Chapter1
Anna’s POV
The hall was glamorous, buzzing with influential personalities from the corporate world.
I shifted the weight of the tray in my hands, serving drinks to the guests. One man smiled at me as I offered him a glass of champagne.
He was a middle-aged man with thinning hair, and the smell of his perfume choked me as he beckoned me to come closer.
I hesitated before leaning forward, and I soon regretted that.
My body went rigid as he slipped a hundred-dollar bill into my breast pocket, fondling me before pulling back.
“Get me something sweeter baby.” He muttered under his breath, his lips spread into a conceding smirk.
I stood there, gritting my teeth. But I couldn’t do much. Soon my father came up beside the man, greeting him with hearty laughter.
“Mr. Williams, what a pleasure!”
They shared a firm handshake.
“Anytime Mr. White, I’m really enjoying the party.” Mr Williams sent me a lustful glance. “Your daughter is much prettier than I remembered.”
“Ah yes.” Father cleared his throat, sending me a look only I could understand. “They grow up so fast.”
Getting the message, I turned on my heels, taking a deep breath. I tried my best to steady my fingers as I continued to serve the guests, wanting nothing more than to be done with this.
But then I heard her call me. Rose. My stepsister.
“Anna,” she curved her fingers like I was some dog, “Could you get my friends and me some more drinks please?”
At first glance, we looked far from related. While she was dressed in designer clothing and accessories, I wore a worn-out black dress and a white apron.
Her brown hair fell in smooth waves, while my blonde curls were thrown in a messy low bun. She wore stunning makeup, while dust painted my cheeks.
But despite this, I smiled. “Alright, Rose.”
I went and got her drinks, but the moment she took a sip, she spat it out.
“Urgh! This is strawberry flavored! You know I hate that!” Rose pushed the tray to the ground, letting the cups shatter at my feet. “Why can’t you do anything right?!”
“My dear, what's wrong?” Vivian, my stepmother, quickly came to her daughter’s aid.
Rose complained to her, and as usual, Vivian lashed out at me. I had prepared myself for the slap before it landed, but my father cut through the commotion, sending me out of the hall.
I was made to kneel in the living room till the event ended, then when my so-called family arrived, they were all happy for some reason. I heard their voices from down the hall.
“The contract with Mr Williams is guaranteed! All he wants is to spend a night with Anna,” Father proclaimed.
My breath hitched.
What?
“That’s easy darling, at least the girl will have some use.” I heard Vivian’s voice next.
“Daddy, can I have the new Chanel bag when we get the money?” came Rose’s request.
At that moment, I felt my world spin. They arrived in the living room, their masks slipping to show their true selves.
Father stood before me, his hands crossed against his chest.
“Get ready Anna, you’re spending the night with Mr. Williams.” His tone was firm, leaving no room for arguments, but it didn’t make sense.
“Father….” I hated how my voice shook. “I don’t understand….”
Vivian rolled her eyes. “You don’t need to understand, just do as you’re told.”
“But…”
“Oh don’t be a drag sis,” Rose pitched in, giggling as she flipped her hair back. “He’s just going to f**k you a few times, you get to pop your cherry for a good cause.”
I swallowed hard, the knot in my chest tightening. I have tolerated abuse from them for years, but this….this was too much.
Bracing myself, I stood to my feet, tears clouding my vision. “I can’t do that…..”
“What did you say?” Father snarled, raising his voice. “I put a roof over your head and you can’t do a simple task for the sake of your family?!”
“Simple?” I would laugh if it were funny. “What part of selling my virginity is simple Father?”
My head snapped to the side as Vivian struck me.
“Don’t talk back to your father. If you don’t want to do it for us, then do it for your precious Sheila.”
I flinched, my eyes widening as I raised my gaze.
Sheila. She was my nanny, the closest person I could call family. But Vivian fired her when I turned eighteen. I recently learned she was struggling with a critical lung condition, and I have been working to pay her medical fees.
Vivian takes note of my reaction, scoffing at me. “If the deal is successful, then we will take care of her medical bills.”
My fists balled into fists at my sides. It was a hard gamble, especially when the doctor informed me to get the deposit for her treatment before it was too late.
“Do you promise?” I forced out, the tears I desperately tried to hold slipping down my cheeks.
My father grins, then he pulls me into a hug. I didn’t hug him back because I knew it was just a charade.
“Do this for the family, Anna, and I will take care of everything.” He whispered against my hair.
I didn’t agree to it because of them. I did it for Sheila. Because I would do anything to see her smile again.
By midnight, I was dressed up and sent to the hotel to meet the investor. It was the same man who had molested me at the event.
When I arrived, he was waiting, wearing a robe that clung tight to his pot-belly. He gave me a sickening grin, tapping on the space on the bed beside him.
“Looks like you really brought me something sweeter.” He slurred, eyeing me from head to toe.
Each step I took towards him felt heavy. And when I finally stood in front of him, my stomach twisted.
A million and one questions ran through my head.
Was this the only way?
Was I really going to sell myself?
What’s the guarantee that my father will keep to his word?
“Why don’t you strip for me?” His gravelly voice snapped me back to reality, but I staggered back, shaking my head.
“I…I can’t do this…”
“What?” He snapped, sitting up. “Don’t waste my time, girl.”
Instead of listening to him, I ran towards the front door, but he snatched my arm and threw me against the bed.
I winced at the impact, coughing out as he moved to tower over me.
“Stop!” I struggled against his grip as he pinned my hands above my head, ripping my dress. “Stop it!”
“Just stay still!” He huffed, shrugging off his robe.
Panic surged through me, and I kneed his crotch from pure instinct. Mr. Williams groaned, his face contorting. His grip on me loosened, and I used the opportunity to push him off me.
I bolted out of the room, avoiding his guards who chased after me on his orders. As I ran through the halls of the hotel, clinging to what was left of my dress, I swayed as my vision spun.
An unfamiliar feeling washed over me, making it harder to breathe.
What was happening to me?
At that moment, I remembered Vivian handing me a drink before I came to the hotel. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, realizing I had been drugged. It was their plan from the very beginning, and I had fooled myself into thinking it was my choice.
Tears burned my eyes, but I kept running. Mr. Williams’s men were catching up to me, but I didn’t stop. As I took a sharp turn around the hall, my feet caught in the carpet and I stumbled forward.
But instead of hitting the hard ground, I felt a new warmth spread through my body. My eyes widened as I met amber pupils staring down at me.
I was caught by a stranger, a man who looked like he was coming straight out of a fairytale. And maybe….just maybe, I felt he could save me.
“Please…” tears slid down my cheeks as I clung to him, my knees growing weak from the effects of the drug.
“Please help me…”
