Sold to a Ruthless Lord

ChapterTwo

I still cannot believe that I relocated from my little town to a big city in less than 24 hours with absolutely nothing. My brother was just one weirdo who had soaked himself so much in gambling. He never cared about me, especially after our parents died, and the fact that he managed to protect me after selling me out to those monsters was something I could still not understand.

Here I am facing my new life at 20.

He never called to know how I was fairing out here, but that didn't bother me because I was used to it.

The sun poured through my window. A fresh day had begun, carrying with it new hope, experiences, and lessons. The beam of the first light encapsulated the whole room. I rubbed my blurry eyes and strolled to the window. There was a little silvery sparkle overhead.

The main rays of daylight brighten up the room in its tiny shackles. The morning tune of melodic birdsong flew in as the rising sun cast a yellow tint across the morning sky. Brilliant patches of daylight brightened the scene. The blue sky was speckled with bright white mists that floated like berries in the delicate breeze.

The steady honk of cars, trucks, and reeving wheels could be heard from meters away. The wild smile from the sun radiated through the trees, creating baffling shadows, as barking dogs from the nearby homes ended the silence that came with the new day.

I hurriedly went to take a bath. The café where I walked was a few miles away from my house. The same one I shared with Ray's girlfriend.

"You know you don't have to work." She said this as she brushed past me. She leaned over the doorpost and ran her sleek eyes on my body.

"Well, I have to because I need the money," I said as I laid my dress carefully on the bed.

"I have to pay Papa's debt. A few of them still call my phone to remind me, and I do not want them t think that I ran out of Tijuana because I couldn't pay for their money.".

"Valerie, c'mon, this city is big, and a lot of bad guys come here to hide," Andrea said.

I paused a bit.

"El Macho won't come all the way here to get me; I don't owe him." I said definitely.

"But you are the ransom price for the failed bet; don't you get it?" I do not know this man, but I have a feeling he might be watching you. Those guys are dangerous." His last words hit me, but I was sure I was going to change my mind about going to work today.

"El Macho isn't here," I consoled myself. This is already two weeks of working in the café as a waitress.

"Do you want me to get you anything on my way home from work?" I asked her.

"No—no, but we just need a few groceries. I will be traveling today, so you can get them on your way from work," she said.

"Alejandro then".

I hurriedly dressed myself in my T-shirt and jeans and hung my bag on my left shoulder.

"Today is payday."

I told her excitedly.

"Uh! That's good. Uhm—have you heard from Ray?" She asked

"Are you for real?"

Yeah, because I haven't heard from him in weeks, which is very unusual.

"Maybe he has gotten himself into another gambling scheme.".

"Don't say that, Valerie.".

"I'm sorry, but he always does, and that's the truth; he brought this mess upon us, and now he has to leave me in a strange land." I spoke in a shaky voice.

"Poor child—you will be fine. Come here," she said, spreading her arms open for a hug. I held her so tight that I could feel the heat from her body and the nice scent of her exclusive Arabic perfume.

"I have to go now; I'm running late. I said this after I detached myself from her.

"See you in three days," she told me.

I nodded and left. Of course, I was going to miss her. Andrea has been more than a sister to me. Wherever Ray is, I hope he is safe.

I took a quick walk down the street to the bus stop. I boarded the last seat and headed to work. Since I was fifteen, I have chartered for myself for the domestic jobs that I did for rich families in Tijuana. An orphan with no family and no quality education. The only option I have to survive here is to work. I was ready for whatever challenge would come. At least I am free from El Macho and his notoriously deadly gang.

"This is a new city, this is a new life, and this is a new me." "Far from all the troubles at home, he could do anything with a house I didn't care about; the only property I have left is my father's portrait; no inheritance, no fortune, only piles of debt.".

Soon, I was at a stop. I hurried off of the bus along with other passengers, and suddenly I felt my phone buzz in my bag. I reached out for it and peered through the screen.

A message from an anonymous number.

"You can't hide."