Blackmailed For Love

I sat down on the sofa and opened the first box of the two in the soft overhead light coming from above the tv console.

I peeled the soft tissue that glimmered in the dim light and looked at the dark purple silk nestled in there.

With hesitant fingers I picked up the silken fabric, it unfurled in my hands as I let it drop down in front of me.

It was a sleeveless and a backless dress with a slit up to just below the waistline.

I would be half naked in this dress but still the thought of wearing it lit up a spark of anticipation deep inside my lower belly.

The other box had the same colored heels with red bottoms.

It took me twenty minutes to get ready as I didn't do much except to put Band-Aids on my nipples as the dress won't allow me to wear a bra and my nîpples poked through the fabric as if begging for attention and applied a natural shade of pink lip gloss.

I looked like a virgin trying to be a seductress.

I shook my head at my own thoughts as I stepped out of the bathroom, 1 faltered when my eyes met dark greys.

My daughter was sitting up in the bed and she was looking at me with wide eyes and a curious tilt of her head.

"Anna…"

"Mama, you look beautiful."

My heart squeezed with love at her words.

I walked to her, concentrating on not falling face first because of the heels I was wearing, it was safe to say I wasn't used to such type of footwear.

"What are you doing waking up? I thought you were asleep."

I said as I sat down on the bed beside her.

"I was."

She said with a silent Duh at the end.

I bit down on my bottom lip as my lips twitched, but she slipped closer to me and said, "I had a bad dream."

I cupped her cheek and pulled her on my lap, uncaring of the expensive silk.

Cradling her against my chest, I smoothed her dark hair back and asked, "Talk to me.

What did you dream about?"

"Someone was taking me away from you."

She replied, her voice small and a slight shaking entered in her voice.

My arms tightened around her.

And I said, "No one is going to take me away from you."

2 "Promise?"

I pressed a kiss on her head.

"Promise, my little angel."

She looked up at me and asked, "Where are you going?"

I didn't know the answer to that myself, but I replied, "Dinner."

Her brows lowered and her grey eyes turned inquisitive.

"But we had pizza."

I tapped her nose.

"Yes.

But I am meeting someone."

"A boy or a girl?"

For some reason I didn't lie to my daughter.

"A boy."

She made a thoughtful face and asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"

I shook my head.

angel, he

you want him to

my own, I nodded, "I would prefer it if he was

the basket from under the bed which was filled

then held out a thick black

what was

"Wear this.

lucky charm,

her grey eyes

head and closed her fingers back around the black stone that had half of its piece back somewhere in Black

"It's yours.

should keep it

the

gave it to me and I'm loaning it

it back to me when you

a losing battle when I

and

to

jumped on the bed but didn't lie down, instead she bit down on her bottom lip and regarded me with a suspicious look and

smartarse? The thought had crossed my mind too, instead of putting it on I'd have left it out in the apartment

now she held out her palm in a silent demand as she moved on her knees

and she swiped my hair aside, then her small fingers got

thread and my neck before she accidentally choked me as the thread wasn't too

who would just look in

part of it, the other half and the bigger part was left behind in the cottage on the Aaron estate when I accidentally dropped it while trying to pack all the things I could get my hands on which didn't matter later when I had

"See, this makes you

daughter announced as

in a tight hug, just then I heard my

ignored my phone and focused on my daughter as I

palms and brought

fierce as she said, "You

always be the best,

the tears away and said, "So

kissed her nose and in return she kissed the corner of my

"I love you."

love you too,

and

I said,

and I tugged the

down, I kissed

"Good night, baby"

asked, "When will

"Soon."

"Good night,

the bedside drawer and made my way toward the

"Yes, baby?"

this boy be my

broken heart suffered another scratch and I swallowed the knot in my throat as I said,

will be back

a solemn nod and her grey eyes closed as she turned away and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, Closing the door, I let out a rough exhale and

daughter had asked me about her father, I had to ignore her questions or make up a lie that I didn't want to tell

but always painting her father in the light

my daughter thought that I was purposely keeping her away from her father which was in fact

knew that he had

he

know even now

what would've happened if the last time I had gone to meet him to tell him the truth and if I had gotten the chance to tell him the truth,

react when the wounds inflicted by me had

phone, I knew it even before I opened

wasn't prepared for

be there in

Don't wear any panties."

half naked so I wasn't going to obey

made my way toward my mother's bedroom to check up on her before I turned toward the

will be here soon so I decided to wait for him downstairs because I didn't want him anywhere near

I can help

would try as much as I could, until I understand what kind of man this Kristian was, would he intentionally force a daughter from her mother in the name of his revenge? I locked the door behind me

the case as I stepped

to take notice of me when I