"Nothing… I just bought you." His voice was so calm when he said it, as if it was nothing.
I looked at him, more confused than shocked. "Come again?"
He smirked. "You heard me."
"I think you're delusional. I think you're forgetting that I am… a human?"
He stood against the wall. "That I bought. You're a human that I bought."
"I think there is a huge misunderstanding here. I am an emplo—"
"See, I don't care if your dad deceived you, but I have already paid three million dollars in exchange for you so don't waste my time."
This time, I stared at him with wide eyes.
Three million dollars. For me?
Was that the "investment" dad told me about?
"But I don't even know what you're talking about!" I raised my voice.
"Shh, calm down, baby girl." He came closer and I took a small step back. "Voice down."
"I-I…" I was unable to form a sentence.
I couldn't decipher my own emotions. Was I feeling numb because my own dad sold me, or because my greatest enemy owns me?
"So, sit down like a good girl and do your work."
"I don't believe you." I looked at him with sharp eyes. "There is no proof!"
"Oh, there is." He smiled at his victory. "It is on your desk."
I looked away from his possessive eyes and my gaze fell upon the paper kept on my desk. Rushing, I picked it up.
It was a contract. A single paper transferring my rights from my dad to Xavier Valencian.
I almost gasped as I saw dad's signature. Those familiar signatures were now used for making my life a living hell.
How could he do this to me?
I was just standing still when I felt him coming behind me. It was easy to recognize his presence – he used a very special cologne. His warm breath fanned the nape of my neck as he kissed it.
I breathed heavily at his sensual act. He kissed my neck again before taking the contract from my hand. I turned around to look at him.
"What do you want from me? You already killed my mom and took everything!" I said as reality crashed upon me.
He smiled to himself and showed me a smirk.
"Baby, you have no idea what I want from you," he said as he checked me out, his eyes lingering over my body. "But you'll soon know it. Feel it. Maybe… hate it."
I gulped and took a step back, hitting the desk. I stumbled and was about to fall when he grabbed me.
I pushed him away and got to the other corner of the cabin.
"I am being nice. You should enjoy it while you can."
I looked into those blue eyes which stared back at me with a hollow expression. They were emptier than they were three years ago. I scoffed. "I will buy myself back. I will pay you your three million dollars back!"
"Oh, will you?" He said as he picked up a pen from the desk.
"Yes!"
"How?" He scribbled something and kept it down, shifting his gaze to look at me.
"I… I will work multiple jobs. Yes! I will do that."
He smirked.
"You do realize that it will take you an eternity to pay me back that way, right?"
"I… I don't care."
"Or, will you stop your son from going to the school? Use his school fees to buy yourself back?"
My face paled as he mentioned my son. He knew about him — of course, he did!
"Don't—don't you bring my son in between!"
He chuckled. "Baby, I am the one at advantage here. So why don't you do the both of us a favor and come here."
"C-Come where?"
He locked the door and my heartbeat increased even more.
"What are you doing!?" I shouted.
"It is soundproof."
"Huh?"
"This cabin. It is soundproof." He walked towards me. His dominating aura and his style made me weak in my knees, but at the same time, I hated him so much.
I hated him and I hated my dad.
"You–you can't do this!" I said, half sure.
"Of course, I can, doll."
I felt sick at the thought of being a "doll". But that was half true – he owned me. He could use me like a puppet. He was stronger in every way possible.
He closed the space between us, pushing me against the wall. I closed my eyes as I felt his touch on my neck.
"S-Step away!" I whispered.
I could feel his smirk, even without seeing it. He kissed my neck once again and then went down, kissing my cleavage.
I let out a rasped breath. "Ple…ase."
"I really feel bad for you, sweetheart," his voice was deep, "but how I love to see you being so helpless… again."
"Again?" I asked, coming out of the trance he put me in.
He took two steps back and smirked.
God, how much I hate that wicked smirk…
"Dwell on that thought for as long as you want."
"What do you—"
Before I could complete my sentence, he opened the door and walked out. I breathed heavily and sat down on the floor.
Did my life just slip away from my hands?
Was I now owned by him? By Xavier Valencian, of all people?
Oh, you could've sold me to the devil instead!
My thoughts started clouding my conscience and I had no strength to do any work. I just wanted to sleep and wake up, pretending this was all a dream.
If only I could go back in time and say no to dad.
I sighed and got up. I had to work — I had to get my mind off things. Maybe I could earn the three million from him and pay him back.
As I sat down on the desk, I saw a note on the desk.
"The tattoo on your left thigh. God, it has been so long since I've seen it. I've waited long enough and now, I am here to claim what's mine.
Welcome to my world, baby girl.
- X"