Chapter 2-Sold To The Faceless Stranger

Natalie's POV

What else would I be doing at the funeral? I was the only stranger. I was the fool who had hoped there would be a fork of affection from my mother after the death of the father.

I still remembered how his always warm hand had turned cold all of a sudden.

I was the one by his side at that time. Even though I was his only daughter,I couldn't stand there to witness his burial.

I should have known. The whispers in the house. The late night calls. The missed dinner and forced smiles.

I was already out of the hall, looking like a deserted dog. Of course I was one now. No one wants me no more.

But I was wrong, as I got out of the Hall, ready to burst onto the road, I heard a car honk from the other side. I ignored it, but the honor didn't stop as if the person it was waiting for hadn't responded. I curiously looked over and I saw a man in black waving at me.

I frowned and then pointed at myself, the man nodded. My frown only deepened, as I knew, I don't know this man. So what business do we have together?

Was he my father's business partner? He's wearing black. With a made up mind, I got my legs fluttering over towards him. I finally stopped when I got there, but then I saw him opening the door of the back seat.

What could be going on?

“Ms. Bennett, I'm here to take you home.”

Home? The first thing my instincts told me to do was to check my surroundings. What if this was a trap set up by someone to kidnap me?

My father had been the one protecting me all this while. He had brutal business rivals and that was why he hadn't introduced me to the world yet. Unfortunately he didn't have the chance.

I am Natalie Bennett, the only daughter of Diego Bennett. He was an upright man who had done his business legally. His only Nemesis was his wife. I have roundish almond eyes with light hazel eyeballs. I am 5 '7 tall, I got my height from my father.

I am so glad I have nothing in common with Mitchell.

My mind was once again filled with thoughts of his rivals he had always told me about. I got my legs moving back slowly until it got to a point that I felt a hand on mine.

I yelped.

“Let go of me,”

I was brought back to reality again. It seemed like fear had been the only thing on my mind lately.

I stared around until my vision was clear once again, then I saw the man from earlier again.

“Do you know my home? Who told you to come get me?”

“Mrs Bennett did. She told me to get you home safely.” The man said at first, but as he completed the sentence, the look in his eyes turned vicious.

I didn't know where this cold wind started blowing from, the hair on every part of my body rose instantly.

He moved two steps closer, we were standing barely away from each other with his movement. I felt something cold touch me. On looking down,I saw that it was a small knife.

My breath caught,

“I was also instructed to do something fun if you want to prove stubborn.”

Is Mitchell even my mother?

I was very certain of my feelings now. This was no longer anger I felt towards her….it was pure hatred.

How come I've never seen her this wicked and unreasonable?

With the fear evident in my eyes, I got into the car. On my own.

The car screeched onto the street. Mitchell had everything planned beforehand. What if she had a hand in the death of my father?

Should I keep playing dumb while everything slips away from my hand? I am a freaking 25 years old lady, yet I have no hand and no say in my father's company. That needs to come to a halt.

But how? I literally have my whole life planned.

But I will play my game the way I want it to go.

………….

I stared at the suitcase by the door, the rest of my belongings were stuffed into it like I didn't belong here. This used to be my home, but not anymore.

Mitchell simply saved me the feeling of missing what home felt like.

“Where are we going?” I asked, staring at her back. She didn't give me an answer right away, instead, she adjusted her red lipstick in the mirror.

She acted like this room was hers, just like she behaved the world was hers as long as she called the shot.

“Somewhere you can start being useful,” she answered, brushing off her designer coat.

A sharp sting of betrayal which couldn't be helped twisted in my chest. “Useful?” I echoed. “Like you've been? Lying to dad.”

The slap came before my words could splutter out. It was fast. Sharp, like a punctuation mark at the end of every sentence.

“You will not speak to me like that,” she hissed.

My lip curled up in a smile despite the painful sting. That was the first confrontation that led to violence.

“You sold me off, didn't you?”

Without batting an eye, she starts spitting out believable lies. “Your dad left behind debts and unfinished contracts. His empire is crumbling. You have no idea how cunning your father has been. And being the only child, you have to pay on his behalf.”

How exactly could a mother be cruel likey mother has turned out? She had no ounce of pity for me. All I know right now is that she is pushing me into a pit.

“Even if that's true, I won't marry a random faceless man.”

Just for the sake of my tomorrow,I will stand up to her today

She narrowed her eyes. “You'll do it because your father would've let go of you to clear his debt. He owed them, now you do.”

Who exactly was this man? Was Mitchell right? Would I end up giving my whole life up? Would my father have really let go of me?