LOVE AT WHAT COST

“Thrash the entire place and throw this b***h out of here!” I froze, my eyes widening to twice their size at Baron’s words. I had spent the last twenty minutes, begging and pleading for this evil man to give me a little more time to pay for the rent and all he could say was for me to be thrown out? “Wh-What do you think you're doing?!” I yelled in alarm, seeing the men move to carry out his command. The sound of glasses breaking filled the entire apartment in seconds. “Stop! Get your hands off my stuff!” I ran to one of the men and tried to stop him. He pushed me away, causing me to lose balance and crash to the ground. I scrambled to my feet and ran to another man who had brought out my suitcase and was emptying it on the floor. “Hey, don’t touch my clothes!” A crashing sound reached my ears at the same time and I spun around to see the only photo I had of my family shattered on the ground. I tried all I could to stop them but what could a powerless woman like me do among so many strong men? Within minutes, the entire apartment had been trashed beyond repair. “Please, Baron.” I found myself pleading, “Don’t do this to me. I am going to pay back everything as soon as I can. All I ask for is more time—” “Time, Time, Time!” Baron cut me off, “You've been saying the same thing for a month, I've had enough of your excuses. Give me my money or get the f**k out of my house!” I had never felt as helpless as I did as I stared at the pot-bellied man before me. When I came to Rotwood a few years back, I never imagined life would be this hard. I had struggled from the first day I got here, trying my best to earn some money and support my family back home. At the age of twenty-seven when most of my mates were happily married to their partners with kids to call their own, I was running from one job to another, struggling to make ends meet. I did six different part-time jobs, worked at a local store, did pizza delivery, tutoring, gardening, house cleaning, and worked as a babysitter in a daycare nearby. The pay combined was never enough but a job was a job. And I had to survive. I had just returned from my pizza delivery service only to meet an angry Baron and his boys outside my apartment. “What are you waiting for?” Baron’s voice broke through my thoughts, “Throw her out!” “Baron, please!” I found myself yelling as two of the men grabbed me. “Please don't do this, I have nowhere to go!” “You should have thought about that before owing me 50,000.” “I am going to pay! I just need more time—” “Time is what I don't have, pretty thing.” Baron moved closer and grabbed my jaw, “We could have done this the easy way but you refused.” He reminded me and my insides twisted in disgust. “All you need to do is say yes,” He continued, “Spend the night with me and I’ll relieve you of all your debt.” He offered once more, his lips curling up in an ugly smile. “Become my w***e and you’ll never have to worry about money again. What do you say?” “Disgusting!” I spat on his face and glared at him. “You can go f**k yourself for all I care, I will never become yours!” “You stupid b***h!” Baron’s face twisted in rage but the next second, the rage disappeared and he chuckled. Had he gone mad? What on earth was so funny? “See, this is why I like you, Maddy. You're so feisty.” His hand caressed my lips, “I like my women… feisty, the experience of watching them beg in bed is second to none.” He grinned, showing ugly teeth. My nose scrunched up in disgust as I struggled to break free. “My name is Maddison and get your disgusting hand off me!” I swear, if he hadn't removed his hand the next second, I would've bitten it off for him. “Let her go.” He ordered and they pushed me to the ground. Baron hovered above me, “Because I like you, I'll let you off the hook today.” I almost sighed in relief if it wasn't for his next words. “You have only today. Come to me with the full money or your body tomorrow night. Don’t make me ask again.” A chill ran down my spine as I watched Baron wobble out, his men following closely behind. I didn't know if it was frustration or pent-up anger but the moment the last man stepped out, tears came spilling out of my eyes. I didn't know how long I remained on the floor, sobbing quietly till my phone ringing interrupted me. “Hello?” I croaked the moment I picked up. “Where the hell are you?” My co-worker’s voice blared through the speaker “Do you have any idea what time it is?” I straightened up as I peered at the phone screen. Shit. I am so dead! I scrambled to my feet and dashed to my room for a change of clothes. I was almost an hour late for my babysitting job. I returned home earlier from another job to freshen up and get ready but ended up running into Baron. “I'm so dead,” I muttered, pulling a dress over my body. My boss was going to kill me, the woman never liked me anyway. I got ready within minutes and hurried out of the house. The daycare was about thirty minutes away from my home and I was already late so I had no option but to run all the way. “A few minutes more…” I panted, about to cross the street. However, when I took my first step, the last thing I expected was loud horns and I shrieked seeing a car headed right for me. Was this how I was destined to die? I shut my eyes, ready to meet my doom but heard the screeching of tires instead. “Have you gone mad?!” A husky voice roared, sending shivers down my spine. I opened my eyes to see the owner of the voice exit the luxurious car and take quick strides towards me. I gasped as he yanked me up by my arm, his green eyes blazing with fury, “If you want to die, go do it somewhere else. Why jump in front of my car?”