CHAPTER 2
1702 Words
“Who…” continuously reverberated in my head.
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to calm myself. Nothing bad can happen, right?
“It means if your dad doesn’t fulfill his end of the bargain, we’ll get ownership of one of his daughters.”
“That’s not legal!!”
“I don’t have time to banter with a child. Do yourself a favor and find your dad,” the leader said.
They slammed the door as they left.
“What’s the meaning of all this?” I asked Susan as she stood up. My dad told her almost everything, so she probably knew what the contract was about.
“None of your business,” she puffed, then walked to her room, taking Devi with her.
“You’re happy, right?” Arianna came into my space angrily.
“About what?” I folded my arms, waiting for her to say something stupid.
“Watching them harass us!”
“Yes, I was happy. So?” That seemed to fuel her anger even more.
“You little witch!” she screamed, grabbing my hair.
“Arianna, let go of my hair!” I screamed back, hissing at the pain from her furious pulling.
“Why don’t you just die already? Die, you slut!” she yelled, still dragging.
I couldn’t bear the pain anymore. I pushed her away with the little strength I had, making her stumble a few steps back. Then I went straight to my room, wanting to avoid any more unnecessary confrontations. I’ve had enough.
As the deadline given by the men approached, I couldn’t help but keep an eye on the clock. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t reach my dad. It was as if he had vanished without a trace.
Moments later, the door burst open, and the same group of men walked in, dressed in black.
“Lovely morning we’re having, isn’t it?” the leader said, pulling a gun from his jacket. His hands were covered in black gloves. “Don’t you agree?”
He smiled at me, and I trembled under his gaze, they meant business this time.
“W-we couldn’t find him,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
The man smiled and sat in front of me, resting his head against clasped hands. “Interesting.” He laughed darkly. “The second contract won’t be bad either. Unless… you want a third?” he said, tapping his leg rhythmically against the floor.
“The third! We want the third!” Arianna shouted from the corner, not even bothering to ask what it meant.
“Really? If that’s what you want, that’s fine by me. Kill them.”
Before I could blink, several guns were pointed at us.
“Wait, no!!! Not the third!” I screamed, while Susan and Arianna began sobbing.
“The smart one,” he said, tilting his head toward me, “for you, I can make an exception.”
He signaled the others, and they lowered their guns. One of the men handed him a paper, which he tossed to the center of the room.
“You,” he said, pointing at Arianna. “Read it.”
She hesitantly walked to the paper, picked it up, and read the highlighted part aloud:
“Should the loan not be repaid, according to Contract Two, Party B is obligated to provide compensation. This compensation may involve the selection of one of Party B’s daughters.”
“As you can see,” the man said, “it was boldly signed by your father, Rowan.”
Immediately, Arianna pointed at me. “Take her! She’s the perfect choice! Jade is my dad’s favorite child!”
I scoffed internally at her cheap trick.
“I’m afraid that decision is up to me,” he said calmly. “If you don’t mind, darling… come here.”
When I opened my eyes, which I had shut in silent prayer, I realized Arianna was the one he’d called. I couldn’t help but let out a quick sigh of relief.
“Please, let her go,” Susan pleaded, holding Devi tightly as she watched.
“Shut up,” the man warned.
“It’s okay, darling,” he said to Arianna, his eyes fixed on her. “A little closer.”
She stopped a few inches from him.
“I would have picked you first,” he whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, “but unfortunately, you’re not very intelligent.”
I almost laughed until realization hit me. No… no, no, no.
He grinned at me. “You married, smart mouth?”
“Why?”
“There’s a wedding ring on your finger.”
I looked down at my left hand, realizing the ring was still there. I had grown so used to wearing it that it felt like a part of me.
“So shameless,” Arianna spat. “He clearly doesn’t want you anymore, yet you still wear his ring like a bitch.”
“Shut up,” the man snapped, glancing at her. “Good to know you’re not married. Now let’s go.”
He stood, signaling his men.
“Wrap it up, boys,” he said with a clap.
“I’m not going with you!!” I screamed, and he pointed the gun straight at me.
“I’ve got three bullets spaced evenly in this revolver. Care to help me find which chamber’s loaded?”
“Take her,” he ordered.
As I was being dragged away, my eyes covered by one of the men, I could hear Susan and Arianna’s gleeful laughter.
“Finally, we’re getting rid of this b***h!” Arianna shouted.
“Now let’s find your father so we can celebrate,” Susan added, her voice filled with satisfaction.
I was thrown into a cramped space, the trunk of a car. I curled up, tears streaming down my face, wetting the blindfold.
“Nothing ever goes right for me,” I whispered to myself, feeling completely shattered.
When we arrived, they brought me into a room and untied my blindfold.
“Get settled. You’ll be needed in the evening,” Mario, one of the goons said. I’d overheard his name earlier when he was talking with the other man.
“For what?”
“You’ll find out when you get there.” With that, they left.
I tossed and turned on the bed for hours, unable to sleep, consumed by the uncertainty of what was coming. But I made a silent promise that I wouldn’t cry anymore.
No matter what happens.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opened without me saying a word. At least they had the decency to knock even if the door barely had a lock.
Mario stood at the head of my bed. “He’s waiting for you,” he said, gesturing toward the door.
I got up and followed him out. The moment we stepped into the hallway, the scene around me made my stomach twist.
It screamed of sin, s*x, drugs, and everything in between. Half-naked girls walked everywhere, and moans echoed from behind half-closed doors. Some didn’t even bother closing them. Security men stood guard at every corner.
This wasn’t just a motel. It was too expensive, too clean. It was a place where powerful men came to fulfill their desires without ending up in the headlines the next morning.
Mario led me down an underground staircase. My heartbeat grew louder with every step.
We stopped in front of a black door. He knocked twice, then opened it.
We stepped into a dimly lit room. I glanced around but saw no one. Why did he knock, then? I thought, uneasy.
“Wait here,” Mario said before leaving.
A few minutes later, a man walked in not from the door we used, but through a hidden one at the back.
The leader of the gang.
The sight of him reignited the anger I’d tried to bury.
“Good to see you again, smart mouth,” he said, sitting down in one of the two chairs. “Please, sit.”
He sounded like a man welcoming a guest into his office.
I sat down cautiously, watching his every move.
“First of all,” he began, “I’d like to re-introduce myself. We didn’t have much time to bond earlier.”
He grinned, stretching his hand out for a handshake. I hesitated but complied.
“Hmm… soft,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb against my palm before I quickly pulled away.
“I’m Lucas. My friends call me Luc,
so you also can.”
“Are you sure you even know what ‘friends’ means?” I couldn’t stop myself from saying.
Lucas laughed. “That’s my girl.”
His words made me shift uncomfortably in my chair.
“Now,” he said, leaning forward, “let’s get down to business.”
At the word business, panic shot through me.
“Please don’t make me a prostitute,” I begged. “I’ve never done it before! I don’t even know how to please a man! Please, sir!”
He looked at me with amused disbelief, like I’d just said something ridiculous.
“What?” I asked hesitantly.
“You know,” he said with a smirk, “I hadn’t thought of that before but thanks for the suggestion.”
“What I actually have planned for you is much more important than opening your legs,” he continued. “Though… it might involve that, too.”
His last sentence made my stomach twist painfully.
“Do I have to?” I asked weakly.
“Yes,” he said sharply, his tone firm for the first time. Then, in a sudden shift, he smiled again. “It won’t be hard for you, smart mouth. I trust you.”
“I can clean and wash very well, sir,” I tried to suggest desperately.
“Very funny.”
He tossed a file onto the table between us. “Read it when you get back to your room. You’ll need it later.”
“What is it?” I asked, picking it up.
“Now listen carefully,” he said, leaning forward, his expression turning serious.
- Writer
