Nothing Ordinary by M J Marlow (best ereader for academics txt) 📕

come here to you, Anneke,” he said as he met her eyes calmly. He stepped back from her. “It’s time for your medication.” “Medication?” Annie finally spoke. She looked at him in shock. “You mean to drug me?” “You are very vulnerable right now,” Bayer said as he got out his bag. “You need to stay calm.” She shook her head and tried to get out of the corner and he pushed her back. “You still think you have a choice, Anneke?” “I am here against my will,” Annie spat at him. “You can’t just kidnap me and tell me what you have decided my life should be. I have a husband waiting for me!” “And now you see why we must drug you,” Bayer smiled at her. He forced her down into a chair at the desk. “Sit still,” he ordered her as she tried to get up. He filled the needle and turned to see her headed for the door. It opened and Ilsa was standing there with a tray. “Help Anneke to sit, Ilsa. She is having another spell.” Ilsa forced Annie back into the chair and held her down as Bayer brought the needle. He gave Annie the shot and watched as she went into a trance-like state. He placed his hand under her chin and raised her eyes to his. “Can you hear me, Anneke?” “Yes,” Annie nodded helplessly as the drug kicked in. “You will stop lying to yourself, darling,” he said to her as he traced her jaw line gently. “You aren’t in any condition to be alone right now. You need me to look after you.” “But I don’t,” Annie shook her head slowly and looked up at him in distress. “You have to let me go!” “No I don’t,” Bayer told her gently. “You are only eighteen, Anneke; a minor by the laws of this state, I am your only relative.” Bayer smiled as he saw her realize what he is saying. “I had my lawyer draw up and file the guardianship papers this morning, so until your husband comes for you or you turn twenty-one, you will stay here with me.” “You can’t do this!” Anneke sobbed and tried to get to her feet. Her legs would not hold her and she collapsed back into the chair with a whimper. “Please, Uncle,” she begged him. “Don’t do this to me.” “’Be a good girl now and do as you’re told,” Bayer said as he turned to Ilsa. “Help Anneke to bed now, Ilsa and see she eats her lunch. I’ll be back in time to see that she gets ready for the Children’s Hospital benefit tonight.” 8 She woke up the next morning and her mind was her own again; at least until they decided to drug her again. She had attended the benefit last night with her uncle and cousin and Doctor Guthrie and allowed herself to enjoy it. Life as his niece could be pleasant if she let herself accept it, but that didn’t matter, she told herself as she slipped out of bed and went to take a shower. She was not staying here. Her uncle could not make her stay with him! She jumped as someone knocked on the door to her room and saw her uncle coming in. “Good morning, Niece,” Bayer smiled as he kissed her on the cheek. “How are you feeling this morning?” “As if you care,” Annie snapped at him. “Of course I care, Anneke,” Bayer frowned at her. “That’s why you’re here with me.” “Is it?” Annie asked him. She could see his surprise. “Something more is going on here, Uncle,” she prodded and saw him squirm. “Tell me the truth!” Bayer met her eyes calmly and she thought he was thinking of answering her. But he shook his head and the moment for truth was over. “We are having lunch with Doctor Guthrie at the Country Club,” Bayer told her. “Ilsa will lay out the outfit you are to wear.” Annie did not respond and he grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. “Did you hear me, Anneke?” “We’re having lunch with Doctor Guthrie,” Annie repeated what he had said. He released her and she glared at him. “I hate you for doing this to me!” “You really don’t care know you feel, Anneke,” Bayer told her bluntly. “That is one of the reasons you are here, so that you can rest until you do know your own mind again.” He brought his hand to her cheek. “I did not bring you here to harm you, Anneke. You are my family and I do what I must.” “You’re a monster!” Annie sobbed as he walked away from her then. She put on her robe and went into the bedroom. She was alone and there was a meal waiting for her. She didn’t bother checking the door; she knew it was locked. She ate the meal and then went to find a book to read while she waited for Ilsa to bring her something to wear. Her clothing, like everything else, was meted out to her only as her uncle believed it was needed. She went to the phone and the line was still dead. She checked and there was no cord connecting it to the wall. She slammed the receiver down and wanted to hurt her uncle and this man for what they had done to her. She heard the door open and looked up to see her cousin Eliza standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry about this, Anneke,” she said as she closed the door and looked at her. “My father told me he was doing this and I couldn’t make him see reason.” “You have to help me, Eliza,” Anneke pleaded with her. “I belong with my husband…” “I wish I could, Anneke,” Eliza broke in, “but there is no getting around my father when his mind is made up.” Her expression was filled with regret. “I am sorry.” “Eliza, please…” But her cousin was already out the door and it was locked again. How could she do this to her? These people were all insane! Anneke beat on the door and begged her to come back, but there was no answer. Anneke went to the couch near the windows and sank down on it to watch the birds flying free. She had to find a way out of this place! 9 Taylor was astounded when Annie arrived at the Country Club on Bayer’s arm. He had come to speak to one of his contacts there and been leaving when they came in. She did not look happy to be there and he knew he had to find a way to get her alone so they could talk. He got close enough to listen as the major domo greeted Bayer and the despair in Anneke’s eyes told him she was being coerced. She saw him and he saw her pleading with him to help her. Bayer pulled her away before he could move. “Oscar. Anneke,” Guthrie beckoned to them as they entered the dining room. He had chosen a table by the windows overlooking the golf course and a bottle of champagne was waiting. “You are looking very lovely today, Anneke,” he smiled warmly as he took in the girl in the violet blue Chanel suit. He kissed her on the cheek. “The rest is doing you some good.” “Doctor Guthrie,” Annie nodded stiffly and took the seat Guthrie pulled out for her. “I thought we had agreed that you would call me Walter, my dear,” Guthrie said to her as he resumed his seat. “I intend to be your closest friend while you are living with your uncle.” “Not by choice!” Annie snapped at him and fell silent. “So, Walter,” Bayer turned to his partner and ignored her. “Have we heard any more from her husband?” “He is healing well,” Guthrie said to his partner as he saw Anneke watching him. “He is taking over Major Weber’s job while he is waiting for Anneke to come home.” Annie looked at her uncle and then him again. “Does she realize that she isn’t going to be going to him?” “I have told her so,” Bayer smiled at Annie who was sitting silent and stiff. “She is too much like her mother and she is resisting my advice. I have every confidence that between us we can make her see reason” “I am looking forward to it.” He took Annie’s hand in his and held on so tight she could not pull free. He kissed her palm and the pulse point at her wrist and she shuddered. “She is just confused,” he smiled as his hand moved to her cheek. His eyes dared her to make a scene. Annie did not dare. She knew he would hurt her if she did. “What would you like for lunch, darling?” “I do not care,” Annie said to him. “I won’t eat it anyway.” “You need to take care of yourself, my little friend,” Guthrie said as he bent over to kiss her on the lips gently. “We don’t want you growing ill.” Annie wished she could tell him how much she didn’t care what he wanted, but she kept her mouth shut and let the man think he was in charge. “I know you’re still overwhelmed by all the changes in your life, my dear. You’ll settle in and then we’ll start planning our wedding.” “Wedding?” She choked. She looked at her uncle and then Guthrie and saw the same calm assurance on their faces. “No!” Annie couldn’t help the sob that rose up in her throat. He let her hand go and she was on her feet and running. Guthrie shook his head and turned to Bayer. She heard him them discussing her ‘fragile emotional state’ and knew they would make her seem insane if he had to in order to keep her under control. She went into the bathroom and washed her face. “Did you see Doctor Bayer’s niece, Glynnis?” a woman was saying to her companion as they walked into the bathroom. “I hear he’s grooming her to be Guthrie’s next wife.” “Let’s hope she lasts longer than his first wife,” Glynnis sniffed. She froze as she saw Annie standing at the sinks. “Mrs. Owens?” She saw how pale the girl was and her heart went out to her. “Come sit down, darling. You look like you’ve lost your best friend.” “That was thoughtless, Glynnis,” Mariel Blake sniffed, as Annie started to cry again. She handed Annie a handkerchief. “The poor girl just lost her grandfather.” She smiled at Annie kindly. “I’m Mariel Blake. My husband is your uncle’s banker.” She nodded at the other woman. “This is Glynnis Carstairs. Her husband is a very successful real estate developer.” Annie was completely disarmed as the usually hard-hearted women cooed over her and tried to make her feel better. She let them, sensing they would use this against her one day but not really caring. It was nice to have someone care how she felt for once. Guthrie and her uncle certainly didn’t. She jumped as someone pounded on the door and Glynnis got up to answer it. “Walter, darling,” she cooed and placed her hand on his chest. “I suppose you’re looking for Oscar’s niece? She’s right here.” “Anneke,” Walter said stiffly as he caught her tear stained face. “Wash your face and come to the table. Your lunch is waiting for you.” Annie did as she was told and his grip on her arm was punishing as he took her back. “You run off like that again, my dear,” he hissed in her ear as he got her seated, “and your uncle will take your mobility away from you. Is that clear?” Annie looked at him in horror. “Anneke, darling,” Bayer’s smile was warm and caring, “eat your lunch. You have an appointment later that