Chapter 1

Catherine:

“We’re sorry, but miss Moretti, if you don’t pay the bill any time soon, I’m afraid we can no longer offer our services” The nurse said, a sad look on her face.

My mother had been laying on the same bed for a few weeks, the treatments took all the money that was left.

I nod, looking back at the nurse, “Just make sure my mother is fine, I’ll handle the bills” I answered her, glancing at my mom’s thin, weak body through the window.

“And please, don't allow anyone in…” I added, my eyes suddenly staring at the nurse’s surprised face.

“Well, there was this man…He said he’s a friend. He even left flowers” My eyes widened, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

“What? And you let him in?” My voice was suddenly loud, as I watched her pale face staring back at me in shock.

I took a closer step toward her, my jaw clenching as I continued to shoot her the same deadly glare.

“I apologize, it was a huge mistake…” The nurse looked down as she gulped nervously.

“Just make sure that won't happen again” I warned, and when she finally nodded her head I left, even though I'm still a bit terrified and scared to death.

I knew he'd come and visit, but I guess I didn't know it'd be so fast!

It's been two years since we last saw him, my father. After discovering his big secret, we decided to leave everything behind: our huge mansion,our jewelry, and the man who provided all that stuff.

I sighed, realizing that my feet were already leading me outside the hospital, not having any clue where I was going.

I dialed some of our relatives' numbers, even some of my mother’s friends, but none of them picked up. It was as if they never knew my mother, either that or they just quit knowing us after they heard she was sick and needed their help.

I sighed, wiping the tear that’d been struggling to fall, still wandering aimlessly down the street, but suddenly a red lightning sign blinded my sight, capturing my attention right away.

I looked up and narrowed my eyes, as if that red sign suddenly wasn’t something you could just ignore and walk away from. Like it  was the sign,  the  solution to all of my problems.

The sign said “For Gentlemen Only”

I frowned, lost in my thoughts for a moment, a bad idea started to form in my head, and for an unknown reason, my lips mumbled the words:

“They say everything comes with a price”. 

I then shook my head, there was no way in hell I was giving my body to some stranger and for what? For some money!

The conversation inside my head was suddenly interrupted by the presence of a tall strong muscular guy, who was wearing a black long coat.

My eyes darted to his sharp, well- defined chin. For some reason, I never dared to look up into his eyes. Maybe because, somehow, I was afraid to stare back at him. There was something about him, I could tell just from the shape of his chin, and the strength of his shoulders. The way he walked as if he already owned not just that street, but the whole city.

He stopped,  still staring down at me, I could feel his burning gaze  on me, just to realize a minute later I was blocking his way towards the house of pleasures.

I cleared my throat, stepping aside immediately. My face heated up all of a sudden when I glimpsed a playful smirk on the corner of his lips.

The tall guy suddenly passed by me, mumbling something I couldn’t catch.

The wealth was very clear on that guy, his clothes, his confidence, and the fancy black Mercedes that was parked a few centimeters away from him.

I sneaked a peek at the driver’s seat to see a driver already sitting behind the wheel, smoking a cigarette and scrolling on his phone, seeming all bored.

As I was about to leave my spot, a female voice stopped me in my tracks.

“You!” I froze for a moment, then looked towards a middle aged woman standing at the entrance. 

“Me?” I ask, gulping nervously. The woman was wearing a lot of makeup, and don’t even let me start talking about her slutty outfit.

“Come here” Her order left me speechless as I blinked twice before finally walking hesitantly towards her.

“I have a great offer for you, are you interested?” she asked, her green wide eyes scanning me from head to toe, and it took a long time from me before finally realizing what she meant by that.

“N_No…I’m not” I shake my head, feeling disgusted. Her eyelashes were weighed down with mascara, and the strong smell of alcohol coming from her direction was repelling. 

The disappointment on her face was really obvious as she stopped chewing the gum, giving me a cold serious glare.

“Are you sure? It’s a great offer” Her question made me realize that this is my chance, and I should just take it, but another voice kept beeping deep down, that what I was doing was wrong, and that I should just continue to walk away from this dirty place, and forget about this whole stupid idea.

My mom would be so disappointed, and mad at me. She had suffered a lot those past few years, and didn’t do that just so I would give myself to some stranger for some money in the end!

I shook my head unwillingly, shooting her one last deadly glare before finally turning around.

“He says everything comes with a price” She blurted, louder this time, grabbing my attention.

Wasn’t it the same thing I said moments ago?

I stood in my spot, speechless, and paralyzed. I wondered what she saw in me that made her so stubborn to let me go…