Chapter Three
1483 Words
Amber's hands fidgeted as she carried the pen, her name was written halfway on the contract in front of her
This was really happening.
The final step to take.
With a deep sigh, she wrote on the paper and signed the contract.
The instant the ink dried, the reality of her decision dawned on her like shackles to her neck. It was suffocating. Her life wasn't hers for the next 2 years—it now belonged to Viktor Morales.
She breathed slowly, she could feel her heartbeat on the walls of her chest.
Viktor, on the other hand, looked as uninterested as the moment she stepped into the office. He collected the contract from her, flipped through the pages with a stern yet relaxed look. His countenance remained unreadable, his demeanor as sharp and unhitched as ever.
Alas, he put the folder into his cupboard after tucking it in safely.
“It’s finished,” he said almost nonchalantly.
Amber could feel a sore throat. “What next?” she asked.
Viktor looked at his watch, then back at her.
“We're going home now.”
Home.
It sounded strange coming from him, as though it didn’t belong in his vocabulary. And it surely didn’t belong in whatever business deal they had just signed.
Amber could feel her nerves quicken.
“Hold on,” she said, as she crossed her arms. “You want me to leave with you to your house? Right now?”
He didn't as much as blink. “You have one hour to pack your things. Aurelio will take you to your house. Say your goodbyes because it'll be last time you'll be there for the next two years”
Her jaw tightened, she could feel heat rising in her chest. He didn’t care to ask if she was ready, he was indifferent about how she felt.
Without having a say, she was demanded to forget her life and move into his house as though she were some souvenir he had picked up on one of his trips abroad.
But she was smart enough not to argue or disagree.
Not now at least.
She instead swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Alright then.”
As she turned to leave, there was a knock on the door that reverberated through the office.
Viktor, barely looking up, said “Come in.”
The door slid open, and a tall man walked in.
She lost her breath for a moment.
He was nothing like Viktor—not as indifferent, not as commanding—but there was an aura about him that suggested he also was powerful. He went about with a comfortable confidence, his dark brown eyes perusing the office like he knew everything contained in it. His black hair was permed, his suit tailored to match his overwhelming excellence.
Then he stared at her.
A ray of curiosity passed across his face before it became something more interesting.
“Isn't this interesting,” he asked rhetorically under his breath, his lips turning into a smile.
She frowned.
“Liam.” Viktor’s voice was slightly hitched, stiffening his posture and appearing more official.
The smiling man turned to him, still looking amused by Amber's presence. “I bring good news. The Singapore deal is finalized.”
Viktor nodded sharply. “That’s good. We'll discuss about it on Monday”
It almost seemed like Liam didn't care that he was dismissed. His gaze shifted back to the astounding beauty just beside him.
“And who is she?” he asked, turning his head a little bit.
Viktor made a straight face.
“None of your business.”
Amber felt a tension make its way to the room.
Liam raised an eyebrow, his smile deepening. “None of my business, yeah?” His stare switched between the both of them. “Got it boss.”
The interest in his voice made Amber uncomfortable.
He had some leverage. Or at least, he thought he did.
And she felt that whatever was going on between Viktor and Liam, she had just unconsciously walked right into it.
Without uttering another word, Liam turned around and walked out of the office, but not before giving her one more look—a look that made her feel welcomed and not at the same time.
After that, there was an awkward silence in the room.
Viktor looked at her again. “You have one hour to go get your stuff”
Amber was hesitant, staring at the door Liam had walked past before looking at Viktor.
She wanted to ask what that was all about but somehow she knew she wasn't going to get a reply.
She instead nodded and walked away.
—--
Amber hadn't made it through the front doors of the Sinclair Villa before Cassie's voice rang from inside causing the discomfort it always does.
“Oh, well, look who finally came back home ”
Amber kept on walking. She didn't have the energy for this tonight.
Of course, Cassandra took that as cue to keep at it. “You must be tired”, she mocked, her voice filled with excitement. “w*****g yourself to the Don of Hell's kitchen must be one hell of a job”
Amber stopped abruptly.
She slowly turned to face her sister, her hands gripping the stairs handle.
Cassie stood elegantly at the top of the staircase, her night gown perfectly draping down her body, a glass and wine in her hands. The lights from the chandelier rested softly on her, revealing her curves, making her look like a beautiful and wicked queen looking down from her castle window.
Amber exhaled mildly. “You don't know what you're saying”
Cassandra’s lips formed into a smirk. “Oh, yes I do.” She gently stepped on the next step. “You’re all his now aren't you?”
Amber’s stomach whirled, but she kept her face straight.
Cassandra broke out into a laugh, “Gosh, Amber. You’re delusional. You really think Viktor Morales is going to save you?”
“I don’t need anyone to save me,” she bit out.
Cassandra raised her brow. “Oh yeah, selling yourself to one of the richest men in New York is so independent.” She turned her head, now smirking more. “Tell me little sister, you'll be sleeping in his bed tonight won't you?”
Amber swallowed hard, but kept a straight face still.
Cassandra laughed. “Please, don't look so surprised. It's common knowledge that Viktor doesn't keep anyone close unless he owns them. And from the look of things, he owns you now.” She descended another step, her voice now low but not in a good kind of way. “Did you sign a contract Amber? Did you promise to be his obedient little wife?”
Amber lifted her face. “You would never understand.”
Cassandra laughed so hard, it echoed through the entire house. “You're right. I would never know what it means to be so desperate that I'd sell myself to Viktor Morales.”
Amber turned away from her, facing towards the hall. She would not do this tonight.
But Cassandra hadn't had her full yet.
Cassandra said almost screaming “You know he's going to leave you broken. Men like Viktor don't know how to love Amber.”
Amber used every bit of self control in her to keep walking.
Cassandra’s voice changed into something mocking. “Enjoy your time as the Don’s new plaything. It won't last after all.”
Amber tightened her jaw and shut her bedroom door, resting her back against the wood.
She breathed heavily.
These words weren't new. Cassandra had always been cruel with her words, always knowing the right spots to make it hurt.
But this time… this time, it was different.
Because for the first time in her life, Amber didn't know if her sister was wrong or right.
She was entering Viktor's world, and once she got in…
She wasn’t sure when she'd ever get out.
Cassandra stood outside at the bottom of the staircase, gazing at the hallway where Amber had just left.
She swirled the wine in her glass, smiling shadily to herself.
Poor, naive Amber.
She really thought she could play in Viktor Morales’ world and come out whole.
After a small chuckle, she faced the door, pulling out her phone from a tiny pocket in front of her gown as she dialed a number.
It rang thrice then a deep and almost excited voice on the other end picked up.
“Oh, well,” the man said. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Cassie?”
She slowly sipped of the wine, her smirk deepening.
“I have very interesting news for you,” she purred.
A halt.
Then the man laughed darkly. “I’m all ears.”
- Writer
