Anna found herself on the floor of a poorly lit room, huddled in a corner as her eyes widened in fear and her hands trembled. She barely saw even after taking off her blindfolds, she saw her suitcase on the other side of the room and she tried to reach out to grab it but she noticed her hands were tied tightly.
"Damn it!", She yelled, her voice echoed through the empty room.
She noticed that someone was coming, she closed her eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep.
" What a drama Queen, a deep voice pierced the room, followed by a clap, a clap that followed a presentation.
Anna could no longer pretend, she opened her eyes and saw three men standing in front of her. The young man in the middle stared at her. She could not see his face clearly, but she saw his sharp jawline and broad chest. He was tall too, and something about his blue eyes made her lost in thoughts.
" I don't talk too much so I will get to the point", the man in the middle said, going closer to Anna. Anna moved away from him as he got closer.
" Who the hell are you", Anna asked, her trembling lips were pale and her heart pounded heavily in her chest. She tried screaming again, hoping that someone would hear her.
"She is feisty, I like her already", the blue-eyed man said. He went round her in circles, looking at her closely.
" I am Derrick, you, me, we are getting married", Derrick replied, touching her cheeks.
"Get your stupid hands off me", Anna revolted. She spat in his face.
He slapped her and she fell to the ground, her face on the ground. She did not move or talk for a while, she began to sob as she held the ground.
"We will do this the easy way or the hard way", Derrick said, firmly pulling her hair, and lifting her face from the ground.
"I hate you, who are you and why are you doing this to me?", Anna asked, her cheeks flushed with anxiety, and tears began to flow freely from her eyes.
"I hate you more, but you should be grateful, I can change your life if you let me", Derrick said stroking her hair.
" You are crazy ", Anna said, turning her head from him. She retreated and moved away from him.
" Powerful, that is what I am, I can make you or break you, so I suggest you agree to my terms", Derrick replied. He untied her and tied her back, showing that he was responsible for her freedom.
"My answer is no", Anna said firmly. She looked away anticipating another slap.
" It is a very simple task, you only have to pretend to be married to me for a little while and I am willing to give you lots of money. Based on how you look, you will need it". Derrick said.
" I don't need your money ", Anna yelled. She shook her head vigorously.
"You are too poor to be this proud, any girl would be jumping on this offer",
" Then take it to them, I am not interested ", Anna replied, struggling with the rope she was tied with, attempting to escape.
" You cannot escape. I know you're smart, but you cannot outsmart me. I saw you from my car at the Cafe and how you took that man's wallet. You are just pretending but you are a gold digger, just like every woman", Derrick said.
Anna was quiet, she wondered how she got herself into another mess". She was quiet, she wished death upon herself.
"I wanted to go easy on you but you forced my hands", Derrick said softly, stroking his chin.
" I don't want to be here, you have no right to keep me here", Anna said. Her breaths were shallow and rapid, she remembered she had not eaten the whole day, and she was weak.
" You might be right, but everyone has a price. Soon I will find out yours and until then, you will remain here", Derrick replied, handing a paper.
Anna got the paper and tore it to pieces without batting an eyelid.
" To hell with your stupid contract, I would rather marry a monster than marry you", Anna yelled, with her hands tied, she tore the paper and threw the torn pieces at his face.
"You dare waste my ink? Tie her legs", Derrick commanded, his face was red hot, and his fists were folded tightly.
" I am a billionaire, any girl in this town would be lucky to marry me", Derrick yelled.
" You are a crackhead, you think you can control everyone because you have money? No wonder you are still single, your attitude stinks", Anna yelled back at him. She wondered where she had gotten the confidence from.
"Gag her", Derrick shouted, clenching his fists, he stormed out of the room fuming.
******
"What do you mean by she's missing? Where is my daughter?", Mr Barry asked the maid, who seemed terrified of him.
"I...I don't know sir, she is not in her room", the maid stuttered, her knees were getting weak.
"You must be a joker, you must not love your life", Mr. Barry said, slamming his hands on the table.
" I am sorry Sir", she replied, shaking in fear. She looked around as if she was still searching.
" Don't be sorry, find my daughter and bring her to me, check her room a thousand times if you have to, I don't care", Mr. Barry said, crossing one leg over the other, seated comfortably on his favorite couch.
"Okay Sir", the maid as she heaved a huge sigh of relief.
" And call me that stupid old lady Belle, she has a lot of explaining to do", Barry yelled.
Belle walked in from the garden where she was planting flowers, thinking of what to say next. She
" Where is Anna"?, Mr Barry growled. He got up and walked towards Belle.
"Uhm...I", Belle stuttered.
"Where is my daughter? You are supposed to be looking after her", Mr Barry said, pointing fingers at her.
" I went out to get groceries ", Belle managed to say.
"Groceries? Is that what I pay you for? Is that your job?", Mr Barry queried, the tone of his voice had increased.
" No, I am sorry Sir", Belle responded. Her eyes were fixated on the walls, she tried her best to stay calm.
"You will be sorry when I fire you. You have worked for this family for twenty years. I expected you to do better.
"We have checked everywhere, she is not home", one of the maids said, walking in from the door. She stood afar from Mr Barry.
" Bunch of incompetent fools, even the guards I hired are of no use, get me the telephone, I need to speak to the police", Mr. Barry said, returning to his couch.
Belle walks to the large dining to pick up the wireless telephone that was hanging in the way and hands it over to her Boss.
"Hello Sheriff, my daughter is missing", Mr. Barry said, his eyes widened and he rubbed his beard aggressively.
"No I cannot wait for twenty-four hours, I want her phone to be traced right away", he added.
"I know I could count on you. You have never disappointed me. I will be waiting", Mr. Barry said, hanging up the phone.
Mr Barry eases back onto his couch and his bodyguard brings his cell phone to him which had been ringing.
"Hello, yes, that was a quick one, thank you", Mr Barry spoke on the phone for a minute and smiled mischievously after dropping the call.
" Ready the car, her phone has been tracked", Mr. Barry said as he picked up his briefcase and entered his truck with seven of his bodyguards.
Belle watched from the window as they zoomed off in a hurry.