Chapter 2

Donovan had reported Dad's company for tax avoidance and purchasing cheaper materials instead of the high-quality materials promised.

Dad had been busy closing business deals all over the country, so he hadn't been aware of this. When faced with the company's bankruptcy and sky-high compensation amounts for terminated contracts, he'd ended his life because he couldn't handle the pressure.

Donovan had disappeared after the havoc he'd wreaked.

I hated him, but Mom was in the intensive care unit. She was hooked to an oxygen tank, which was charged by the hour. I needed to pay her bills tomorrow, so I needed the hundred-thousand-dollar card Keith had given me.

I poured Donovan another glass of wine and held it before him with both hands while smiling coyly. "Everyone comes here to loosen up and have fun, Mr. Slater. Let go of your troubles."

Keith chimed in. "Exactly. I'll pay for everything you order tonight, Mr. Slater. All you need to do is enjoy yourself."

"Enjoy myself?" Donovan smiled nastily. He leaned forward to pick up a bottle of scotch. Then, he slammed it on the table before me. "I'll invest in your project if she finishes this."

I hesitated. Scotch was hard liquor, and a glass was enough to make one's stomach burn. It didn't seem likely that a regular person would be able to handle downing a whole bottle.

Keith dug out another card and threw it before me. "Finish the scotch, and the 200 thousand dollars in here is yours."

That would make a total of 300 thousand dollars. It would be enough to cover the fees Mom incurred for ten days in the hospital.

Donovan watched me, his gaze dark. Meanwhile, Keith urged me to drink. I picked up the bottle of scotch and started chugging it down. When I finally reached my limit, I threw the bottle aside and ran into the room's attached bathroom. I started hurling.

I heard Keith's voice ring out. "What do you say about that project, Mr. Slater?"

"Bring a contract to my company tomorrow. Someone will attend to you," Donovan said coldly.

"Great! You go ahead and have fun, then. I'll head back to the company to get that contract drafted."

The sound of the door being closed came with the sound of my phone pinging. It was a message from Keith—he'd texted me the pins for the cards he'd given me. I clutched my phone to my chest and cried noiselessly.

Suddenly, the bathroom door flew open. I turned around, fearful as I met Donovan's gaze. He gripped my neck with one hand and lifted me off my feet, pinning me to the wall. He snarled, "Are you even willing to give up your life for money now?"

"It's all thanks to you," I forced out.

Now that I'd already gotten the money, I no longer had to suck up to him. I glared at him as I spoke.

"Geoffrey Gray deserved to die, and you could've chosen to live your life differently. You were the one who chose to work in this place and demean yourself—you can't blame me for that!" he growled.

I laughed derisively and looked away from him. "I knew you were heartless, but you're the only person in this world who doesn't have the right to say my dad deserved what happened to him!"

"Why don't I have the right? Your father refused to repay my father after borrowing money from him, leading to him being bogged down by debt and ultimately jumping off that building. Your father got what was coming to him by dying in the same way!" Donovan's eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze was filled with icy ruthlessness.

His words took me aback. His version of events wasn't the same as what I knew. Dad hadn't gone into detail, but what he'd told me differed from what Donovan had just said.

Donovan's words were filled with hatred, so he didn't sound like he was making things up. It made me start to doubt Dad.

Just then, the liquor started burning in my belly. I clutched my abdomen, looking pained. Donovan ignored me, though. He released me and threw a black card at my face. "Will you do anything as long as you get paid?"

He started tearing my clothes apart, and I struggled to push him away. Then, my stomach cramped so badly I couldn't sit up anymore. I dropped my head and slid down to sit on the floor.

He snapped, "You're willing to do anything as long as others pay you. Why bother acting like a prim and proper princess when you're with me?"

I kept my face devoid of emotion as I muttered, "I work as much as I'm paid, but your black card allows for unlimited spending. I'm not worthy of that, Mr. Slater…"

Suddenly, something metallic surged in my mouth. I spat out a mouthful of blood before passing out.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital's emergency room. I turned to see Donovan sitting by my bedside, his expression icy. "The doctor said you have gastric bleeding. You can't drink anymore."

"I'll be fine after some rest," I said. I had an appointment with Mr. Jones, a real estate mogul. He wasn't easy to deal with, and I'd put in a lot of effort to mollify him.

I sat up and removed the IV needle attached to me. Donovan grabbed my hand, his expression turning hideous. "What the hell are you doing?"

A trace of irritation flashed in my eyes as I pushed him away impatiently. "I'm going to work, of course."

He snorted and looked at me contemptuously. "You're going to pimp yourself out, you mean."

I slapped him without hesitation, making his glasses fly off his face. "You'd better watch your mouth."

He didn't get mad. Instead, he bent down to pick up his glasses. As he wiped them, he said indifferently, "Quit your job and be my mistress. I'll give you a million dollars a month."

I hated him, but being paid a million dollars a month meant I wouldn't need to worry about Mom's medical bills. I said, "I want to sign a contract, and you have to give me the money in the form of a salary, a bonus, or compensation for trips and the like."

A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he soon went back to looking cold and aloof. "Fine. We'll do as you say."