Chapter 6
1157 Words
"Insane!" Sheryl cursed under her breath, throwing off the covers and realizing she was now in a bathrobe.
Ignoring any sense of shame, she grabbed her jeans.
"Don't you want a celebrity scandal? Accompany me once, and I'll give you an exclusive scoop," a man's seductive voice sounded behind her.
Sheryl paused while putting on her shoes, unsure why she hesitated.
A repulsive rogue absurdly demanded her to be his mistress, and she should have slapped him without a second thought. Yet, she hesitated.
The tempting offer made her ponder.
If she could provide the magazine with exclusive gossip each time, it could quickly revive, and Uncle Mitchell wouldn't have to endure Aunt's nagging.
But Sheryl would have to sell herself for it– surrender to a beast.
Was she considering this?
Austin watched her stiffen, a smirk playing on his lips. To him, women were commodities on shelves, valued only by their price tags. Sheryl, a fallen heiress, was no exception.
"You're clever. The profits from a big exclusive are worth more than a million, and my interest in you might last three weeks,"
Austin approached, wrapping his arms around her, his hand through the bathrobe, gently cupping her chest.
Hoarsely, he asked, "Do we need a contract?"
Sheryl stared at the hand on her chest, feeling disgusted. She wanted to retort but couldn't bring herself to push him away.
At thirteen, when her family went bankrupt, bargaining for cheap groceries with her aunt on the roadside taught Sheryl the importance of certain values.
According to her aunt, how much was dignity worth? Whatever it took, she'd sell it.
In the face of money, selling her already tainted body seemed inconsequential. One night for an exclusive scoop– was it a fair deal?
She didn't want Uncle's family to suffer; she didn't want him to struggle for their home and livelihood.
Money could solve her problems, and someone was willing to pay.
Her purity had already been taken by this man. What difference did one encounter make compared to ten? It was all about reaping some benefits.
But did he truly possess those big exclusives?
Observing her contemplation, Austin raised an eyebrow. Was she smart enough to exploit herself, or would her pride and dignity crumble?
Her face remained too calm for him to read.
"Why should I trust you?" Sheryl turned to him.
As soon as the words left her mouth, he knew she had agreed. Using women to his advantage was smart, but what about her pride and self-respect?
Her face was too tranquil; he couldn't decipher her emotions.
"Trust the name, Austin Mell," he brushed her hair aside, his hand lingering on her neck."Give me the photos you took secretly."
"Austin Mell?" Sheryl took out the memory card with images of him and Nova from the suburban car incident, indifferently saying, "I don't keep backups."
"Good girl," Austin praised, pinching her soft cheek and crushing the card, tossing it into the trash.
No one could use such pictures to defame or threaten him. He could create a scandal, but the Mell family would retaliate.
"And the video?" Sheryl held out her palm.
Austin handed her the memory card, kissed her face, and said, "Don't lose it. Enjoy it later."
Enjoy? How shameless.
"Disgusting!" Sheryl glared at him, placing the memory card in her bag. She never wanted to watch that video again.
Looking around the spacious room, Sheryl picked up her underwear and shirt and headed towards the bathroom.
Austin glanced at her, sneering, "Change in front of me."
"Go see a doctor." Sheryl retorted, but as she dropped the words, her arm was seized.
She had agreed to be his mistress; couldn't he cut her some slack for now?
Sheryl turned, meeting Austin's furious gaze. His finger almost poked her face, "Sheryl, I warn you. You're just a mistress. Don't be so arrogant in front of me."
Since she agreed to be his mistress, what was left to be proud of?
"Or what?" Sheryl calmly asked, "You'll assault me again? Come on."
Everything had come to this; Sheryl felt she had nothing left to lose. This woman...
"Sheryl!" Austin gritted his teeth, "Don't force me to hit you!"
Hit her? Was he a violent thug?
"Mr. Austin, please understand one thing clearly: ours is a consensual transaction of equal value," Sheryl said each word with composure, her demeanor that of a triumphant victor.
"Equal value?" Austin coldly snorted, tossing a file to her from the side. He'd show her what equal value meant.
Sheryl opened it, expecting scandalous pictures of her and Austin. Instead, she found images of Nova and French superstar Kendia passionately kissing at the beach.
The photographer was undoubtedly skilled, in capturing the celebrities' faces.
It was indeed a major exclusive scandal.
Although she should be elated, Sheryl couldn't muster a smile. The scandal seemed to mock her– her worth amounted to a few disgraceful photos.
Yet, she had no right to cry; she had sold herself so cheaply.
Sitting on the sofa, Austin intertwined his fingers beneath his chin, watching her with amused eyes.
There was no pity in his gaze."How about it? Would you like to leave with this bag?"
Silent, Sheryl stared at him, unable to retort.
"Don't pretend to be innocent. Take off your clothes," he demanded.
Already agreeing to be his mistress, did she think she could preserve her pride?
This process would surely be enjoyable.
She understood; she had no way out now.
Sheryl clutched the file, and with everything reaching this point, shame had no place.
"Fine."
Sheryl bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the floor, mind blank. Her hand moved towards the bathrobe's belt, his unwavering eyes causing her fingertips to tremble.
Lips pressed tightly, she feared she might cry.
Her fingers, shaking, undid the bathrobe's belt, letting it slide to the floor.
A chill ran through her as she reached for her underwear, but Austin's eyes glinted with desire. He lunged towards her...
...
After a two-hour shower at home, Sheryl still felt Austin's shameless aura all over her.
Enduring the soreness in her legs, she returned to the magazine office.
Seeing the photos she brought, Uncle was almost ecstatic, immediately instructing her to write and send it for printing.
Seated at her desk, Sheryl felt no excitement about the scoop. Thinking of that man, she opened a search engine and, filled with hatred, typed"Austin."
The news that appeared shocked her.
Austin, 26, CEO of K.D. Group in Europe.
A mysterious and low-profile figure, with only two or three clear photos available.
He became the European CEO of K.D. at 21, rapidly establishing the name in Europe and expanding into various industries—banking, mining, and transportation.
Ambitious, Austin recently ventured into real estate, electronics, and the entertainment industry.
Responsible for business development, Austin had the entire Mell family behind him, controlling the financial lifelines of the market.
- Writer
