chapter 4

The voice sounded calm but it had an edge to it. Whoever was behind that voice was powerful. The fact that he wasn't here to speak to her face to face meant that her thought her to be insignificant, too little to see him face to face.

That made sense but what didn't was how this girl's father got involved with someone like this. Normally it would be low grade creditors but he seemed higher, way higher.

"You look well, but....you disappeared for almost a week, then you return home and think that somehow all you debt had disappeared. You don't even reach out" he said with such calmness that you would think he wasn't talking to someone he planned on torturing.

He had got to be kidding.

If her assumption was right, her made her disappear by sending people after her so what was he talking about

Every syllable was measured.

She didn't speak, they must have taken it as fear because the man in front of her reached for a remote in his pocket. Then he pressed a button.

In front of Dalia the large television flickered to life.

She raised her head higher as a video began to play.

It was night time, along and allyway. A woman stumbled backwards. Her white hair stuck to her face due to the sweat from running. Her gray eyes wide with fear.

Dalia recognised her instantly, it was Avery. Three men surrounded her, hunted her until she had no where else to run. One man grabbed a fist full of her hair forcing her head back so violently that it made Dalia wince.

Another man drove his fist into her stomach, Avery fell over gasping for air but before she could hit the floor, another kicked her legs making her fall violently against the pavement.

The men continued to torment her on the floor, kicking, punching her. She tried sheiding her face but her hand were dragged and her face was kicked multiple times.

She stopped fighting because her body couldn't endure anymore. As she layed there motionless, one of the men crouched beside her, her checked for breathing which seemed very faint. When he was satisfied he stood up and the three men walked away. Then the screen froze on Avery's bruised body until the Television went blank.

Dalia's eyes remained on the television as silence stretched across the room.

So that was how Avery ended up in the hospital. These man sent people to beat her up for her father's debts. That was ruthless even for her. The girl did nothing. She also knew how hard she worked to try to keep up with her father's problems.

That was why her body froze when she heard the knock, she knew who would come for her. The more she thought about it the angrier she became. How could they do this to her. None of this was her fault.

"So, my father borrowed money from you, then you.... probably killed him and you sent your people after me and landed me in the hospital where I had to 'disappear' and recover"....she started quietly, trying to hold in her anger.

"If the man who you lended your money to is dead, why is it my responsibility to deal with his debts...." There was silence on the other side

She continued as she leaned forward "Your men nearly killed me and I was unconscious at the hospital for days. So if I am laying in the hospital, beaten and bruised, how exactly would I repay you your money?" Her voice got a bit louder.

She had to control herself.

Before she could register anything, a slap landed on her face sending her to the ground, making her face sting. She tasted something metallic..... Blood. The men at the side walked over and pulled her back to the chair aggressively.

"Watch you mouth, girl, you wouldn't want your tongue cut off," the man in the suit said as he flattened invisible creased on his jacket..

The pain linger but she refused to let it show. She understood how weak this body was so she just held it in. If she was in her old body, this man would be been dead. Throat sliced and wrist broken but alas she was stuck here.

After she recovered a bit, the voice from the speaker spoke again.

"I didn't kill your father, how would I get my money then.....it makes no sense but I did send my men to send a warning so you would know this isn't a joke or something you can just forget about."

"He owed me five million dollars and with your father dead, all his debt still remain and I have to get it back one way or another, wouldn't you agree.?" His question didn't need an answer as he continued.

"You are his daughter, so everything he had has been passed down to you.....all his wealth and....debts have been passed down to you. So you have the responsibility to pay me or I find a way to get my money off you. "

All she could do was listen

"So you have two options.....one, you pay me every cent or I find other ways to make you pay. You will work for me and I assure you, that will not be too fun."

She knew how this worked, people who could not pay off their debts would have to work to pay it off and there was no guarantee of freedom, there would be no way out.

She had to think of a way to escape that because if that happens, she could kiss her second chance goodbye. The only way out was a body bag.

Silence stretched as they expected begging and pleading but it never came. Then the man in the suit signaled to the men at the side and they picked a bucket filled with iced water, and poured it over her head.

Dalia gasped desperately gasped for air. The man leaned in and asked " what is you answer?"

Dalia's mind raced as she thought of what to do. Bargaining.....that was the on

ly way now, bargain with him.

"I'll pay you back every cent". She stated in a strong whisper.

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