It gets worse.

He yanked her in the car roughly, "what were to trying to do? Cheat on me and spoil my image?"

"That was my best friend!" She yelled at him.

He slapped her across the face, "you bloody liar! If not for my reputation, I would have killed you a long time ago!"

She melted in her chair and began to cry, "kill me then! I don't wanna live this life anymore! It's not worth living!"

He looked at her irritated and walked back to his car, "whatever," he entered his car and started the engine.

"What? You can't just leave his body there! What are you doing?"

"He doesn't matter, we're leaving," he replied with no single emotion in his voice.

Nora was helpless. She just watched her best friend being killed right in front of her and she could do nothing.

She cursed herself over and over again.

"That still won't change anything. It would be better if you shut up!"

She shook her head, "leave me alone. You've killed him, what more you do want? Let me mourn him since I have no other option!" She palmed her face, sobbing loudly.

He gritted his teeth in annoyance, "damn it!"

He drove a little faster to the mansion that night.

When they arrived, he got down quickly, opened the door and yanked her out of the car.

"It seems you're becoming too independent!" He gripped her hand, and stormed off to their front door, Nora helplessly lagging behind.

"You're hurting me!"

"I don't care! It's better you shut your mouth or it would be worse!"

Hot tears walked down her cheeks and she struggled to keep her mouth shut.

They got to the door and he quickly had a change of mind.

"Hmm, I guess I know where I can put you for the night," an evil grin spread across his face and he turned around, going to a different direction.

"Where are you taking me to?"

"To the basement."

"Basement? What?"

That was the most dreaded part of the mansion. It was not only dark, it was also filled with different unimaginable insects, with very little ventilation.

"No! You can't take me there! I don't wanna go there!"

He didn't listen to her as always, he led her to the basement which was at the far end of the house.

She kept wailing and crying but he refused to listen.

They arrived at the basement, "since you proved to be a problem, I guess, this would be your punishment," he smirked.

She shook her head, "please, don't do this to me," she fell at his feet.

He looked at her with disdain, "if I forgive you this one time, you will repeat the same mistake."

She shook her head, "I promise, I won't," she pleaded.

He squinted his eyes and gave her a stern look, "hmm."

"Please, I beg you," she sobbed quietly.

He inhaled and folded his arms across his chest, "I guess, I could forgive you just this once," he curled his lips.

She felt a sigh of relief, "thank you so much," she cried.

He didn't reply her, he walked off leaving her kneeling on the floor.

She was too weak to go after him, she lay on the floor and began to cry again. She cried till she was tired of crying.

When she was quiet, she stood up and walked back to the mansion. She was too tired to argue anymore, as it seemed, there was nothing she could do.

She dragged herself up the stairs but she went to the guests room. She didn't have the heart to face Jimmy, not after what he did to her.

She dragged herself to one of the guest's room. She opened the door, and walked inside. Closing the door behind her, she crashed on the floor.

"I have become a commodity," she shook her head, "look what my life has turn into," she looked up at the ceiling and sniffed.

Flashbacks of Jimmy shooting frank in the head came running back. This time, she couldn't cry, she was too tired of crying.

"Oh God, may his gentle soul rest in peace."

She held her head, "I don't know when, but it's not over Jimmy. You might be in control now, but definitely, I'll have my revenge."

A tear slid down her right cheek but she quickly wiped it off.

"I won't cry anymore. I'll brace myself up. It's me versus the world."

She stood up, and walked to the bathroom to have a long, refreshing bath.

***

The next morning, she got ready for work. Work was the only thing that could console her right now.

She put on makeup to hide some of the bruises on her face. She wore an a blue dress that reached her knees, and a white blazer on it. She packed her hair in a professional bun, letting some fall at her sides.

She sighed, when she saw her reflection in the mirror.

"Leaving a perfect, fake, life," she shook her head.

She sighed once more and headed to the door. She looked back at the guest room, "till midnight probably," and closed the door.

She headed downstairs. On reaching there, she met Jimmy already at the table.

She immediately lost her appetite, she curled her lips and looked away when he looked in her direction.

"Off to work this early?"

"It's 7:25. I'm trying my best to be very early to work."

He arched his brow, running his eyes on her from head to toe.

"Hm, okay," he continued eating.

She walked out of the house. She didn't want a driver, so she took a cab.

_____

Arriving at work, she noticed some group of her colleagues were speaking in whispers. She frowned, what had happened?

She walked over to meet them, "Good morning y'all. What's up with you guys?"

They turned, and flinched when they saw her.

"What are you doing here? We don't want anything happening to you and then the blame falls on us," one of them said sharply.

She felt her heart twist. She slowly walked away and headed to the elevator, going to her office.

When she reached the tenth floor, she stepped out and walked briskly to her office. Eyes were on her as she walked as fast as she could to her office.

She got there but unfortunately, a group of her colleagues happened to be in the way.

"Oh, look at her, she tried killing herself yesterday!"

She was embarrassed and turned around, running to the bathroom.

She was too troubled that she didn't look at the sign on the door before running into the bathroom.

She got to a corner, crouched there and hid her face, her heart racing fast.

"What are you doing in the men's bathroom?" She heard someone ask.