Chapter 5: Sold To My Billionaire Slave

Amara's POV

Pinagbigyan ko si Morgan ng isa pang round sa gabing iyon at pagkatapos no'n ay agad na kaming nakatulog.

Ilang beses pa iyong naulit sa amin. It was as if we can't get enough of each other. Sabik na sabik kami sa isa't-isa that we do it in almost the same intensity. Every single time.

I'll call, he answers.

Then the next thing we knew, we're soaking the playroom's bed over and over again.

Our bodies would collide like the first time, rough and intense.

Basang-basa kami sa sariling mga pawis, halos mabingi ako sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko kapag natatapos kami.

Paano ba naman kasi, ayaw akong tigilan ni Morgan hanggang hindi ako magmukhang lantang gulay.

He's everything I'm looking for.

I called him almost everyday until I heard about my dad's health issues.

Kinailangan kong umuwi sa amin, sa grand estate, kaya naputol ang connection naming dalawa ni Morgan.

I told him that I will call him back kapag naayos na ang lahat. Kapag gumaling na si dad.

But then, mas naging malala pa ang sakit niya.

It's been months already and Dalton Group's financial reports continued to decline.

“Nandito na si Miss Amara Dalton.”

I lifted my chin, kahit nanginginig ang kamay ko sa loob ng blazer.

I am the heiress of Dalton Group, the empire my father built from scratch. But right now? I felt like an impostor sitting on a throne too heavy for my shoulders.

Sa dulo ng mahabang table, the seat that once belonged to my dad ay pansamantala munang naging akin.

Naka-confine kasi si dad sa isang private hospital room, machines were keeping him stable but weak.

Sa tuwing dumadalaw naman ako sa kaniya ay palagi niyang hinahawakan ang kamay ko at bumubulong sa akin.

“Kaya mo 'to, Amara.”

Tango lang ang nagiging sagot ko.

Pero kaya ko nga ba?

I cleared my throat. “Let’s start the meeting.”

The CFO stood up, projecting the financial reports on the screen. Graphs. Red arrows. Declining percentages.

“Over the last four months,” panimula niya, “Dalton Group’s net revenue has dropped by 18%. Our retail division suffered the most.”

Napuno ng bulong-bulongan ang buong board room.

Eighteen percent nga naman ang ibinawas.

Parang may sumampal sa akin ng ilang beses.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship at Latin honors pa iyan. I knew theories. Case studies. Market simulations.

But this?

This wasn’t a classroom.

It made me rethink everything I learned.

A board member, Mr. Reyes, leaned forward. “With all due respect, Miss Dalton, since you took over as acting CEO… the company has not seen growth.”

Acting CEO.

The words felt like a slap.

“So what are you implying, Mr. Reyes?” I asked, I kept my voice steady kahit kumakabog ang dibdib ko.

“That perhaps,” he said slowly, “the Dalton Group needs someone with practical experience. Not just academic credentials.”

Ouch.

My nails dug into my palm under the table.

I remembered the nights I stayed up reviewing reports I barely understood. The strategies I approved, trusting senior managers who assured me it was the “safest route.” The investors pulling out quietly. The market reacting brutally.

“I may not have decades of experience,” I said, standing up now. “But this company is my responsibility. Hindi ko 'to pababayaan.”

Silence.

“I admit,” pagpapatuloy ko, my voice softer but firmer, “I made cautious decisions. I relied too much on existing systems. That was my mistake.”

Bumalatay ang gulat sa mga mukha ng ibang board members. They clearly weren’t expecting my honesty.

“But starting today,” dagdag ko pa, matatalim ang mga mata, “We’re restructuring. I want a full audit of every division. I want innovation proposals within two weeks. And I will personally oversee operations.”

Mr. Reyes raised a brow. “And if the numbers continue to fall?”

Matapang kong sinalubong ang tingin niya.

“Then I will take full accountability.”

Pagkatapos ng meeting, nagpa-iwan ako sa loob ng boardroom. The large glass windows reflected my image.

My reflection showed a strong woman on the outside, but cracking on the inside.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko sa bulsa ng blazer ko.

Mom:

Your father is asking for you.

My throat tightened.

I picked up my bag, whispering to myself, “I won’t let everything you built collapse, Dad. Kahit hindi pa ako handa… I’ll learn. I’ll fight.”

Ang akala ko magiging okay rin ang lahat.

Hindi ko alam na iyon pa pala ang simula ng lahat ng kalbaryong mangyayari sa buhay ko.

Three months later.

The headline was everywhere.

“Dalton Group Officially Acquired by Walter Holdings.”

I stared at the screen.

The empire that carried our name… the empire my dad built, the empire I tried so hard to save...

Is gone.

The majority shares were quietly bought when the stock prices plummeted. Investors pulled out one by one.

Iyong mga emergency loans na in-approve ko? They became chains around our necks.

And now, Dalton Group no longer belonged to a Dalton.

It belonged to someone else.

Sa grand estate naman ay ang mga house staff ang siyang unang umalis.

They said their goodbyes, one by one.

Chandeliers still sparkled, marble floors still gleamed pero malayong-malayo na sa dating masiglang atmosphere na mayroon ang buong mansion.

“Pasensya na po, Miss Amara,” saad ng head butler namin. “The new management has terminated all contracts.”

I forced a smile. “It’s okay. Thank you for staying with us all these years.”

When the doors finally closed behind us, parang nagluksa sa sobrang tahimik ang mansion.

It was too quiet.

My mother sat on the velvet couch, staring blankly at the bank statements on the coffee table that screamed the harsh truth.

Accounts frozen.

Assets liquidated.

Properties mortgaged.

The hospital bills for my dad kept piling up.

We stopped earning money but expenses kept coming.

Pagkaraan ng dalawang linggo, the Dalton Mansion was sold.

The luxury cars were returned.

Our jewelries were auctioned.

Ibinenta na rin namin ang mga designer bags na mayroon kami.

Ginamit namin ang naipong pera mula sa mga iyon para bumili ng mas affordable na bahay somewhere on the outskirts of the city.

I watched as movers carried out the last of our furniture. I stood there in a simple blouse and jeans, no more power suits, no more chauffeur-driven rides.

“Mom, the car’s here,” I said softly.

Not a Bentley.

Just a rented van.

The new place was hours away from the city.

A secluded area surrounded by overgrown trees and cracked roads.

Maliit lang ang bahay, its paint is slightly peeling at ang gate no'n ay kinakalawang na.

But it was affordable.

And right now, iyon na lang ang mahalaga.

I swallowed the lump on my throat nang makita ko si dad na nagmamadaling lumabas ng van kahit alam mong nanghihina pa siya.

Saka ko narinig ang boses ng driver ng nirentahan naming van.

“Paki-dalian nga,” naiinis na aniya. “May hahabulin pa ako.”

Natataranta namang inakay ni mom si dad palabas ng sasakyan.

“Huwag mong pagsalitaan ng ganiyan ang dad ko,” galit na sumbat ko sa driver. “He's sick!”

“Kasalanan ko ba iyon?” sarcasm filled his voice. “Buti nga at inihatid ko pa kayo dito kahit kulang ang ibinayad niyo sa 'kin e. Makaalis na nga!”

Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang pagkuyom ng kamao.

Paulit-ulit na naglalaro sa isip ko kung bakit nangyayari ito sa amin ngayon.

Is it because of my dirty little secret?

Pinaparusahan ba ako ng Diyos dahil doon?

Kinagabihan no'n, umupo ako sa makitid na balcony ng bago naming bahay.

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na sa isang iglap lang ay biglang babaliktad ang mundo ko.

Tumunog ang phone ko.

Another hospital reminder.

Panibagong due date na naman.

I checked my bank app.

The numbers were painfully small.

I did the math in my head.

Ang lahat ng ipon namin would last two months. Maybe three, if we cut everything down to basics.

No more luxury.

No more comfort.

Just survival.

For the first time in my life, I felt fear that had nothing to do with board meetings or shareholders.

Ibang klaseng takot ang lumukob sa sistema ko.

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman kong tahimik na naglakad si mom palapit sa kinaroroonan ko.

“Anak… what will we do now?” tears welling up her eyes.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at ibinaling ang mga mata ko sa madilim na kalangitan.

I used to control millions.

Now I was calculating coins.

“Huwag kang mag-alala, mom,” I reassured her. “Gagawa ako ng paraan.”

Pero ang totoo niyan ay hindi ko talaga alam kung paano.

Sa ngayon, I looked at them sleeping soundly on a thin foam na nakalatag sa sahig.

This time, hindi ko na talaga mapigilan ang sarili kong umiyak ng umiyak sa kalagayan namin ngayon.

Bukas na bukas ay hahanap ako ng trabaho.

I spent the following year switching between jobs.

And I realized that getting hired was easy but getting along with your co-workers is a different case.

Somehow, hindi ko nakakasundo ang mga nagiging kasama ko sa trabaho. Hindi rin kasi ako iyong tipo ng babaeng hinahayaan lang ang iba na apak-apakan ako.

Kaya pinagkakaisahan ako ng mga workmates ko leading to my boss firing me kahit wala naman akong ginagawang masama.

I totally broke down in the middle of the night.

As usual, pinili kong mag-breakdown nang makatulog na sina mom and dad. Ayoko lang silang mag-alala pa ng husto.

Out of nowhere, I remembered him.

Si Morgan, hindi niya pa talaga totoong pangalan.

What was I even thinking back then?

Well, I must've thought differently before. Dahil dati, may pera pa ako. Ngayon, wala na.

Kamusta na kaya siya?

My poor little auctioned puppy.

Auction.

Nanigas ako nang may mapagtanto ako.

I know this is a desperate move. Pero sa ngayon ay wala na akong ibang choice.

Kinabukasan, umalis ako sa bahay suot ang simpleng corporate attire para hindi sila maghinala kung saan ako pupunta.

“Sigurado ka na ba talaga dito, bestie?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Dahlia sa akin habang abala akong isuot ang pinaka-sexy kong damit.

“I can lend you money naman e.”

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

“Ayoko ngang tumanggap ng pera galing sa 'yo, Dahlia” determinadong usal ko. “Kasi hindi ko alam kung saan ako kukuha ng ipambabayad sa 'yo kapag nagkataon.”

“Well, you don't have to pay me!”

“No,” matigas na angal ko. “I don't wanna owe you that much.”

Siya naman ngayon ang napahugot ng malalim na hininga.

“Fine,” aniya. “Alam ko namang hindi ko na mababago ang desisyon mo. But in case you need my help, just let me know.”

We hugged and bid our goodbyes.

Sinabihan niya na ako kung ano'ng gagawin at kung saan pupunta.

After going through the process, tinawagan ako para bumalik after three days dahil pumasa raw ako sa screening.

Kaya ngayon, nandito na ako sa venue at ten o'clock in the evening. Tumakas lang ako sa bahay.

If I ever get sold, magdadahilan na lang akong natanggap ako sa trabaho at maglalagi dito sa city pansamantala.

“Alright. Seventy million dollars...”

As I stood on the auction block, I know my fate is sealed with someone who will buy me tonight.

Unfortunately, it's with this short old man.

“Going once, going twice... and sol—”

I closed my eyes and then I heard that cold, detached voice.

“One billion dollars.”

My eyes snapped open.

“Wow, one billion dollars,” hindi makapaniwalang ulit ng host, “Going once, going twice and...sold to Mr.,”

Napako ang tingin ko sa lalaking nagsalita mula sa likuran.

“Aldridge.” aniya habang ang mga malalamig na mga mata ay nakatuon sa akin. “Neagan Aldridge.”

It can't be.

“C-Congratulations, Mr. Aldridge. The Woman in Red is yours."

All this time, I never knew that I once enslaved the sole heir of our biggest competitor.

I saw how Neagan's, or should I say, Morgan's lips curled up.

I just can't believe that I'm being sold to my billionaire slave.

Some men escorted me towards him.

Mas naramdaman ko naman ang napaka-intimidating na presensya niya nang tuluyan akon makalapit sa kinaroroonan niya.

Bigla kong naalala ang ginawa ko sa kaniya two years ago, and all I can say is...

Talagang malalagot ako ngayon.

Nakompirma ko iyon nang magsalita siya sa malamig niyang boses.

“Do you really think you can get rid of me that easily, little kitten?”