Chained to Desire

Chapter Two

My eyes widened as the auctioneer's hammer fell with a resounding thud. The bidding war was over. The woman on stage stood there, trying to hide her shock and horror. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched the gavel. The old man who had won the bid approached her, his wrinkled face beaming with joy as he hugged her tightly. Despite her attempts to stay composed, I could see the fear in her eyes.

I turned to The Viper, my confusion mounting. "Why are you showing me this?"

He chuckled, his voice low and smooth. "This is the solution to your problem, Ms. Sandoval."

"I... I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Sir."

"What don't you understand?" He chuckled again, mocking me. "Your father's debt is not something you can just refuse to participate in, Ms. Sandoval."

I stood my ground, my fists clenched in anger. "I understand that my father owed you money, but this is inhumane. Selling a human being like property? I won't be a part of it."

The Viper's expression turned cold as he stepped closer to me. "You don't have a choice. Your father knew what he was getting into when he borrowed that money. And now, it's your responsibility to pay off his debt."

I shook my head, my voice trembling with anger. "I won't do it. There has to be another way."

The Viper's eyes glinted with amusement. "There is no other way, Ms. Sandoval. You either pay off your father's debt or become the property of the highest bidder."

My heart sank at his words. I couldn't believe this was happening. I had to find a way out of this, no matter what it took.

I felt my stomach drop as The Viper sat down, a smirk playing on his lips. I looked at him in disbelief. This monster!

"I'm here to renegotiate, Sir. Not this! I'm sure we can find another way," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

He chuckled again, the sound grating on my nerves. "Oh, you humor me, Vivianna."

I was taken aback when he used my first name. It was the first time he had addressed me that way. I could see the seriousness in his eyes now, and it frightened me. The Viper was a man who always got what he wanted, by any means necessary.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "Please, Sir, there has to be another way. Selling a human being is not the answer."

He leaned forward, his eyes glittering with amusement. "But it is, Vivianna. And you know it. You have no other choice."

I felt my heart sink as the realization hit me. I was trapped, with no way out. I had to find a way to pay off my father's debt before it was too late. But how?

"I can sell my properties--"

"Oh please, do you think that's enough? Do you have any idea how much your father owes me? No? Do you know your company is the collateral? That's not even enough... even your life. This is the least you can do, Vivianna, until you can pay off your father's debt. And trust me, you don't want to know what happens if you fail to do so."

I felt a lump form in my throat as his words sunk in. My entire life had been built around my family's business, and now it was all on the line. I can't lose it, not like this.

"But...there has to be another way. I can't just be sold like some... some thing," I said, my voice shaking with fear and anger.

The Viper's expression softened slightly, as if he was actually considering my words. "I'll tell you what, Vivianna. You have a week to come up with the money. If you can't pay off your father's debt by then, we'll consider other options. But for now, you belong to me."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at his words. A week wasn't much time, but it was better than nothing. I had to find a way to come up with the money, no matter what it took. But as I stood there, staring at The Viper, I knew that my life would never be the same again.

"How much does my father owe you?"

He grinned. "Three billion."

As I stood there, reeling from the shock of The Viper's revelation, my mind raced with questions. How could my father have gotten himself into so much debt? And why did he borrow money from someone as ruthless and evil as The Viper?

My thoughts were interrupted by The Viper's cold voice. "Your father made a deal with me, Vivianna. He thought he could make a quick profit, but things didn't go as planned. And now, it's up to you to clean up his mess."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as I realized the gravity of the situation. My father had made a deal with the devil, and now it was up to me to pay the price.

"What kind of deal?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes narrowed into slits, and his face twisted with anger and frustration. I could feel the tension in the room, thick enough to cut with a knife. He leaned forward, his hand hovering over the gun that lay on the center table, and my heart skipped a beat.

"That's not important now, Vivianna," he growled. "What's important is that you pay off your father's debt. And if you can't do that, well..." He paused, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air like a dark cloud.

My mind raced as I tried to come up with a plan. How could I possibly come up with that kind of money in such a short amount of time? I knew I couldn't let this man win, but the odds were stacked against me. My entire life was on the line, and I couldn't afford to fail.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to stay calm and focused. I couldn't give up, no matter how insurmountable the odds seemed. I had to find a way to pay off the debt, or else face the consequences of failing to do so.

"Fine, give me a week." I stormed away.

**

"Uh... Sorry, Viv. I can't lend you that much money. Dad won't let me. I can only give you ten million, at least."

I felt my heart sink as I heard my cousin's response. I had hoped that she would be able to help me out of this impossible situation, but it seemed that even she was unable to provide the kind of money I needed.

"Ten million?" I repeated, the disbelief evident in my voice. "That's not even close to what I need, Leah. I need three billion, for god's sake!"

"I know, Viv, but what can I do?" Lea replied, sounding just as helpless as I am. "Dad won't let me lend you any more than that. He's already furious that I'm giving you this much."

I bit my lip, feeling a sense of desperation wash over me. Ten million dollars was a lot of money, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to what I needed. I couldn't help but wonder if there was any way out of this mess.

I sat in my empty office, staring at the piles of paperwork in front of me. I had been working non-stop, trying to come up with enough money to pay off my father's debt. I had sold all my properties and assets, borrowed money from everyone I knew, but it was still not enough.

As I looked at the clock on my desk, I realized with a sinking feeling that I only had one day left to come up with the rest of the money. I knew that if I failed, I would lose everything - my company, my freedom, and possibly even my life.

I took a deep breath and tried to think of any other options I had left. I knew that time was running out, and I needed to come up with a solution fast. But as I looked at the piles of papers in front of me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hopelessness wash over me. I didn't know how I was going to come up with the rest of the money in time.

"I'm sorry, Lea. Thank you for your help," I said quickly before ending the call. I was so focused on finding a solution to my problem that I didn't even realize I had hung up on my cousin.

I made a decision to keep my parents in the dark about my dealings with The Viper. It was my problem, and I didn't want to burden them with the stress and danger that came with it. I had to find a way to come up with the money and handle the situation on my own.

I couldn't risk their safety or well-being, and I knew that involving them would only make things worse. I would do whatever it took to protect them, even if it meant putting myself in harm's way. With a heavy heart, I continued to work towards a solution, hoping that I could come up with the money before it was too late.

**

I fidgeted in the makeup chair, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. The black mini dress they had picked out for me hugged my curves, making me feel both exposed and uncomfortable. As the makeup artist worked on my face, I couldn't help but feel like a fraud. Who was I trying to fool with this heavy makeup, making me look older and more mature than my 23 years?

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision and smudging the makeup they had painstakingly applied. They sighed and began to undo their work, wiping away the streaks and starting again. I tried to calm myself, taking deep breaths and repeating positive affirmations in my head. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they finished my makeup and I forced a smile in the mirror. I had to be strong, I had to do this on my own.

The Viper walked into the room with a grin on his face, his eyes flickering over me. I could feel his gaze burning on my skin, sizing me up like I was some kind of product. His amusement was palpable as he spoke.

"I knew you'd agree to this, Ms. Sandoval," he said with a chuckle. "You look exquisite, perfect as the highlight of the night. Just pray your bidder isn't a beast."

He turned and left the room, leaving me standing there in shock. My heart was racing as I tried to comprehend what I had just gotten myself into. I couldn't believe I had agreed to this.

I heard a woman's voice beside me, and turned to see her standing there with a cigarette in hand, smoke trailing lazily from her lips. She looked at me in the mirror and spoke, her voice carrying a hint of warning.

"I warned you," she said, her gaze piercing. I recognized her from our previous encounter, but this time her makeup was heavier, making her look even more intimidating.

"Lydia," she spoke, extending her hand towards me, but I didn't budge. I continued staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to ignore her presence. Despite my efforts, I could feel her eyes on me, as if she was analyzing every inch of my face.

"We're gonna be working together from now on," she said, her voice laced with a hint of cigarette smoke. I remained silent, not wanting to engage in conversation. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had made a mistake by coming here, but it was too late to turn back now.

Lydia took a drag of her cigarette and exhaled the smoke in my direction. Her voice was low and raspy, as if she had been smoking for years.

"I can see it in your eyes, Vivianna. Fear, uncertainty, and perhaps even regret. I was once like you, innocent and naive, but this world has a way of changing people."

"What will happen to me after the bid?" I finally said, trying to sound calm and stoic.

"Anything, princess, trust me, the men who bid tonight aren't exactly the type of guys you want to mess with."

I turned to face her, my hands shaking. "What do you mean? Who are they?"

"What do you think they are?" Lydia replied with a smirk, taking another puff from her cigarette. "They're powerful, dangerous men. They can do whatever they want with you once they win the bid. And trust me, they won't be gentle."

My heart sank at her words, and a sense of dread filled me. I couldn't believe that I had willingly put myself in this situation. "I...I don't know if I can go through with this," I stammered, feeling a knot forming in my throat.

Lydia shrugged. "It's too late to back out now. You're in this deep, princess. Just hope that the man who wins the bid is at least somewhat decent."

She threw her cigarette on the floor and stamped it out before turning to leave. But before she left the room, she glanced back at me and whispered, "Sorry about calling you princess. You're not one anymore." With that, she left me alone, and the weight of her words settled heavily in my stomach.