2

Ziyana 

I scurried behind her as we walked to the road. Her sharp movements on the coarse sand were enough to tell me that she meant business. The dress she had thrown to me was too skimpy and tight. For a young lady like me who has a plum figure, the cloth made me look like a pimp.

“How did you know about this job that we are hunting around for?” I asked in worry.

“A friend of mine told me about it. It's high time you started working, I can't keep feeding you forever,” she said and I rolled my eyes at her. For someone who hasn't looked at me with a smile since I met her, she sure knows how to manipulate. I'm sure she was just looking for the perfect way to be done with me.

“This job, what kind of job is it?” I asked.

She stopped abruptly making me collide right into her. I hadn't expected her to stop suddenly and so,I muttered a bit of apology to her. She watched me with pure hate as she squinted her eyes.

“Bartending, she works at a club. Her boss wants more hands.” My heart raced as she said this, the one time I insisted on following dad to a club, I had vowed to never return there again because of how rowdy it was. Women were treated there as if they were objects to be owned. And now she wants me to work in that kind of environment?

“What? You want me to work at a bar?” I asked in shock. “My father might be six feet down the earth but I'm educated. How do you want me to move from being a learned princess to someone who works in such a ridiculous place?” I added in annoyance.

“Listen to me, young lady. You are no longer a princess like your father made you believe. You are nothing now. The earlier you understand that the better. Now move it!” She commanded

“No, I don't want to work at a bar. Plus, I know nothing about bartending. How do you expect me to cope? If this is about the loan sharks, I'll get a better job to pay them, but I won't work at a bar!” I said defiantly, stopping on my tracks.

“Yes, you'll do the job. God help you if you mess this up because I'll deal with you mercilessly. My friend Cara promised that you'd be taught all you need to know. Don't try to mess this up girl, unless maybe you want to go with the rebels then. It's your choice.” She said with distaste. Finally accepting that I was in no place to decide what I wanted, I followed behind meekly.

**********

Cara was already waiting at the front of the club. From outside,I could hear the noise coming from the DJ’s music. Conscious of the eyes on me I started to draw the dress down a bit. It was too revealing for my liking andafe me feel uncomfortable.

Cara glanced at Elena and nudged her. “She's Dario's daughter?” She asked and that caught my attention. She moved closer and hugged me as Elena nodded to her question.

“Oh, your father was a great man. It's such a shame that his life was cut short.” She said,

“Yeahh,I know,” I nodded. Her clothes smelled of sweat and alcohol. But her eyes softened as she gazed at me with empathy. 

“Fret not, I'll teach you all the basics,” she said and beckoned to us to follow her in. Elena walked up to her and they began to talk in hushed tones. It didn't sound well with me but I decided to trust Elena on this. Afterall, we are family.

********”””””

After a while we got to the front of two large doors. Each of these doors has two hefty looking men stood in front of it. One was a black oak while the other was a door I couldn't pinpoint. However,its structure was less frightening than the other. To my surprise, Cara went for the frightening looking one.

“Is this the right place?” I asked in apprehension. Something smells fishy and I was having a tight chest like I had the day my father died. 

“Yes darling,we just have to pass through the door and that would be hall, “Cara answered. She talked to one of the men in hushed tones. My experience over the few months was enough to tell me that conversations in such tones end in disaster.

Elena beckoned to me to come in but I stood rooted on a spot. I took frightening steps backwards and glanced towards where we were coming from.

It's not too late to back off if you don't want to go in, my inner mind said. I was about to turn around and make a run for it when Elena glanced back at me. My expression must have given me up because in one swift movement she got to me and yanked me towards her,her long nails dipped in my skin.

“Leave me alone, you are hurting me" I managed to say but neither of the women was going to have it. Each of them held my hand and struggled with pushing me through the black horrific door. That single behaviour was enough to tell me that I was in the wrong place.

Immediately we stepped in, I knew my guess was right. Nothing in the setting of the room looked like a club. It looked more like a marketplace and more of a gambling den. Every corner of the room had men smoking, gambling and drinking. In another corner of the room sat women and ladies of my age who had masks on their faces and their hands tied. 

My entire appearance gained me looks from the men gambling on the table. Some or them winked at me while some smirked, their eyes dark with desire.

‘What is this place, this isn't a club.” I shouted over the noise 

“Your working place,”Elena replied. The look on her face told me that she knew about it. She didn't look surprised at all. She had been on it from the beginning.

“No…no please. I promise you I'll be of good conduct. I'll listen to you and do whatever you want me to do.” I said in a rush.

“It's too late, Ziyana. We are here now.” She smirked darkly. A man moved to me holding a similar mask as the one the ladies by the corner had but I moved back. I won't allow myself to be ridiculed. I turned around and leapt with fear, running towards the door but I was caught before I got there.

“Leave me alone, you bastard, don't touch me” I screamed, gaining myself attention from those in the room. 

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my neck. Someone had hit me from behind, making me slump into unconsciousness.

***************************

I didn't know how long I was out but as soon as I opened my eyes, I knew that I wasn't the only one in the room. I could hear whimperings beside me and underground noises coming from a speaker. My hands were tied to the back and my eyes blindfolded.

As if on cue, I heard a door open. After a while, my hands were untied and the blindfold was removed too. The room was quite spacious and had beautiful curtains decorating it. I recognised some of the faces there belonged to the ladies I saw earlier. I haven't been able to see the face of the person who untied me.

“And now the hour we've been waiting for,” I heard a boisterous voice from the sound system. The floor we all sat on moved gingerly causing us all to whimper in fright. A light shone from the other side of the room, blinding us all. It became clear that we were on a stage. We were all merchandise waiting to be sold.

Each of the ladies were picked and shown to the crowd of lustful men. Surprisingly,these men called out ridiculous amounts and got the ladies they wanted. 

Finally, it was my turn. I stood up, facing the ground. If there was one thing I was certain of, it would be that no one would buy me for an exorbitant price. I wasn't as slim and tall as most of the girls that had been sold. 

As I stood up and waited for the bidding to start,I smiled victoriously. I couldn't wait to return to Elena and see the dissatisfaction in her eyes when she realized that her plan didn't pan out well.

The auctioneer began slowly, starting from a hundred euros, fifty thousand euros, a hundred thousand euros. I looked up to see the faces of the men and scoffed. I was merely waiting for the auctioneer to do his thing and let me return home.

Finally realising that no one was willing to pay too much for me, he gave me an annoyed look and I stuck out my tongue in triumph.

“50 million euros!” A strong voice came through the crowd and I froze. 

“No..no. That can't be. Just when I thought I was free to go? This had to be a joke!” I thought in agony.