The Billionaire's Pawn

Tuesday, May 11th, Ohio Dark clouds gathered, like a warning. Thunder boomed, shaking the sky. Rain was coming. Elena Rodrigo stood alone, a black-clad figure in the corner, watching as her father and stepmother scurried for shelter. Her father's arms wrapped protectively around her stepmother, a sight that made Elena's heartache. Today was the memorial day of her mother's passing. And yet, her father was fawning over another woman. The pain was still raw, still fresh. Elena's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on the happy couple. Her father, once consumed by grief, now seemed to have forgotten the woman he had once loved. The rain began to pour down, like tears from the sky. Elena didn't move, her eyes fixed on the pair, her heart heavy with sorrow and anger. As the rain soaked through her black dress, Elena's stepsister, Sophia, sauntered up to her, a sly smirk spreading across her face. "Your dead mother can't come to give you shelter, you know?" Sophia sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "So find a way to get yourself out of this place." Elena's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit back her retort. Sophia was just trying to provoke her, and she wouldn't give her the satisfaction. With a haughty glance, Sophia turned and walked to the car, where her parents were waiting. They drove off, leaving Elena alone in the pouring rain, the sound of the revving engine echoing through the deserted street. Elena stood there, drenched and shivering, her heart heavy with sorrow and anger. She felt abandoned, left behind like a forgotten memory. The rain pounded against her like a relentless drumbeat, a reminder of the storm brewing inside her. She reached her mother's tomb, crouched down, and traced the inscription with her fingers. "Mom, how are you over there? I hope you're enjoying the happiness Father deprived you of." Her whisper was barely audible. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes fixed on the tomb. "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'll be fine." But her voice cracked, betraying her words. As she stood up, her clothes clung to her body, soaked from the rain. Her hair stuck to her face like glue. She didn't care. She didn't want to go home and face her father and stepmother. Not today. She needed an escape. A distraction. She thought of the club, the music, the noise. She'd lose herself tonight, drown her pain in alcohol. Stumble home drunk, unable to face them. Elena left the cemetery, walking through the deserted street like a soaked cat, her hair matted, her clothes clinging to her body. She shivered, but not from the cold. Reaching the station, she hailed a taxi. "Drive me to 'Eclipse' club," she said, her voice low, husky. The driver nodded, still staring at her through the rearview mirror. She didn't look okay, but he minded his business, driving her to the club in silence. Elena felt his eyes on her but ignored them, lost in her thoughts. When they arrived, she paid the fare and walked to the entrance. As she entered the club, the bouncer raised an eyebrow as he took in her appearance. "You sure you're good to go in, sweetheart?" Elena pushed past him, her eyes scanning the crowd. "I'm fine. Just need a drink...or ten." The music swallowed her words, and she disappeared into the darkness, ready to drown her pain. Elena walked to the counter, settling herself down on a seat, her eyes fixed on the bottles behind the bar. She ordered three bottles of Jack Daniel's, her voice firm, her gaze unwavering. The bartender raised an eyebrow but served her the drinks, his curious gaze lingering on her disheveled hair and dress, not quite fitting for a club. Elena popped the cap open and downed the liquid, the taste burning her throat, her eyes watering. She didn't flinch. The bartender kept looking at her, sensing something was off. "Are you okay, Miss?" he asked, his voice soft and concerned. Elena nodded, her eyes avoiding his, her voice barely audible. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...just need to forget." The bartender nodded and left Elena alone, recognizing she needed privacy to deal with her painful memories. Tears welled up in Elena's eyes as she drank from the second bottle of alcohol. Her life had never been easy - it was a tangled web of thorns, pain, and betrayal. As a child, she witnessed her father's brutal beatings of her mother every night. If she tried to intervene, he'd lock her in a dark room for days, depriving her of food and water. "My life is f****d up," she groaned, shaking her head to clear the alcohol-induced haze. Her mother's death didn't faze her father; he didn't grieve or show any remorse. Instead, he brought home a new woman and daughter just two months later, claiming they were his new family. Elena had no choice but to accept them. She stumbled to her feet, swaying to the right as her eyes doubled from the alcohol. She had downed three bottles of Jack Daniel's in no time. Scanning the club, she saw people dancing away their sorrows. Some were openly flirting, while others were lost in their worlds. She stumbled onto the dance floor, her body swaying to the music as she tried to drown out her sorrows. This night was her escape, her chance to forget the pain and heartache that had been weighing her down. She didn't care about her f****d-up family or their drama; she just wanted to lose herself in the music and the moment. As she danced, she felt her energy draining away, her eyes growing heavy and her body feeling light. She knew it was time to go home, to escape the noise and the crowds. She pushed her way through the throngs of people, shoving aside any man who dared to get in her way. Just as she reached the entrance, she felt a sudden pressure and cursed under her breath. "Oh, great, I need to pee!" Her voice was loud, and eyes turned in her direction, but she ignored them and made her way upstairs, imagining the whole place as her home. As she climbed, she complained about the noise, clutching her head in frustration. "Why's everywhere so noisy? Damn!" She finally reached what she thought was her room, ready to collapse and escape the chaos of the night. Entering the room, she staggered to the bathroom to ease herself and then returned to the room. Unknown to her, she wasn't the only one in the room. A pair of dark piercing blue eyes was staring at her as she began to peel her clothes off.