Chapter 2

SARAH

  I gulped heavily, my hands suddenly shaky and sweat beads forming all around my temple.

Daniel looked like he could actually cry or maybe I was just being hyperbolic but he did look teary.

My eyes narrowed down to the brooding profile of the mysterious young man that just bought me as he walked right through the crowd and disappeared into the darker part of the hall like a mist.

Who was he?  The aura that emitted from him was nothing short of scary, authoritative and powerful.

Those steel brown eyes held nothing but disgust and contempt as he stared right at me. From the look of things, I was in yet the hands of another cruel, sadistic owner for a tumultuous year.

God help me.

Daniel was about approaching me on the podium but Mr Dave was quick to drag me away and out of the stage. 

"You are so lucky..." he grinned from ear to ear, as he took me to the dressing room. 

That was where I would take my few belongings and bid farewell to this hell of a place. From fry pan to fire.

"And why do you say so?" I scoffed.

"Because that man is one of our most wealthiest partners. He barely comes here but when he does, he pays such a huge amount. He got you for thirty million! Imagine how much I'd pay you and how much he might generously give you in between that one year of working for him" 

 His inflection when he mentioned 'generously' gave me frightening chills. That man did not look like a man that gave out free things and especially not money. Nothing free was given in this world and not to me. I've learnt that the hard way.

But I guess he was right. Given how sly and greedy Dave is, he would probably give me about five million out of it.

That should be enough to cover my brother's tuition and grandma's bills.

Hopefully.

Quickly, Dave shoved me into the dressing room, "I'll be back with the contract papers. Be ready before then!" He yelled harshly.

I rolled my eyes and let out a hiss. Barely a minute had gone by when the  door swung open and three girls walked in giggling to themselves.  They were my colleagues but we were more of acquaintances than friends.

Sofia was my only true friend.

They were not up for auctioning tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

"So princess, we heard who bought you tonight" one whom everyone referred to as Queen B said, twisting a strand of her curly ginger hair around her index finger.

"Yes. He looks frightening" I replied, packing up my things and clearly not interested in whatever they were to say.

"You are so lucky damn. He bought me three years ago and man I enjoyed every bit of him. I wish he would keep me forever. I'd never need to work but he is such a dickhead and he never repeats girls" another groaned, causing them to titter.

So my guts were right after all. 

God please I can not go through another trauma of sexual abuse.

"Listen..." Queen B pulled me by the arm. "You are so lucky and you have no idea. He is so damn rich and powerful. And fuck on bed,..." she sang eulogies of him.

I yanked my hands away from hers, irritation playing on my face,"How can you talk about all these with no shame? You easily opened your legs for him. Do you realise he would put you all as part of the trophies he got for free? How can you even be so happy telling me this? And you can't say you weren't physically abused over there!" 

"Hey! You little brat!" The third girl sneered, "Do not lecture us about shame. Because you are exactly like us!" 

"I am not like you!" I protested.

"Lie to yourself more and more" the second gave me a saucy look.

"And if you aren't like one of us, then why are you here? Fuck the farcade shit Mr Dave and his minions are playing on how they offer us as maids to families in need  of maids. We all know this is a lowkey sex trade. And you are part of it. Yet you lecture us about shame? We are better than you do you know that?" Queen B mocked me.

"Oh really?" I laughed.

"Yes. Because unlike you we come out clean and we don't hide what we do. We accept our job and we do it. That's our source of living and providing for our families but you? You hide what you are and you go about carrying yourself like a saint! Like you haven't been fucked like the whore that you are!" 

In the blink of an eye, I slapped Queen B so hard that she fell back, causing gasps to leave the parted lips of her friends.

"Don't you ever call me a whore you got that? Just because you do it doesn't mean everyone else does it!" I warned.

"How dare you!" She attempted to hit me but Mr Dave walked in right on time causing her fist to hang in mid air.

"What in the world is going on here?" He asked astonished.

The atmosphere was tensed, our dagger eyes glaring at each other. 

"Ask your buttercup" Queen B scoffed before walking away angrily with her counterparts.

For some reasons unknown to me, Mr Dave was always lenient and never raised his voice at her. She seemed to be his favourite out of the hundreds of girls here. 

Well it was none of my business anyway. 

"Fuck all that. Anyways sign these papers. They aren't new to you. Afterwards I'd send it to your new owner to sign it too" Mr Dave demanded brushing away Queen B's rudeness.

  I sighed and took the papers and pen from his hand, applying my signature in everywhere needed.

"Great" he snatched the papers from my hands almost tearing it. It was like he was eager to send me off. Well the sooner I left, the sooner he got his money.

"Once he signs it you would officially be his" Mr Dave grinned.

The door swung open again, this time revealing a muscular figure. It was that same guard my new owner instructed to bring me to him.

He stood at the entrance of the door, his look intimidating. He was on an all black outfit accompanied by a handgun in his pocket, a dagger and a ski-mask.

"Mr Romano needs you" he said to me, his baritone voice so deep.

"S-sure. Let me just pack..." 

"Now. He doesn't like to be kept waiting" He sharply cut me short, his voice exuding a command one would not want to disobey.

I gulped hard.

"Ofcourse. Sarah go now" Mr Dave spoke on my behalf, oblivious of the discomfort I was passing through.

Taking in deep breaths, I walked out the door with him.

We walked through the dark hallway, taking multiple twists and turns until we got in front of a beautifully designed red door.

It was one of the private lounges, reserved for the most wealthy individuals who dropped by here once in a while. 

Pushing the door open for me, I walked in with calculated steps. 

The interior was stunning; marble walls and a chandelier in the middle lit up the lounge with soft, beautiful lights. A small podium was placed at the center too.

The guard bowed his head and left me with my mysterious owner, closing the door behind him.

Right there, seated on a glittering golden king sized couch was that same man, Mr Romano, as the guard said.

  He looked more intimidating than the first time I saw him out there in the hall.

My heart drummed so fast and loud that it felt like the entire world could hear it!

A wave of silence followed, creating a tornado of emotions within me whilst my heart hammered heavily against my chest.

I accessed his ominous profile as he did so with mine, his eyes literally undressing me. 

 "Come closer gattina" he huskily rasped, puffing out cigarette smoke from his mouth whilst twirling his cigar between his slender fingers.

I tried to suppress the growing urge to runaway and walk steadily towards him as he sat with legs apart like some sort of king.

The moment I was in close proximity from where he sat, he bit his bottom lips seductively, a dark brooding look in his brown eyes.

"È una bambola timida e sexy" he throatily groaned.

"What?" I asked, my brows creasing. 

He stood up at once, his height towering above my brief stature.

Without a heads up, he wrapped a hand around my throat almost making me scream out of fright.

"Shush. Don't make a noise" he placed his index finger across my lips causing me to seal my lips tight.

Fuck. What kind of sick man is this!?

Heavens knows I am beyond scared right now but I'd try to mask it up by putting up a brave exterior.

"What are you doing?" I asked. His grip on my neck grew tighter and I found myself clamouring for air.

"Bella bambola, what is your name?" His accent easily rolled off his tongue. That sounds Italian.

"Sarah sir" I replied, hoping he would let go of my neck.

His lips curved upwards, his sinister smile now evident. "So soft" his minty breath caressed my lips whilst his fingers pulsed warmth on my neck. 

"Get naked for me" he ordered out of the blue.

Hell no!