Rachel rummaged through her closet, trying to find that damned dress. She'd spent the past half hour looking for a tight low-cut dress that she'd bought a few months ago. She had only worn it once and that was for her asshole ex-boyfriend, but now she meant to wear it for Nick. He was coming back and she had to find it.
Her mother had passed away when she was a seventeen and she was left in his care since he was their only family friend. Rachel had no other family to speak of. Her father had never been in the picture and left her mother when she was only three years old. They'd fallen on hard times since then and things were just starting to look up. Nick had been her mother's employer and had helped them to get back on their feet.
Now, at the age of 21, Rachel enjoyed her life with him. He was a wealthy business man and without her mother to nag at her, she had the freedom to do whatever, whenever. She drank, partied late and had all the exclusive clothes and jewelry that made other girls envy her. Life was great...until Nick started getting pissy about everything. At first he only scolded her here and there. She would always dismiss him with a "Yeah, yeah I know."
That used to be enough to shut him up. Rachel wondered why he wasn't out having fun like she was. He was very handsome, well-spoken and a kind man to boot. A good catch in her eyes.
"He should be going out with women and having fun. Not standing there staring at me!" she would think.
One time she even asked him his reasons for staying in so much. He hadn't answered her and walked away instead. It took some time before she found out his true motives for not finding other women.
...two months ago.
Rachel came home late from a club and Nick just wouldn't let her go to her room. She was tired, tipsy and wanted to lie down, but he was strong and snatched her by the arm before she could escape. He pushed her down onto the couch and was about to give her the lecture again. He was quiet for a few minutes and just stared at her with his cobalt blue eyes. She glared at him in anger as his 6 foot frame towered over her. He was pacing back and forth as if contemplating what to say and she was way too tired for this.
She grew impatient and rose from the couch, but he turned to her and ordered, "Sit down Rachel!"
He wasn't loud but he had never spoken to her in that tone of voice before. Her head was pounding and she didn't feel like fighting, so she did as he commanded.
"What's wrong? Why are you upset?" she asked as she slipped the white strap of her dress back onto her shoulder.
The dress was a bit loose and from time to time the straps would slip from her shoulder. Nick's eyes fell to her brown neck and followed her fingers as they repositioned the strap.
"We need to talk Rachel." he said in a calm, yet firm voice.
She grimaced at his words and sighed.
"What about? If this is about me clubbin' and going out, don't you get tired of bugging me?"
"Listen...your grades are going down, you spend all the money you want, you run up my credit cards and I don't even get a decent conversation in return anymore. I'm cutting you off!"
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You're cutting me off? W-what do you mean?"
"Exactly what I just said. Your mom wouldn't like where things are going with you."
"Oh God Nick...can't we talk about this later? I have a headache." she said, annoyed.
"No we're talking about it now. You're so beautiful Rachel and you're wasting your life away."
She smirked at him and released her bun, letting her dark curly hair fall to her broad shoulders.
"Look Nick...I'm young and I'm sure when you were my age you did the same things."
"No, you're wrong. I didn't. I had responsibilities back then and you seem to have no idea what that is."
"You're not really serious about cutting me off are you? I mean this is just a joke...right?"
"No I'm serious. I'm removing you from the will and everything. The paperwork is right here!"
For the second time in her life, Rachel's entire body went cold with fear and uncertainty. The first time had been when her mom died and now that ominous feeling made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
"How can you just cut me off? What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna stay?"
"That's your problem and not mine!" he replied coldly.
"But...but...Nick...you're like a father to me. You can't." she said, almost on the verge of crying. "Are you saying you don't want anything to do with me?"
"Well..." and he was quiet while Rachel looked up at him with her glazed, bloodshot eyes. "...we can make a deal."
"Whatever you want ...just please don't do this." she pleaded.
Her lips quivered as she tried to hold back her tears and he sat down next to her.
"Rachel...I want something from you."
"What?" she asked and wiped her tears.
"Are you on the pill?"
"Yes I am."
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"I did...but we broke up last month."
"Are you sleeping with anyone?"
"No...why?" she frowned, while trying to figure out where this was going.
"I'll give you access to money, credit cards and all the stuff you're used to... if you become mine."
"Yours?" she asked, sounding both upset and a little frightened.
"MINE. No boyfriends, no fuck buddies, I get to have you any way I want, anytime I want. No negotiations." and his fingers trailed up her naked thigh, making her shiver.
"A-are you serious? I-I can't you're like my dad."
