Page 1 of Ensnared

Chapter 1

Penny

Grabbing my favorite hairpin that’s covered in real pearls, I start to mold it into my light golden waves of hair. Once that is set, I look back at my reflection in my vintage golden mirror, pouting my lips to finish my look with the brightest red lipstick I own, called ‘Daredevil.’ I then grab my perfume and spray it lightly onto my wrists, rubbing them together to blend it out, and then dab it on my neck.

I have never been out at this time of night before. Father always says that being a woman of my status, it’s important not to do anything silly that could become harmful to our name in any way. I was so surprised the moment he entered my room, telling me I’ll be going to a carnival for Halloween with him for a business deal he has yet to land. Apparently, it was very important that I came along. I wonder why I needed to come? Although, the announcement has made me very excited to be doing something other than spending my time in the house, reading my books, or sitting by the pool all day.

I grab my diamond choker and wrap it around my neck. I know flaunting your riches isn’t always safe to do, but I can’t help feeling so much more beautiful when I’m wearing my diamonds; they make me shine like the brightest stars in the night sky. And my father will be there with me, so there’s no need for me to worry.

I finally stand up from my vanity, straightening my silky red dress. It’s a seductive, form-fitting dress that covers all of my intimate, most important parts, but it outlines the shape of my breasts and hugs my curves so effortlessly. It leaves enough hidden to make one's imagination run wild. The dress is classy yet also daring. It was a gift from my father for tonight. I feel slightly uncomfortable in it, given how clear my cleavage shows, but what my father says, goes, and ‘it’s only for tonight, so I can manage.’ I quickly tell myself.

Grabbing my small pearl-covered purse and my long, silky red gloves, I take one last look in the mirror, before opening the bedroom door and exiting my room. I walk down the stairs, seeing my father waiting for me at the front door. His hand is clutching the golden doorknob, and his mouth is in a straight line; clearly annoyed that he had to wait for me to be done. But what did he expect? He told me to look my best; of course that would take time.

“Come on, Penny. I’ve waited long enough.” He huffs out while opening the door impatiently. He lets me walk out first, followed by his bodyguard, Rex.

I can’t help feeling rushed; I really hate that feeling, but I bite my tongue and just walk faster over to the limousine that’s parked near our gate, and wait for Rex to open the door for us. I sit back while my father gets in, grabs his phone, and starts making phone calls. Curious, I try to listen in on his call, but all he does is grunt out a ‘yes’ a couple of times, and says things like ‘not now’ and ‘talk to you later’. I sigh, not asking anything. I hate it when he does this. He could be spending the ride talking to me, yet, he chooses not to, again. I understand that his job is important, but that doesn’t mean I’m not.

All of our rides are like this, him sitting on his phone, making calls, while I stare out the window, looking at the people passing by. Parents walking and laughing with their kids. Sometimes I wish that could be my father and I. My mother died in childbirth, so I never met her. But I imagine her being the kind of mom with a warm smile, one who would make me pancakes when I’m sad and kiss the scrapes on my knees when I fall. My father never talks about her, so I have no idea what kind of person she was.

After a while, the view becomes increasingly barren, until we drive into a huge, empty stretch of farmland; the grass is high and unkempt, and there’s nothing else around it except the big tents. I can see huge red-and-white stripes on the biggest tent and lots of lights from here. Is this the carnival?

“We're almost there. You'd better behave and keep quiet.” He mumbles.

I frown, taking in my surroundings. Why did I have to dress up like this to come here? The people I do see entering the Carnivale all look casually dressed. Does this mean I am overdressed?

Rex gets out of the vehicle first and opens the door from my father's side, waiting for him to get out. I follow shortly after him. Once I’m fully out, I nervously straighten my dress with my gloved hands. Rex shuts the door and waits for my father's approval to start walking, as the chauffeur drives off in the limousine. I follow it with my eyes, wondering where he’ll park it, but it never stops; it only goes further and further away until the shape of the limousine completely disappears from my view.

I turn to ask my father where the driver is going, but stop myself, seeing him annoyed and staring at me, along with Rex.

“Are you done gawking? We don’t have time to lose.” He sighs, before turning his back to me and walks away. Quickening my step to follow close behind them, I can’t help but look around. String lights hang above us, illuminating the space. Red and black tents line the pathway on both sides, and at the end, I can see the huge tent, which I assume will be where the main events will take place. This place is incredible.

My father stops before a man with a purple beard, and I try not to stare at it, but fail horribly as he looks at me instead and winks.

“Ticket, please.” My father takes out three tickets from the inside pocket of his jacket and hands them over to the man. He smiles while accepting them. “Enjoy your visit, folks,” he says, before lifting his hand in the air to let the next attendant know they can come to him.

My eyes widen at the bright, colorful lights and tents around us. I have never seen anything like this before. I feel like I just stepped inside one of my books.

“Hello! Would you like a kiss for a coin?” A beautiful woman to my right asks me. I turn to her, slightly cocking my head in confusion. Why would she want me to kiss her? I notice a big sign that says ‘kissing booth’ and laugh.

“Oh, how sweet is this!” I walk towards the lady, but then someone grabs my biceps in a tight grip, stopping me in my tracks. I look to see whose it is and see Rex; his brown eyes looking at me in annoyance.

“If we can’t trust you to walk with us on your own, I’m going to have to keep a hold of you, miss. A pretty girl like you would get lost in an instant, and people like to break pretty things like you.” I nod at him and swallow my unease. Rex barely talks to me, and the way he said this makes me feel like he might be one of those people he’s talking about. He releases his hold from my bicep, and I move to walk between him and my father, who seems angered by my delay again. He doesn’t say anything and just keeps walking all the way to the back of the carnival.

I followed them until we reached the back tent. I almost didn’t notice it by how well it seemed hidden between the other tents, and it’s giving my skin crawl from just looking at the entrance, but I can see my father impatiently waiting for me to follow. I walk inside the tent with him. There’s not much light in here, and it smells funny too, but I keep my face neutral, trying not to show any emotions. I doubt it would lighten my father's mood if I started complaining about this tent.

“That's her?” A gruff voice comes from the darker corner of the room, startling me. There are two huge men standing at the exit, and I try not to look at them while I stand closer to Rex. I can feel their eyes on me, and it makes me so uneasy. My father nods a ‘yes’ at the man and pulls my arm to make me stand in front of him. I can see the man who was speaking before more clearly now. He seems older, I’d say late 50s maybe, but he’s tall and muscular. He’s got a stubble on his jaw and the top of his head is tattooed. In his hand is a red-and-black-striped walking stick, at the top, in iron, is sculpted the head of a bear.

“You weren’t kidding.” He mumbles to my father. The way he’s looking me over is making me feel like I’m some kind of meal. I don’t like it. I don’t know what’s happening, but the excitement of coming here before is slowly turning into worry and anxiety.

“Maybe I should wait outside for you men to be finished with business?” I ask, hoping to get out of here as soon as I can. My father scoffs, and the man starts to laugh. I can feel my father’s glare on the side of my head, but I don’t dare meet his eyes. He's pissed now.

“Oh, but darling, we haven’t even met yet. Besides, you are the reason we are sitting here, afterall.” He smiles at me in a predatory way, and all I want to do now is just make a run for it. What does he even mean by me being the reason? I didn’t ask for any of this.

“W-why?” I stutter out, and the man laughs loudly along with the others who are standing at the exit. When I look at them, I notice they are now fully blocking the way out. I really don’t like any of this.

Instead of answering me, the older man stands up and lifts his hand with his palm facing up, in a request for me to give him my hand. I stare at it, and my father loudly clears his throat and nods his head at the gesture of the man, telling me to obey. Reluctantly, I give in and place my hand in his. He grabs it and brings the top of my fingers to his mouth, giving it a wet kiss. I can feel his stubble rubbing against my skin, and the need to pull back and flinch from his touch is strong. This man doesn’t feel safe at all and I don’t like that my father isn’t doing anything about it. Maybe he doesn’t notice it. I mean, I really haven’t had the time to tell him yet. Yeah, that’s it. He doesn’t know.

“You can call me master, dear.” He says, not letting go of my hand. I try to pull back, but his grip tightens, and it’s starting to hurt. “You know it’s rude not to introduce yourself.” He says with a warning glare.