Grounded

They both where seated silently, not uttering a word. Just focusing on the silent road ahead. Adrienne had completely calmed down but now she was getting anxious by the second. Eric didn't bother to look on her way. He was busy watching the road and driving safely to their home. After she had cried out her fear and had calmed a bit, Eric took her towards his car whilst passing in front of all the shocked looks of people who surrounded them. Even her besties stood with their eyes wide open as she passed by them without even glancing on their way.

Now everyone knew about her current identity of being Mrs. Adrienne Johnson. She really didn't care about the others but her friends. She had no idea of what they would be thinking right now. She never mentioned about such a thing to them at all. They would have felt betrayed. Since the news would be spread among the people within a span of few days as they both would be targeted as a new topic to gossip about. But more than that, she was scared of Eric. She just had brought dirt to their family name by being a laughing stock to the people. Everyone would be targeting Eric more about his whore of a wife for sleeping around men. No one would look for the truth. They would only believe the false accusations which would be created by the media.

"I'm s-"

"Don't." With that she shut her mouth and looked away - realising today she wasn't getting away with it

After reaching home Eric immediately got out and opened the car door for Adrienne to get out and grabbed her hand, dragging her towards his room as he climbed the stairs hastily which made Adrienne stumble throughout the walk. Getting inside the room, he closed the door shut with her inside and moved Adrienne to the bed with force which made her trip and fall backwards onto the mattress. "Who gave you the permission?" He asked sounding stern - staring at her sharply. She abruptly moved forward to sit properly before giving him an answer.

" ..um, I-I'm real-"

"I asked you. Who. Fucking. Gave. You. The. Permission!" He yelled out cutting her off with his impatient and harsh tone. Adrienne found herself shaking hard and turned away to look on the floor with her head bowing down.

" ..No one.. "

"Do you have any idea what type of a place that is!?" Adrienne shook her head vigorously whilst controlling her emotions.

"They sell the body of the people who go for the competition. They send these notices to the people who are interested and after everything gets settled, they invite their clients to select the girls among them. Every single person participating know of this and comes there to sell their own body for money!" He was getting furious. "So this is the real you, huh!? I never knew you would stoop this low.. " He said after a long pause and as the silence increased he became more and more irritated. Adrienne sat shook by the details and found it hard to believe. She wasn't aware of this at all.

"I..I'm sorry! I really didn't know. I thought it was just a silly competition." She said, still looking on the floor. Her voice shaking.

"From where did you come to know of this?"

" ..My friend showed it to me. B-But there wasn't anything unusual written on it. I swear!" By this new information, Eric became more angry. 'How dare her friends do such a thing!' And as if on cue, her phone started to ring. Showing Tanya's name. But before Adrienne could attend it. Her phone was snatched away from her and was smashed to the floor as the tiny pieces scattered around them. Adrienne immediately looked up and saw Eric glaring at her.

"If i ever see you dance or doing this same shit again. Adrienne, I swear. You'll never see the outside world ever again. Not until you die." Closing his eyes for a moment and taking a long breath, he opened them and stared at her with his sharp look-before saying the words which Adrienne never wished for. "From now on. You got no school and no friends. You'll stay right here, obeying my commands. Did i make myself clear?"

"Please don't! That is the only way I could-"

"Just listen to what I say and stay in this house!" "You better not disobey me." With that Eric left the room, leaving Adrienne in the verge of tears. Adrienne was devastated. She wanted to scream and cry. But couldn't. Because, what use would that bring. She had to obey him at all cost. She was tired of everything.

"Miss..." Hearing someone nearing her, she looked up and saw Miss Hannah standing there with a worried look on her face. Adrienne rushed towards her, attacking her in a tight hug and started sobbing hard. Hannah walked to the bed with Adrienne and made her sit on the mattress, calming her down.

After a few hours or so. Adrienne felt completely fine. Noticing that, Hannah started to shoot her with questions - one by one. Adrienne said everything without missing a word or a sentence and waited for Miss Hannah to speak. "Oh dear." Hannah found it hard to believe that Adrienne was about to get raped and on top of that she had left home without anyone knowing, just for her competition. "My child. I'm glad you're fine. But don't ever do that again. At least, let me know. Please don't come up with such dangerous ideas. You have no idea what type of a world this is." Hannah said with tears brimming from her eyes and moved to give Adrienne a warm motherly hug.

"I'm sorry. I never thought this would happen. I'm really sorry. I would never do it again."

"I know, dear. Please be careful from now on. Fortunately sir finished his work early and came within a week. Don't know how but he was there and had rescued you on time before something inauspicious would have happened." Adrienne simply nodded and moved aside before getting up.

"Miss Hannah. I'll go to my room now. I feel exhausted. Today was really tiring."

"Okay dear. Rest well. Come, let me walk you to your room."

______________________

"Eric!" He turned to the owner of the voice and saw his friend Justin waving before heading towards him. "Where the hell did you disappear to, huh? Without a single explanation. At least you would have warned me before beating him up and leaving with that girl. Hmph!" Ignoring Justin, Eric continued to drink as he ordered his 10th shot to the waiter. "I'm sick of you!" Knowing Eric wouldn't even utter a word he continued to stare at him until Eric turned and questioned right away. "Who was that girl?"

Sighing, he replied. "My wife."

"What!? Are you serious? She's Adrienne? Oh my god. I didn't recognise her at all. I didn't know your wife would go to such places. Didn't expect her to be such a.. "

"She didn't know."

"Oh. She told you that?"

"I noticed."

" ..But buddy, you should have been cautious. The media would be making a huge fuss out of it. Your enemies would be troubling you more with it now. They wouldn't leave a chance to slander you and your family. I'm sure Mr. Mike would be the first one to do so, since you beat him to death."

"I don't care anymore."

"W-what! Don't care? What do you mean by that!?" Justin shouted while choking on his drink. "Man.. You okay? Is it really you who's talking?" Justin stared at him, unbelievable. Then he let go and shook his head whilst chuckling.

Eric was someone who cared about his company more than anything or anyone. He had done a lot of things in order to keep his business well going and successful throughout his life. Being careful about every single move he made. Never to cause any damage to his company. Every single person knew about this. Even his enemies. And so they had tried to break him completely, using the company. But no one had ever succeeded yet. Seeing Eric like this at the moment was an utter shock to Justin. He never knew Eric cared about something else other than his corporation.