Saving The Mayor's Daughter

What She Remembered

Later that evening, Eloise found herself lost in thought instead of paying attention to the conversation around her. Here she is at another fancy dinner with beyond-boring executives, talking about nothing remotely interesting.

They hardly engage her in conversation and never ask for her opinion. She sat there and tried not to show what she was thinking, like how Mr. Butch’s tie dipped into his soup, and his wife pretended not to notice.

She keeps trying to hide her smirk—she took it they don’t get along very well at home. At least this is a tad amusing. She shifts her gaze out the window to Central Park. Oh, what she wouldn’t give to go for a run through the snowy paths right about now.

“Wherever you are, can I join you?” Caleb Monist asks, leaning over so only she can hear him.

“I’m sorry?”

He smiles. “You look like you were off somewhere else.”

Oh. She was embarrassed, caught daydreaming by their hopefully soon-to-be client. This doesn’t look good for her.

“I’m so sorry.” She wrinkles her nose, mortified to no end. ‘Great, Eloise!’

“Don’t be.” He pulls his hand out from under the table and shows her the phone he’s been using to play online poker. She tried to hide her laugh; he grinned and shrugged. “We all know it’s a done deal, right?”

“I guess so, huh?” She said with a sigh. “I just wish I could get something stiffer.” She pointed to her glass of pinot grigio. She doesn’t drink, as a rule, but this dinner is painful. He winks at her before he clears his throat.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, but I need to speak with Miss Lautner.” Before Eloise knew what was happening, he pulled out her chair and helped her to her feet, walking her through the dining area and out the front door. He handed the valet his ticket, and moments later, she was sitting on his red Corvette's tan, plush seat. “Now,” he grinned, “let’s see about getting you something stiffer—to drink.” All she can do is nod like a moron.

After a few drinks at a Scottish pub, she decided she should get back before getting into more trouble with the press. Only the bartender and a lone man are in the corner, but Lord knows they’ll have a field day if they find her in another pub after what happened last night.

“Let me drive you back to your car, at least,” Caleb says, standing to shrug on his jacket. He is a handsome man. His gel-styled brown hair and light eyes are a pretty combination. She guessed he was in his mid-thirties.

“That’s not necessary. I can take a cab.”

“Nonsense. I stole you away, so it’s only right I return you too.” He gestures toward the door. “Is your car at work?”

Eloise shook her head as she slipped her purse over her shoulder. “A friend dropped me off this morning.”

“Home, then?”

She nodded as they walked outside. The ride is pleasant. He offers more information about his company and asks questions about her position.

“So, you’ll fax me those samples as soon as you can?” he asks as she ducked down to say goodbye through the open window.

“Yes, I will. Goodnight, Cal. Thanks for the fun evening—and the ride.” she walked toward her condo, deciding to grab the necessary file now rather than tomorrow.

Eloise propped herself against the wall in the elevator, tired and anxious about how her day started. The idea of disappointing her father again is weighing heavily on her. It seems to be a weekly event. Either it’s the media or something she says or does around him.

God, she misses her mother! She was so sweet and understanding. She wouldn’t have cared if she wore the wrong outfit to lunch or said the wrong thing during a business dinner. Christ, she’s only human. She never wanted to be a part of the public eye in the first place—never once!

She stepped out to a quiet parking lot. Luckily, her car is parked nearby, and her feet are sore in her high boots. She opened the trunk, reached for her laptop case, and suddenly sensed someone was behind her. She started to turn, but a dark cloth slapped her face. A hand covers her mouth so she cannot scream. Her feet leave the ground as she is flung over someone’s shoulder, and something cold and hard strikes her shin.

Fear courses through her veins and the air is forced out of her as her attacker tosses her roughly into the back of a vehicle. She felt the movement as they speed away. She can’t believe this is happening! She was terrified out of her mind.

Someone makes fast work of binding her wrists and ankles. She can make out only shadows around her and hear male grunts and heavy breathing. Fear has taken over, and she seems to have lost her ability to speak.

Someone grips her shoulders, pinning her, while another stretches out over the top of her. With all her might, she bucked her legs and nailed one of them in the crotch. His screech is ear-piercing as he falls back, then she feels a needle poke, and everything gets fuzzy.

That’s all she remembered from the last day she spoke to her father, her best friend, and her coworkers and since she saw the light of day.

Eloise attempted to roll off the bed, as she had a horrible case of cotton mouth and desperately needed water. Her knees buckled as she started the trek to the sink. Usually, her prison room seems so small, but right now, it feels like she is a hundred yards from the wall. She must have taken quite a beating; She was hurt everywhere.

Finally reaching the sink, she grabbed the rusty tin container. Water never tasted so good. She wet her lips and let it trickle down her throat before collapsing into a painful ball.

She began to sob, knowing she’ll never get out of there. She can only imagine how bad her back looks. It feels wet and burns terribly, her head is throbbing, and her wrists feel tender. He must have tied her up during…her stomach drops.

She slowly moved her hand down to the hem of her nightgown and pulled it up. She let out a hiss of relief when she saw she still had on the same panties as yesterday. Her outsides may be damaged, but the rest remains undefiled, at least for the moment. But emotionally, she was spent.

Her hands covered her face in sudden defeat as she lay on the floor to think. She has been treated like something less than a barnyard animal for way too long. Her captors never seem to tire of their sick power trip over her.

She was sure it brought them endless amusement. She gets a bath once in a while, during which they take plenty of photos and videos. She has a toothbrush, which has grown disgusting, and a bar of soap down to a small nub.

When they decide to feed her, her food is some kind of soup and crusty bread. The water is always warm, with flakes of dirt in it.

Occasionally, a doctor is brought in to check her over, and twice she had to get IV fluids pumped into her. She was more concerned about whether the needle was clean than what they put inside her.

Once, she tried to ask the doctor for help, but he acted like he didn’t understand her. She knew he did because when she mentioned home, he flinched and wouldn’t make eye contact. All she got was a jab in the ribs from one of the men and shouted admonishments in Spanish for attempting to talk.

Her only choice will have to be starvation. She decided she was done, and at least her death would be under her control.

She heard footsteps outside her door. At the click of the lock, her body automatically starts to tremble. Sure enough, the fat guy returns with her tray of food. He dropped it loudly on the table and then glared at her.

“Sore?” he asks with a laugh. Eloise wanted to lunge at him and jab another piece of plate into his neck. Next time she’ll remember to pull it back out and continue until the fat bastard dies.

“No, you?” she hissed back.

Really, what does she have to lose?

His face drops, and his hand jerks to touch her neck, but he stops. He picked up her water glass, poured it out on the floor, and continued to do the same with her soup and bread as he watched her with an insolent smile.

She would have been heartbroken a few days ago, but today it plays right into her decision, and she smiled back. ‘f**k you!’

A few hours later, she heard the familiar key in the lock. The lights are dim, so she can’t see very well. Someone brings a new tray. She heard it scrape on the floor as he put it down. He moves toward her bed. She smelled the familiar aroma of Montecristo and knew it was the man with the cigar.

“You need to eat,” he said sternly.

Eloise didn’t move. She just lay there, feeling completely defeated.

He reaches over and chucks a piece of bread at her. It bounces off her shoulder. “Eat, b***h!” He leaves, slamming the door behind him.

After some time, Eloise finally moved over to the tray and nearly vomited when she saw the same meal she’d been fed for lunch and dinner for God knows how long—a watery beef stew.

Knowing these guys, it’s probably a rat or possum. It helps reinforce her choice not to eat. She sipped the water, and some grit slid down her throat. She coughed, choking down the rising bile, and stumbled back to bed.

Five more meals are brought to her, five meals that stay untouched. Although her body begs her to eat, her willpower doesn’t falter. Needless to say, she felt like s**t.

Her mother visits her often to whisper words of encouragement. She knew it was only her mind’s way of coping with starvation, but on some level, it brought her joy to see her mother again. She is just as she remembered—long, dark hair, perfect teeth, and dark eyes. Her touch is so real Eloise could feel the heat from her hand on her face.

“I love you, Eloise. You’re aware of that, right?” she says. “I’m here for you.” She touches her chest right over her heart. “My little angel.”

Eloise pulled her knees up to her chest and sobbed as the memory faded.

She wished she were capable of love like that now. Love and trust were things she’d promised herself she would never give away. She has been tested many times, only to be betrayed repeatedly. It is always a trap. They can have her body, but she will be damned if they will get her soul.

She was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, watching it fade in and out of her blurry vision, when she thought she heard a popping noise followed by loud shouts. If she were in a clearer frame of mind, she might have understood what was going on, but in her present state, she doesn’t really care.

A series of events seem to happen all at once. There is a loud bang, her door flies open, and a bright light moves around the room.

A man dressed completely in black with a helmet and goggles draws closer. It took a considerable effort, but she rolled her head over to face him.

The light flashes over her face, making her squint. He pauses momentarily, then shouts something into a radio on his neck. He reaches forward to lift her out of the bed.

Eloise groaned as his hand gripped her back. She doesn’t know if she is dreaming, but she doesn’t seem to be able to take it all in. Her brain isn’t functioning properly.

The man holds her tightly as he carries her down a long hallway. A few other men are in front of them, dressed in the same black outfit; guns raised and ready to fire.

She was so tired, but now she was wide awake and afraid if she closed her eyes, she would find herself again in that room, alone.

They travel down a long staircase toward double wooden doors that appear blown open.

Eloise didn’t seem to be able to speak; She was still afraid she was dreaming.