Sold to the Devil

V - TRAINEE

I was scowling while looking outside the car's window. All my excitement was gone. I thought that I could at least tour around the city. I thought this was going to be a vacation trip! But no it isn't!

Apparently, my fiancé has a business trip and he just asked me to tag along because he enrolled me in a class that I know nothing about. He did not even bother to ask me anymore. It's not like I have a choice either.

What can I do when he has already bought me?

Technically, I belong to him. I am in his possession. I have no right to refuse whatever he asks me to do, but I’m not that stupid to just let him do whatever he wants with me. I'm still my own person. He can't force me to do something that I didn't want.

“What exactly is a finishing school?” I asked Walter, who was sitting beside the driver.

“Y-you will be training in social graces, Miss.” He stuttered to answer my question.

Social graces? I was confused for a second. Walter might have noticed it in my reaction, so he further explained.

“Uh, they will teach you p-proper etiquette, per-personality development and everything about how a woman should act. You will train under the best mentor that we could find here in Paris. The c-class will last for two weeks.” he keeps on stuttering with his words, which is starting to make the nerves in my temples tick.

“Two weeks?!” I exclaimed. I was surprised to know that I would be staying here for that long. That man didn't tell me the details of this trip. He just told me to pack because we were going to Paris. At least now I felt relieved.

It means that I have two weeks to explore the city of love! That sounds great. Maybe I could sneak some time in between to go around like a normal tourist? I should search for popular tourist spots that I should check out. I don't know much about Paris aside from the famous Eiffel Tower.

What else can I do here?

“Yes, w-we’re going to stay here. Mr. Alistair, on the other hand, would probably have an earlier flight. I am assigned to be with you the whole time.” He patiently explained.

"You're staying with me?" my eyebrows arched up so high.

"Uh... N-not in the hotel room." he stuttered. His whole face and neck also turned crimson red in an instant. "O-only when you go out for your training," he stated while trying his best to avoid my gaze.

"And why do I need to attend that kind of class? Is there something wrong with the way I act?!" my tone raised a little as I asked him upon remembering what class I should attend.

"I-I... I was just following his orders." his voice shook a little, so I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

He looked like he would start to cry any moment now. I pursed my lips.

I shouldn't take it out on this poor lad. He looked so thin that I could break his bones in a snap. I rolled my eyes before looking out the car's window again. I busied myself with the different sceneries outside.

"Oh and M-miss Heather..." he called my attention after a few minutes.

"What is it?" I snapped. How many times do I need to tell him to not call me like that?

"This is yours." he handed me a small box with the logo of a famous cellphone company. I gasped and almost snatched it from him.

The box isn't sealed anymore, but it's okay.

"Mr. Alistair ordered me to get you a new phone yesterday," he said, but I barely understood. My focus is now on the phone in my hands. I quickly took the contents out of the box.

It's the latest model!

I've never thought that I'd have one of these! I wanted to scream for joy but bit my lip instead.

My old phone was gone when I woke up in that man's penthouse unit. Actually, all my things were gone at that time. The only possession left in me is the clothes that I was wearing, but I've never seen them either after I have changed into new clothes. Devin must have put it in the trash. I can't blame him though. It really smelled horrible.

Even my shoes were gone when I woke up, but I remember that the other pair slipped off my foot when my stepfather was pulling me. Maybe the other one slipped off too after I lost consciousness.

I turned on the phone and browsed through it. I checked the camera first and took my first selfie using it. Smiling from ear to ear, I stared at the very clear photo.

Hmm, I'm so beautiful! I told myself while laughing inside my head. Gahd I'm going crazy!

Then I excitedly opened the social media apps. I'm excited to brag about it. My social-climbing friends won't believe that I am in Paris right now! I frowned when I saw that there was an account already logged in to it under the name Heather Naismith.

"M-mr. Alistair also told me to make new accounts for you, Miss." Walter explained when he saw me staring at the profile. "He told me that you need to ask permission before you post anything in public."

I rolled my eyes after hearing what he had to say. Of course. I'm supposed to be Heather Naismith now, but why does he need to do that? Why do I need to ask for permission? I feel like soon I will also need his yes before I breathe!

"Can I at least change the display photo in here?" I asked sarcastically.

I didn't know where they got all these pictures. They all looked real but I know very well that they were just edited. I don't remember taking those shots. I don't even remember having this boring black hair that I was sporting in each photo. My hair is naturally dark brown but I have dyed my hair constantly in different colors. It was never black though.

"I-I'm not sure but I can ask him if you want," he stuttered.

"Never mind," I answered coldly as I kept on scrolling through my curated feed.

There were pictures of me in different places. There are even pictures of me doing humanitarian activities in different poor places in the world. Woah. I never knew that I'd been to the pyramids of Egypt already. Some of the places weren't even familiar to me.

It's amazing how they did this. If I wasn't aware of the truth, I would believe these photos. There aren't any tell-tale signs that they were just photoshopped. The body that they used perfectly fit my natural build.

If I wasn't so annoyed, I would have applauded them for a job well done!

"We're here, Ms. Heather." I heard Walter's voice again after a while.

I looked out and found that we had already arrived in front of an old-style building. Or should I say classic? I walked out of the car and went inside with my head held high, the heels of my Louboutin shoes clicking on the floor. I feel like I'm worth a million bucks with my outfit and accessories. I wear designer-labeled clothes from head to toe. Though I had to alter some of them.

Since I don't like most of the styles of clothes in my closet, I actually cut the hem of a Gucci fitted shirt to make it into a crop top. I paired it with a pair of blue trousers and topped it with a tan double-breasted coat. I also wore an oversized pair of sunglasses while my hair was tousled to perfectly frame my face.

I was walking like I was on a runway. I only halted my steps when I realized that I didn't know where we were going.

Ugh. Talk about being stupid!

I had no choice but to wait for Walter, who was fumbling to keep up with me. He fixed his eyeglasses when he stopped beside me. I frowned.

Is that man a miser? Doesn't he give a good salary to his people? Why can't this man buy a pair of glasses that would actually fit?

"Lead the way," I mumbled with my still creased forehead. He nodded his head before frantically walking in front of me. He seemed to be so rattled about everything. I wonder how he got a job for that devil. He seemed to be a perfectionist, so I don't understand why he hired an incompetent man.

I sighed and followed Walter until we entered a tinted glass door. I saw a man who was probably around his early forties. He looked feminine in the way he acts and talks. He looked at me from head to toe.

"Are you Heather Naismith?" he asked in a strict voice.

My brows furrowed for a while until I realized that he was referring to my new identity.

"I guess..." I answered hesitantly.

"What?! Do you have amnesia or something?" he asked. One of his eyebrows was raised in a perfect arch. Okay. Confirmed. He's gay. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against gays. It's just that this one was so adamant in showing his revulsion against me. It clearly shows in the expression painted on his face.

"No, I don't have amnesia. And yes I'm Heather Naismith." I answered with all the fake confidence that I could muster.

"That's more like it! You should learn to act with grace and confidence. Follow me." he strictly ordered.

I took a deep breath before following him in front of the glass wall. Are we really going to start immediately? I still feel exhausted from the long flight.

"I am Emmanuel Monet, the best in my league, so you can rest assured that you will be the finest woman that you could ever be after finishing my course," he boasted.

I'm not sure if I should be happy about that, but I don't have a choice, do I? They keep on talking as if there's something wrong with how I act. Aren't they aware that we're not in the Victorian era anymore? You can't expect everyone to act in a certain way. f**k this society.

"But before anything, take off your coat." He's so bossy. Ugh.

I did what he wanted and handed my bag and coat to Walter. I noticed how his face reddened when he saw me walking towards him.

"You can go out now. Just wait for me there." I uttered in a cold voice.

He nodded before turning around. I went back to where Emmanuel was standing.

"Let's start with your posture." he then pulled my shoulders back, then held my chin slightly higher. He rested the tips of his fingers on the small of my back and my stomach to align it the way he deemed fit. It looks like he was so disgusted to touch me with the way his fingers almost didn't touch my bare skin that was showing through my crop top.

"Now walk," he instructed.

I started striding across the room. I went at it a few times. Emmanuel would voice out his comments from time to time, making sure that I was doing it right.

“Straighten your back!” he almost shouted for the millionth time.

I gritted my teeth while imagining that I was stomping my heels on Alistair's body instead of the floor!

That man is unbelievable! Imagine, he sent me here right after I got off the plane? After an eight-hour flight here to Paris?

I’ll get back at him I swear!

I pulled up my body despite my aching calves because the scary trainer was now shooting daggers at me with his eyes. Then I took a few strides with all the finesse that I could muster.

“Go back from the start!” he said, then walked over to me.

For a while, I got scared that he would throw the thick book he was holding at me. But he didn’t. Instead, he put it at the top of my head.

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked confusedly.

“Walk without dropping the book.” He instructed.

This is getting harder by the second. I’m getting more and more exhausted and I just want to drop my body even here on the floor. But I can’t do that with this man who is eyeing me like a hawk behind his thick eyeglasses. He looked so strict and creepy. I took a deep breath and just focused on my reflection on the mirrored wall. I tried to follow everything that he said for this to be all over.

I am so f*****g tired! All I wanted was to dive into bed and wake up after ten hours!

Another hour passed and it was finally finished. My legs feel like jello. I wish I had a different assistant. Anyone but this lanky man! Someone who could carry me right now! I don't think I can still walk!

Ugh!

"Are you okay Miss?" Walter asked while we were on our way out of the training room.

"Do I look like I'm okay?!" I snapped at the poor man, but I couldn't help it.

I feel so annoyed and frustrated.

When we got to the elevator, I leaned my body on the wall and sighed.

"Take off my shoes," I ordered.

Walter's head snapped in my direction. His eyes widened a little as he looks at me with shock written on his face.

"What? Why are you looking at me like you've seen a ghost?" I asked, irritated.

"A-ahh..." he stuttered.

"Just take it off!! Now! My feet are so sore!" I growled at him.

He went down on his knees in front of me and held my right foot with his shaky hands. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall. Both of my feet feel so painful. Surely there are blisters all over them.

I sighed when he started to take off my right shoe.

"Ooh... ." I moaned a little when he pulled it off.

"Please be gentle, it hurts," I whined.

He then held my other foot to do the same thing. Some parts of my blistered skin got stuck to the material and it hurt so f*****g much when Walter pulled it off my foot.

"Ahh!" I screamed and opened my eyes at the same time the elevator door opened.

It revealed Alistair, whose eyes dropped on Walter, who was still kneeling in front of me. The poor man can't see him because his back is on Alistair. I bit my lip to stop myself from making more sounds.

His eyebrows furrowed for a while, his gaze fixed on Walter, whose face was now red as a tomato before his expression went back to its emotionless state.

Walter stood up with my shoes in his hands. He noticed that I was looking at something behind, so he turned around to look outside the elevator.

"S-Sir!" he even bowed down a little like he saw a king.

I giggled before taking a step to go out. My steps are unstable due to my aching feet, so Walter immediately held my elbow to help me out.

"I will take it from here." I heard Alistair's cold voice as he took my arm from Walter.

"What happened to you?" he asked irritably, referring to me. His fingers grabbed my arm to support my weight.

"What do you think? Did you send me here to train after a long flight? Really?!" I muttered between gritted teeth.

"I also went straight to my meeting after the flight. Stop complaining." He grunted.

"Where the hell are your shoes?!" he almost shouted when he looked down and found my feet bare.

"f**k. Are you a cavewoman? Why do you need to walk barefoot?"

"Tsk. Chill. Walter has them. I can't walk in heels anymore! Because of that training, my feet are now- aah!" I screamed when he suddenly lifted me off the ground.

My arms seemed to have a mind of their own as they wrapped around his shoulders for support. Okay, now I got my wish. But I suddenly changed my mind when my heart started beating like it wanted to get out of my chest.

"Put me down!" I wailed, but he just ignored me. We are already getting other people's attention, but the hell I care. I don't know them anyway.

"Hey! I said put me down!" I wriggled out of his hold but he just held me tighter.

He kept on walking without a word until we reached the limousine waiting for us outside. Then he carelessly dropped me off inside. I grunted as my butt hit harshly against the seat. I shot him a deadly glare but he still ignored me.

"Where's Walter?" I asked when the door closed, but I didn't see the man.

"Why are you looking for him?" his cold voice almost made me shiver.

"Because he has my Louboutins!" I yelled.

"He's in the front seat. Stop shouting." he snorted.

He took the seat opposite mine, then busied himself with his phone, ignoring me completely now... I rolled my eyes before taking a look at my murdered soles.

I was right. There are blisters all over them, which explains the pain that I am experiencing now. I wanted to cry at their poor state but I couldn't when there was a man in front of me who looks at me like I'm a pathetic child for crying over wounds!

Hmph!

This was all his fault, but I couldn't even see a single regret in his expression. He's so heartless!

"Stop staring at me!" I snapped when I couldn't take it anymore.

He looked straight into my eyes with a bored expression before ignoring me again. Now that's better!