Won't You Explain Why You Are in the Men's Room!

Eleanor Vance POV

My father had called several times while I was talking to Mr. Julian. Now he was calling again. Before the phone stopped ringing, I took a deep breath and answered him. I didn't want to, but I had no choice.

"What do you want, Father?"

"Is this how a good daughter answers her father? You hurt my feelings, Eleanor."

His disgusting voice crawled into my ears. It made my face twist with hate. I narrowed my eyes. He was faking his sadness. It made me so angry. I sighed and called him the worst names I had ever heard.

He laughed. He actually enjoyed it. Then he asked me a question that made me confused.

"Where are you right now?"

I frowned. Why would he ask me that? Since when does my father care about where I am? It was almost funny.

"Why are you asking?"

"You are at the party, obviously! Well, since they are on their way to you, let me tell you some happy news, my daughter."

I looked around. I didn't understand what he was talking about. What happy news? And who was coming here?

I felt a rush of fear and panic. His crazy laughter on the phone made my blood run cold. Then he said the words that made my body freeze.

"To be quick, because I don't want to waste our time, I made a bet. Sadly, I lost. A few hours ago, I asked you to send me the money to pay it off. But you thought you were smart. You refused to send it. So, I had no choice but to put my dear daughter up as the payment for my loss."

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. It felt like someone had thrown ice water over my whole body. The phone shook in my hand. It almost fell. I don't know how I stayed standing. I gripped the phone so hard that my knuckles turned white.

What on earth was this man saying?! What bet? What did he mean he bet me?! God... what was happening?!

"I don't understand. What do you mean you bet me?!"

My voice was shaking. My body felt like it was made of thin paper. I tried to stay calm. I tried to tell myself this was impossible.

"You stopped giving me money, didn't you? Since I can't get it from you, I can just use the girl who has the money as the bet instead."

He said it so simply. He sounded so calm. It was like he was betting a piece of furniture, not a human being with a soul.

"And because I know how much you love your stupid sister, I bet both of you together. I got a very good price for each of you."

He laughed again. He didn't care at all.

Did he really bet Ivy too?! Was he joking?! He told me he sold both of us. He said he got even more money because of our pretty faces.

He was talking like he was proud of it! Like he had won a great deal! Why was he talking about us like we were things to be bought and sold?!

My breath became fast and heavy. I couldn't stand anymore. My legs gave out. I fell to the ground. Tears started falling from my eyes. He didn't really do this, right? He has to be joking.

No father can sell his own daughters. No father can turn them into whores so easily!! No, no. This isn't real. It's impossible. My father wouldn't do this, no matter how bad he is. Right?

"Tell me you're joking! Please..."

I begged him. I was crying. My hands were shaking around the phone.

But his laughter on the other end told me the truth. He wasn't joking. He really didn't care about what would happen to his daughters. What kind of father was he?!

"How could you put me and my sister in a gambling bet, Father?!"

My mouth shook. My eyes were burning with hot tears. They ran down my cheeks. I was shocked. I was angry.

I couldn't take it anymore. I was sick of this man. He never stops destroying my life. Every chance he gets, he ruins everything for me and Ivy. It was like we were born just to suffer.

I collapsed into a ball on the floor. I gripped my dress. I felt so helpless. All he did was sound bored on the phone. He was tired of talking to me! He was acting like he sold animals, not his children!

"Don't give me a headache, girl! Good luck to you and your sister, my dear Eleanor!"

He said those words so casually. Then he hung up. He didn't want to hear another word. I looked around the empty air. I felt lost. My tears came faster and faster.

I gasped for air. I shook my head. I cried until my whole body was shaking with fear. I didn't know what to do! How could I escape this? How could I survive?

My mind was full of questions but no answers. How could I run from the fate my father wrote for me? And my little sister!! Ivy!

I jumped up in a panic when I remembered her. I searched for her name in my phone. My hands were shaking. My tears wouldn't stop. After a few seconds, Ivy answered.

"Listen to me, Ivy! We have no time! Pack all your clothes. Take all the money you have, and take my money too. Leave the house right now! Go to the Cotswolds countryside fast!"

I talked so fast she couldn't say anything. She was terrified. She could hear the crying in my voice.

"What is it, Eleanor!! What happened?!"

"No time, Ivy! Please... just do what I said and leave the house now!!"

She understood it was serious. She ran to her room to grab her things while she was still on the phone. I tried to tell her everything was okay. I didn't want her to panic more than she already was.

I wiped my tears with my hand. I tried to find some strength. All I wanted was to run away. I wanted to go somewhere where no one could find me. Especially not the men who bought me.

I moved to leave. Then I saw a huge black car. Large men stepped out of it. The moment I saw them, I remembered what my father said. These were the men coming to take me.

Panic hit me. My heart raced so fast I thought I would fall. I leaned against the wall. I was terrified. Then I ran toward the hotel gate. I had to hide inside.

"If I go inside, they can't get past the security."

It was my only way to be safe! I ran to the security gate. I opened my bag to find my ID card. I looked through everything quickly. But it wasn't there!!

I pulled my hair back hard. My heart was pounding. My blood was hot with adrenaline. I looked through the bag again and again. It was gone!

"Where the hell is it?! I had it just a minute ago! Where did it go?!"

I looked around in fear. I saw the men. They were spreading out. They were waiting for me to show up so they could grab me!

Tears of fear filled my eyes. My hands were shaking as I searched my bag for the thousandth time. It was really gone. I closed my eyes. I was losing my mind. I tried to be calm and find a way out.

"How am I going to get out of this?!"

There was no time to think. Every second made them closer to me.

"There is only one way."

I ran as fast as I could. I didn't care about my high heels biting into my feet. I reached the men's bathroom right next to the main gate. It was the only place I could hide.

I rushed inside. My hair was a mess. My face was red from crying and panic. My breath sounded like a dying animal. My chest was moving up and down wildly.

I slammed the door shut behind me. I leaned against it. I was shaking. I closed my eyes and tried to find my balance. My heart was beating like a war drum in my ears.

I could only think about the men outside. Did they see me? Would they break the door down?

Suddenly, a deep voice broke the silence. It was cold like a sharp blade. It made the blood freeze in my veins.

"Won't you explain why you are in the men's room... Miss Vance?"

I froze. I felt the cold marble behind my back. I opened my eyes slowly. I saw Julian Blackwood. He was standing at one of the sinks. He was drying his hands slowly with a paper towel. His dark eyes were watching every bit of fear in my soul through the large mirror.