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𝑏𝑒𝑑𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒 π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘§π‘’π‘˜π‘’?Β ]




ELEANOR

eight years before she met Tony.




'Morning, gorgeous.'

I smiled on instinct into my hand, my natural drive to feel entitled to accept comments. I kept my eyes on the divots of the mattress between us, my fingers continuing to trace the dents as if they were miniatures valleys. I felt his warm hand over my cheek to push a tress and watch my smile build a fraction. I finally looked up at him and he let out a breath that he had been holding for so long.

'Good morning,' I whispered in pretence, my voice hoarse with the morning rasp. 'You stayed the night?'

'I did. But, Maddie popped in to check on you and I had to hide,' he shared, shooting me a caustic look. 'I felt like a seedy bloke with a fetish.'

I muffled my laughter into a pillow, imagining the situation behind my eyes. Zeke scrambling to the closet upon hearing my mother's footsteps, her confused stare upon my nearly naked body under the sheets. I peered up at him with one eye, my hand reaching out to let his lips part between my thumb. I had an overwhelming urge to kiss it, bite it, taste it and I didn't have the courage to look up into his eyes again. I felt like I would find myself questioning if I really did love him. So without wanting this moment to end, I kept my focus peeled on his pouting lips.

'I almost forgot,' he murmured, leaning away from my touch to gather his forgotten trouser at the edge of the bedpost and sifting through the pockets to produce a thin envelope.Β 

I lifted myself off the covers to inspect closer. I held the duvet over my chest as he passed it to me with a secretive smile. He quietly watched me flip it over and over for any sign of what could be inside.

'It's an early birthday present,' he explained. 'Go on. Open it, love.'

'My birthday is months away,' I chuckled.Β 

'I'd celebrate you every day if it were normal.'

I leaned in to press a kiss on his cheek. 'Thank you.'

'Open it,' he said, more of a command rather than a plea.

Not putting up a fight, I ripped the seal off the cover and tugged out another paper material but this time with a glossier look. My name was scribbled on it in print and a gasp rolled out of my mouth when I realized what it was.

'No way!' I dropped the cover to smother a hand over my mouth. 'You didn't. Zeke, what even!'

His eyes were prideful, gleaming at my expression as I lobbed my arms around his shoulders to drag him in for a sound kiss. I pulled back, grinning from ear to ear at the tickets.

I had vaguely mentioned the first destination on my bucket list being Bali, a small luxury island on the coasts of Indonesia. I had even suggested visiting for the winter, and spending Christmas under the sunshine for a change. Since my birthday fell in line with the Christmas holidays, I couldn't help but appear excited. I felt my innards blow up at his sweet gesture and fixed another giddy peck over his lips.

'Don't lie,' I teased, my lips hovering over his. 'It's a peace offering, innit?'

He rolled his eyes. 'D'you have to mention that?'

'I was only curious,' I shrugged, tugging the blanket over my bare shoulders and suddenly hit with a chilliness. His gaze had already hardened ominously. 'Don't get cross.'

'I will have to if you keep pulling shit like this,' he grunted. 'It's like you should be taught how to talk to people, Eleanor.'

'I'm not a baby.'

'Then, stop acting like one.'

I shoved him off me with an infuriating snarl, eager to get away from him. Before I could head to the bathroom and shut the door with a satisfying bang, a pair of hands grappled my hips to pull me back. A gasp left my lips when I sunk back into muscle, Zeke's lap cushioning me in. His chin was set at my shoulder, broad arms coiled at my waist to lock me in position. I tried to move but my arms were caught between his. The rough stubble of his slid with my skin and my teeth gritted together in annoyance as I discerned what he was trying to do.

'Stop it,' I bit out weakly.Β 

He continued to breathe into the sweet spot near my ear, his lips teasing the tender skin of my neck. I knew I was falling for it when my eyes rolled to the back of my head. I woke myself up, sneering myself out of it.

'No, stop it!'

I broke free of his muscular manacles with the thin eiderdown hanging loosely over my shoulders. My eyes burned into his, intent and furious.

'I know what you're trying to do. And that's just sick of you.'

An amused smile broke out on his face. 'Do what?'

'I'm your bloody girlfriend,' I snapped. 'Not a prostitute orβ€”or a one-night item. You can't just make love to me and fix everything!'

'Babyβ€”'

'Let me finish,' I cut in with a scathing glare. 'I want to make myself clear once and for all.'

He rubbed his eyes, irritated. 'Sit down, please.'

'No, it's not fair!' I shook my head in denial, anger getting the worst of me. Blindly, I spewed out what I believed. 'Three years, Ezekiel. And I'm nothing more than the beloved little pet that you come to for comfort. I have tried so fucking hard to please you, tried to be the girl you want, tried to deny myself but what about what I want? I want to be your equal, babe, and you're not granting me that.'

By the time I was finished, my vision had blurred with tears of anger. I had lashed out without restraint and I knew, I had poked the beast. His brown eyes were swimming in rage and I hunched into myself, ready to take a hit. His hands had locked down on my shoulders, painfully digging into the muscle and the other curling around the side of my neck. His nails sunk into my nape and I had to bite down a cry of pain.

'I have given you everything you have ever wanted,' he seethed, his tone coming out like scalding lava. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I tried to put up a brave front despite the agony. 'You had your fair share of desire, sex and fun, Eleanor. So, don't you dare tell me I deprived you of equality? I swear to god, if you take that tone with me again and attempt to dominate me, you won't like the consequences.'

My lips trembled, unable to form words. I couldn't look at him, my eyes straying over the floorboards and feeling the tears weave their way down to my chin.

'Clear?' He asked again, his tone curt.

'Yes,' I whispered, not bothering to put up a fight.

'Look at me,' he snarled, his fist tightening over the roots of my hair. I let out a slow cry when I jostled, a teardrop rolling down my cheek. 'I said fucking look at me, Elle.'

And, I did. The fiery woman with a will to speak her voice had perished and all that was left behind was her shell. My gaze was too lonely, just wanting to be left quiet with the pain.

'Are we good?'

I nodded helplessly.Β 

'Now what do you say to someone when you received a present?'

It was demoralizing to reply, but I didn't have much of a choice. He could easily snap my neck in half.Β 

'Thank you, Zeke.'

He smiled halfway. 'You're welcome, my love.'

Before I could read into my mindlessness, his touch had turned soft and coercing. His lips settled over my forehead and treading a gentle finger down my exposed spine to keep my sobs from breaking out. He led my hands around his waist and I was forced to embrace him back.

'I love you,' he murmured. 'So much.'

I waited for a beat before shutting my eyes and letting my brain speak for me.

'I love you, too.'

What choice did I have? I was already mocked, blamed and made a mindless fool of so I had to suck it up for one more day in this hellhole. Gracing a broken grin, I nodded at him softly.

'I have to get going,' I said.

'Go where?'

'Somewhere.' When his eyes flashed, I elaborated. 'Interview in the city.'

'Elle, Elle, my sweetheart,' he hummed in delight, cruising past the situation like it was nothing. On instinct, I backed away from his advances and into the armrest of the loveseat. It hit the back of my knee, my footing was lost for moments. Zeke's grip clamped around my waist to haul me into his chest, my hands going around his neck with wide eyes.

His dark eyes smouldered. 'Always so anxious to leave.'

I let my gaze wander over his neck in my line of sight, never staring at his eyes. If I did, he would find a way to break down the meagre walls I managed to hold up.

'I've got work,' I murmured, releasing my hands from his neck. Any longer, I would've squeezed down. 'And reports to fill out. You should leave before⁠—'

'I want to help,' he pleaded. I was witnessing a rare moment. 'I can get you any job you want, anywhere in England. Just give me the word, and I'll arrange for it.'

'No, I...'

'Take my car, love. I just purchased an Audi.'Β 

'An Audi?'

'I'd love to see you ride it instead.'

The way he said it was morbid. Zeke's job was never a businessman, I figured that out in the first few months of our relationship, he was something more dangerous. It had to do with weapons manufacturing and I knew he was practically a genius, given the amount of time he immersed himself in his little science designs in a private lab outside the city.

I didn't know if he was involved with a drug cartel or gang business yet it terrified me. I had scoured out dozens of weapons around the apartment which was meant to be kept secret and every time, my hands would shake in trepidation. Maybe he had killed a person. People. A whole town. Maybe I was next.

'I can manage,' I waved off, my voice fluttering. 'It's just a few odds and ends.'

His nose skimmed the skin underneath my eyes. I found it hard to not shrink from his touch. 'You're taking the car.'Β 

I wasn't about to say no to driving an Audi. 'Alright, I guess.'

'Mm, I adore your independence.'

I smiled plainly. 'You do?'

He nodded, grinning along. 'Not as much as I love you, though. Do you know how much you distract me?'

'No,' I said, tilting my head in question.

'You're in my head every fucking minute of the day,' he whispered, holding the side of my face. He prodded a finger into his temple. 'I try to fight it off but you're always there. And all these flashes of what I want to do to you.'

His lips had set over the side of my own, edging me on to make a move. I forced myself to stay still, listening to his hot breaths in my ear. A finger had looped over the loose blanket I had curled around myself, drawing it down to my forearm in a creeping drop. I shut my eyes, holding back a cry. I willed my lips shut from breaths or noises.

'It drives me wild,' he hissed, 'so much that it's not fun anymore.'

'Can you please let me⁠—'

'Listen,' his hands gripped my shoulders with the same, unexpected force. I recoiled when he did. 'You make me delicate, Eleanor. I can't let you go and I don't want you with me. Tell me, what must I do?'

Let me go. Please let me go. 'I don't know.'

'You should,' he taunted with a tightened jaw, his fingers crushing over the bones. I couldn't hold back the cry any longer. 'You're the one doing this to me.'

'Zeke,' I said, my lips trembling as I tried to fight off his iron grip. 'Please. You're hurting me.'

As if someone burnt him, he snatched his hand back. Upon his impact, he spotted the fresh abrasion over my skin and raised welts once again. He was affected for a moment as he swatted my kneading hands, examining it himself.

'I'm sorry,' he murmured, his teeth gritting against one another. 'I'm sorry, my love. I would never hurt you.'

I shook my head, hoping the moment was overshot. If I blew it up, I wouldn't be able to face the setbacks.

'No,' he snapped. 'It's not. All these sentiments, it's maddening. I need you. At all times.'

I finally looked at him.

'Marry me,' he whispered, his finger curling around my cheek and a vague smile on his lips. 'Stay with me. I want all of you, Eleanor. Not just for forty-eight hours. I want you for the rest of my life.'

It was as if someone were wanting all the bad things in the world to happen in this god-forbidden relationship. This was a terrible idea. The only place that comforted me was my own home and the place that granted me a safehouse from his maddening habits of keeping me beside him. This awful plead was nothing but a death trap and I wouldn't go down without a fight.

'Mum will be alone,' I reasoned with him.

'She's a grown woman,' he debated with a frown on his face. 'That's a bullshit excuse if it were one.'

I swallowed hard. Absolutely fucking delightful. What choice did I have? I had to, or it could be a threat to my family itself.

'Fine.'

His eyes widened in disbelief. 'Really?'

'Yes,' I said, willing my voice strong. 'But, I should probablyβ€”'

My sentence was left incomplete when he crushed his lips against mine in an engaging kiss and pushed them open. My hands left my sides to hold his shoulders to support myself and he guided them around his waist while tracing the curve of my backside. His kisses turned higher in frequency when he traced my jawline, shoving us into a nearby wall and stumbling back into the bed nearby with his hand forcefully trying to tug down my quilt.

'You'll marry me?' He whispered, his smile excited.

I nodded, trying to secure a harmless smile on my lips. 'Yes.'

'God, you just made me the happiest man alive, my love,' he whispered against my fervent lips and collapsed into the sheets.

We were no more lovers. According to me, that was. From then on, I was a menial to a master. Defeated by my initial purpose, I was obliged to stay by him and his intimidations. If life was defined by the choices we make, then Zeke was a monster. Unafraid of the animal in him, pushing harder for what he wanted and getting it. By then, he had got it. He had got me.

I will never forgive you for this, Zeke.


∞




Troubled couldn't even begin to explain the emotion I felt when I found Zeke at my mother's place, having innocent tea and laughing along to joke that he had cracked. The living room was lively due to the fact that there was another person in there with them.

Sitting beside my mother was Obadiah Stane, the interim CEO of Stark Industries. There was not a person in this world who didn't associate Tony Stark with the pertinent Stane. He was a proud, strict and disciplined man; judging by the dark suit and dress shoes he wore to our simple farm home. Looking like he wore his pride as a parapet, I could see that he had a precise eye and impetuous anger due to his discrete judgemental glances my way. He resembled Zeke in every way; a little taller, balder and crueller. Between his withered fingers was a thick roll of tobacco, smoke curling to the ceiling nearby. He was smirking when Zeke's grin fell on mine.

'Welcome home, my love.'Β 

Zeke was the first to rise from the sofa to greet me. A hand drifted to my waist to force me closer and plaster his lips over mine for a sound kiss. A show of dominance and exultant to show me off in front of his father. When I pulled back, my faltering grin had Zeke concerned.

'Allow me to introduce you to my father, Obadiah Stane,' he said, mighty proud. 'CEO of Stane International and interim chief of Stark Industries. Pops, this is my Lena. Eleanor Preece.'

Just Eleanor. Not Eleanor, the assistant editor of the neighbourhood newspaper corporation. Not Eleanor Preece, the girlfriend.Β 

'The one and only Eleanor I've been hearing so much about,' his father said, his tone imposing and driven with an American accent. I forced a soft grin on my face, walking from the entrance and Zeke to extend him a hand.

Obadiah rose to his full height, a good head taller than me, and shook his amused head at my formalities. His hands went around my shoulder to pull me in for an embrace, warm and smelling of a cigar. Tending back, he held me at an arm's distance to give me a prideful grin.

'You,' he grunted out, 'are a vision. Absolutely stunning. Where do you work, sweetheart?'

'The Daily Post,' I answered, my voice somewhat pleased and smiling. 'I work as an assistant editor. I'm hoping to move further from there.'

'That's exciting,' he complimented, genuinely surprised. 'I heard you got out of Oxford a few years back. Let me tell you, Ellie, I could get you a sweet job in the States with that sort of - '

'She's doing alright here, Pops,' Zeke cut in, snaking a protective arm around my waist. I swallowed down a curse I was about to toss at him for interrupting his father's godsend words. Obadiah, catching on the disagreement on my face, made an exhausted face at me.

'Boys in love, am I right?' He sighed at me. 'Always want to keep their girls close.'

'Elle and Zeke have been sharing a flat recently. Oh, it's simply titanic!' My mother cut in with a smile that almost broke her face. Her hand was over Obadiah's arm, pitching Zeke a grateful look. 'It's only a matter of time before one of them jumps to the question.'

Oh, God no.

'Zeke,' his father called out, shocked and confused. 'You're living with your girl and didn't tell me?'

'It's only been a few weeks,' Zeke mused, turning to shoot me a smirk. 'Been the best in my life.'

'Maddie,' Obadiah turned to my mother, 'Eleanor is like my daughter. So if my boy knocks her up, I would happily let the kid call me Pappy.'

'Count me in,' my mother laughed, way too cheery to be normal. She almost looked satisfied with the course of events. 'This is all so great. Isn't it great, Len?'

'Mm.'

'Little nippers around the house and⁠—'

I swallowed hard. 'Yes. Surely.'Β 

Zeke's eyes flashed on mine with a sneer. Fuck.

'Ezekiel, can I speak to you for a bit?'

He stared in condemnation, his dark eyes piercing through my very one to stand dominant. I tried to match with his stubbornly, flexing my jaw in defiance of how important it was that I speak to him. I saw in withdraw a breath, rising up after shooting apologetic smiles to both our parents.Β 

His hand locked over my elbow tightly, lips meeting my ear in a dangerous whisper, 'You better start talking before I lose it.'

I forced a smile on my face while ignoring the obvious threat from Zeke, turning to face Mr Stane and my mother. 'I'm going to steal him for a bit. Don't start without us please.'

'Take your time, sweetheart,' Mr Stane politely waved off with a grin. 'I was just about to help your mom with dinner.'

'We'll take this upstairs then.'Β 

And, upstairs it was. My work bag crashed onto the floor and in nervous haste, I sauntered across the room with my hands in my hair and ready to loosen it out of the low-hanging bun. Zeke's hands found my shoulders, pushing my now loosened hair away to press his lips on my neck. I forced myself to be stiff, allowing him to work which way he desired.Β 

'Zeke,' I murmured.

'Ssh, I want this.'

I found myself seated on the bed, his fingers applying light pressure onto my neck and shoulders, pressing the knots away. Anyhow, I was far from relieved.Β 

'You should have let me know,' I whispered weakly; timidly. 'You should have let me know that your father was visiting.'

'He already knows about you, my love,' he laughed quietly. 'You're good.'

'No, I mean, I'm not ready forβ€”'

'Tch, tch. You're okay,' he muttered into my hair, working up a fresh batch of shivers up my spine. His hands travelled down, tracing the curve of my breast before massaging them quietly. I felt myself go slack under his touch, melting into a puddle and turning infinite when his hands inched south of my pencil skirt.Β 

'Not now,' I mumbled hoarsely. 'We have got to join them. I'm famished.'

'No, we don't have to,' he sucked in a breath. 'I want you, Len. Now.'

'Not now,' I tried to chuckle without concern as his hand continued their erotic torture on my body. I was hard-wired to respond to it, feeling the sensations lull me to wanting more. 'Come on, I want to meet your father.'Β 

'He's not an interesting man,' he hissed, loosening the collar of his shirt to release the tie from his neck. His hands moved to the zip at the back of my skirt, feeling the edge of my pantyhose, one of the few that I managed to survive our nights together.Β 

'Zeke, no,' I attempted.

'No, ssh. Ssh, it's okay.'

Within moments, my head was rocked into the mattress, an unsuspecting kiss made against the column of my throat. I was on fire, a bad sort of good, bursting at the seams as he worked his way down my shirt to feel the softness of my chest against his playful fingers.Β 

I tried to move away from his lips but they found mine, unyielding and rough. I was used to it, feeling my pantyhose stretch and snap sadly when he fit himself between my legs.Β 

Unheard knock. 'Len, poppet, do you by any chance have aβ€”oh, Jesus Christ.'

Like our heedless decision to make love when guests were around, my mother arrived to prove her point. It was inexplicably embarrassing: me chilled and half-naked, wistfully clinging onto half-naked Zeke who was still kissing his way down my neck. My mother staring in horror down at us.Β 

I scampered to find a top, other than Zeke, reaching for his shirt that was strewed behind my head. It passed as covered while Zeke's perfect abdomen was on display, with his biting smirk on my mother.Β 

'Sorry, Maddie,' he said, almost sounding sheepish. 'Won't happen again.'

My mother was low-key stricken when her mouth moved to form words. Her eyes were on me; embarrassed and horrified. 'Erm, Eleanor. Whatβ€”I don'tβ€”'

'Mum, it's nothing,' I shook my head at her, knowing that she had been so horrified to use my entire name. 'Please leave. Zeke and I will join you in a moment.'

She was finding everything hard to process starting from closing the door behind her and watching Zeke's half-naked glory with doubt or dread. As if pouring fuel into the fire, Zeke had tackled me back into the sheets just as she was about to leave and I understood, the pit in my mother's stomach had deepened an inch.Β 

'Did you see her face?' He laughed into my neck, my face burning up intensely. 'It was fucking hilarious!'

I mustered the stretch to push him off me and scour my blouse from the ground. I gritted my teeth, fighting off a loud scream of anguish. He was on his back, watching me dress back, zipping up my pencil skirt and buttoning up the blouse.

'Aw, my baby,' he steepled his hands behind his head, raking his eyes over me. 'Are you embarrassed because your mommy walked in on you doing the Deed?'

'It's not funny, Zeke,' I forced out through my teeth. 'I told you we shouldn't have.'

'You're not leaving this room, Elle,' he said simply.

I stopped my motions short. 'Why not?'

'We're not done yet.'

'Yes, we are,' I scoffed, genuinely in disbelief. 'My mom knows. I am not sitting through dinner any more later.'

Walking to the door, I was ready to drive down the handle and storm across the hall. His voice had my attention before I could attempt to do so.Β 

'Pops!' Zeke yelled loudly. I froze, giving him a wondrous stare. His eyes were challenging, drilling holes into me.Β 

'Yeah, son?' Obadiah's yell rang through the floors, his voice questioning.Β 

'Elle and I are gonna beβ€”' My response was to smother his mouth before he let out anything that might as well ruin my image further in front of his father. Zeke had gotten angry, holding my wrists back fluidly with a large, irritating smirk.Β 

'Elle and I are gonna beβ€”be a little late to dinner!' I did not give up, trying to fight back but he had his upper hand.

A beat passed. 'What, why? You heading out?'

'Nowhere, justβ€”mmphβ€”just a heads up!'

Another few beats passed until his humiliating chortle tore through the silence. I dropped my face into my hands, groaning out loud.Β 

'Come on, baby,' Zeke's hands clasped my cheeks, slowly dragging me towards what he really wanted. 'Show me some loving.'



∞



I should be thrilled. Elated. Beaming my damn ears off. Because I was sitting in a lavish, chauffeur-driven presidential limousine, dressed to the teeth in an elegant, tight, backless couture, freshly-cut hair was done up all pretty, in the shiniest pair of heels, and red lips.Β 

But I was trembling. I was rooted in fear. I was in a dark cab, dressed like some rich escort, with no means of escape, heading someplace I'd no clue about. Not to forget the stone-faced muscleman riding shotgun. I had no chance of getting out of this night, unharmed and intact.

This was how it was going to end for cut-rate Eleanor: Zeke finally getting rid of me for a better benchmark, through the means of some consenting vendor of the sex trade. I knew it. I knew he'd eventually sell me off for profit. Deep down, as much as I loved to deny it, I was aware of how red-stained his hands really were.

I felt the car coast to a fluid halt and I jerked to the opposite edge of the cab, away from the curb. When the door unlocked for me, I couldn't bring myself to move out and face the inevitable.

'We've reached, miss,' I heard the looming shadow say.

I shook my head. 'Zeke,' I tried to say, it end up suffocating.

'Eh?'

'Zeke. Call Zeke. Now.'

'He's waiting for you at the foyer.'

We really were at a hotel. Perfect place to hide the gullible chippy, right? I could feel my heart race in my ear as I frantically tried to open the child-locked door. I wasn't going to die like this. Not because of him.

'Call. Him. Now!' I insisted through my teeth. Manners came to a loss around his assholes. 'I'm not budging from here until he comes for me.'Β 

The shadow disappeared with a grumbling curse, the door slamming back shut. I lurched forward to get that door open, but alasβ€”child-locked. It was alright though, I was childminded every time of the day.Β 

That didn't stop me from trying every possible way to escape this beautiful death trap. I attempted to unlock the door from the now-empty driver's seat through the partition, but I couldn't stretch that far. I tried knocking on the window to the boot. Nothing.

Halfway through, Zeke appeared in a debonair suit, pinned up in a black vest and tie, beaming like a triumphant king. It vanished into a confused glare when he saw me pressed back and out, shrinking away from him.Β 

'No! Please no!' I couldn't hold back my scream when my anxieties got the best of me. I had to get out of here somehow, even if it meant following my dumb instincts.Β 

'Don't touch me! Please, somebody! Helpβ€”help me! Help me!'

The worst part was that he didn't react. Not a cuss, barely even bore me a second glance. Almost as if he'd undoubtedly understood why I was doing this and anticipated it from the minute I'd come here.Β 

The door violently banged shut for the second time that night. From within the car, where I'd finally quietened my panting sobs, I saw the shape of his back start to hunch, rubbing a few tired fingers into his eyes. He was recoiling only to bite back. I knew this.Β Β 

But even as a well-versed Zeke specialist, nothing would've prepared for me to witness him grab a revolver from the holster on one of his men and empty out three bullets at the sky. I screamed as long and as high-pitched as the sound of blasts lasted, in an attempt to drone out the racket.

As the sounds stopped, I did too. When I opened my reluctant eyes again and let go of my pressuring palms on my ears, the door opened for me again.Β 

'Get out,' he instructed, too calm to be normal.

This time, I patiently obeyed with a deep inhale. I was not about to get shipped off to my poor mum, pumped full of lead. Outside, I realized that we weren't at a hotel, but a mansion. The limo was shelved on a sheltered roundabout, and each end of the double-fronted home boasted a minimalist, edgy, rectangular-shaped style to the might and wealth that roared Zeke Stane.Β 

Once I was out, the gun found its aim once again. Just not the ceiling now.Β 

Me.Β 

It happened before I could realize it. Zeke had my hair in an aggressive grip, pinning my back to the car, the searing barb of the pistol aimed under my jaw. His eyes were narrowed on the tears that didn't stop falling off the edge, his forehead wrinkling together.Β 

'No! No, don't, please!' I bawled at him, clasping my hands to my chest. Begging like a child on a timeout. Quite brave on my part, these words irked him to no extent. 'Please, I don't want to die, Zeke. I'm sorry. I'm sorry...'

The hot tip inched deeper into my skin, not heated enough to burn me. I winced, terrified about being put under a gun's aim for the first time in my life.Β 

'You think I'd kill you right now?'

I wept out an incomprehensible sound.Β 

He shut his eyes in controlled bitterness. 'Stop fucking crying, Eleanor, or the next bullet's on you.'

His stern promise made me weep until my brain starved with a splitting headache. To steady myself, I held the lapel of his jacket and managed to pipe down the waterworks.Β 

The gun found its mark on Zeke's temple, enraged eyes daring me to make another sound. I could hear his teeth gnash as he stared out his craze at me.

'This what you want, in it? This it? Huh?' he growled at me.Β 

Instincts. The goddamned homing instinct that Zeke had successfully instilled in me to protect him. Not a muscle in my body wanted it. But I was lunging forward, the fear choked down by the dread of never seeing him again. A disgusting part of me still thought he was the one for me because no one would ever manage to love me after him. Some sick necessity to stay someone else's.Β 

'Zeke, no!' I wrestled my fingers between the trigger and his grip, blocking it altogether. When his urgent eyes met mine, I sadly shook my head.Β 

'I'm sorry,' I cried out, this time quieter. I clutched onto him as tight as I could, to get him to see my severity. 'I was so frightened. I was afraid you were going to get rid of meβ€”orβ€”that you'd gotten sick of meβ€”I wasβ€”'

In a flash, he placed the gun aside trapping my face between his palms. His expression morphed to the softest I'd seen in some time, brows scrunching together as if he'd lost the point of it all.

'Baby, never.' He shook his head fiercely. 'Never. I love you so much. I couldn't live with myself if you left. Lena, I was just trying to surprise you.'

I swiped at my wet eyes. 'You were?'

'Yeah.' He pointed to his quaint bowtie. 'See, surprise.'

I dropped my head on his shoulder, fighting off the building sobs that withered off to hiccups. His arms went around my shoulders, one at the back of my head.Β 

'So fucking ridiculous,' he murmured into my hair. He stroked it a few times, and I admit, he did have loads of practice in alleviating me.Β 

'Do you want to know why I got you here tonight?'

I laid my cheek on his chest and glanced up with a sniffle.

A lazy smile finally returned to his face as he brushed under my eye. 'This is the home where you're going to live as my wife, Len. As the mum to my children. My entire world, contained within this little space.'

Perhaps that gun shouldn't have been contained after all.Β 

He angled off a little to point upstairs. 'And the bedroom where I'm going to propose to you.'

'Ezekiel,' I blinked up at him.Β 

He laughed. 'What's with that look?'

I placed a tense hand over his chest. 'I'm twenty-six years old. I'm not about to get pregnant when I have my whole life ahead of me.'

'Your whole life is me.' And he seemed proud of it. I wanted to retch on it. 'The past, present, future. I'm with you.'

I shook my head. 'But I still want toβ€”'

'Downright unnecessary. My love, I can take care of us.'

'Zeke,' I said in horror. 'You've got to be... what're youβ€”whoa! Careful now.'

But when did he ever listen to a word I said? He simply bent forward, twisted an arm around my thighs, toppled me against him and swooped me right off my feet. I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling of being observed by his men in the shadows, quietly watching over us. Him. Zeke was off, laughing like a lunatic. Even as we crossed the threshold of the oceanic home, I was offered no sort of comfort that what had happened moments before could never happen again.Β 

'Welcome home, my darling,' he whispered into my ear, kissing my cheek.

The home was stunningly... tasteless. Tacky. There were no colours, no carpets, no lounging terraces, no plants, and no life. It was all dark stripes, sharp edges, floating stairways, and stainless steel. Even the kitchen was black, for heaven's sake. Did he want to raise children here? Or superhumans? Much like the owner before it, the home was monochrome. Enormous, cold, grim, bleak. Not enough love.Β 

'Are you still renovating?' I tried to ask.Β 

He stopped in his tracks, staring at me. 'Why'd you ask?'

I looked back at the lifeless home. 'It's a little... empty, no? Withdrawn, almost.'

'I quite like it,' he remarked. 'Very state-of-the-art. The silence is golden. Those fuckers at the States have me read.'

And I didn't have to say anything else. Granted that I propose my suggestions, they'd be replaced (manipulated) back onto the track, as per usual. It took me a moment to realize that he was still carrying me around like a wounded puppy, too protective to set me on my feet. I wriggled a little to let him know I was ready to get the fuck away from here and him. He only held his arms around me, steadfast.Β 

Zeke had this bizarre, disgusting of getting off on embarrassing me. He found it cute when I turned red, fumbled and fell. I expected it to be a one-time, harmless thing, but as time wore on, and the arguments got more brutal, it wasn't just the humiliationβ€”he'd made it his new normal.Β 

'You haven't spoken a word, Len,' he noticed, to my surprise.

What could I say that could make this any worse? Turns out, the options were plenty. I managed a small smile up at him. 'I love it, Zeke. The floors are... yes. The walls, too. It's an acquired taste.'Β 

Unfortunately, he wasn't an idiot. 'What's that again?'

I sighed. 'Nothing. Perhaps it's the nerves. Or my ravenous stomach.'

The way his expression transformed would forever haunt me, the velocity of his rage from the softest smile to the sharpest knife. I told myself I would never find anything remotely romantic and dangerous in my life.Β 

'I just showed you our whole future together,' he muttered, 'and all you want to tell me is how you want to fucking gorge?'

I bit my lip, too dumb to say anything.

'Come here. What's going on in that lovely head of yours...?'

Eventually, by good fortune, he set me over the kitchen counter, the cold marble sprouting shock up my skin. The dress was too short, my back was too bare, and I felt too denuded. I realized that this was another reason why I couldn't stand my boyfriend anymore. I was supposed to feel sexy, playful, and eager in my future home. Not a cowering, scared mess, too afraid to escape.Β 

Zeke stood in front of my crossed legs, feeling up the arches of my calves. Another hand snuck up my thigh, feeling the elastic hem of my dress. 'I'd very much like these open, thanks.'

I needed to construct my own fuck-off-don't-touch-me-glare. Since today was not the day to test it on him, I allowed my exhaustion to run its course.Β 

I yawned for effect, stretching my arms behind me. 'Can we go home? I'm spent.'

'You are home, my love. Wherever I am is your home.'

Gosh, what a load of bollocks. I smiled, tight-lipped. 'Of course. But here...'

'Here,' he insisted. His fingers edged up, under my skirt, rolling around the springy part of my ruffled panties. 'Are you wearing my favourite? You'll stop my heart, Lena.'

That was ultimately the plan.

'Zeke, don't.' I smacked his fingers away.Β 

A waste of time to refuse. He returned his fingers to rub at my waist, slowly gaining the courage to fiddle with my zipper. 'Why don't we head upstairs and christen the home?'

'Joking?'Β 

He bumped his nose against my jaw, fingers scratching into my scalp. 'It's a new place. We've got to break it in a little.'

I thought we'd done that when he'd pulled the pistol on me. I let slip a quiet laugh despite it.Β 

'Zeke,' I whispered.

'My love.'

'There are people in here!'Β 

Overlooked, as usual. 'Do you know how ravishing you're looking in our kitchen? It's like you belong. All barefoot and pregnant.'

In the inflamed temperament, I imagined a spear impaled right through his bald fucking head. My nails dug into his biceps, and if it weren't for his blazer, I'd have drawn blood. He didn't flinch, instead, he laughed, taking it as a sign for me to want more.Β 

'So needy, Len. I love it when you're feisty,' he teased. Too soon, he'd twisted my hair into a rope around his wrist, tugging it back until I was bent the way he liked it. All open and spreadeagled out for him.Β 

'Zeke, please,' I muttered, my jugular bobbing up. 'Not while we're being watched.'

'Oh?' He laughed, looking back at the musclemen he'd stationed all around the home. 'Are you shy?'

Oh, fuck no. Absolutely fucking not. This sent the exhaustion flying right out of my system, alerting me to act up before it turned ugly. I'd been harmed too much today.

'No, but you just put a revolver to my chest in front of those people. Now you're going to let them see us snog in our home?' I dragged a few fingertips down the side of my neck and right between my breasts. His gaze cruised along, lips parting.Β 

'See me all hot and naked... when I'm only, fully, yours?'

Smooth, Preece. Very smooth.

Zeke's eyes snapped up to mine, stricken where my gold lay. He swung his head to the side, staring daggers into the people who'd dared do this to him. Sure, Zeke was clever, but he was still such a man.Β 

His roar was bone-chilling, leaving my side to chuck them out. 'What are you waiting around for, Christmas? Get the fuck out of my house. Out, get out!'

Relief flooded into me, and finally, put out of my misery and into ease. I fell on my back over the island counter, jerking at the chillness of the marble. Before I offered any more easy access to him, I slid off and turned for the fridge.Β 

'Starving, my love? Or shall I work up an appetite?' I heard Zeke ask, somewhere far from behind me. The door clicked lock with a dire sound.

Alone was never good.Β 

'It's all empty. We've got to get a delivery,' I let him know. I'm not surprised. 'Gosh, if only human nutrition were made ancient. Batteries to power us or something. That Stark fellow could make it happen.'

'I've met him,' he rumbled out. He sounded tense for some reason.Β 

I turned around, wide-eyed. 'Wow. When?'

'Last week.' Zeke rid himself of his cufflinks, tie, blazer and shirt as he spoke, punctuating his sentence with each garment. 'The man, is a total pathological drinker. Three women in his arms; goddamned twins, Len! Won't listen to a word I'm proposing, only blind faith in the inevitable. Bigmouth quack of his father, that one.'

Now he sounded jealous. Hilarious.Β 

'I think he's rather exceptional,' I mumbled, downing the bottle of water. 'He's got quick wit. And a silver tongue.'

'It's all an act, my love.'

'We've got to respect how deft he is in what he does.'

He rolled his eyes. 'He's old. Older than me.'

Zeke enfolded his arms around my waist, crushing his bare abdomen into my back. His teeth bit and pulled at the skin under my ear, and my knee-jerk reaction was to moan demandingly. I hated that he could work me up like this.

He spoke right into the bruising spot. 'Why on earth are we talking about some tech fossil when I could fuck that name out of your pretty mouth?'

I laughed, mostly in contempt. 'What, the dashing Tony Stark?'

Good thing he was laughing, too. He was the covetous type. 'Mhmm.'

'He's so... ooh, daddy.'

'Enough, Eleanor.'

Crossed a line. 'Yes, okay.'

Stark was especially handsome. Inexplicably rich, a lot more senior, and a little rough around the edges. But intelligent. Generous. Delicate when it came down to the business. I'd only gathered this from what I'd read from the papers.Β 

'He's a remarkable genius. I'd love to meet him someday.' I looked up at him. 'Can we meet him?'

He snorted. 'I'll have you nowhere around that... what's that they call him? Whorehound?'

'Be nice. He's only a little lonely.'

He pressed a kiss against my jaw. 'Your humanity precedes you, my Lena. Only you could love a monster.' He brought my hand up to his face, cupping it tight. He stared his intent into me. 'Is that right? That you love one right now?'

Only a foolish girl would say yes. 'No, baby,' I whispered. 'No, of course not.'

'Am I not a monster for pulling a gun on you? For playing with your life?'

I gulped. 'Ezekiel.'

'I'd taken you for granted tonight, Len. I truly don't deserve you.' He hit himself with my hand, a sharp, sound smack. His face didn't move an inch. And he did it to himself, again and again. I couldn't say a word because deep down, I wanted this. See him hurt himself with my hand.Β 

He spoke under his breath. 'I've failed you, I don't deserve you, a monster, worthless nightmare, forsaken, unfitβ€”'

I stopped and palmed his face as gently as possible. Utmost confusion powered me down as I did, letting him face me. His eyes were so miserable, so unlike him.Β 

'I could've lost you,' he whispered lamely. 'Forever. Because of me.'

'You didn't,' I ensured. 'It's alright, baby.'

'From now on, no guns around you. Non-lethals only,' he promised severely. 'Your safety is of greatest priority. I'll have the lads change over. I'll work on something, yeah?'

Zeke understood. At least he did. The thought itself put me in heaven, and I was lobbing my arms around him, bringing him for a hug. All sense was lost, everything in me centre on his comprehension. Maybe we were saved from the end of all.

Tears started to slip out in an overwhelmed urgency. 'Don't ever do that to me. I was so scared. I've never felt like that before, Zeke.'

He kissed my hair. 'I'm so sorry, my love. Never. I promise you.'



∞


The first time Zeke outright raised his hand and socked me, I truly believed I deserved it.Β 

I'd confronted him about why the firearms were starting to appear more than normal around the home, the confrontation boiled off into a full-blown argument pointing at my 'self-sabotage' and how I had officially done my head in with this silly accusation. And when I'd driven the knife in where it hurt, taken an insult to his cruel arms-dealing, he'd backhanded me.Β 

'You have no idea the sacrifices I'm making,' he said, his voice dangerously low and close. I couldn't stand to look at him anymore. 'The greater good may not interest you, but I breathe it in. Weapons, you said? Biotechnology. The future. You have some nerve calling out my inventions. Let's see what you reach for when some fat fucker is coming right for you with his pisser at night, huh? Bet you'd like that! Yes, cry like some fuckingβ€”fuck!'

I held my cheek, reeling from his impact. Blood started to fill the inside of my mouth, and I felt around for the cut. Pretty fucking deep.

'Look at me when I'm talking to you, Eleanor!'

Even shedding my bitter tears, Zeke was stuck in his delusion. He took a cautionary step toward me, and it made it for meβ€”I was backing away, racing toward the wall. If even came in a metre's distance for me, I'd actually shatter something against his shiny skull.Β 

Good thing the door was right beside where I stood because I was sprinting out of the house, the keys to the Audi jingling inside my jumper. I unlocked the car, revved the engine, and knew that I would not stop for anything, even if Zeke had flung his body in front of the car.Β 

Strangely, Zeke made no attempts to stop me. He came to an abrupt standstill by the curb, silentlyβ€”conspiratoriallyβ€”watching me drive off down the avenue.Β 

I sobbed miserably the whole way home, and every time I glimpsed at the blooming bruise on the side of my cheek, it turned to rage. Especially at myself. How could I've let it go this far? What had made me stay there? How naive could I've been? What made me think I was going to make it out there in the world when I couldn't say 'no'?Β 

I didn't look to see if anyone had followed me, racing up and into my home. Mum was oblivious to my manic sprint around the house, almost as if she had gotten used to my continuous rushing. She took a stance to scold me when she turned off the TV.Β 

'What have I said about running like that? Like you're trying to fly. You'll ruin my floors, Lena.' She squinted at me. 'What the heck is on your face?'

'Knocked it against a cupboard,' I lied smoothly. I sat by the stairs, with my head in my hands, catching my breath. 'Fuck. Fuck me.'

'Tch, bad language!' Mum scolded aloud.

The ringer of my home phone line made me jump straight out of my skin. I rushed to grab it, just to stop Mum from picking it up. She rolled her eyes when I ran again.Β 

'Hello?' I answered breathlessly.Β 

'If you make another move, you won't live to see your mother again.' My blood chilled. Knowing this was his first move, I jerked to set the phone back in the cradle until he spoke again. 'Don't think about it, love. I've got three targets pointed straight at you.'

'I give up, you barbaric fuck,' I whispered, and my endeavour to sound brave faded. 'I'm done. I cannot put up with you anymore. Shoot me and end this.'

I could hear his smirk curving, a laugh echoing through. 'Why would I waste something of so much value?'



∞


[ w/n: girls and boys, you have no idea how annoyed I was writing this chapter. honest to fucking god, no person should ever be treated like this. this was why Elle was trying to get away from him. Zeke is a class A prick and always has been. period. now, question: want more bonuses or nah? ]










[Β POSTΒ NOTIF! (WOW, YOU MADE IT THIS FAR. THANKEW, I LOVE YOU)


the eleventh hour, sequel to Tony and Elle's story is now out on my page! make sure you catch up soon, there's a whole load of fun and games waiting for you! a new threat, a new adventure and twists await! *screams in Asgardian*

thank you millions, love, for taking part in this journey with me. I am thrilled that you have chosen to take your time, read this book and show it. so grateful to you and I hope you have an excellent day/night ahead!

thanks, once again :D

- deidra.

]


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