Chapter 2

RICHARD.

In the Dark Realm Auction House, I sat in the front VIP section with my father when my gaze landed on the woman on the stage.

I felt stunned when my eyes met hers, the same blue eyes of the pretty young woman Isabella brought to my 24th birthday party at my clubhouse. How is this possible?

I had only arrived here because my father wanted me to accompany him and witness tonight's auction and bidding.

But seeing those enchanting blue eyes, I couldn't look away.

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

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

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

I waited for them to sell her.

I knew she was mine when I set my eyes on her. She was so beautiful with long blonde hair and a pretty oval face.

"Richard," my father called to get my attention once more to snap me out of my trance.

"Dad, I will 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 I left my birthday party at the club, I arrived here to see how the auction went.

It wasn't like I was not aware of the things my father does for money and fun, but none of them caught my eye.

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

Once the auctioneer mentioned Angela, my heartbeat increased 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 raised the question in my mind, how did she get here?

Did Isabella put her younger sister up for sale?

Was Angela kidnapped?

There was no way that Angela would come here willing to be sold. Someone sold her off against her will, but who brought her to this place?

Many mafia men, both young and old, all desired to purchase Angela. Her skin glowed more than the rest of the women on the stage.

Her innocence compelled me and so many of those men wanted to taste her.

I kept my cool as Angela's bidding started from a million dollars. She was worth more than gold.

"One million dollars!" The bidding started, rising until 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 dark room, as only the stage was lit.

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

"Congratulations, Richard. You won the deal. Welcome to the dark realm. You will have to brand her as your property, so that other men will keep off from touching her," my father said, as he sat next to me and exhaled a cloud of smoke, smoking his cigarette.

"Got it, Dad," I replied.

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

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

"Take her to my car. She is going home with me," I instructed my assistant.

"Richard, are you sure about this? They would have taken her to the harem for the women to train her. She is inexperienced," my father said, as he stood next to me in the car park after I'd completed the payment for Angela's bidding.

"I will personally train her. You don't have to worry about that," I replied, my voice firm 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 this woman or to develop any feelings for her. She is your property. Only 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 divorced because she couldn't withstand his lifestyle nor obeyed his rules.

Dad used women and sees 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 see you tomorrow at the meeting." My father walked away to his black car waiting, flanked by masculine bodyguards.

I got into mine, as the pretty blonde woman was still unconscious and asleep.

She hadn't woken up yet from the horror that she was in, and I knew that 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 to?" My assistant, Derek Tyler, asked me, as he stood next to my car and acted like my driver.

"I am going home. You start the car, let me stay in the rear with her. In case she awakes at the security checkpoint," I replied, tossing my car keys into Derek's hands. He was 25 and a year older than me.

"Got it, boss," Derek answered. He got into the car, and I took a seat at the rear 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.

As I took my seat, I raised her head gently and placed her sleeping head on my thighs as she was still in shock from 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 glancing at the back of the car through the rearview mirror.

Derek averted his gaze and apologized, "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 he responded: "Understood, boss." Once Derek started my car, he drove off to my new house.

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

Two years ago, I met Isabella at an event and we got along because she was beautiful. We dated but surprisingly, I haven't had sex with her even though we had kissed. I limited 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 she talks a lot even when you don't ask her anything. It's why I don't want to keep her. I don't want to marry her too.

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

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

Just then, her blue eyes snapped open and 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 leaf.