Chapter 1_ The Auction

LEILA

"Move it, bitch!" A grumpy voice ordered me as two huge hands dragged me away with them. I almost couldn't catch up as they pulled me roughly.

We reached a place and they pushed me onto the floor. I could feel my knees hurt from it. The stench of alcohol welcomed my nose, followed by the noise of people whistling and music playing. The choking smell of smoke wasn't left out from this experience of mine. Even though I was blindfolded, I knew exactly where I was. I was taken to the clubhouse and now I was on the stage, ready to be auctioned. I wasn't surprised that I was going to be sold off like a piece of shoe or clothing. That has been the fate of any of us who refused to sell drugs for Mr. Ardente. Ever since my parents were killed, I was raised by my aunt who has done nothing but hate me. Two years ago, she sold me off to Mr. Ardente as a slave. He tried to force me into doing prostitution and drug trafficking but I wouldn't succumb to his demands. Instead, I strip dance for men every night.

Other girls like me who refuse or fail to succeed in any of his evil errands were either sold or punished. I already knew my fate from the start, so I wasn't surprised. My only hope was to be able to escape this place.

"Here, we have a pretty one." A man, who appeared to be Mr. Ardente, yelled.

"A petite brunette, beautiful, twenty-one years old, and to top it all up, she is a virgin" He announced through gritted teeth. I couldn't see the expression on his face but I could guess that he had his normal evil grin. I felt like strangling him but I wasn't privileged to. All I wanted was to leave this place and try and escape from whoever that buys me. At least, that was a good plan. With my hands tied behind me, I was made to kneel down on the so-called auction stage, waiting for someone to purchase me.

"$2 million is the starting price for the bidding" Mr. Ardente yelled..

"$3 million" someone else yelled.

"$5 million… I want her.. I've never tasted a Virgin…" The man who yelled revealed.

"$8 million… I want her too" another man claimed.

The first man didn't give up.

$10 million.. I must have this woman." The same man yelled.

I was stunned to find out that I was worth this much. I never expected that anyone would pay this amount just to get me. Was it really because of my Virginity? Well, he wasn't going to have me, because I have it all planned out when I get out of this place.

$10 million, is the last bidding price tagged to this pretty one. Is there anyone else who would like to bid? " Mr. Ardente asked. The whole place went silent immediately. No one else wanted to bid. Of course, it was stupid for someone to try and purchase me for such a hilarious amount.

"$10 million…. It is then…."

Just when I thought that I had been bought by the lustful man, someone else made a bid.

"$50 million" A cold, husky voice declared.

There was a dead silence in the club instantly. Even the music was paused.

"Did I just hear correctly? Did someone bid for $50 million?" Ardente asked.

I was also shocked. I could've sworn that I heard someone yell out fifty Million.

"Yes, you heard well. I'm bidding for fifty million " the man declared again. His voice was domineering. For him to bid such a huge amount, I wondered what kind of person he was. For a moment, I contemplated if I would be able to escape someone who had just offered to pay $50 million for me.

" A whopping sum of fifty million has been offered for our precious virgin…. Anyone else wants to make a bid?"

I found Mr. Ardente's question to be hilarious. Who would want to bid for more than fifty million. That was a huge amount of money.

"Fifty million going at once… SOLD!" He finally declared. The two men from earlier returned to take me away. I could tell from their roughness.

I fell on the floor as I was pushed into a room. My blindfolds weren't taken off, but my hands have been untied. I quickly took off my blindfolds and I realized that I have been locked up in one of the VIP rooms in the club. I was curious and anxious at the same time. I had to make calculations about my escape plan. The fact that I was bought for such a price made me understand that I shouldn't underestimate my buyer. I wondered about the kind of person he was. At that same time, I grew more frightened.

I was paced forth and back in the room when the door was pushed open, revealing two men in dark suits. One, who had a cold look on his face, and the other, maintained a normal facial expression.

They came at me, but I was determined to fight them.

"Don't come near me" I yelled, trying to fight them. One of them tied back my blindfold and I was eventually taken away by them. After a while, I realized that I was taken to a car. They forced me inside and shut the door. The car didn't move for a while. Although I was blindfolded, I could still feel a presence in the car with me.

"Who's here?" I asked. I was beginning to get nervous. My heart beats fastly in my chest.

"Are you going to remain cowardly and not reply to me? Are you scared of me?" I began to make threats..

"Don't be too forward.. Leila" the man finally spoke. I recognized his voice from the bidding earlier. He was… the purchaser.

"I am being too forward? You are the one who bought an ordinary woman for fifty million. How hilarious" I retorted.

"Oh.. right? How much do you think you are worth?" He asked me.

"What do you think? How much am I worth?"

"Don't answer my questions with questions, Leila.." He cautioned me. The way he called my name, it sounded as if he knew me personally. But I guessed that it was Mr. Ardente who would tell him my name.

"What do you want from me? Why did you decide to purchase me? " I asked. There was a long silence from him. He didn't reply to my question but I heard him move. I felt his cold palm on my thighs, I shifted away a bit and folded my legs tight. His hot breath came behind my ear..

"Do you really want to know?" He whispered and tightened his grip on my thigh.

"Let fucking go of me" I kicked. I felt his grip stop me.

"How dare you try to hit me?" He yelled at me angrily. His husky voice was supposed to make me fear him but I don't. Instead I was disappointed at his actions earlier.

"It wasn't my fault, you touched me first" I claimed.

"What?"

"Yes, you shouldn't have.." I said,

"Look, Leila, you shouldn't tell me what to do with you, I bought you, so you are mine"

"No.. I'm not yours, I will never be" I declared. He grabbed my hair tight and pulled me close. Our faces were now closer to each other's, his hot breath caressed my face. I feared that he was going to touch me or something. I tried to struggle but I only increased the pain I felt in my hair as his grip tightened.

"Ahhh" I shouted.

"You're hurting me" I cried.

He wasn't releasing his grip on me.

"Listen to me, you.. are.. mine!" He declared.

"Do you understand?" He asked and I nodded quickly. Just then, he let go of me.

The door opened and I heard his footsteps. He left me alone in the car. Soon, someone else joined me in the car. I could tell that it wasn't him, the cologne was different.