"Abigail.." Dion tasted the name on his tongue. It sounded sweet. The duchess would have named her something like that too. He shook his head at the irony. He had already started to imagine her but at the same time, he was sure that this was a fake call. The princess could not be here.
"You have one more hour Abigail. One hour to come here and prove to me you are that girl."
Abi opened the door of the bar and looked around. Her father and two other men blocked her gaze instantly. She was not sure if they wanted to keep her away from other's gaze or did not want her to see anyone's face. But they made sure they were successful at what they were trying.
She forced a smile for them as they ushered her into the building.
"We have already booked a room for her on the first floor." the first man said with a grinning face. "And informed the boss too. He said he would be happy to take her anywhere. And this place could give him advantages." the way his eyes glazed over Abi made her shudder. Their advantages could be dangerous for her. She had to stall time. A lot of it. But how?
"What are you waiting for Abi? Did you not hear her? Start walking dearie." her father whispered as if he could read her struggles and her desire to get free. He gave her a warning look, he always gives before beating her or her mother.
She had hardly seen her mother without a wound or trembling hands. Why? How she wanted to beat him to show how much it pained.
"I want a drink," she announced, shocking not only them but herself too. But then she faked the fear she was actually feeling, "My nerves are jittery. It is my first time. So I need a drink. I have heard that it gives you courage." the man laughed, and another chuckled but her father frowned, not liking the idea of Abi being braver perhaps. But she did not dwell on the idea, did not dwell on him. She looked at other men. They hold the power, she had realized.
"Come on, I am sure one drink would not hurt your pockets when you are selling me at a good price." she bit her lips and gave a wink as she had seen the girls doing after their shifts in the factory.
Many girls who had a lover said that it was a way to flirt. Abi never had time to flirt since she was busy earning. But the expressions of the man loosened. His eyes filled with lust as he took a step closer to her but did not touch her.
"Hmm, it certainly can be a good deal if we get something in exchange. Don't you think so?" nasty bastard. She wanted to punch him in exchange for selling her. But she hid her anger and forced a seductive smile on her face.
"Perhaps, you could be second for today." her heart reached her throat as the words left her mouth. If she failed to protect her. She would have to give herself to him too and that also in exchange for a glass of cheap liquor. Just how degraded she would be then?
"Second?" the man raised a brow and laughed as if he had heard a joke. "Darling.." his hands reach for her waist. She heard a protest from her father behind her but the other man silenced him with just one look. They hold more authority than she had thought. But the thought did not give her assurance. It only scared her further. Scared too much to be normal again.
"Do you not know.." he leaned closer as if they were couples and whispered in her ears, "Your father had a lot of debt. He had already sold you to five men for tonight only and had a long plan for you for the coming month." a shudder ran through her spine and fear crawled in her eyes. She could not even fake anymore.
Five men for her first night. Her father was a beast through and through. The man laughed as if he was anticipating this reaction. As if he was enjoying it.
"Perhaps, I could be sixth in exchange for that drink." he stood straight and looked at her ashen face, "Perhaps we need that for your complexion at least." The cruel joke made both of them laugh. Her father protested again but the words failed to register in her mind. All she could hear was... She was sold to six men for the night. Six men would ravage her. Her grip on her dress tightened and the desire to run away had never been this strong.
But she could not run them, not in this place. She had to find that savior or she had to create a new savior. She was ready to marry an old scum as long as he was going to protect her chastity. Someone... There must be someone who would take her for her face or youth.
"I am going to pay for it. So do not worry. The girl deserves a drink and I am getting a good deal in exchange." she felt a yank on her arms as the man held her and started to pull her toward the bar counter.
She would have winced or cried some other time but at this moment, she was looking at the counter eagerly. They were not walking around her in a circle anymore. Perhaps her words had given them confidence that she would not run away. But they still stood too close for her to run away even an inch without being caught.
"A large glass of beer for the girl. Make it a double gang." her father paused around her and then laughed. His tension slowly eased. That made Abi worried. The drink was wrong if it made her father relax. She looked around for an escape when she found the same rich bloke smiling while standing alone and her eyes gleamed.
"You will be my escape."