by Shannon Cook
"There she is!" Sally proclaimed. "Wow! Looking good!" she said with a wink.
James looked over at Mandy. "I agree! That style is dashing on you!" He got up and gave Mandy a hug. "How are you doing?"
"I'm doing wonderful!" Mandy smiled. "Thank you so much again! Your mother has been so helpful."
"She absolutely loves you. She actually began calling you her second daughter."
Mandy looked over to Sally and smiled. "That makes me feel good."
They both sat down, and the three of them spent the evening talking. Mandy couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Finally, she felt comfortable in her own body and didn't have much fear anymore.
Mandy lived with Sally for six months and was able to get a job working as a department manager at one of the most popular retail stores in town. She ended up saving enough money to afford her own apartment.
One morning, Mandy walked out onto the front porch and sat down next to Sally. "I have some news I need to tell you." she said.
Sally rocked slowly. "I hope it is good news."
"It's kind of bittersweet." she told Sally. "I found my own apartment, and I'm moving into it today."
"Oh, how wonderful!" Sally said cheerfully. "I am going to miss you so much!"
Mandy went inside and grabbed her bags. She took one last look around the home and walked out. She stopped on the porch and gave Sally a big hug. "Thank you so much for everything again!"
Sally got up from her chair and gave Mandy an even bigger hug. "No, thank you. You were such a pleasure to have as a guest." Sally held Mandy's shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "Just remember, you are always welcome here."
"Thank you."
Mandy gave Sally a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. She walked down the front porch steps, opened her back car door and tossed her bags in the back seat of her car. When she got into the driver's seat. She started her car and looked out the windshield at Sally. She rolled down the window and waved as she backed out of the driveway slowly.
She soon arrived at her new place. She got the keys and went inside. It was a nice one bedroom apartment in the city's gay neighborhood within walking distance to her job. The entire place was newly renovated, and absolutely beautiful!
Mandy debated rather or not to tell her mother of her new address, but she really didn't want her father knowing where she lived in fear he would try to come after her. So she never informed her mother of her new address.
Mandy felt terrible that she had to cut her mother out of her life as well. She just didn't want to risk being attacked by her father again. Her life was beginning to become positive and she didn't want the negativity in it anymore!
For the next few months, Mandy ended up picking up more hours at work and became strongly involved within the community. Mandy would help organize neighborhood street dances, parades, and volunteer at the local Pride center.
A year passed, and Mandy became Vice President of the local Pride Center. That gave her lots of publicity, which she didn't like. She knew her father always read the paper every morning, and she didn't want him to know where to find her.
Mandy's face was all over the news, and in the newspapers. She went into work one morning and noticed a man giving her strange looks. She didn't know who this man was, but little did she know this man would change her life. Not in a good way either.
The man giving her strange looks was Ross Reid, a wealthy business owner that owned the store Mandy was working at. She also didn't know that Ross and her father Lee were old college buddies.
Ross knew Mandy was Lee's daughter, so he called Lee to inform him that he saw Mandy on the news and that Mandy worked for him.
The phone rang at Lee and Barb's house, and Barb answered the phone. Lee could be heard in the background screaming at the television.
"I can't believe she is still one of those Lesbians!" Lee shouted.
Barb covered the phone and yelled over to Lee. "Phone!"
Lee turned the television off and went to the phone. "Hello?" he asked as he grabbed the phone and put it up to his ear.
"Lee, It's Ross. I just saw your daughter on the news."
Lee was ashamed, he didn't want people to know his daughter was a lesbian. Especially his best friend. He was quiet for a moment. "I know. Please don't think I'm okay with this! I've done almost everything in my power to try to prevent her from being that way! Her life choice has nothing to do with my parenting!"
"I know it breaks your heart having this news come out about Mandy." Ross told Lee. "I will let you know that she is a department manager at one of my stores."
Lee's face began to turn red with anger. "How could you let a lesbian run a department!" he snarled into the phone.
"I didn't know she was gay!" Ross said defensively. "Also, as a business owner, I can't just fire her because of her sexuality. It's against the law!"
"Well think of something!" Lee snapped.
Ross began to think. "Arranged marriage?" He requested. "My son is single, and I could really use the help getting him out of the house."
"Let's do that!" Lee said with excitement. "When should we start making the arrangements?"
Ross held his phone between his head and shoulder. He pulled out his pocket calendar from his top desk drawer and flipped it to that month. "I have an opening in my schedule tomorrow at noon." He stated as he pointed to one of the days on his calendar. "How about we meet up at the new diner on Main street."
"I'll be there." Lee promised.
The two men got off the phone. Lee turned around, and Barb was standing right behind him with her arms crossed. "What is going on?" she asked.
"We're meeting Ross tomorrow at noon." Lee said with a smile.
"I don't like that look." Barb sighed. "What are you up to now?"
"Don't worry so much about everything I do." Lee softly told Barb as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's for our daughter's own good." He let out an evil chuckle as he left the room.
Barb stood there worried, she knew her husband was planning something horrible against their daughter. She just didn't know what.
Chapter 8
The next day Lee and Barb met up with Ross and his son Ian at the local diner and discussed business. Love business that is.
They sat in a corner booth and began making small talk. Catching up on old times. Lee could see that his friend Ross was starting to forget the main reason for this meeting, so he decided to speak up.
"So, are you dating anyone at the moment, Ian?" Lee asked. Hoping it would get everyone back on topic.
"No. Can't seem to find the right woman." Ian responded.
"I have a daughter!" Lee abruptly stated.
Barb looked at her husband in shock! "Lee! What are you doing? You can't just hook our daughter up with someone!"
"Watch me!" he told his wife with a smirk. He turned to Ian. "How do you feel about gay people?"
Ian was surprised about that question. "I hate them. Why?"
Lee smiled. "Perfect. My daughter is a lesbian, and I need to prevent her from ever marrying a woman."
Ian sat back for a moment. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked. "Divorce is real and why go through all this trouble if we all know it won't last."
Lee got real serious and looked into Ian's eyes. "This marriage will last." he assured him. "My daughter fears me. If she divorces you, I will murder her!"
Barb's jaw hit the table. "Lee!" she shouted. "You wouldn't! Would you?"
Lee just shrugged. "Tell me, Ross, how fast can we make this wedding happen?"
Ross opened up his checkbook and checked his finances. "If we need to, I can have a wedding ready in five days."
Barb sat there in shock. "This is insanity!" she snapped.
"There is nothing insane about this." Lee snapped back at his wife. "Make the arrangements. Ross, you know where she works. Bring her to the wedding. Even if you need to drag her by her toes!"
Ross gave a sinister smile. "With pleasure."
Lee and Ross stood up and shook each other's hands.
After Ross and Ian left, Barb got up from the table. "I'm taking a cab home." she said to her husband.
"Why would you do that?" Lee asked. "Why waste the money when we have our own vehicle here."
"I'd much rather put out the money then to ride with you!" Barb shouted.
The rest of the diner's patrons turned and looked at them. Lee was getting embarrassed. "Barb, my dear, you are causing a scene!"
"Oh, and how many times have you caused a scene?" Barb snapped. "Remember that time you caused such a big scene at a party, that it caused a young woman took her own life!"
"Shut up!" Lee shouted as he smacked Barb across the face.
Barb stormed out of the diner in tears as everyone looked on in shock.
"What are you all looking at?" Lee snarled at everyone as he walked out.
For the next five days, Lee and Ross were hard at work putting together the perfect wedding. They rented out the most luxurious banquet hall in the city. Lavish decor covered the room. Everything was as beautiful as if it was something out of a dream.
Ross took his son, Ian to the banquet hall to make sure everything was to his liking. Ian walked around and checked every detail.
"I don't know about this dad." Ian said as he glanced around the room. "I've never met this Mandy."
"I know you've never met her, but you know why we're doing this." Ross told his son.
Ian pulled out a chair and sat down. "I know. Just, I wish I could've at least met her first."
"She's a good girl, except the fact that she's a lesbian. I'm sure you can convert her."
"What if I can't?"
"Just make sure she doesn't divorce you or you don't divorce her. If I ever find out you two are getting divorced, don't bother moving back in with me!" Ross told his son.
The morning of the wedding, Ross went to the store where Mandy worked and kidnapped her during her lunch break. "You're coming with me!"
Mandy jumped back. "Who are you?"
"I own this store. Now, you're coming with me!" Ross picked Mandy up, tossed her over his shoulder and put her in the back of his limo. "Pretty nice ride right?"
Mandy looked around the limousine. "I guess so, but what is going on? You're not going to kill me are you?" she was very nervous.
Ross laughed. "Oh no. Here put this on." he handed over a wedding dress to Mandy.
"What is this?"
"It's a wedding dress. Put it on."
Mandy hesitated. Ross could sense hostility in her, so he tackled her down, took off her clothes, and put the dress on her. "Perfect." He took some rope, tied her hands behind her back and feet together. "Can't have you getting away!"
Mandy laid on the floor of the limousine. Her skin felt like it was crawling with the dress on it. She was very uncomfortable!
When the limo arrived in front of the banquet facility. Ross walked in with Mandy tossed over his shoulder and handed her over to Lee.
"Your package sir." Ross told Lee as he set Mandy down.
"Thank you, kind sir." Lee untied Mandy, grabbed her hand and walked her outside to a beautiful courtyard. Many people turned and looked at them as "Here Comes the Bride" began playing.
"What is happening?" Mandy asked her father quietly.
"Don't be a fool! You're getting married right now, and there is nothing you can do about it!"
Lee got Mandy up to the altar where Ian was waiting.
Mandy looked at Ian. She had never met him before in her life! Ian eyed Mandy from head to toe and was satisfied with what he saw.
The minister began the ceremony. The entire time, Mandy kept looking over at Lee who kept punching his right palm with his fist. As if to say, if you don't do this I'll beat you up. Mandy gulped.
The ceremony lasted half an hour, and Ian and Mandy got married.
During the reception, Ross approached Lee. "This marriage better last Lee. I spend twenty grand on this whole thing!"
"It'll last." Lee assured Ross. "I'll make sure it lasts."
"Good. Or I will take you to court."
Ross walked away, and Lee went up to his daughter and pulled her aside. "Listen Mandy. I'm only going to tell you this once. If you divorce Ian, I will make sure you will never be able to have sex again! Do I make myself clear?"
Mandy nodded nervously. "Yes, sir."
"Good." Lee smiled and hugged his daughter. "Now, where's that cake!" he asked as he walked away.
Mandy stood in shock. What did her father mean by that? All she knew was, she was not going to let him win that easily.
She looked around for an exit and searched out an escape route. Hoping to sneak out without anyone noticing. "I need to just disappear from this place." she whispered to herself. She found a clear path, but Ian stepped in front of her.
"Where are you going?" He asked. "It's time for our first dance."
Mandy didn't know what to do. She didn't want to dance with him, but she knew she had to. She grabbed his hand he was holding out, and they went out onto the dance floor.
During their dance, she knew that one of the dances was going to be a father-daughter dance. That one was sure to be worse than this one she thought.
Then, to her surprise, Ian whispered in her ear. "We're not doing the Father-Daughter or Mother-son dance. My mother passed away a year ago today. I just can't do those dances. I hope that is alright with you."
Mandy sighed relief. "I'm so sorry for your loss," she told Ian. "I'm fine without the father-daughter dance."
"Good."
When the party ended, Ian took Mandy to a hotel. He carried her into the room and tossed her onto the bed. Mandy quivered as Ian removed her dress and her undergarments from her body. Ian tossed the dress to the floor and began to remove his tuxedo.
He was about to remove his pants, and Mandy jumped up out of bed as fast as she could. "I can't do this!" Mandy shouted. She tried to run past Ian, but he grabbed her and tackled her to the floor. "We're having sex! If you like it or not!"
Mandy struggled and got out from under him. She ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Ian stood outside the door, pounding and shouting at her. "Open this door!"
Mandy sat against the wall, shaking. How was she going to escape now? She wondered. She didn't know what would be worse. Being married to this monster her entire life or what her father will do to her if she divorces Ian.
She waited until the pounding and yelling stopped from outside the door. Eventually, Ian got tired, and he fell asleep. Mandy got out of the bathroom, put her clothes back on and tried to sneak out of the hotel room.
When she opened the door, her father was right outside. "Where are you going?" he asked his daughter.
Mandy gulped and slammed the door locking her father out. She was trapped.
The slamming door woke up Ian. He got out of the bed and slowly trapped Mandy against the wall. "You weren't trying to escape? Were you?"
Mandy began sweating. "Whatever gave you that idea? That I was trying to escape."
"I should beat the shit out of you right now," Ian stated. "But I'm too tired."
Ian picked up Mandy and placed her in the bed. He climbed in next to her and put half his body on top of hers. "Can't have you trying to sneak out again." he told her.
Ian drifted back off to sleep, while Mandy laid awake trying to figure out a way to get out of this marriage. She knew she couldn't live the rest of her life like this!
Chapter 9
Soon after Ian and Mandy got married, Ian's job moved him across the country. Ian became a CEO at a multi-million dollar corporation and was offered 200 grand a year. Ian, Ross, and Lee wanted to make sure Mandy wouldn't be able to find anyone else after they moved, so the three of them sat down to have a talk without Mandy.
"I'm so proud of you my son." Ross told Ian. "Although, how can we be sure that Mandy won't try to escape while you need to go to the office?"
The three men brainstormed for
a while until they came up with a foolproof plan. "The house has a finished basement. All I would need to do is turn the doorknob backwards and lock her in a room when I'm gone."
"That's a perfect idea!" Lee proclaimed. "I can see why you got that promotion. You're an intelligent young man!" he complimented.
"That you, sir." Ian smiled.
As soon as Ian and Mandy moved into their new house, Ian took Mandy down with him to the basement to keep an eye on her while he made a couple minor renovations. He took bricks and blocked off the window in one of the rooms, and reversed the doorknob on the door.
"What are you doing?" Mandy asked suspiciously.
"It's for your own good."
Mandy was confused, but she knew her husband wasn't up to any good.
Every day, except on weekends, for five years Ian would carry his wife Mandy down to that room in the basement when he left for work.
Mandy would spend hours at a time locked in that room. She was in constant fear because every day when Ian got home from work, he would attack her. Either sexually, or physically. Calling her nasty anti-gay slurs every time.
Mandy thought there wasn't anything she could do. She kept flashing back to her father's threat. She honestly feared her father more than she feared her husband.
One morning, Mandy became ill. She pleaded with Ian. "I need to go see a doctor."
Ian took one look at her, "You're not sick." he told her. "It's all in your head." He walked over to her and began to touch her in a sexual way.
Mandy felt nauseous and vomited all over the front of Ian. Ian jumped back. "What the hell!" he shouted. "Why did you do that to me?"
"I told you I was sick! You never listen to me!" Mandy snapped. "Now, drive me to the hospital!"
Ian's jaw dropped. Did his wife really just talk back to him?
"Take me to the doctors now, or I will tell the doctors you poisoned me!" Mandy threatened Ian.
Ian looked deep into Mandy's eyes. She was serious, and he didn't want to have a criminal record that could make him lose his high position at work. With too much on the line, he agreed to take her to the doctor.
