01

01:

HAZEL:

I was with my old friends when I received a call from my dad. I actually lived in New York City with my mother. After the divorce from my father, my mother moved back to America. She chose me while my father kept his heir with him. After so many years, I came to Rome to visit my father and my brother.

My dad asked me to come back home as he had some sort of surprise planned for me. Excited, I said my goodbyes and went to see my father. He was nothing like my mother had described him as. He was loving and caring. He was not a selfish and self centered man.

When I got to the apartment, I found my dad sitting on the couch. A cake was placed on the table in the middle of the living room. It was my favorite cake. Black forest.

“You actually remembered the type of cake I love.” I spoke as I made my way toward the couch. He opened one of his arms. I sat down on the couch and snuggled up into my father's arms. I have always wanted to be with my dad. But my mom took me away with her.

She never let me visit my father. But after she passed away from a terminal illness, I came to visit my father without letting anyone from my mother's side know about it. Well, I did it because I wanted to run away from my cheating ex. He had no shame at all.

“Of course, I remembered. You are my baby.” He whispered softly while patting my head gently.

“But why all that?” I asked curiously and he chuckled.

“Your birthday was three months ago. I never got to celebrate your birthday after you were taken away from me by your mother. She wouldn't even pass any of the gifts I sent you, or the calls I made just so I could listen to your voice. I wanted to celebrate your birthday for once.” I could hear the helplessness he went through, in his words.

I couldn't help but feel like my mother was actually wrong. I grabbed his hand and pecked the back of his hand. “Now I am here with you. We can celebrate every single day. I have decided to get a job here and stay here forever.” I excitedly told him about the innocent plan I had made.

My dad lit up the candles on the cake. “Make a wish!” He whispered while patting my head. I closed my eyes, and made a wish to never leave my father's side again. I blew up the candles when I was done making my wish. I cut a slice of the cake and brought it closer to my father's mouth.

He gave me a small smile, almost apologetic. I didn't understand why but I suddenly started feeling very uneasy. I brushed that feeling off. I didn't want to think with my mother's brain. I also took a bite and placed the rest in the box.

I watched my father checking his phone every ten seconds. It made me more paranoid. “Go, get some plates from the kitchen. Your brother is home too.” Dad's voice pulled me out of the oceans of my thoughts. Nodding my head, I hopped off of the couch and walked into the kitchen to grab some plates.

I heard some sounds coming from the door. Picking up the plates, I went toward the living room. The plats fell from my hands because I was grabbed by two huge men who were standing in our living room. “Who are you? Let go of me.” I screamed at the two men who were holding me.

As if they were made of iron, I couldn't shake them off. They were so tall, as if I was captured by giants. One of them stepped forward, toward my father. “No! Stay away from him. Don't you dare touch my dad.” I screamed at him and I started kicking the two who were holding me.

Instead of doing any damage to their legs, I was only hurting myself. I still had to try and save my father. That tall man didn't even spare me a glance. He walked toward my father and slammed a piece of paper in front of my dad.

“Sign the fucking papers, now!” He growled at my dad. My dad didn't even look at the paper. He signed them without reading it.

“I have paid whatever you asked for. Now leave my son alone. You can take her with you.” My heart leapt into my throat as I heard what my father just said to that man. I had no idea what was going on.

“Dad! What is going on? What do you mean?” I asked as I looked at my dad with pleading eyes. Before my dad could answer, someone stuffed a piece of cloth in my mouth, and covered my head with a sack. I couldn't see, I couldn't speak. I was dragged away from my father's place.

It felt like hours, the drive to wherever was never ending. Then again, I was dragged out of the car and they took me somewhere. I could only hear sounds and try to remain calm. Panicking during a panicking situation never helped.

They threw me on the ground. I was trying to breathe calmly. But my heart was running wild. It felt like I was about to have a heart attack in no time. “He didn't have any money, so he decided to keep his apartments. But he paid with better merchandise.” I heard from the same man who was at the apartment.

“Let me see then!” I heard another man, with a deep voice and thick Italian accent. Something that would make a woman's heart tickle, not in an innocent way. The sack was pulled off of my head and I snapped my eyes shut as the light stabbed needles in my eyes.

Once my eyes adjusted with the bright light, I looked around. A man, taller than any of the men present in the room at that time, or the men who kidnapped me from my dad's apartment, was standing in front of me. I was already scared and looking at a giant like him didn't make it easier for me. I spat that piece of cloth out of my mouth.

He leaned forward and placed his index finger under my chin and pulled me up on my feet. As I stood up, he took a step away from me. Then he was walking around me while striping me naked with his eyes.

“Keep your eyes off of me, you pervert.” I yelled at him angrily. Not a smart move, I know. But I had to pure it out on someone. I was just kidnapped. And my dad did nothing to protect me. All of a sudden, I watched his eyes darkening. He grabbed the back of my neck and I gasped when he pulled me to his tall figure.

He grabbed my ass and pushed him away. “I said, stay away from me, you pervert.” I yelled at him again and pushed him away. Well, I tried.

“She doesn't know anything, Boss.” The same man who gave my dad a paper to sign, spoke from behind. The man who was referred to as a boss, signalled everyone to leave. My heart sank in the pit of my stomach as everyone left. I wanted to follow them but the boss was holding my arm, keeping me from leaving.

Once everyone left, he took me toward his desk. I was forced to sit on a chair. Then he placed that same piece of paper in front of me, that my dad signed before I was kidnapped. “You can read, can't you?” He asked me and I nodded my head.

“Then fucking read!” He growled, tapping in the paper. I started reading. It's an agreement that stated that in exchange for sparing my brother's life, my father gave me up as a collateral. My heart sank in the pit of my stomach as I read the same lines again and again.

He tapped on the paper again, gesturing to me to read further down. Gulping down the lump in my throat, I started reading further. The paper stated that I officially belonged to someone named Don Raphael Varlett. I shall live my life as per his wishes.

Anger wasn't the emotion I felt bubbling in my chest. It was fear. Words like owned, slave, scared the crap out of me. “I don't accept any of that. I'm an adult. You didn't ask me if I wanted to sacrifice myself. And I didn't do anything to deserve this. I am here as a tourist. I'm here to visit my dad. Not to be sold to a pervert for something my brother did.” I growled at him in anger as the fear started to squeeze my heart.

I wasn't even aware of what my brother actually did to deserve a punishment like that. When I was done talking, only then I realized that I had been holding my breath for too long. I was huffing and I noticed how his eyes were on my chest. I wrapped my arms above my chest to hide my cleavage from his dirty and stripping gaze.

He chuckled, as if whatever I just yelled at him, somehow amused him. It angered me more. Or Maybe it was just fear that I felt. All I knew, I wanted to get away from that pervert as soon as possible.