Chapter 2

(Richard's POV)

I saw her eyes – the same innocent, young woman Isabella had brought to my birthday party at the clubhouse.

*How is this possible?*

I had only arrived at the dark realm auction with my father because he wanted me to witness tonight's auction and bidding.

Seeing those puppy-dog eyes, I couldn't look away.

I could smell her innocence and felt an urge to protect her.

"Richard, do you desire to buy any of the women tonight? You could use her as your 24th birthday present," my father, Mr. Wesley Henshaw, said.

"Dad…" I grumbled, looking at the five women set up on the stage to be sold. None of them caught my eye except for Angela.

I was waiting for her to be sold.

I knew she was mine the moment I laid eyes on her. She was so beautiful, with long blonde hair and a pretty oval face.

"Richard," my father called, snapping me out of my trance.

"Dad, I'll choose when I see any of the women that catch my attention," I mumbled, dressed in a black suit and seated beside my father in the auction room.

After leaving my birthday party at the club, I came here to see how the auction went.

It wasn't like I was unaware of the things my father did for pleasure and fun, but none of them had ever caught my eye.

I wanted something different to define my style, uniqueness, and taste.

Once the auctioneer mentioned Angela, my heartbeat quickened as I saw many bidders wanting to purchase her.

She wore the same blue dress that she had worn to my 24th birthday party, and it made me wonder how she got here.

*Did Isabella put her younger sister up for sale?*

*Was Angela kidnapped?*

There was no way Angela would come here willingly to be sold. She was being sold against her will, but who brought her to this place?

There were many mafia lords, both young and old, all desiring to purchase Angela. Her skin glowed more than the rest of the women on the stage.

Her innocence was compelling, and so many of those men wanted to taste it.

I kept my cool as her bidding started at a million dollars.

She was worth more than gold.

"One million dollars!" The bidding started, rising until it reached 20 million dollars.

I looked at Angela and raised my bid: 50 million dollars.

The hall fell silent. My father, Mr. Wesley Henshaw, was the most feared mafia lord in Top Hills City.

"50 million dollars going? 50 million dollars, anyone else?" the auctioneer asked, looking around the dimly lit room, where only the stage was lit.

"Sold!" the auctioneer announced, and my father looked at me proudly.

"Congratulations, son. You won the deal. Welcome to the dark realm. You will have to brand her as yours so that others will keep away from touching her," my father said, sitting next to me and exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Yes, I will," I replied.

After leaving the auction room to complete Angela's payment, I was sure that she didn't know who had purchased her.

She had passed out from the shock; her hands and legs were tied, and her lips were taped.

"Take her to my car. She's going home with me," I informed my assistant who brought Angela to me.

"Richard, are you sure about this? She would have been taken to the harem for the women to train her. She is inexperienced," my father said, standing next to me in the car park after we finished completing the payment for Angela's bidding.

"I will personally train her, Father. You don't have to worry about that," I said, my voice cold as I didn't bother to look back at my father's face.

"Richard, remember the rule. You are not to fall in love with her or develop any feelings for her. She is your property. An item to be used and discarded at any time that you want. And once you are done with her, you should discard her if you don't want her again," my father reminded me coldly. He and my mother were divorced because she couldn't withstand his lifestyle.

Dad used women and saw them as objects to purchase, own, break, and discard at any moment.

I nodded. "Don't worry yourself, Father. I will have her branded and follow the rules."

"Good. Enjoy your birthday night, and I'll see you tomorrow at the meeting." My father walked away to his black car, flanked by masculine bodyguards.

I got into mine. The pretty blonde woman was still unconscious and asleep.

She hadn't woken up yet from the horror she was in, and I knew she would be shocked once she awoke and saw me as her new master.

I anticipated how she would react.

"Boss, where are you going?" My assistant, Derek Tyler, asked me as he stood next to my car and was like my driver.

"I'm going home. You start the car; I'll stay in the rear with her in case she wakes up at any point," I said, tossing my car keys into Derek's hands.

He was 25, a year older than me.

"Alright, boss," Derek answered. He got into the car, and I took a seat in the back next to the pretty blonde woman, who was fast asleep.

I allowed her feminine scent of citrus to envelop me.

As I sat next to her, she moaned and shifted, making my muscles tense.

I gently raised her head and placed it on my thighs, as she was still in shock of the whole ordeal.

Her wavy blonde hair felt so soft and warm in my hands as I ran my fingers through it.

"Get going," I ordered Derek, as I saw him taking a look at the back of the car through the rearview mirror.

Derek averted his gaze and asked, "Forgive me, boss, but isn't she Isabella's sister? How did she get sold tonight?"

"I don't know, but she is mine now, and keep your eyes away from her," I warned coldly, and Derek nodded.

"Understood, boss." Once Derek started my car, he drove off to my new house.

Coming of age and becoming my own boss at 24 felt good. As the only son of my father, he gave me money, power, and influence in all of Top Hills. I was respected like a prince, and I knew Isabella's parents were part of the mafia, but of lower ranks.

Two years ago, I met Isabella at an event, and we got along because she was beautiful. We dated, but surprisingly, I hadn't had sex with her, even though we had kissed. I limited doing things and made the women beg and yearn for my touch.

However, during my 24th birthday, Isabella had brought her younger sister. I knew she had a sister because Isabella talks a lot, even when I don't ask her anything. It's why I don't want to keep her. I don't want to marry her either.

However, when my gaze fell on Angela, I could see her innocence as she looked out of place, like she didn't belong at my party.

I wanted her. I wanted to have a taste of her body, and I couldn't get my eyes off hers.

She whimpered on my thighs as I continued to stroke my fingers through her hair.

Then, her eyes snapped open. Her blue eyes locked with my intense black orbs, and she immediately raised her head away from my thighs, shivering.

"You, Richard… What are you doing inside this car with me? How come? Was it a dream?" she asked me, trembling like a jellyfish.