2. Who, what, where & why?

"Get in," says the man who Mea was yet to even know his name. He had beaten up the men, paid them double and carefully dragged her out of the bar. Apparently, his car was parked some feets away from the bar. And now she could see why he could pay three hundred thousand euros without blinking. His car was exquisite.

Who was he? What did he want with her? Why was he taking her? Hell! Where was he taking her?

"Get in," he said again. This time a little harsher than the first. Mea looked from the car to the man who stood behind her, goading her to enter his car.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" she managed to ask.

"The man who just bought you! And I paid damn well too. And of course I'm taking you to my apartment, where else? Now get in!" he ordered again, clearly getting irritated with her nonsense.

She looked around, she could actually scream. She had no idea where he was taking her, so she'd scream her lungs out. Some people on these streets knew her, so they would come to her rescue. All she had to do was—

"Don't even think about it. Just get in the car quietly!" He said, a deep warning could be heard in the sound of his voice. Her eyes widened as she wondered if he could actually read her mind!

She had no idea what the man wanted, and that made him more terrifying than anything she'd faced in her life. She wasn't going to listen to his warning, she wasn't going to just jump into his car, she most definitely wasn't going anywhere with him.

What she was going to do was scream, she'd scream like her lungs were about to be cut off. She inhaled sharply, and rose high to let the sound out of her mouth…

But the sound went back down into her throat as she was quickly yanked and tossed into the car. Before she could fumble for the handle in the dark car, he was already in the driver's seat, and she heard the clicking sound of her side being locked automatically.

Her chest heaved up and down with fear. She had never been taken away like this. Yes she had, years ago, that was how her life as a call-girl started. She was dragged just like this back then, and then what happened next was something she hated to remember.

Her fingers trembled as she looked at him, studied him, feared him.

"Seat belt," he stated

"Where are you taking me!" she retorted.

"Woman, put on your seat belt!" he warned.

Grudgingly spitting some insultive words in Italian, she dragged the seat belt and clipped it in. "There, happy? Now where are you taking me?"

"I believe you are a brilliant woman, and I remember answering that question." he simply said. His eyes fully on the road ahead of him.

"Who are you! What do you want with me! Where are you taking me!"

"Like I previously said, I already answered those questions. But as for what I want with you," he paused. And for the first time since they got into the car, dark grey eyes swept over her frame. Instinctively, Mea pulled down her sorry excuse of a dress. Trying to stretch it so it could cover more parts of her body. An effort that was not only unnecessary but also futile.

"I believe it is pretty obvious." He told her and faced the road again.

She wanted to fight, fight for what exactly, she didn't know. Maybe for whatever shred of dignity she had left, maybe to save herself, maybe to escape the kind of torment she was sure was about to come. She couldn't say what exactly she wanted to fight for, but she wanted to fight. She wished to plunge at him, attack him.

But she couldn't move, she was scared, scared that her impulsive action might lead them into an accident. And as much as she hated the life she lived, she had never once thought of taking it. She was scared of death more than anything. She wanted to live, even though miserably, she still wanted to live.

I'll just wait, the instant the door opens, I'll make a run for it. She tells herself. For now, all she had to do was wait. So she coiled, and rested her head on the glass, holding up the neck and hem of her gown with both her hands.

She'd wait for him to open the door. Yes, that was what she'd do. She wasn't going to fall asleep, but her eyes were getting blurry, the dark night was getting darker. And soon, gracious bleak darkness washed over her senses as she faded into sleep in his car.

…

Marco had driven for a while before he realized that his companion had fallen asleep. Peacefully asleep. He let out a deep groan as he asked himself the exact same question she'd been asking him.

"What do I want with you? What am I going to do with you? Why—" He breathed, "am I taking you?" He placed a hand over his head. He couldn't explain it. He was supposed to be getting a girl for his boss, but what in the world was he doing?

He was a meticulous person. He was a good thinker. Never acted before thinking, always thinking systematically before doing anything.

And yet, tonight, out of impulse he had shot three men in the leg, nearly beaten a man to death if he was allowed to, paid a sum that wouldn't put a dent in his account, it was a sum still. And he had paid it, and dragged her out of there and now he was headed for his apartment.

What in the world was wrong with a cool-headed man like him? Why did he behave like someone was playing with his property? Why did he lose his calm tonight? And all because of this woman, this call-girl whom he was yet to even know her name.

…

By the time he reached the parking lot of a huge building, she was still sleeping, deeply. He walked over to her side and gently opened the door so she wouldn't slide out. He thought of waking her up, but decided to carry her instead.

Carefully, he unclasped the seat belt, carried her in his arms and locked his car doors.

He walked into an elevator and punched the highest number on the buttons. They soon arrived in a passageway. If it was a hotel, there certainly would have been about six doors on both sides of the passageway, but there was just one door at the farthest end.

He walked towards the door, pushed in his key with her still asleep in his arms and walked with her into the house.

He headed straight for his room, where he laid her down carefully on the huge bed that was covered in white clean sheets.

He had to go. He had work to do, a meeting to attend that night. And he still had to make provision for another lady if he wasn't going to hand her over to Zeno.

He let out a deep sigh, staring at her beautifully laid out on his white sheets. She was enchanting, he couldn't lie. But he'd met lots of enchanting women. Women who didn't sell their bodies to make a living, women who would do a lot to have him just for an hour.

But here he was, unable to tear his eyes off this call-girl he just bought. He couldn't explain why, but was fascinated by her. But he had to go now.

He hissed, as he angrily tossed the covers over her body and stomped out of the house.

He'd handle business first and then come back to her! Then, he'd think of what to do with her.