~AVA
It's been a while since I walked out of my family's house just so I could carve my own path and follow my heart's desires. The journey has been pleasant, at least for me. I not only found my own strength in music and acting, but I also found the true love of my life. Sitting in the sitting room in his mansion, I stared at Julian, the love of my life who luckily for me, was the CEO of the record company I was currently signed to. He had called for an important meeting and I wondered what it was. "Ava, you can't do music anymore." He spat, his face down.
"Excuse me?" I replied, my sweet smile fading. "You know that's not possible right? Julian, I have a fan base now with a catalog. All I need to do is keep making music else I will fade away. What are you saying now?" I was confused as hell.
"Come on, darling, don't you love me anymore? Look I think it's time for us to settle down and have kids. If you keep releasing songs and going on tours, you won't have the time for us. Your catalog is safe, trust me, and regardless of how long it takes you to release another song, trust me, your fans will always be there waiting for you. But if you don't want this anymore and don't love me anymore..."
"Umm, it's okay. I love you as much as I love my job. I will listen to you, but first, please, I have to think this deeply." I said and went closer to him.
"There is nothing to think about. Else you don't trust that I can provide for you and give you all the good things of life." He muttered staring into my light brown eyes.
"I trust you and that's why we are together. Okay fine. I accept." I then said to him and a wife grin appeared on his face.
"This is really sweet of you. Now I accept that you love me genuinely, and because of that, you can write songs, honey, okay? That way you won't be short of royalties. Rita, who is signed under my record company, can use it since she is your friend, or you can choose whichever artist you think will be fit." He said suggesting.
"Um, that's fine. I mean like you said, Rita is my friend so yes I can write for her." I agreed and that sealed my fate.
****
It's been two years since I agreed to that and at this time, I was sitting at the same spot, regretting my decision with my forehead bloody and swollen. The entire sitting room was as quiet as a graveyard, and my heart hurt as to how much I had tolerated. I heard some footsteps coming from the room and jerked up, trying to put my broken self to order.
Julian tapped my shoulders from behind and when I managed to stare at him, I could see a devilish grin. He was the complete opposite of what I knew him to be. "Julian I think we should talk." I summoned the courage to speak.
Without hesitation, he sat closer to me and stared at me with a piercing gaze. "What is it darling?" He asked, his tone nice but chilling.
"Julian, look at me," I said, pointing at my entire body, which was currently a mess. My clothes were torn, and my body had bad marks, which could easily tell how abused I was at that point. "I am now a shadow of myself," I muttered, my voice crispy. "I know I loved you genuinely but this isn't the life that you promised me."
"What do you want me to do about your filthy self then?" He spat and that cut through my heart.
"I just want you to treat me better and even if you won't, can you at least give me my royalties? I have written countless songs for your company, but I'm yet to get paid. I am also going broke. There is a lot to..."
PAK! PAK!!
He got up from his chair and before I could complete my statement, I already received two slaps on my face.
I placed my head on my lap feeling utterly overwhelmed and in pain. Even after I was able to swallow it, I couldn't raise my head anymore for fear of being beaten up again. "You know how much I hate it when you challenge me." He said and got up. When there was no sign of him anymore, I raised my head and realized he had just walked into his kitchen. My heart was pounding furiously as I had no idea what he planned on doing. A few seconds later, he walked out of the kitchen with a few dishes in his hands, and the moment he neared, I got up, but it was too late. The dishes with him had already landed on my body. I held my body as I tried to nurse my pains. "You haven't even done the dishes yet you want royalties. I have never seen a woman so dirty and disgusting as you. I guess your family failed in bringing you up."
"Don't... Don't ever bring up my family when calling me names dear Julian. You can hurt me as much as you want because I love you but you will not bring up my family..."
I felt his hands on my throat the next second as he hit my back hard on the hard wall behind me. "And what if I do?" He spat at my face. I had my eyes closed because I could no longer stand his stand. "Aren't they as pathetic as you? Oh, okay, I will say they really are not but trust me, they don't care if you are alive or dead, so you can only do as I say." He ordered. "Do you hear me?" He yelled to my face.
I was finding it hard to breathe already and needed to get out of the situation so I wouldn't die in that manner, so I nodded my head with a silent; Yes!