chapter 5

There was silence after her words. The man in the suit didn't react to her words. The need to survive this had made her speak.

"You'll pay me back...?" he said before a chuckle echoed through the room. " With what exactly ?" he asked with amusement. This got her quiet.

"you have no savings or properties. You don't even have a family who could help you. You don't have influence of any kind " his words echoed as if striking nails on the invisible coffin around her.

"You have spent the last four years working and surviving paycheck to paycheck while your father gambled you life away" This made Dalia's mind stop.

He knew quite a lot about Avery. She would have called it normal procedures for debtors but it went further than that. So he not only had a criminal organization but also an information outlet.

His voice brought her back" you own nothing, so tell me, Avery, how would you pay me back Five million dollars ?". the name sounded like mockery.

Dalia lowered her eyes "I have my ways" she said looking back up.

He chuckled

"Your ways, why should I believe you and ...your ways? hmm......., do you know how many people have made the same promise but ran away or at least tried to...?"

she remained silent

the chuckle ended as fast as it came.

"I do not enjoy repeating myself, why should I believe you.....Avery " he asked in a cold voice

He shouldn't believe her because if their roles were reversed she wouldn't believe it either. But she needed to convince him. if she could get just a pinch or trust from him, he would give her the time she was asking for.

Her gaze drifted towards the man in front of her and then back to the speaker.

"You don't have to trust me, you can have someone watch me. Every hour of the day. If you're afraid I'll run, then don't let me out of your sight"

the man in the suit's eyes narrowed. She didn't seem scared or desperate. She looked like she was negotiating the price of else and not her freedom.

the man in the speaker spoke..." And if you run....

"I won't" she answered quickly

"If you lie"

"I won't"

"If you fail....."

this question stopped her

Then she answered "I won't, just give me 30 days."

She wouldn't fail, she just couldn't, if she did that would mean becoming a piece in his chessboard.

She would rather die again than do that.

failure wasn't an option.

the man went silent as if thinking of giving her this chance or not.

Then,

" If thirty days past and I don't get every dollar from you, what should I do to you.?" he asked slowly

Dalia could see what he was doing. She asked for this chance and he was making her choose he punishment if she failed to succeed. Hmmm he is a smart man.

Avery swallowed carefully, blood still lingering at the corner of her mouth. She could do this. she could pay him twice as much as what was owed, she just needed time.

"If I fail, I'll become what ever you want me to be" she replied in a steady voice."

The man in the speaker was quiet. It seemed like an eternity to Avery.

" I just need time please " she begged

on the outside, she seemed desperate and tied but on the inside..... say yes, you have nothing to lose, just say yes. If I run you kill me, if I fail you own me and if I succeed.....you get your money and you'll never see me again.

the man in the suit awaited instructions as his eyes remained on the speaker, glancing at Avery once in every now and then.

A small click echoed through the speaker

the man exhaled slowly

"You have thirty days, one month. if a single cent is missing, you belong to me, no resistance or extensions."

His tone was hardened and his words measured.

The restraints around her wrists were cut off making blood rush painfully back into her wrists and hands

She resisted the urge to rub them as she stood up . She almost lost her footing from sitting too long but manages to maintain balance. The man In the suit gave way as she walked towards the door.

As she reached it, the man spoke again

"Avery " she turned

"I'll be watching you" he said lowly

"I know" she replied and walked out.

She was escorted through the hallway. she didn't raise her head to avoid eyes contact with the people around.

soon they arrived at the car. The hood was placed over her head shutting the world out again and she was pushed into the car.

She leaned back against the seat. she didn't try focusing anymore. She just sat there. She had already memorized what she needed to.

Dalia was angry at herself, at the circumstance she found herself. She was pissed at the situation. She was so lost at the moment. As an assassin, Information always came first....

........now she knew nothing about the man she owed or how to even pay him back but she knew that she would rather strive to do that than agree to work for him.

the car stopped in front of her apartment and the hood was removed from her head.

"Remember the deal, 30 days" the guard said before letting her out.

she just stood there watching as the SUV disappeared from her view. She looked around before stepping into the building.

She unlocked the door, closed it behind her, leaned against it and slid down.

Everything was so wrong and she felt so lost for the first time in a long time. She had always been in control of everything.

But this whole thing had disoriented her, she didn't even know how she got here and she had to solve the problems that already existed before she got here. Who even put her here....?

Why was she here...?

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