Chapter Two

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I stared into Theo Rodriguez’s cold, unforgiving eyes. Every part of me trembled, but I refused to back down. My father’s life depended on this moment.

“Please,” I began, my voice shaky but growing steadier with each word. “Give me time. I’ll pay the money back. Whatever he owes—I’ll make it right.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Theo let out a sharp, humorless laugh, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade. He shook his head, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. “Do you think this is some pocket change your father owes, cariño?” he sneered, the term sounding more like mockery than endearment. “This isn’t a debt you can cover by skipping a few lattes or selling some trinkets.”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “How much does he owe?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.

Theo smirked, his gaze piercing. “Four million dollars,” he said casually, as if the number was meaningless to him.

Four million. The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. My mind raced, trying to process the enormity of the debt. How had my father gotten into such a mess? How could I even begin to fix this?

I clenched my fists, ignoring the way my chest tightened at his piercing gaze. “I’ll pay it,” I said firmly, though I had no idea how. “By any means necessary. Just please, give me time.”

Theo leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as if searching for a crack in my resolve. “One month,” he said coldly. “I’ll give you thirty days to come up with four million dollars. Not a day more.”

My breath caught in my throat. Thirty days? I barely earned $2,500 a week at my job. Even if I worked nonstop, it would take years to make that kind of money.

“Theo,” I pleaded, my voice softening. “One month isn’t enough. Please… at least give me six months.”

He let out a low, mocking laugh, leaning back in his chair as if my desperation amused him. “Six months? Do you think I run a charity? I’m not here to wait while you scrape pennies together.”

“Please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Just give me a chance.”

Theo’s laughter faded, replaced by an icy seriousness that made my stomach twist. “You have thirty days, cariño,” he said, his tone final. “If you don’t have the money by then, your father will pay the price. And trust me, you won’t like how I collect my debts.”

Theo’s cold eyes bore into mine, his smirk never fading. He turned his head slightly and motioned to one of his men. “Get her out of here. This discussion is over.”

The man stepped forward, his hand outstretched to grab my arm. As he pulled me away, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. The tears I’d been fighting spilled over, hot and fast. My body trembled with the weight of my helplessness.

But as they dragged me toward the door, a thought struck me—maybe there was another way. My heart hammered in my chest, and before I could stop myself, the words were out.

“What if I offer you another deal?” I asked, my voice trembling but laced with desperation.

Theo froze, his sharp eyes narrowing as he turned back to face me. There was a flicker of curiosity in his gaze, like he was intrigued by my audacity. “What other deal?” he asked, his tone cold but somehow amused.

I took a deep breath, my hands shaking, but I couldn’t stop now. “What if I offer myself? I’ll work for you—no salary. Everything I make will go to you. Just please, let my father go.”

For a moment, Theo just stared at me, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Then, his lips curved into a devilish smile, one that sent a chill through my entire body.

“Offer yourself as a pet for a year,” he said, his voice low and playful, like he’d just come up with the perfect solution. “And your father will be free.”

I blinked, confused. “Pet?” I repeated, my voice barely a whisper.

Theo’s eyes darkened with a predatory gleam, his smile turning darker, more dangerous. “Don’t play dumb, cariño,” he said, his tone dripping with contempt and something more dangerous. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

His gaze slid over me, lingering on me in a way that made my skin crawl, and I felt the heat of his stare, full of lust and power. My breath caught in my throat as I realized the gravity of what he was suggesting. He wasn’t talking about working for him in the usual sense. He wanted something more. Something I wasn’t prepared to give.

I felt my pulse race, my heart thundering in my chest as I met Theo’s gaze. His words hung in the air, thick with menace and power, but something inside me snapped. What choice did I have? My father’s life was on the line, and I’d already promised to do whatever it took. Even if it meant surrendering every last piece of myself to him.

I swallowed hard, steeling myself as I nodded, my voice barely a whisper but laced with a new, unexpected resolve. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll be your pet.”

Theo’s dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction, a twisted smile curling on his lips. He stood slowly, his tall frame looming over me, and reached forward to grip my chin with one hand, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. His fingers were like iron, unyielding, forcing me to look into those cold, predatory eyes.

“You think you have the courage to offer yourself to me?” Theo murmured, his voice low and dangerously calm. “You have no idea what you’re getting into.”

I didn’t respond. The words seemed to lodge in my throat, and despite my fear, I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Theo leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “I can’t wait to cut off those wings of yours,” he whispered, his words dripping with a dark promise. “You won’t be flying free for much longer.”

Theo’s grip on my chin tightened, forcing me to meet his gaze. His smirk was cold and calculating, a look that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Take her to the guest room,” Theo ordered, his voice low and commanding. “Make sure she’s comfortable. We’ll discuss the details later.”

One of his men nodded and stepped forward, guiding me toward the door. As I was led away, Theo’s voice rang out behind me, sharp and final.

“And make sure her father knows,” he called, “that his daughter is now my property.”

I froze for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. There was no turning back now.

I stumbled as they dragged me upstairs, my heart pounding with each step. The man who held my arm tightened his grip, making it clear that there was no escape. When we reached the top of the stairs, he led me down a narrow hallway, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

The door to the room was opened, and I was shoved inside. It was big, but plain, the bare walls and lack of decoration making it feel cold and unwelcoming. It looked nothing like a guest room—more like a cage, a place for people like me, as Theo had made clear. There was a large bed in the center of the room, its dark sheets stark against the pale floor.

Before I could even process what was happening, one of Theo’s men stepped forward, locking the door behind me with a heavy, final click. I could hear the sound of the lock turning in place, and the reality of my situation hit me hard.

I was trapped.

My knees gave out, and I sank down onto the bed, my mind racing. There was no turning back now. I was at his mercy, and I had no idea what he planned to do with me. The silence in the room was suffocating, and the only sound I could hear was my own ragged breathing.

I sat on the bed, my hands trembling as I tried to wrap my head around everything that had just happened. I was trapped, alone, and the weight of Theo’s words echoed in my mind.

The room felt colder than it had before, the silence pressing down on me. My phone, which I had barely noticed earlier, buzzed suddenly in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart pounding as I saw the message on the screen.

It was from an unknown number.

“You belong to me now!”

I froze, my stomach dropping. Who else knew? Was there more to this than I realized?

The fear hit me all over again. There was no telling what would happen next.