Chapter 4 - The Beautiful Beast and His Bride

                I counted down the days until I started my mission.

The three with the supporting tasks were told to move two days after I infiltrated the Rios Mafia. Until the day before my flight came, I was already itching to get myself to the airport.

I had packed only a handful of clothing that was thrifted to make sure I looked like the new Fallon I had created for this mission – the frail, penniless, and desperate Fallon Ravestreen. Orphaned at 16, worked as a club maintenance for ten years to make a living, and now fired, forced to come as a girl-for-hire at an auction house.  Now, 28 years old and still penniless, I’m supposed to feel defeated by the world and have given up on life, surrendering my pride to the auction. It’s a good story, and it’s not entirely lies. 

I found out about the new Rios head looking for a wife when Fox found out about his mother’s fortune’s terms.

The young Boss, Jett Rios, was eligible for all the terms but one – where he was required to be married for at least one year. I cringed at the thought of marrying a criminal but thought about how to approach him and offer marriage anyway.

Until Fox informed me one day that Jett Rios had applied to be a buyer at an auction, where girls are brought up for sale. It was an illegal business and ought to be caught for human trafficking, but Fox suggested I take advantage of it for my mission before I report it to Director Morris. I agreed.  

I had bid my farewell to Leo only, her being the only friend I considered—and available during that time—and headed to the airport first thing in the morning the next day. The economy class seats were more than comfortable, and the seat next to me wasn’t occupied which served as the first good thing that happened today.

I landed at the buzzing, busy Las Vegas, and immediately made arrangements to get into the auction. Heading straight to the street where the auction house was, I wore my janitorial uniform and purposely dirtied it with dirt as I looked for a man in overalls who usually visits the convenience store nearby every afternoon to buy drinks. 

Where is he?

I waited for a little longer, ignoring the weird stares I got as a dirty janitor. My eyes brightened when I saw the overalls, his signature outfit, and the familiar face. I made myself comfortable on the flat boxes serving as my bed and fixed the position of my can with coins inside. When he neared, I looked up at him, teary-eyed, and made my lower lip tremble. 

“D-Do you have any change? Any amount will…will be great a-appreciated,” I croaked, voice raspy and weak, like I haven’t had anything to eat for days. Like I wasn’t just on a plane earlier today. 

The gay auctioneer gasped and the disgust in his eyes was quickly replaced with concern. “Oh, my dear! You’re too beautiful to be a beggar! Are you homeless?”

I sniffed and nodded. I don’t really look like a beggar with my ivory pale skin but I’m glad he took the bait. 

“P-Please…I was fired from my job a-and,” I paused to let a tear trickle down my right cheek, “I don’t have a place t-to stay anymore and—“ 

“Oh, God! How awful!” I saw the pity on his face. “I have an auction tonight! I’m confident you’ll be bought at a high price and given a place to stay at your buyer’s house! Come with me!”

I gasped. “Auction?” I slowly shook my head. “N-No… I…I don’t want to be sold…”

He caressed my head. “My heart hurts seeing you like this, darling! You’ll be fed and dressed at your buyer’s house! Don’t worry, they won’t do anything bad to you.”

How tempting for a true female beggar. If only I didn’t know he traffics humans, my heart would’ve warmed at his kind gestures. But I know he was only offering this because I was kind of good-looking. If I was any less attractive, the disgust he first felt for me would stay. But of course, I wasn’t, and this is part of my mission. 

“O-Okay…” I conceded, feigning defeat for losing my pride and accepting to be sold as a possible slave. “I hope…I get a nice buyer…”

After the auction, at Casa Rios… 

I was led inside the mansion, the luxurious interior making my eyes shine with astonishment. The inside was filled with the combination of silver and black, an intricately designed tall ceiling with quartz pillars, the silver marbled floor blinding my eyes and the tall windows outlined by a neat black. It was a perfect mix of modern and neoclassical architecture. Of course, I wouldn’t expect any less from a prominent Spanish millionaire clan’s grand manor. We walked directly straight, following the main hallway, and eventually arrived at a spacious area, probably a drawing room.   

The man in the middle immediately caught my attention. He turned to the entrance, and my breath hitched.

I finally have a better sight of him with the moonlight from the window giving me a good look at his breathtaking features. I knew he was blessed with good looks the moment I saw his shadow earlier at the auction. But seeing it up close is just an entirely different experience. 

Our eyes met and I could feel the intensity of our stare, making the surroundings a blur. Caramel and raven-colored eyes crossed, as I stood there agape while his eyes sparked with interest and amusement. Oddly neat yet unruly long brown hair cascading to just above his shoulders framed his face. Crooked nose as proof of his fighting history and bushy eyebrows. And then he smirked, my eyes darting to the small vertical scar over the right side of his lips, a dimple appearing on his right cheek, and I held my breath. 

“How are you, my bride?” was the first thing he said to me. 

Unconsciously, I envisioned Jaguar’s face over this man’s face, the words replaying in my mind. No, this wasn’t Jaguar. He’s the complete opposite of this man. Jaguar looked clean, and a total gentleman.

The one in front of me looked like a lethal monster – a beast. And to make matters worse, I’m his bride.