The dinner was a bore to Arya. All that was going on was an auction, men eating and drinking and talking business but everything they said was a bit coded. It was from the conversation however that she discovered Juan was into the wine business; he had a vinefields of grapes and had orchards across several countries. His enemy Dominic was also into a similar business but they had illegal businesses she could not really get wind of from the conversation. "Excuse me," Arya mumbled to Juan standing up. She had already found a way to escape from him. She would go to the restroom and that way he wouldn't be able follow her. Instead of going to the restroom, she would find an exit and run away. "Where are you going love?" He asked in a sensual voice standing and putting his hand on the small of her back. "I need to use the restroom," she smiled at him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be right back love."Juan did not miss the sarcastic tone when she called him 'love'. "Let's go."
"Juan," Arya said in a trembling voice as she stood up and backed away from him. "I—""Explain yourself," he said in a dangerously calm voice, moving towards her. He trapped her against the wall with his hand placed above his head; his talk frame loomed over her making Arya feel so small. She swallowed hard and whimpered softly. Everything had been going well so how the hell had Juan known where to find her?"I just... Needed some fresh air," she lied, looking away from him. He was obviously not going to believe her but she decided to push her luck. "And somehow you ended up at a jeweller's trying to sell what I gave you?" He raised his brows. "No-no.""That's what it looks like angel, or should I say devil?""I run this city mio Angelo. There's no place you run to that I won't find out." His thumb caressed her cheeks softly. "I'll make sure to punish you," he murmured in a menacing way.Those words sent a shiver down Arya's spine because somehow, she knew he would be true to his w
"You don't tell me what to do." "Let's go for a drive. I think you need to see for yourself what I do to people who don't obey my words." "I'm not going anywhere with you," she said defiantly. "I make the rules here angel, do you want to be carried again?" Huffing in annoyance, she began to follow him. On getting the car he opened it for her before getting in. He drove through the city in silence, his free hand resting on her thigh. Arya tried removing it severally but it was to no avail as he was unloved by her actions. After a while, she let it be. The city began to fade away soon and they were surrounded by water on the left and trees on the right side. As they journeyed on, the water was sparse and the trees began to dwindle. Poorly constructed houses began to appear at intervals till they got to a sight that was in ruins. A path however has been carved into that place and Juan drove through it till they got to a place packed with trees and a lot of foliage where there
"Juan," Arya gasped, turning to face him. "What?" He lifted his eyebrows. "I put him out of his misery like you wanted."He carried her from his lap onto his shoulders as he stood up. With a nod that said a thousand words to his men, he strolled out of the dilapidated building.They began to trudge the path they had come only for Juan to suddenly halt in his tracks. He gently put Arya onto her feet and motioned for her to be quiet and stay put.He trod carefully on the path, making sure to barely make a sound as he peeked through the bushes. With a furrowing of his brows, he dialled a number on his phone and murmured words that Arya couldn't hear. "Stay behind me love," Juan said. "I'll have my men watch your back," he told a confused Arya. Clasping her hand in his, he led her back to where his car had been parked. Juan scrutinized it suspiciously; everything about his car looked fine but the footprints he had noticed did not belong to the boots of his men. He made sure they all ha
Juan Moreno sat at a table in the crowded bar. It was one of the minor establishments he kept just for the fun of it.A pole dancer was entertaining the men who sat drinking, smoking and jesting but his eyes were focused somewhere else. There was a young waitress who was pouring an old man a glass of wine. She smiled at him, her green eyes lighting up beautifully."You are beautiful," the old man said in English. It was obvious he was American."Thank you."He wondered if she were American from her looks and the way she talked. He shook his head, an American couldn't come to Italy just to work as a waitress in a bar. Those Westerners were usually in Italy for tourism. He signalled for her to come over but just then, the man who was owing him millions showed up. His name was Diego and his face was scarred and his eyes swollen."Hey," Diego greeted in Italian. "Sorry for not coming in a while, I got busy with... Life.""I was thinking you did not want to pay my millions," Juan said with
"Own her?" Juan scoffed. "Don't play games with me old man. What the hell do you mean by own her?" "Well, she's my daughter. So technically I own her." Juan was silent as he felt rage brewing inside of him. "Look she's beautiful. Lots of men will pay to see her. You can put her on your exclusive whore list and make millions from—" Diego did not get to complete his statement before his head was slammed into the table. "You bastard!" Juan roared angrily. Seeing as people watched, he reduced his voice to a calm and dangerous whisper. "Your daughter but you want to sell her off as a sex slave? You are despicable." He hissed. "What kind of father does that to their daughter?" "Hey boss, it is—" "I do not want to hear anything from you. I give you two weeks to pay off your debt with interest," Juan hissed in his ears. "Failure to do that means I harvest your organs and don't even think of running away, I will find you," "Yes boss," Diego whispered in fear. "Now get out!" Commanded
Juan could not get his mind off Arya. Even as he was on a drive back to his den with his girlfriend, she was almost invisible. Her unnecessary chatter was boring him to death so he zoned out and thought of the beautiful blonde girl at the bar. He wondered what her life was really like at home. If Diego has been telling the truth about her being his daughter, then he couldn't help but conclude that her life was hell at home. With her job at the bar, there was no way she could afford to survive and her father was surely a burden to her. "What are you thinking of Juan? I've been talking to you but you haven't responded.""I'm sorry," Juan sighed. "My mind is preoccupied. What were you saying."He wanted to tell his girlfriend to shut up but he was not ready for a round of nagging from her about how he constantly neglected her so he had to dance to her tunes sometimes. In truth, they were not really dating. Juan had never asked her to be his girlfriend, rather she had assumed it and he
"Four million pounds." Diego owed Juan only two million pounds, but he needed money to get by for a while. He knew that the money was a spare change for Dominic. It was also spare change to Juan but Juan was very prudent and money conscious. He did not dispense money easily as Dominic did. One could even say Juan was a miser sometimes. "That is a lot of money you're asking for," Dominic whistled, sitting straight in his seat. "It's just a beautiful girl." "A beautiful girl that your rival wants who can potentially make him close to billions," Diego replied. He knew that the mention of Dominic's rival would spur him to make the purchase. "Valid point but I can't pay that high," answered Dominic. "It is too high." "Anything lower than four million pounds is low," countered Diego with a smile. "I can always get her if I want to, without your help." "We've agreed that what I told you was worthy so either with my help or not, you are meant to pay me." "I can decide not to pay you,"