Chapter One: The Purchasing

She didn't know how she ended up with a place like that. She was only trying to find food. Her stomach was hurting so bad from hunger. Someone offered her food but she didn't realise it was only a trap to capture her. Now, she was lined up together with the girls that had also been abducted like her.

They were being cleaned, starting from their heads and to their toes. The people who abducted them made sure they were clean and good enough before they ushered them towards the dressing room. They put some makeup on their faces before they dress them up with some tiny clothes, barely covering their bodies.

It was cold and made Margarette shiver, though she paid no mind to it. The moment they were pushed through a platform, her attention was no longer focused on the discomfort she had. Instead, her focus was disrupted by the cries of the girls she was with. They have been crying since they were in the cell, shaking in fear and distress. 

She was supposed to feel the same way like them, but she can't find it in her heart to cry. She has nowhere to go, anyway. She doesn't have home, money, and even food to feed herself. When she was abducted, they offered her food and she was able to eat delicious food. That's the only thing that matters to her. To survive.

"Number 27, sold for 20,000 dollars to Mr. Alejandro David! Round of applause!" the host exclaimed.

People cheered and clapped their hands. Some were grunting as someone lost the bidding. She realised that these people were wealthy. 

She smiled to herself.

"Why are you smiling, you idiot?" the girl next to her hissed, gritting her teeth in annoyance.

Margarette blinked her eyes innocently, unaware of the anger radiating off of the woman next to her.

"Are you happy that we're being molested like this? Getting sold off to maniac strangers?" the woman whispered angrily.

She shook her head. "No..."

"Then stop smiling. You're making me want to slap you," the woman said, tears visible in her eyes. She was scared and angry, and she could only vent it out to Margarette.

Margarette lowered her eyes to the ground. She was just happy. Happy that despite the fact that they're going to be sold off, at least to those wealthy people. They can surely provide her a home and food.

She fell silent. Fortunate to her but unfortunate to the other girls. They have family and their family were probably worried sick for them.

She doesn't know what to feel. She doesn't know how the world works. Being isolated since she was born, Margarette only knew a few things even being home schooled her entire life. Her teachers didn't teach her something like this.

If only she was able to live normally, then she would have known how to react accordingly to the situation. But unfortunately, she can't. 

She stared determinedly at the floor. At least, she got to free herself from their house. She's finally outside and she's not going to go back.

Suddenly, a shiver ran down her spine. She could blame it on the cold air-conditioner, but she knew it wasn't because of it. 

She could see a pair of eyes on her, watching her intensely. Despite the countless hungry gazes from the people surrounding them, Margarette never actually felt being observed. But this one was different.

She didn't raise her head to look up, stubbornly glaring at the floor beneath her. The feeling of being watched makes her feel somewhat tense. It was an odd feeling. It gives her goosebumps, though not in a bad way.

Finally, after some time, the odd feeling faded away. It seems like she was only imagining things. She blinked her eyes. 

She didn't realise that time flew quickly. Now, the girl who stood next to her was dragged in the middle and was up for the bidding.

People started to fight over her. The bidding started from 10,000 dollars, to 20k, 30k, until she was sold off for 100,000 dollars.

"Wow! What a good price! Absolutely incredible! Thank you, gentlemen. Now, I'm pretty sure you all have been anticipating our next girl. So without further delay, let's begin our next bidding!"

She was pulled in the middle by a staff member. She tried not to wince at his tight grip on her arm. He was just so strong and aggressive.

The host began telling some basic information about herself, particularly about her age, height, weight, size, and her name except her surname.

People began cheering. Her price starts from 15,000 dollars. Someone raised their hands to buy her, but another man beat him up for 20,000. Another man beat the other and so on. People began raising their prices until it went up for about half a million dollars.

The host gasps when people become silent. Obviously, they don't want to risk such a huge amount for a mere girl. But some people were too prideful to lose such a bet so they kept fighting and raising their prices.

Someone raised their hand. "750,000. I'll take her," said a stranger.

Margarette followed where the voice came from and saw a tall, handsome man. She locked eyes with him. He winked at her.

The host clapped her hands in glee. Her eyes were twinkling with happiness and greed for money. "750,000 dollars! Going once, going twice—"

"No. I'll have her." 

Everyone turned their eyes towards the entrance where the voice came from. There was a man in black tux. He was tall and lean, despite the slight light illuminating from the platform, she could vaguely see an image of him. He was handsome and totally attractive.

His voice was gruff, as if he hadn't spoken for years. There was no expression on his face, like a robot void of any emotion.

The people began to part their ways as the man began to step forward.

"1.5 million. I'll take her with me," he spoke once again, making Margarette shivered. Her eyes met his. He was a dangerously handsome guy. Margarette has never seen someone as perfect as he was.

The host chuckled nervously. "O-O-One and half million. Going once—"

"2 million. I got her first," the man earlier said. He glared at the man with black tux.

"3 million. I said I will have her."

"4 million."

"5 million."

"10 million."

The first man went silent. He glared at the man with a tux. There was rivalry between them. A competition. They shared a look to each other, a knowing one. There was a smug smile beginning to form from the corner of the man in tux's lips.

"I guess I will be having her," he said tauntingly. A smirk was already plastered on his face, making the other guy glare at him more intensely.

"You're gonna regret it... brother." With that being said, the first guy turned around and exited the establishment with a slam of the door.

"Guess we already have a new owner! Congratulations, Mr. Ivanov, and thank you for purchasing one of our goods! We will take her papers and give her to you afterwards."

The host began to give orders to their people. Margarette was taken to the back stage. The host hugged her happily and wished her a good life ahead, though it was rather sinister.

After a couple of minutes, she was rushed out of the stage. A few armed men surrounded her and guided her through the way out of the establishment. A cuff was wrapped around her waist. She wasn't even able to dress up. She was still on her undies.

"Boss, she's here." 

The man who purchased her nodded his head. His back was facing on her

"Get her in the car."

His men nodded again before obeying his words. They pushed her in the car uncarefully. She grunted in pain when her bum hit the corner of the door.

Her owner followed her inside the car. He didn't even spare her a glance as he leaned his back against the backrest, closing his eyes.

"It hurts..." she mumbled, her lips turning into a pout as she caressed her hip.

"Quiet." 

Margarette flinched upon hearing his voice. It was rasp, low and dangerous. It sent shivers down her spine. Her heartbeat sped up and her throat dried up. Instinctively, she backed away from him.

The man clenched his jaw. He opened his eyes and looked at her angrily. His blue eyes darted towards her black ones.

"Why did you purchase me?" was the first thing Margarette asked. She didn't mean to ask, but it came out unintentionally.

Now facing the man who purchased her, she noticed how sinfully attractive he was. He has dark, brown hair, thick eyebrows, sharp nose, and a stubble around his face which made him look intimidating. His blue eyes were fixated to her, seemingly pulling her into its abyssal point, drowning her, and she found herself getting mesmerised by it.

"I don't like being asked," he spoke dangerously, looking at her coldly. 

Margarette silently whimpered at his tone, backing slightly away from him until her bare back hit the window.

"Sorry..." she whispered. "My name is Margarette."

He nodded his head and averted his gaze towards the window. "Margarette..." he repeated. Her name coming from his mouth seemed oddly pleasing to her ears. She smiled and nodded her head happily. But that smile eventually vanished when he continued. "Margarette... What a good name to ruin."