Chapter 3

You would be wondering what a girl like me is doing with her life. Well, my name is Emma. I’ve been taking care of my little brother since I was 16, I’m currently 18. I work part-time jobs and jobs with minimum wage. That's all you can get with a high school degree. 

Last year, my brother Tim got sick. His sickness felt like never-ending pain. No medication would work and in the end, we had to opt for surgery,  but surgery itself was expensive. 

The surgery required 90 thousand dollars and I didn’t have that much money. But I couldn’t just do nothing and let my brother die. From there, I heard of Morty. A local gangster who sometimes lends people loans with interest. 

I took a loan from him to save my brother’s life. But the amount was so much I couldn’t return it all back in the promised time. I worked several part-time jobs, without even caring for my own health. But they was never enough. 

Recently I got a job in a 5-star hotel. It paid much better and I would be able to return the money in installments. It took a little convincing. But Morty finally agreed to get the leftover amount in installment but to my bad luck, I lost my job. My only hope and was because of that Noah Enrique. 

If I can just get the money out of him, I’ll give it to Morty and then live my life peacefully. 

I finally reach the gigantic glass building. I’m surrounded by many skyscrapers, multiple of them owned by Noah Enrique. 

The building I enter contains the letter NE written in Italic in the middle as its initials. 

I walk to the reception and speak lowly, so others may not hear me. After all, I’m doing something extremely dangerous. 

“ I’m here to meet Mr. Noah Enrique. “ I whisper. 

“ Not everyone can meet him, miss. He isn’t some random person. Do you even know meeting him requires an appointment? “ She taunts. 

“ You can call him and confirm. “ I again whisper. 

She looks at me for a moment, considering my suggestion, and then calls. 

She talks for a brief second, before looking at me. 

“ Boss has allowed you in. You can go now. “ She states rudely. Angered by the fact that I am allowed in. Strange. 

I enter the lift and my eyes bulge out when I find that there are 100 floors in this building. 

I press the 100 floors as I was told by the receptionist that the boss is on the topmost floor. 

I wait in the lift nervously, hoping things will go right. 

I finally reach the floor and my legs are shaky. I take a deep breath and walk in, keeping my head low. Too worried to take in the decorations and the beauty of the interior. 

I walk to the two huge golden gates, the words NE plastered on the expensive woopen doors. Before I can even knock, the doors automatically open and I step in. 

There I see Noah Enrique sitting in all his glory.  Sitting there like the king he is, rich and powerful. 

Compared to him, I feel really small and scared. His aura is way too much, it makes me weak. God, why does this man have such an effect on me? 

“ The waitress? “ He asks in a deep voice? 

I just nod my head. 

He smirks in my way and tells me to take a seat. He looks at me, not in a good way. It feels like he is planning my murder in a 100 different ways in his mind. His intense stare makes me feel uncomfortable and I shift on the soft leather seat. 

“ So where’s the video? “ He asks and I take out my mobile to show him. He watches the video with peculiar interest. But one thing about his body language shows that he is not tensed at all whereas I am losing my mind. 

“ So tell me, is this your first time doing this? Blackmailing someone for money? “ He asks with a grin plastered on his face. 

“ No, I’ve done it a lot. “ I lie, imitating a strong voice. 

“ Interesting. You like targeting rich men, don’t you? “ He further asks. 

“ Enough, just give me the money and I’ll delete the video. I don’t want to answer your questions. “ I shout and he abruptly gets up from his seat. 

He slowly walks towards me, taking in my sight from head to toe. 

“ I know this is your first time, why would someone experienced be stupid enough to come to my office? “ The man whispers, before I can get up from my seat, he pushes me back and handcuffs my wrists to the chair arm. 

“ What… what is this? Release  me now! “ I exclaim. 

Mr. Enrique, in return only laughs. Not a sweet kind of laugh though, this one is filled with malice. 

“ The cops will be arriving here soon, I have all the proofs and even your confession to the crime. In short, you’re screwed. “ Mr. Noah says, going back to his huge leather chair and sitting there like a boss. His legs spread, eyes staring at me. 

“ You said you’ll give me the money. “ 

“ I lied. “ He says, rolling his eyes at my stupidity. 

I just look down, crying at my fate. What will happen to Tim, Morty will hurt him. I can’t go to prison. 

“ Why those crocodile tears now, love? Shouldn’t have tried to defame or blackmail me and this wouldn’t have happened to you. “ He speaks, in a taunting manner, enjoying every single second of my misery. 

“ Please don’t send me to prison. I really need the money, I didn’t think this through. “ I beg. 

“ You committed an illegal act, you did a huge crime. I wonder how many years you will serve in prison. Probably 10 but with my power, I can make it a lifetime. “ He further scares me and I start sobbing hysterically. 

“ We can…can solve our matters…. In other ways. Please just anything else. “ I try to negotiate. 

“ What do you have to offer? “ He asked, interested in what I had to offer. 

But the truth is I have nothing. I don’t have money to offer him,  and he wouldn’t need it either. 

“ I… look at you, you’re so skinny. You need homemade meals. “ I reply with the sweetest of smile through those tearful eyes. 

What did I even say? 

“ Very funny.  Do you have anything else to offer? “ He asks, this time very disinterested. 

“ No, I have nothing. I’m poor so I can’t give you any money. What could a person like you want from me? “ I ask him,  defeated. I’m probably going to jail. But what about Tim? 

“ Nothing, a person like you has nothing to offer but there is always something a woman can give to a man. . “ He says, lurking closer to me. 

He strides so close that his breath is falling on my neck. 

“ Be my mistress. “ He whispers and I jerk back instantly. 

“ No! “ I exclaim. 

“ Fine then, prison it is for you. “ He says in a cheery tone, knowing he has me trapped. If only I didn’t blackmail him for money.

He sits back on his chair and starts doing his work, looking at his screen whereas I just sit there, cuffed thinking about my future. 

Do it for Tim, Emma. Just close your eyes and say it. 

“ Fine, I… I’ll do it. I’ll be your mistress. “ I whisper, my voice barely audible but he hears me. 

“ Sweet, sign here then. “ He mutters, taking out a bundle of paper. 

He had it planned since the night I blackmailed him, didn’t he?