Chapter One:
The door of an apartment opened and closed shut immediately. A small lady sneaked in and was making her way up the stairs when the lights suddenly came on.
“Father!” the lady shrieked, crashing on the stairs in surprise and fear.
A mid forties man, holding a belt was standing akimbo, down the stairs. “This is ten in the night!” He pointed at the clock. “What excuse do you have for me now, Arya? You have been partying again, haven’t you?”
Arya glanced at the clock and then back at her father, she rushed up the stairs, trying to get away from him. “I am sorry, I lost track of time.”
She watched her father’s face redden and sprinted to her room quickly. She heard his heavy footsteps behind her and slammed her door shut, locking it.
He would get to her by tomorrow and that belt would land heavily on her, giving her more scars. If she’s lucky, she could sneak out to school without him seeing her. So much for she being a nineteen year adult.
Breathing in and out, she took out her ringing phone and placed it on her ears. Her voice came out in whispers. “Yes, yes, Anna. I’m home but dad saw me, I’d have to face him tomorrow.”
“Oh no, you could have just stayed at my place.” Her sister, Anna, groaned.
“Forget it, it would be worse if I sleep out and you know it.” Arya sighed. “Don’t worry, I’m used to this, and we have plans so I’d be free from this hellhole soon.”
There was a knock on the door just as her sister hung up the call. Arya inclined her ears to hear for the knock again.
The only person who could be knocking would be her father? Her body went cold and shivers ran down her spine. He usually let her off the hook till the next morning. Couldn’t he wait or was he very mad?
“Arya, don’t let me break this door! Open now, I have something important to tell you!”
The door opened. He walked in but couldn’t find his daughter inside. He marched to the bathroom and found her standing besides it.
“Dad, I swear I lost track of time!” Her voice was broken. “This is just the first time, it won’t happen again!” Arya pleaded.
Seeing her father without his belt, she inched closer. “You said you wanted to talk?”
“Yes, and if this happen again, Arya, you’d be sleeping outside my house!” Her father pointed, before sitting on her bed.
Her breathing normalized and she sighed in relief, she crawled to her bedside and stood there, waiting for her father to speak.
“I need $10,000 dollars asap.”
Arya had a scowl on her face but she masked it off and asked. “From me?”
Her father glared at her and she looked down. “But I really don’t know where to get such money now.”
Her flower shop hadn’t been doing very well lately. Even if it was in full bloom, to get $10,000 would take her months. Her published books were yet to make one sale, maybe science fiction really had no readers. And if she got another job at a café, she’d still need at least twelve months to get such amount. And why would he be purchasing expensive items when he had no money of his own?!
“Did you buy an item from a shop? Tell me where and I’d ask them to give me more time. I can’t afford it now.” She told her father.
The man exhaled, burying his head in her hands. “This is exactly the reason I want to find a man and sell you to. You’re just a useless daughter feeding and eating in my house.”
Arya’s hands clenched. He was getting things all wrong, he was the one feeding and eating off her. And then emotionally, physically and mentally abuse her, but that’s would be changing by tomorrow.
“Just forget it.” Her father grumbled. “Why did I even expect from you? You only know how to cause trouble and sneak out at night.”
“Dad, $10,000 is too much.” She deadpanned. Her father narrowed his eyes at her.
“What do you need it for exactly?” she added.
His fists clenched. How dare she question him? He could ask and take whatever he wanted from her and not owe an explanation!
“None of your business. Just get it for me or else I’d arrange a man to be married off to a man and get the money myself.” He threatened, then stomped out of her room.
She slowly closed her door he left open. Her jaw clenched as many thoughts ran through her mind. Could he marry off to an old man? She was due to attend a summit by the next day that would change her life, him asking for such unrealistic amount of money was a distraction.
She stomped her feet and fell on her bed. She needed her dad to give her a break this one time. She was very convinced he didn’t need the money for anything serious than going to a bar.
Her phone rang while she was sprawled on the bed, she stretched her hands to reach it. “Yes?” She didn’t check who called.
“Arya?”
She rose from her bed when she heard his voice, that was her sister’s rich boyfriend calling her again.
“Sir, Damien, how are you doing? I’m back from Anna’s place, I didn’t meet you there.” Her voice was less bubbly than usual.
He noticed. “I wasn’t at Anna’s place. And are you alright? Did you have an issue with your dad again?”
“Apparently…” she thought on if she should rant about her father’s wrong doings, but it won’t be fair to spoil her father to her sister’s boyfriend, that was his potential father in-law.
“…I’m good. Don’t worry, Anna was talking about her roof leaking again.” She continued.
“She should call a plumber. And are you sure you are alright, Arya? You don’t sound good.”
Arya lifted from her bed, the phone still on her eyes. What did he mean her sister should call a plumber? He was an engineer and could easily help his girlfriend out.
He never hesitated when she called him so why didn’t he want to help his girlfriend? Was there something she was missing?
“Arya, are you worried about the summit you will be attending for young engineers? Don’t worry, I am one of the speakers and it will be fun.”
She came back from her thoughts and nodded. “Sure, Sir Damien. I’d look forward to it.”
She hung up on him when her stomach growled, she needed to eat something as she didn’t have lunch.
Sir. Damien’s preferential treatment to her was beginning to worry her but she brushed it off as he was trying to win her over as he planned to propose to her elder sister soon.
Getting to the kitchen door, she heard familiar whispers in the living room. One belonged to her father and the other, her aunt Jenna. She rested on the door to hear what was being said.
“I don’t still know where Anna is hiding but Arya is available.” Her father said.
Arya furrowed her brows. Available for what? Her elder sister ran away from home and she planned to do the same the next day.
“Arya would do.” Aunt Jenna said, “Lot’s of older men prefer young girls, though they’d prefer if they were less ambitious.”
Arya gasped. Where they really planning to marry her off? Her aunt always resented she and her sister, Arya wasn’t surprised she had such terrible plans for her.
“If Arya is tied to marriage, she’d forget about those nonsense dreams. She has to pay the debt her mother couldn’t pay, one of them have to.” Her father scoffed.
Arya left the door, confusion written on her face? Her marriage was a debt her mother couldn’t pay?
She rushed into her room when she heard her father coming to the kitchen. Was she going to be sold her to an old man?
Chapter Two:The next morning, Arya tried to sneak out of the house early to catch the bus. She had to rush to university and get the details of the summit. She knew it’d be by evening.She had been missing so many class at university because of her father’s incessant calls to come home to meet one need or the other. Her boots were in her hands as she tiptoed down the stairs. Hearing no movements in the sitting room, she rushed to the door but on closing it, she made a loud sound, jolting the sleeping father. “Huh? Who’s there… come back here.” He grumbled and went back to sleep. A sigh of relief left her lips, she put on her boots and arranged her hair while looking at the mirror. Memories of her father’s talk with her aunt Jenna had tormented her sleep, much that she had eye bags.Her mother, while she was alive, never burrowed huge amount of money. It could actually be a lie and her father was just looking for a way to use her to earn money.As she finished with her hair, she re
Chapter Three:(At the Wade Mansion)A young man in his mid-twenties, sat, leg crossed on a leather couch, staring at the ceiling, where a massive chandelier hung.A glass of red wine was wrapped in his long fingers, his eyes were dark like he had a smoky makeup on.As he rested on the headrest, his dark curly hair spread on the couch, his eyes were a shade of gray and green. The door of the room opened and a middle aged man sauntered in, closing the door behind him. He walked nimbly and with high head to where the young man sat.“Sir Damien Wade, I had made the arrangements, everything is going as planned. Arya’s father, Mr. Stark, has bitten on the fish hook, he’d be dragged to the surface now.”The young man, Sir Damien, raised his eyes to the middle aged man. “Butler Jim, you speak like my plan is to marry her father and not Arya.” He placed his wine glass on the silver stool besides him.“Since everything is going as planned, start with the wedding preparations.”Butler Jim frow
Chapter Four:Arya gulped down saliva and decided to walk to the young man. He looked expensive, like the rich CEOs she imagined after reading romance books, that was her method of escapism.She stopped halfway when the man diverted his gaze from hers and took his phone. Maybe she should just leave? And how dare she try to have a conversation with such a hot guy, he might have come to pick his girlfriend up from school. She turned and headed home, ignoring the young man, who looked at her again. The young man was Sir Damien, he took a picture of Arya and sent it to Anna to confirm if she was the one he came for. He had never meet Anna since their middle school, where he was basically someone who caused fear in her. During his early teen years, he had been diagnosed with the yandere syndrome and had to stay away from her. He received a text from Anna. “She’s the one. Go get her bro!”He smiled, getting back into his car. The driver, noticing his smile, suggested in a low tone. “Sho
Chapter Five: Romance counselor.Outside the house, it was raining cats and dogs, she walked under it despite having low tolerance to cold. At worst she’d catch a cold, then overwork herself till she sweats out and gets better. Tears rolled down and she sucked it in.Remembering that she’d be the wife of a CEO, she ran out of the rain and inside a café.She shouldn’t look sickly for her wedding but look expensive and materialistic. She didn’t even know where to buy quality things. She indulged herself in hot coffee till she received two texts on her phone at the same time. One was her sister asking if she was accepting Sir Damien. The other was Winx also asking if Sir Damien was really getting married to her. Arya ignored all and switched of her phone.Across her table, in the café, a man in a simple suit was staring at her. He tilted his head, like he was thinking of where he knew her before getting up to walk to her. “Hello, Miss.”Arya dropped her cup and raised her head, seein
Chapter Six: Starting Over.Arya raised a brow, how’d he know if he was an amazing person? Or was he just speaking as a relationship counselor? “Well, I bet he is. He is my sister’s friend and also Mr. Dean’s friend so he’d be a nice guy, I hope.” She said. “Anyway, let’s assume he is, you’d need to be comfortable around him. Let your body gradually adopt the lifestyle. Be honest about your feelings.” He enumerated. Arya’s eyes were on his veiny hands as he took out a finger for each point he made. She pursed her lips and nodded. “I will take that part slow.” Mr. Wade paused but then shrugged. “You know anything about wedding dresses and clothes for rich people? I'll need a hint or two on it.” “I am very open to help you shop for it.” Mr. Wade offered. Arya’s eyes widened. He would shop for her? What if he met his girlfriend in the mall? Wouldn’t that give her a bad label? “I certainly can’t do that to you. Or is it part of your job description?” she asked, politely. “Personal
Chapter Seven: Cat amongst Tigers. Arya had never seen so many pretty things in one place before. She felt her card will go dangerously red soon but didn’t speak of it to Mr. Wade. She ran to a short red dress but when she stood in front of it, the mirror reflected her image on it and she saw it will be quite too short for her. “Do you want it?” Mr. Wade asked. She moved away, shaking her head. “It’s short.”With her disappointed tone, Wade looked back on the dress and without her seeing him, picked it up, along with it’s leggings she might not have viewed. Minutes later, they walked out of the mall, her hands full with bags. He noticed her little hops when she got outside and could tell she was excited about everything. Just when he was about dropping a taxi for her, he sighted a young girl who had been watching him while he shopped. He paused, keeping a distance from Arya. The girl came closer and bowed, before passing by. She peeked into his bag and frowned. He sighed. Yet
Chapter Eight: Won’t love him.Anna heard a knock on the door, she rose from the couch and paused the movie she was watching. “Arya, is that you?” she opened the door and smiled. “Good evening.” Arya bowed, and went to her sister for a hug. Anna brightly enveloped her in a hug. She noticed her little sister wasn’t letting go and gave her a pat on the back gently. “Don’t worry, everything will work out dear. Come inside.” She ushered her in. Arya wiped her wet face, she smiled seeing the series her sister was watching on Tv. “I never knew these household dramas could happen in real life.” “Oh, it can. It surely can.” Anna exhaled, plopping down on the couch. She got up again. “Do you want me to make food for you. You’re staying here, right?” The younger sister nodded. “Yeah, do you have chicken?” Anna rolled her eyes, sighing. “Look how you are being picky? Do you know how expensive chicken is?” Arya smiled, she watched her elder sister, still grumbling, leave to make food for h
Chapter Nine: Goddess Selena.Arya grabbed her sister’s phone and glared at it. That man was really Sir Damien.The picture she was looking at, Damien was wearing a white shirt and was cheering with some other students. The background looked like her sister’s university, the current university Arya attended. How could it be? She had met Sir Damien already without knowing. She slapped the phone on the table and screamed. “I told Damien about my marriage and spoke about feeling weird about it!”How could the universe be so cruel to her? She wanted the ground to open and swallow her that instant. Anna squinted her eyes. “Wait, you guys have met?” she took her phone away from the table, her sister was slamming. Her sister rose from the chair, in panic. “He helped me get the taxi I used to get here. You see those clothes?” She pointed at the bags she brought. “Damien helped me shop for them.” “That’s weird. Was he stalking you?” Anna frowned.Arya shook her head vehemently. “No, actu