Maya distanced herself from the women who were gossiping about her. With every turn she took, she could feel the penetrating gazes of people watching her.
"You!" Someone grabbed her arm. It was Valentina, her face contorted with anger. She led Maya to a corner away from people's view.
"Why are you dressed like this? Like a prostitute!" Valentina yelled.
Maya pulled her hand away from Valentina's grip. "I did not choose to dress this way," Maya hissed, trying to keep her voice low, not wanting to draw more attention.
"Liar! You shameless bitch!. You are such an attention whore! I thought tonight was my night. I had all the men looking at me as if I was a goddess. Then you walked in dressed half-naked, stealing all their attention!"
Maya wished she could block out Valentina's loud and annoying voice. "Your dad made me dress this way. I don't like my outfit either."
Valentina crossed her arms over her chest and pouted like a child. "I hate Dad for this! He completely ruined my night! Do you have any idea how much effort it took for me to look this good?" She ran her hands over the red dress she was wearing.
"Valentina, why haven't you introduced your sister to us?" Two men in Armani suits approached them. Their lecherous gazes fixated on Maya, making her feel as though she were a meal they wanted to devour, causing her skin to crawl with discomfort.
Valentina glares so hard that her forehead arches in lines. Jealousy simmered in her eyes. "She is not my sister; she is the bastard child my mother gave birth to before she died." She scoffed at Maya and stormed off.
Maya was not even slightly offended. Valentina's detestable words felt like a feather brushing against her. The hatred Valentina expressed seemed childish.
"Your name is Maya, right?" one of the men asked.
"Excuse me," Maya walked away, ignoring him.
She took a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and walked onto the terrace, where not a single soul was in sight. The lustful gazes of perverted men and the disdainful sneers of jealous women had become unbearable, so she felt the need to isolate herself.
She forgot to ask Valentina where her stepfather was. She needed to find him and do whatever he wanted her to do so she could leave quickly.
Maya set her purse on the balcony and began sipping her champagne. She subconsciously glanced to her right and noticed a man at the far end of the terrace.
Maya assumed she was the only one on the terrace. She was about to take a good look at him when someone interrupted her.
"Miss Deluca?" a waiter asked rhetorically.
"Yes, that is me. How can I help you?"
"Mr. Hathaway requests your presence immediately. He is upstairs. A room to your left," he informed her.
Maya's nerves were on edge. "Okay," she said, drinking the champagne down to the last drop to calm herself.
She handed the empty flute to a waiter and strode upstairs to find her stepfather.
Maya heard giggles and soft moans coming from the room the waiter had indicated, making her hesitant to enter.
She took a deep, long breath, clung to the small amount of courage she had, and walked in.
Maya's mouth flung open in shock. The scene before her could be compared to something out of an erotic movie. Naked girls were engaging in sexual activities with men all around the room.
A flush spread across Maya's cheeks, turning them red. Did her stepfather invite her to an orgy?
She immediately spotted her stepfather. He was sitting on a couch with two naked girls kissing his neck while he puffed smoke from his cigarette.
"Welcome, stepdaughter," his voice rang loudly in Maya's ears.
"Come here!" he demanded.
Maya's unsteady legs carried her quickly to where he was.
"Sit"
Maya quickly sat down opposite him. She nervously clasping her hands together in her lap, keeping her head lowered.
"Watch me!" His voice echoed with anger, compelling Maya to look at him.
Maya's eyelids kept scrunching up; it was disturbing for her to watch him make out with the naked girls. A knot tightens inside her, making her feel like throwing up.
"Alright, fun's over," he said, dismissing the girls. Everyone left, leaving only a bald, muscular man behind.
He locked his gaze on Maya. "You look sexy and even more seductive than I imagined. I chose the perfect dress." His eyes swept over her, causing her to shudder.
"Stand up, girl," he commanded. Maya quickly got to her feet.
"Tell your boss that the girl is here," he directed at the bald, muscular man.
The color drained from Maya's face. What was happening?
"Don't worry, you'll enjoy it, I learned he is very good in bed." Frederick Hathaway said with a villainous smirk.
Maya realized what he meant. No! No! she screamed inwardly.
Her eyes gunned at the door as she planned her escape.
As she took a step, ready to bolt, her stepfather grabbed her hair and yanked it, dragging her back. Maya screamed, intense pain coursing through her head. Dizziness overwhelmed her.
Still gripping Maya's hair, Fredrick Hathaway turned her roughly to face him. "You will be a good girl and have sex with his boss in exchange for Terrence receiving a promotion at work."
Maya's eyes widened in horror. "No!"
His fingers strum around Maya's throat, causing her to panic. "If you say no one more time, I will end your life," he threatened.
"No!" Maya exclaimed in protest, defying her Stepfather's orders for the first time in ages.
She was not usually bold, but today she would embrace death with courage. She would rather die than sleep with an old man just so her abusive brother could get a stupid promotion.
"Say hi to your mother when you see her in hell." Frederick Hathaway tightened his grip around Maya's throat, squeezing the life out of her.