Chapter 6: Purpose

I hadn’t planned on leaving. I had every intention of going straight to sleep as soon as possible. But hearing the jarring click of the lock sent me into a panic as the reality of my situation started to sink in. Regardless of how lavish my accommodations were, I was still being detained whether I liked it or not.

I waited until I could hear the boot steps fade down the hallway, then I gently turned the knob to see if I could open the door, hoping that maybe I misheard. It was locked from the outside. Out of curiosity, I moved over to the window to see if there was a way to open it. There wasn’t.

Knowing there was nothing I could do in my current situation, I opted to clean myself up and get some rest. The only pajamas I could find were scandalous, but since I was the only one in the room it didn’t make much of a difference. I looked at myself in the mirror, tugging at the hems as though that would make it cover more of me. I touched the edge of one of the scars on my chest, wondering if Yujin would have taken me in if they knew how damaged I was.

I set the alarm that sat on the bedside table for nine so I would have plenty of time to get ready in the morning. I fell asleep almost immediately, sinking into the plush mattress between bedding more glamorous than I could have imagined. I woke up feeling cozy and refreshed, wondering momentarily if the events of the night before were merely a dream.

I took my time in the shower, making sure to savor the perks while they lasted. After the shower, I dug through the wardrobe to see what kinds of clothes were available. They said we had lunch, but that didn’t tell me much else. I thought back to when I was waiting tables back home and the outfits women would wear to fancy brunch outings.

Most of the clothes were conservative, which worked in my favor when it came to hiding my scars. I picked some tight slacks and paired it with the softest sweater I’ve ever felt. The pale blue fluffy fabric made me think of Yujin’s intense eyes, and once it was on I couldn’t help but hug it against me.

I felt a strange sense of guilt for enjoying my situation. If they hadn’t been so ridiculously handsome, how would I have reacted? Am I a prostitute now? They don’t seem interested in intimacy, or at least hadn’t made a move in that direction yet. I had no idea how I could be of use to someone like them, but on this specific morning it was thrilling just to have gained their attention.

I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and dusted my face with some light makeup. Looking at myself in the mirror, I could tell I was nowhere near as elegant as I was when Paolo styled me. I added a spattering of accessories, wishing I had my cell phone so I could flip through current trends. I wondered if Paolo was serious when he said he would burn my things. Maybe starting completely over would be therapeutic.

I heard a rattling at the door and quickly made my way in that direction, excited to show off the outfit I had put together. Yujin stepped in and closed the door behind them, smiling down at my eager approach. They wore black slacks and a casual blazer over a flowing button up with the top few buttons open. A few gold necklaces danced over the tattoos that crawled up their neck. The design looked like sprawling branches, now that I could see more of it. Instead of gloves, their hands were exposed and covered with an assortment of rings.

I was so mesmerized by Yujin’s exposed collar bone that I failed to notice the rage growing in their eyes or the hand that quickly jolted forward to grab my messy bun. They jerked my hair down, causing my chin to jet upward like a pez dispenser. “Where. The f*ck. Is your necklace?”

I gasped at having my head jerked back, staring up at them with a mortified expression. My heart was pounding while I tried to think of a way to tell them I had no idea they wanted me to wear it every day. I opened my mouth a couple times, but no words came out.

They breathed down at me, staring directly into my eyes. “I was very specific.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered up to them. “It’s right over-”

“You knew we were going out,” they spoke over me in a low rumble. They went quiet, as though expecting me to say something. I had no idea what they wanted to hear, if I would have known the necklace was that important I would have worn it.

After failing to think of something appropriate to say, I said the first thing that came to my mind. “Technically, I knew we were having lunch. You really didn’t tell me-”

Yujin started walking toward the mirror, dragging me along with them. I stumbled a little, but managed to step along without causing too much wear. Since my hair was thick, I didn’t have a very tender head. It was an awkward angle, though. Halfway across the room, they spoke. “Let me make it very clear. The necklace stays on.”

“What about in the shower? Can I take it off then?”

They forcefully slung me in the direction of the mirror, causing me to stumble forward. I caught my balance and scrambled to get the necklace. “You may only remove it with my permission and my presence. Why are you so eager to take it off? Are you trying to hurt my feelings?”

I shakily wrapped the choker around my neck and fumbled with the clasp, trying to hold back tears. “That’s not it. I didn’t know it was that important, I’ll wear it. I love wearing it.”

They sighed and stepped in behind me to gently assist me in clasping the necklace. My stomach grumbled, and my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Yujin made the same gesture as before by slipping a finger between the choker and my neck to make sure it wasn’t too snug. “You must have had a really light breakfast to be hungry again so soon.”

I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth of their touch. “I haven’t eaten yet.”

Yujin kept their finger between the choker and my neck, tugging me back against them in a surprising motion. I let out a tiny gasp, allowing myself to be guided by their touch. They spoke quietly, watching my expression in the mirror. “Now that you’re mine, you have to start taking care of yourself. I told you, I take care of my things. Imagine how upset I would be if someone were to damage my property.”

Their finger tugged the choker, causing it to tighten around my throat and restrict my airflow slightly. I stared at their reflection, eyes wide with fear. I hadn’t realized that skipping breakfast would be such a big deal. They looked like they expected me to say something, so I spoke quietly. “I… imagine you’d be disappointed.”

I feel the choker tighten even further under the strain of their grip. “Very. Disappointed.” They removed their finger and stepped back from me, allowing me a second to catch my breath and compose myself. They moved toward the kitchenette and started pawing through a cabinet to produce a packaged pastry of some sort. “We need to get going so we’re not late for lunch, but this should hold you over until then. I don’t want people to think I’m starving you.”

They started moving toward the door, and I awkwardly followed behind. They continued to speak. “You’re really more hopeless than I’d imagined. I’ll put together some rules for you to follow, since you never seem to know how to act appropriately. Don't forget that you are an extension of me. How you appear and act are a direct reflection on me. If you aren’t enhancing my image, you have no purpose.”