don't know Micheal" she finally said leaning towards the driver's seat gripping the leather in worry.

Corey didn't bother looking at Ella, his eyes fixated on the road with determination. He could sense her worry, "Look it's fine to be scared but you cannot keep living like this. It's not right. We could even report him to the police" Corey tried to convince her. Ella sighed at the mention of the police 'if only he knew how powerful Micheal truly is' Ella thought to herself looking at Corey.

"I can take you to my apartment, it's at the other end of town it's small. It's just me there because my sister..." he sighed loudly, not finishing what he was saying "but it should be fine until you can find a way to leave the city" he continued to say as he drove faster.

But Ella still wasn't at ease, her heart was beating fast "Corey turn around. Corey!!" She said his name loudly but he didn't budge. She felt desperate, Corey wasn't budging, she didn't want him to but at the same time she did. But both their lives were at risk.

Suddenly, she reached out for Corey's hand, trying to pull it away from the steering wheel. "What are you doing!!" Corey screamed at her, wondering why she didn't want his help "Stop, Corey stop the car" she shouted back at him in desperation. The car swerved as they struggled. Pedestrians screaming and running for their lives.

Corey and Ella continued struggling. "Ella stop it!!" Corey continued to repeat but Ella didn't budge. Corey finally had enough and pushed Ella off him. He turned to her, with one hand on the wheel "Ella I'm trying to help you" he said loudly "I don't need it. This isn't helping!!" She shouted back but before they both knew it the car had crashed into a newspaper stand.

Ella had fell to the side, laying on the chair. "Ow.." she sat up, pressing her head. "Corey..." she whispered in fear that he was dead. She leaned forward and started shaking him to wake up. "Corey...wake up, please don't be dead..." Corey woke up, grunting "I'm awake, I'm not...I'm not dead..." taking his hands to his head to feel the blood on his head, he had a deep cut. "I'm sorry, I had to...." She began to apologize but Corey waved his hands

"It's my fault, I should have turned around like you asked. I was out of line" he didn't want her to feel bad. "If we had run away trust me, he'd find us and that won't be good" she felt bad because the crash could have gone way worse. "It's fine...more worried about the car now..." he said looking at the car, silently praying there was no permanent or serious damage.

Bystanders didn't go close to the car, they watched from afar, taking videos with their phones, whispering and gossiping to themselves. Suddenly a convoy appeared at the scene and they all began to disperse. The area was now surrounded by black cars. Ella's heart dropped as she looked out the window, 'he found us' she thought fearfully.

A guard wearing a black suit and tie got down from one of the cars closest to the wreck and opened the door of the driver's seat. "You!!" he grunted dragging Corey out from his collar, landing him a hard punch and pushed him to the floor.

Ella's eyes widened in worry "Oh no, Corey" she gasped. She staggered out of the car. The first person she saw was her husband Micheal. He was a tall man with a broad shoulders, long hair held up in a bun, a somewhat busy beard and grey eyes, he was very good looking but his aura was very scary and intimidating.

"What's going on Ella?" He walked closer to her slowly. She looked at him in fear, she couldn't speak. "What are you guys doing on this side of town" his voice was in a low menacing tone, scaring Ella even more "Are you trying to elope with this fool?" He asked turning to Corey who was laying on the floor in pain.

He walked even closer to her "Answer me Ella, you know how I hate it when you go mute" he said wrapped his hands around her neck. "No no I uhm...I wanted to get something from-" Ella tried to cook up a lie but Micheal interrupted her, his anger growing sensing her lie. His hands tightened around her neck. "Don't do that. Do not lie to me Ella, I hate lies, you know that" he warned her.

"You were running away." He stared at her, his eyes blank. "Answer me" he said again "You were running away. Yes or no?" He asked her, but she was still too scared to speak "Do not test me" he said through his teeth "Answer me!!" He shouted and a tear dropped from her face "Yes...yes" she answered in defeat.

"Yes? Yes what?" He asked her again, as if baiting her "Yes I tried to run away..." she said. He laughed loudly, moving away from her, releasing her from his hold.

"You really thought you could escape me huh? What haven't I done for you? You are some ungrateful little bitch, running away from me. You are really stupid to believe that you can ever leave my side. Where do you think you could go that I won't find you? You are stuck with me, Ella" he said loudly going close to her again, holding her neck even tighter than he was before.

Ella's pale face had turned red, her lips quivered as she choked "Please please, Micheal" and before she knew it he landed her a slap and shoved her, making her hit the car. Ella fell to the floor in defeat because she knew what was coming.

Ella was a 22 year old with a pale skin, hazel eyes, jet black hair and pink Cupid bow lips. She had gotten married off to Micheal, a mafia boss when she was just 20. Her father was a business associate of Michael's but when her father's business had gone bankrupt and he couldn't pay back the money he owed people, he had no other option but to turn to Micheal for help. But giving Ella to Micheal was the only payment Micheal would accept. Her father was very desperate and so he give Ella to him.

Micheal had tried numerous times to get with Ella before her father's company crumbled. She was not interested in him. She had also heard stories about how ruthless he was and so she continued to reject him. When her father told her she was to marry Micheal she refused, cried and begged her father but her father paid no heed. That was the last time she saw her father, the last time she was free.

They were in the dungeon now, it was dimly lit with no windows, there was tension in the room as Corey was kneeling on the floor whimpering. Big hauty men stood behind him ready to kill him on their boss' command.

Micheal was backing them staring into the space with his hands crossed behind his back, his hair was now let done, no longer in a bun. Ella was standing beside him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She gathered the courage to speak, "Micheal please spare him it was I that-" Ella could not finish her words when Micheal turned and gave her a slap.

"Ella, you are on thin ice here don't forget that you are alive by my mercy. You betrayed me. You continuously put me in a position where I have to punish you" Micheal said with his eyes glaring at her with so much anger she took a step back holding her cheek with one hand.

Micheal walked to Corey with bloodshot eyes and held his hair "Who the fuck do you think you are coming to my house and trying to take my woman from me?You want to steal her from me huh!!!" his voice roared echoing in the basement.

"Please...it was a mistake. Please give me a chance. Please" all Corey could do was beg , he was so weak. He was close to being unconscious from all the beatings. All he was worried about was his little sister who was really ill in the hospital. If anything happened to him she would be all alone.

"Please? A Chance? You should have thought about who you were messing with before you decided to play Batman. You are nothing. Hear me? Nothing!!" His voice became progressively louder, echoing through the darkness. He kicked him again this time he fell to the floor. "Do you know who I am?!! Micheal, I am Micheal and no one dares to cross me. But you, you have decided to be the scapegoat.

"Please" he weakly begged "I have a sister, please she's really sick please please I won't make this mistake again" he continued to plead in a low voice.

"Get up!!" he shouted again, as Corey stood up weakly, Micheal gave him punches with both his hands then he stopped abruptly breathing heavily, running his hands through his hair.

He walked towards Ella grabbing her arms "You are very lucky I am not tired of you yet" he said scowled "Finish him off" Micheal then said as he walked away. Before Ella knew it the guards began to shoot at Corey at once and just like that Corey's lifeless body was on the floor.

In a dark room, strokes of brushes could be heard. A tall figure with broad shoulders was sitting on a stool, painting a bit violently. He was shirtless, exposing his perfectly chiseled abs. He had a baggy jean on, with his boxers brief slightly peaking out.

Some of his wavy hair stuck to his face due to a little sweat on his face. He had some streaks of paint on his face and body too. He had muddy green eyes which were calm but stern. His breathing was calm as he painted,the canvas vibrating with every stroke.

The painting was almost finished, it was room. The room didn't not have a particular color as it was white. There were stains of red giving the illusion of blood all over the room. A little boy standing in the middle of a pool of blood.

Then, there was a knock on the door. He stopped. "Come in" he said with a deep voice. He turned to the door, it was his right hand man, Kingsley at the door, he turned back to his painting.

"Mr Colins is at the foyer, Sir" Kingsley said. He sighed, dropping his paint brush. "I see. I will clean up and be downstairs soon. Move him to the Parlor. Let him think he is important at least " the man said "Sure, I will" Kingsley nodded slightly and left the room. "This man..." Christian shook his head.

In a clean, crisp black T-shirt that wasn't buttoned all the way up, with his chiseled chest peaking out and a pant trouser, Christian walked down the stairs with authority. Approaching the parlor, he stared directly at his visitor with a blank look.

"Oh Christian my boy, I was just telling your maid how beautiful she looked. Come on you should give her to me as we would soon be business partners" Mr Colins, a man in his mid-40s said chuckling loudly, eyeing the curvy brunette servant in her maid's uniform.

Mr Collins was a short man in his mid-40s, his hair line already receding. He had a somewhat big tummy which was being suppressed in his tight T-shirt. Mr Collins was Christain's godfather's friend. He had been in business with him for a long time. His godfather had suggested to Christian to work with Mr Collins.

"My servants are not your play thing." Christian said sternly as he sat on the single couch "Leave" he said without looking at the girl; she bowed and left.

"Now, Kingsley here tells me you're being stubborn about releasing the ownership papers to us" Christian said crossing his long legs. Kingsley was right beside the chair Christian sat in, his hands crossed behind him with a blank look.

"Well, you see, my price has gone up now my boy" Mr Collins said shifting a bit on the couch and looking at Kingsley with some sort of annoyed look but Kingsley barely looked at him.

Christian's lips twisted in annoyance, "Mr Collins, we had an agreement, 50 million for the estate." Christian said staring the statue of an angel at the corner of the large parlor, tapping on of his hands on the arm of the chair.

"My boy, another competition wants this estate and he was even willing to pay 30 million more than you offered. But because you are my boy I am here making you another offer. Of course I would increase the price. Come on just pay and I will release the ownership papers to you" Mr Collins said.

"This isn't much money in your eyes, pay the 100 million and the papers are yours. Consider me, I'm practically like your godfather too you know...I would profit a whole lot if you pay" the man continued.

Christian knew the man was just being greedy, he had already paid for the estate and now he wants him to pay double. Just because another person wants to pay more for it. There was no way he was going to agree to such demands.

He turned to him "Now why in your right mind would you think I would pay you again for something that is already mine" he said, he was beginning to lose his cool at the thought of someone trying to scam him.

"My boy-" Mr Collins was about to say something but Christian cut him off by raising his hand gesturing him to stop talking.

"You have grown too comfortable calling me that, old man. You have a lot of audacity coming into my home, making stupid demands. Christian continued to speak "I have been incredibly patient with you as you are my uncle's business associate but you are proving more dumb than you already are "

"Don't test me old man, don't think you have an advantage over other realtors just because of Mono. You are deluded to think that" Christian's eyes stared hard at Mr Collins as if daring him to speak back.

Mr Collins was offended by the words coming out from the mouth of someone he could father, but he knew he was going to be face-to-face with death if he continued to push the man's buttons. Christian though was calm and somewhat level headed he was not one to mess with.

"I paid in full for that estate. 50 million dollars. I have my construction team waiting for my call to go ahead and here you are talking about some competition , who I don't give a flying fuck about, telling me to pay extra. That's a lot of audacity even for you Collins." Christian's voice was still calm but there was an underlying anger in it.

"My bo- I mean Christian....sorry. Christian, I am a business man I have to consider my options and think of profits" Mr Collins tried to explain to Christian calmly, hoping he would by some miracle understand.

"Do you want your head on a spike?" Mr Collins shivered at the sudden threat, his eyes wide at Christian's words. He shook his head vigorously.

Christian finally stood up "I am giving you a week,no, 72 hours to get my fucking papers. I don't give a fuck about no fucking competition all i want are my damn papers. Do not try to be sly with me" the way Christian spoke was calm but his eyes told Mr Collins a different tale. Christian didn't give him chance to reply and he walked away with Kingsley right behind him.

"Do you want me to look into this so called competition?" Kingsley asked Christian looking at him, trying to decipher what was on his mind. Kingsley too was a tall man, almost as tall as Christian tanned skinned, with dark brown eyes and a stubble beard.

"There's no need to. I could care less. It should be the fucking president for all I care, my interest are the papers. We shouldn't be the ones to bother about this. Let him run around like a headless chicken. He thinks he can play smart with me. He would be face to face with the devil if he doesn't get what we need by the end of the week" Christian was relaxed about the whole thing, which told Kingsley that what he had in store for Mr Collins would send him to his early grave.