He moved menacingly, his towering figure casting a long shadow over me. His beautiful eyes, a piercing shade of dark hazel, bore into mine, as if he could see every hidden fear and secret within me. The intensity of his gaze sent chills down my spine, making it difficult to look away. With a swift, forceful motion, he gripped my jaw, his fingers clamping down like a vise, causing sharp pain to shoot through my face.
"Please... let me go," I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper, tears welling up in my eyes.
His face contorted into a snarl, his voice dripping with menace as he spoke, "Listen here, little angel. If you were one of my men, I would have sent you to the world beyond for defying me."
"Do I appear like some kind of simpleton to you?" he asked, his face looking more solemn, causing me to agitate uncomfortably.
"Answer my question, young lady..." he growled angrily when there was no reply from me
A sense of dread washed over me, the weight of his words sinking in. I struggled to find my voice as he demanded an answer to his question.
"N-no, Sir," I stammered, my body trembling with fear.
"Good," he growled, finally releasing his grip on my jaw.
As I staggered back, the pain subsiding, I couldn't help but think about how terrifying he was. His presence commanded attention, and his words carried an air of authority that sent shivers down my spine. Tentatively, I made my way back to the bed, my legs still shaky from the encounter.
"Why were you out on the streets at such an ungodly hour?" he demanded suddenly, his tone filled with a mix of curiosity and disapproval.
I stared down at my hands, feeling the weight of his gaze upon me. His voice grew colder, more detached, as he continued to question me.
"I was coming from the Club," I replied meekly, feeling a surge of embarrassment.
His expression turned solemn, his eyes searching mine for answers. The atmosphere became even more tense, and I squirmed uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
"Why do you work at a club? That's not something an innocent girl should be doing," he said, his words tinged with a touch of concern.
"I'm not innocent," I whispered, a hint of defiance creeping into my voice.
"You are," he stated with conviction.
I was taken aback by his certainty, wondering how he could make such a judgment about me. Before I could react, he continued, his words cutting through the air.
"Are you so desperate for money that you would risk your life for it?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
His words struck a nerve, stinging with a painful truth. Anger welled up within me, but I suppressed it, determined not to show weakness.
"I'm not desperate. I just want to save my sister," I replied, my voice trembling with a mix of determination and vulnerability.
He scoffed, his tone dripping with cynicism. "You can't save someone if you can't even save yourself. What if something terrible were to happen to you? Your sister would move on and forget your existence."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I was speechless. How could he be so callous? Anger bubbled up within me, but I bit my lip to keep my retort from escaping.
"You know nothing about me and my family," I muttered, my voice barely audible.
"I don't want to know," he said, his voice filled with a strange mix of indifference and regret.
I felt an overwhelming desire to strike out against him, to break free from his captivity. But his warning stopped me in my tracks.
"Don't even think about running away," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "It won't end well for you."
The words echoed in my mind, but I couldn't help but think about the path I had chosen. For six long years, my life had revolved around Mia, my every action driven by the hope of her freedom. I had endured countless struggles and hardships without a thought for my own well-being. Now, standing in this strange place, I couldn't let this man hinder me any longer.
And then it hit me—10,000 dollars. That was the amount I needed to secure Mia's release. The wealth that radiated from him suggested that he could easily spare such a sum. Perhaps I could turn this situation to my advantage.
With newfound determination, I stood up and approached him, making sure to keep a safe distance between us.
"What? You want to leave?" he asked, his voice laced with surprise, dropping the glass of wine onto the table.
"Umm, I-I..." I faltered, struggling to find the right words.
"You what?!" he snarled, causing my words to spill out in a rush of fear.
"Can you lend me 10,000 dollars? I promise to pay it back, please..." I blurted out, my voice shaking.
He narrowed his gaze, studying me carefully. Aftera moment of silence, he spoke, his tone surprisingly calm.
"Just 10,000 dollars?" he asked.
"Yes... I will pay it back, I promise," I pleaded.
"Alright," he conceded, rising from his seat and walking toward the nightstand beside the bed. He retrieved a checkbook and quickly filled out a check.
"That's 50,000 dollars. Take it and pay me back in two months," he said, handing me the check.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I held the check in my trembling hands. How could I possibly repay such an exorbitant amount? Panic began to well up within me, but I fought to maintain composure.
"I only asked for 10,000 dollars, Sir," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't lend humans such low amounts of money," he replied coolly. "Remember, interest will accrue every day. By the end of the month, you'll owe me 52,000 dollars."
"What?" I gasped, my heart sinking at the realization of the crushing debt he was burdening me with.
What sort of human is he? Do I look like someone who can pay him that? Well, I will figure it out once I'm done with it.
"Thank you," I said, walking to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm... Going home," I stated in a wavered tone.
"Do you even have any idea of where you are," he asked, grabbing his phone and making a call.
Within minutes, a man entered the room, his presence exuding an air of loyalty and obedience.
"Take her wherever she needs to go," the man was instructed.
"Okay, boss," the man replied, turning to me. "Let's go, Miss..."
As the man escorted me out of the house, the dazzling sunlight assaulted my eyes, momentarily blinding me. I took in the surroundings, astounded by the opulence of the estate before me. It was a sight unlike anything I had ever seen.
Who in the world could possibly own such a magnificent mansion? The mystery of this man and his world only deepened, leaving me with more questions than answers as I embarked on the next chapter of my journey.