Episode 3: "Welcome to The Family."

Alicia searched up other jobs online. The application lay off to the side of her desk.

Hearing her door turn--her parents having no care for privacy--she smoothly placed the application in an opened cupboard that came with her desk. Sliding it all the way back.

"Hey. You found a job yet?" Her mother asked, folding her arms.

"No, not really." She said, curious to see how her parents, her mother at least, would feel about her being raped. That thought was still coursing through her mind. And if not that, just her safety in general.

Were they not taking that into account at all? She was eighteen. Eighteen. That may not sound like a little number to them, and in the real world it wasn't, you could do a lot at that age, but to her, for her, it was. She knew nothing. Well she knew some things, but she thought she was just a little too young to be out alone. And way too young, or inexperienced with what Christian may have her doing.

"'No not really', what does that mean?" Her mother gave her a look.

"It means a job is as good as mine, if I accept a certain wager."

"What kind of wager?" She asked.

"The boss wants me to accompany him home after every shift."

"You're lying."

"I'm not." She said.

"So what do you want me to do about that? You're eighteen-years old. Figure it out. It obviously sounds fishy so don't do it."

"What is wrong with you!? You do realize this may be my only stake at some income since you guys are kicking me out! I've applied to every job on the strip! Put in jobs online. Went to over ten interviews already. All of them telling me no for who knows why! Why can't I just stay here to get on my feet! Figure things out!"

"Because rather than have you sit on your but all day and do nothing, Alicia, which I'm sure you would be doing, your father and I think it's best we push you out. Like a bird leaving the nest. You don't want to--"

"I'm not a bird! I'm a human being! I'm your daughter! You know? The one you carried for nine months! You are kicking me out! No car! No license! You won't even pay for a storage facility! I'm just going to be on the street! And in case you haven't noticed, I'm very small for my age! I dodge men's looks everyday I'm out there!"

"Pick up some pepper spray! Learn some self-defense! Pack a weapon with you! It's not that hard, Alicia!"

"And if all that fails! You do realize it'll be me against a guy twice my size. Or not even twice my size...you know what, it doesn't even have to be that situation! This is ridiculous! You expect me to just sink or swim! Is that it!"

"Yes!" her mother shouted. "Sink or swim! And if you find yourself sinking, don't come crying to us for help! You make it on you're own Alicia! Had you just gone to school like everybody else we wouldn't even be having this conversation!"

"So that's it! You're pushing me out because I don't want to go to school!"

"Alicia, your father and I have been grooming you to get into a good school all your life. We've taken you to seminars and on-campus tours. We've taken off work to even go on some college excursions with you. If you didn't see this coming, now you do! Your father and I have degrees. We worked hard to get where we are. School is where it's at right now, and if you don't want to do that, then you are going to have to leave. And no, we don't want you going to no community college either!"

"It's cheaper!" she said. "I can knock out all of my gen-ed for free!"

"And then stress over where you want to transfer when you can already be there. Now, you have until the end of the month to be out. Or you can apply to the Remwood Academy that your father and I--"

"So that's it!" she yelled. "I knew it had to be something!"

Her mother said nothing.

She scoffed and shook her head. "Now it all makes sense. You never explained why you wanted me gone other than I 'needed to fend for myself' or 'we're just kicking you out'. You did this out of spite. You and dad both. Because I rejected that full ride scholarship to Remwood. Because I didn't care to follow in you two's footsteps."

"Remwood is a good school! Ivy league!"

"And how'd you even get the scholarship, Mom! Who'd you and Dad have to bribe! I know Dad has pull in the education sector. I know he's good friends with the counselors, especially in admissions and records!"

Her mother looked away.

"Sure, I've been an achieving student. But that just wasn't good enough for you, huh? You wanted me to be that well groomed, kid. Straight-A student kid. The one that did whatever their parents wanted, just for their approval!"

"And what's wrong with that! To want what your parents want! All my life I have tried to understand you, Alicia! Nothing we ever do is good enough for you! We get you into a good school. You don't like it! We go to seminars and outings! You say its 'okay'. What are you?! A corpse?!"

"I'm a human being!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "How many times do I have to keep telling you that! I'm allowed to not know what I want right now because it's normal! I'm not the little robots you and Dad turned out to be for your parents; always looking for their approval! Always looking to them to see what they want! So fine! If I scare you! If I intimidate you, then fine! I'll leave! If I come up raped and murdered, or scarred beyond repair, no, you won't be responsible for it, but you will have guilt!" She turned away from her mother and threw open her closet doors.

"What are doing?" She asked.

"Packing!"

"Well I hope you have some place to go." She said, turning and walking out. She closed the door behind her.

Alicia stopped what she was doing and collasped onto her bed. She cried her eyes out and looked at the application. It's papers were scrunched up some.

***

She walked through the doors around 4:30. She had plenty to lose, but one thing she refused to do was go down helpless. Whatever may come her way, she'd always be aware. Always be prepared. She had no money, so all of her self-defense tactics would have to be placed on hold, but she did snag a screwdriver and a fork. It was better than nothing.

She was hoping to only see Christian. Instead she was welcomed with a couple other guests beside him. One being Delilah and the person she had walked passed the evening before.

"Hello." She said, slowly. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, not at all." Christain said. "Did you bring the application?"

Delilah rolled her eyes.

"I did." She said.

"Good. Come with me to the back." He said. He walked toward the area that had been pitch black the day before. It was lit now.

She noticed the boy staring at her intently as she walked toward the back. Could he be the sixteen-year-old? He looked young enough. He had blue-black shaggy hair, with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He was dressed similar to Christian in attire, but sported a tie.

Walking into the back, she was suprised to see how big it was. It was a hallway to be exact. With some storage racks against the walls. The doors reminded her of a hotel. There were numbers on them.

"These are private rooms."

"Private rooms for what?" She looked to him.

"Meetings. Parties."

Hookers. She thought. "Oh." she said.

"Follow me." He turned and began walking down the hall.

She glanced out toward the front and saw Delilah and the boy staring at her still. Didn't they know it was rude? She hurried along after him.

Delilah slammed her hand down on the counter and winced. She made a muffled sound.

"Exactly what you get." The boy said.

"Shut up you little insect!" she hissed.

There was an abrupt turn that led them to a double door entry. With no knobs?

"No knobs?" she gave him a look.

"No." He said, entering a code into the keypad on the wall.

The doors unlocked and he pushed one open.

The room was red. All red. It nearly hurt her eyes. The only relief was the glass table for contrast. Red carpet. Red floors and walls. Even the ceiling. It had round LED lights within them.

She cautiously stepped through, one hand in her bag, gripping the fork. She fumbled for the screwdriver.

He closed the doors and she turned and faced him.

She'd figure he'd wait to take her home to assult her, but this room was just as good. There weren't any windows--she doubted the employees would help should anything go wrong. Especially if they didn't know the code.

"Your application, may I see it?" He asked.

"What's with all the red?" She asked.

Christian looked around. "It's soothing--calms me down after a hard days work. I can come in here and relax. The walls are noise cancelling. Have a drink. Fall asleep." He chuckled. "I've actually done that a couple times."

"Where? There's no where to sleep?"

He pointed to the right side of the doors.

Why hadn't she noticed the cushioned bench there?

"If I'm really hot, the cold glass table does the trick. And a beer." He smirked. "Now, your application."

She handed it to him.

He unfolded it and walked toward the table.

It sat twelve in what looked like very comfortable high back seats. They all came with armrests.

He lifted the first page and looked for her signature. It wasn't there. He turned to her. "You didn't sign it."

"I know." She said.

It was extremely subtle, but she saw the irritation cross those blue eyes of his. If he wanted her, he'd have to 'earn' her.

"I don't even know your name and you're getting on my nerve." He said.

"And I'm being an idiot for coming this far along with you and now this takes the cake." She ushered to the room. "I'm in a room with no handles. No handles. I can't escape."

"No, you can't." He said. "Not without the code."

"Which you won't give me, I'm sure."

"0089-265."

"You didn't just give me the code." She laughed in disbelief.

"I did." He said. "If you are going to waste my time, you can leave."

"Waste your time! You're asking me to do something completely irrational and flat out dangerous! No one in their right mind would do such a thing! This is borderline sexual assult!"

"And yet here you are." He said.

She didn't respond.

"That leads me to believe that you actually want this job or you have no choice for reasons uknown to me. There are plenty of jobs out there. As to why you have come this far with me, those have to be the only explainations."

And he was right.

She turned away and cupped her mouth.

He watched her. Wondering if he should even waste his time on her. Somebody else would quickly jump on this opportunity without regard for the consequences.

But she fought. Why? He wasn't making her, so what was the struggle for?

"You're right." She turned and allowed him to see her tears. She steadied her voice. "I don't have a choice, otherwise I'd be long gone from here. From you."

"So what's keeping you?" He said.

"My parents." She said. "It's either I become employed under you and move out by the end of the month. Or be homeless and deal with all the risks that come with that. Unfortunately, you're little deal isn't helping me make the decision any faster. I'd rather be in a shack right now in the woods then deal with this. I have applied to multiple jobs already within my time frame, and all of them have said no, or the interviews take place over the span of a month. I need to be out before then."

"Why are your parents kicking you out?" He asked.

"School. School and their butthurt feelings over me rejecting the school they swindled me into."

"What school?"

"Remwood."

"You turned down, Remwood?"

"Oh," she scoffed. "Not you too."

"It doesn't matter what I think. But Remwood is a good school, if you get it to work for you. It's not the best when it comes to crime, rich kids and stuff. But it will help on applications and resumes."

"Yes, I know." She said. "But I didn't want to attend. I didn't care to."

"Where else would you have liked to go?"

She sighed. "Look, nowhere, okay! Now why do you want me coming home with you after every shift!"

"That's up to me."

"No! That's not up to you! I'm the one that's going to get hurt! And I can't trust your word saying that you won't."

"Unless you see me in action, which leaves you with no choice but to accept or get out. Your choice. I don't have all day. Someone else will come along. We get applicants daily."

"What for! The pays not good anyway unless we're doing whatever you want us to do behind closed doors!"

"Take it or leave it, girl." He said. "You will have until six o' clock to make your decision. Should you, you will start work immediately. There should be something you can fit."

"Wait a minute! You're just going to toss me to the wolves too!"

"How else are you supposed to learn? Delilah will be shadowing you."

"Oh great! The one that doesn't seem to like me!"

"Delilah likes no one I take under my wing."

"What? She's jealous another girl get's to have what she had? Fine. You can take her home and just hire me as a regualar maid. Yeah, how about that. Just hire me normally. I won't have to go with you anywhere."

"But I am not looking for a normal hire. We get plenty of those each day and I am content with the staff I have. This position is more of a personal, inside job. No woman here fits. Consider you my personal assistant, should you take the job."

"And what makes me so different? I just want a job. That's it! No 50 Shades of Red or midnight secretary stuff! And you won't tell me if it's going to be that way!"

"I know I haven't. You're just assuming."

"So can my assumption be wrong!"

He chuckled. "You have an hour."

She was at a loss of words at this point.

"Now, I will leave you in here, or you can even walk out. If the application is not in my hand by six o' clock, you will have forefeited the right to obtain a job here." He walked passed her and entered the code, opening the door. "The choice is yours." He looked back at her, and then stepped out.

He said that to her three times already. The choice was hers. The choice was hers. The choice was hers. Yes, it was hers. He wasn't making her do anything. But after she signed. That's when she would be at his mercy.

The door began to close. Should she follow him out or be trapped in here as she had forgotton the code already? She wouldn't want to come in while everyone was busy serving customers. They wouldn't be able to show her the ropes as efficiently. That and she was shy. She'd never show it, but she was.

She had a screwdriver and a fork. Embarrassing to say the least but it was something.

"Hey! Wait!" she ran out the room.

He turned to her.

"I'll do it."

"You said that already." He said. "I just need your signature. It makes everything, legal."

Everything. Legal.

She didn't have time to play around with those terms or how he paused before he said the term 'legal'. Hell or high water, she decided to do this. Against her better judgement. Against every fiber in her body telling her to 'stop!'. To get out now while she still could.

She had to be out by the end of the month, She needed to be able to make a down payment on a place as soon as possible. Start looking.

"How often do I get paid?"

"Every two weeks."

She walked toward him. "Is that $2000 every week or is that $2000 every month?" She whispered.

He thought about that. "Do you want to stay in this area? Or commute?"

"Would it matter?"

"Yes." He said.

"This area." She said. "I only take one train to get here, and if I can find a place around here, I won't have to commute at all."

"Very well. If you sign I will give you $2000 a check." His voice was lower.

Her eyes widened. "That's $4000 a month! What am I going to be giving you! Blood!" she hissed. "I mean! Not that I'm complaining but I don't want to feel like garbage when all is said and done."

"Well hopefully we won't have to be 'said and done' for a long time." He said. "Do you need a pen?"

"No, no I have one." She said, feeling sick. Her mouth was going dry. She rummaged through her purse, swallowing thickly. "Come on, I had it! I have it!" She wanted to cry.

He held a pen in front of her. She looked at it and then him.

Since yesterday he showed her no other face but one of composure. He hadn't raised his voice at her. He was even giving her a second chance almost. What could she possibly offer him besides her body and she didn't want to give herself up anyway. A prositute could do just as good a job, no, they would be able to give him anything he needed. She had no experience. Zero.

"Wha--"

"Sign it." He interrupted her. "Just sign it. I'm just as tired as you are with this game. I get it. You don't want to. Under perfect circumstances I wouldn't want to."

"Want to wha--"

"Sign it." He said again. "The sooner you do the sooner we can get you out there."

He didn't have to show her how edgy he felt. She could feel it. The anxiety.

Swallowing, she took the pen. Sniffing some she lifted the first page and set it down on a small table. There was a clock setting off to the side. It was 5:07 p.m. She held her breath and scribbled in her first and last name: Alicia June. She dated it.

"Should we call you 'AJ' for short?" He looked at her signature.

"Just Alicia." She turned to him. "Just, Alicia."

"Well, Alicia." He took the pen and application. He held out his other hand. "My name is Christian Royce. You may call me 'Roy' for short. Everyone does."

"I prefer Christain." She said. "That is your name, isn't it?"

"Unfortunately."

She eyed his hand and slowly placed hers inside it. He was warm, but a little cold. An odd temperature to be.

They shook hands.

"Welcome to the family, Alicia." He briefly smiled. "With time, I hope you will grow to like it here."

"Not on my watch pal." Delilah was against the outside wall, straining her ears to hear.

"Roy! Delilah is listening outside the wall!" The boy yelled.

She glared daggers at him. "Shut up you scrawny little kid!" she lunged for him. "I'll make you die of alcohol poisoning!"

"And she threatened me!" he sang.

"Those are my co-workers?"

"Afraid so."

"They must be good at their job then for you not to fire them..." Alicia fell forward.

He caught her.

"I'm not, I don't think I can--" she let out a wimper and blacked out.

"Delilah!" he called.

"What is it!" She walked into the room. Her heart skipped a beat. "What did you do to her?! Don't tell me you killed her already! Not that I'd be complaining on that aspect..."

"Just heartless." The boy spoke.

"Follow me into the conferance room. Your job will be to wait until she comes to."

"What!" she yelled.

"It'll serve you right," he looked to her. "Eavesdropping on conversations. You should know better, dear. You were, once under me."

A mournful look crossed her eyes.

"And unlike you, this girl really doesn't have a choice. Now you will sit and wait for her to come around. Show her the ropes, and so help me if you cause any unnecessary damage while I'm away, well, I don't have to tell you what I'll do to you. Are we clear?"

"Yes." She said.

"Yes, who?"

"Yes, sir." Delilah said, her own eyes glistening.

"Good. Roy, keep watch."

"You got it." He said. "And her uniform?"

"We should have something small in the back. If not, the school uniform should do for now until one is made for her. If she wants that, then Delilah will show her the brochures. Right?" He looked to her again.

"Yes." She said.

"Good. Make sure she has some water to drink when she wakes up." He picked her up and carried her away to the conference room.

Delilah followed silently behind. She had a flashback with 'Roy' or Christian having his arms around her and it broke her to know that that one foolish mistake cost her, her title, her paygrade, but most importantly, her trust with Christian. He never looked at her the same. Or maybe he never saw her as anything but that. Either way, this new girl was replacing her. And just like the girl who had him before she did cursed her to make a mistake. To make Christian fall away from her. Delilah was doing the same thing. She prayed multiple times that something would happen. An irreversable mistake. Just like the one she made. It could even be the same one. That's it! She'll make her want the same thing she did. And she'll get caught. And Christian will have to put her away for good! Just like he did her. This new plan in mind, she smiled on the inside, struggling to fight the smile forming on her lips.

Misery loved company indeed.