The Buyer Of My Body

The luxury hotel suite was swallowed by shadows, illuminated only by the dim, amber glow of a corner lamp. The air felt heavy, saturated with an expensive, alien fragrance. Celine sat stiffly on the edge of the massive bed. The sheer evening gown clinging to her skin felt ice-cold, a stark contrast to the frantic pounding in her chest. Her body trembled. It wasn’t from the chill, but from the raw dread and loathing of the situation. She squeezed her eyes shut. "It’s okay, Celine. This is the only way for Mama." She repeated the words like a mantra, trying to justify trading her dignity for her mother’s life. The soft chime of a keycard broke the silence. Celine’s heart leaped into her throat. The door swung open. She knew she was supposed to strike a seductive pose as the madam had instructed, but her legs felt paralyzed. She could only stare down at the thick carpet, which felt like sinking sand beneath her feet. Firm, commanding footsteps entered the room. The man stood a few meters away, radiating an aura of wealth. Designer clothes, a luxury watch, and a sharp, expensive cologne hit Celine’s senses, yet she didn't dare look up. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a voice broke through. It was low, deep, and hauntingly familiar. It pierced through years of buried memories. “Hello, Celine.” Celine’s breath hitched. Her world stopped spinning. That voice. It was impossible. It was the voice that had haunted her nightmares for ten years. The voice of the former lover who had testified against her, ensuring she was locked behind bars. Slowly, her body tensed, and she lifted her head. Her tear-filled eyes met the cold, piercing gaze of the man standing before her. “Leo?” Her voice was barely audible, a whisper that sounded more like a keen of pain. The shock quickly curdled into a mixture of fury and despair. Celine lunged off the bed and hurried toward the wardrobe. With trembling hands, she reached for her clothes hanging there. “Where do you think you’re going? I’ve already bought you.” Leo’s voice was frigid, laced with a cutting mockery. Before she could reach the door, Leo gripped her wrist with a crushing force, halting her in her tracks. “I’m calling it off,” Celine said flatly, refusing to meet his eyes. The grip tightened into a violent tug. Leo forced her around until they were chest to chest. Celine kept her face turned away, refusing to grant him the satisfaction of her gaze. Leo leaned in. His voice was a sharp hiss against her ear. “Can you afford the cancellation fee? It is one hundred and fifty percent. To be precise, five hundred thousand dollars.” Celine closed her eyes, fighting the tremors racking her body. She took a long, heavy breath, as if she had just swallowed a stone. Leo didn't give her a moment to breathe. He delivered the final, most effective blow. “Can you really afford to let your mother suffer? Without the treatment she needs?” Celine’s eyes snapped open. Pure rage flickered in her gaze. “How do you know about my mother?” she snapped. Leo’s lips curled into a thin, cruel smirk of satisfaction. He released his grip but remained uncomfortably close. “Did you think I would let you roam free after you killed my mother? While you were rotting in prison, did you never hear that Leonard Alexander is the owner of Ironbound Resources?” Every word he spoke was heavy with arrogance and a decade of stored-up vengeance. Celine scoffed, a small, mocking smile playing on her lips. “So, you inherited your father’s company. Along with his greed and his treachery.” She emphasized the last words with defiant intensity. Triggered by her words, Leo suddenly grabbed her arm again. He squeezed so hard she winced in pain. “You took my mother, the most precious thing in my life. You will suffer for the rest of yours. Every ounce of your misery is a masterpiece for me to enjoy, Celine,” he added coldly. The tears finally spilled over. They weren't tears of sadness, but of total defeat. She knew she was trapped. Leo held the only card that mattered. Her mother’s life. With a hollow, vacant expression, Celine wrenched her arm away. With weak, mechanical movements, she began to strip her dress off, one layer at a time. The final silk fabric pooled on the floor, leaving her naked, fragile, yet defiant. She looked at him with wet eyes, but her voice remained steady, echoing with cold desperation. “Do whatever you want, Leonard Alexander. You’ve already bought me.” Flashback: Ten Years Ago. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows of a boyishly designed bedroom. Celine and Leo, still in their school uniforms, sat side by side at a study desk. Celine was patiently explaining a complex math formula, but Leo wasn't looking at the book. His eyes were fixed on her face, filled with the adoring gaze of a lovesick teenager. "Leo, are you even listening?" Celine complained, her lips pouting in frustration. "This is about integrals!" Instead of answering, Leo leaned in. He cupped her face and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. The brief contact silenced her complaints. "Enough studying," Leo whispered hoarsely as he pulled back for a second, only to return and claim her lips with more demand. Their teenage passion ignited instantly. The kiss deepened, and Leo’s hands began to move restlessly. Hurriedly, he undid the buttons of Celine’s white uniform one by one. His hand began to brush softly against her skin. Celine flinched. A sudden wave of awareness pulled her back. She pushed gently against his shoulders. "Enough. No, Leo." Her breath was ragged. "We’ll go too far." Celine quickly re-buttoned her shirt while a clear look of disappointment washed over Leo’s face. "I’m going to marry you anyway. Why can’t I?" Leo whined, his voice thick with dissatisfaction. Celine took his hand and kissed the back of it tenderly. "I understand. And I will give it to you, I promise." She leaned in, whispering meaningfully into his ear. "My virginity." Then, she pulled back slightly. "But not now. Later, after we’re officially married." Leo looked at her with doubt. "What if you don't marry me?" Celine smiled, a promise that felt intoxicating. "I’ll make sure my virginity belongs to you. I will only ever marry you." She patted his hand. "Now, come on. Let’s get back to work." Present Day. Leo stared at Celine’s naked body. Her posture of defiant surrender only fueled his anger and his desire. “So, you’ve finally come to your senses.” Leo’s voice was a needle, cold with a layer of cruel satisfaction. “Didn’t you once promise to give your virginity to me?” The mockery, a distorted echo of a beautiful memory, made Celine’s tears flow faster. She cried silently, without a single sob. her eyes were vacant, reflecting an unspeakable trauma. Leo stepped closer. Slowly, he raised his hand and brushed his thumb against her lips. A gesture that was once filled with love now felt like a humiliation. “These lips.” Leo’s voice trembled slightly with a long-suppressed hunger. “It’s been so long since I tasted them.” Leo leaned down and kissed her. It began gently, but Celine felt a wave of revulsion spread through her. She could only screw her eyes shut, letting her tears soak her cheeks. She held her breath, praying for it to be over. Leo broke the kiss with a heavy breath. His gaze was sharp now, consumed by lust and demand. He pushed her down onto the bed. The movement wasn't rough, but it was absolute. Keeping his cold eyes fixed on her closed face, Leo began to remove his clothes, one piece at a time.