Chapter 2

This was impossible. She needed to get out of here. Wherever she was, she needed to get out of here, fast!

“You asked who I was? I'm James..” The man watched her dishelved state, clearly intrigued, before downing another shot. “..Master Aaron's assistant. He is your buyer.”

The words sounded strange to her. Her buyer? She was a human. How could she possibly have a buyer? She wasn't a pet, goddammit!

Lei pressed the papers tightly across her chest, a smile tipping the corner of her cherry lips, her eyes stung badly as she fought back every urge to cry. Lucas! That bastard! He.. heavens.. He sold her!

Because of the miscarriage?

He sold her because of the miscarriage?

Her eyes dropped to the statement written in garamond on the file “luxury life in companionship contract.”

Lei flicked her tongue. Luxury life? Her fingernails dug into the document. He was really good, he really was good at this. That bastard made it look like he was giving her a good life.

How did he even accomplish this? He managed to forge her signature and signed all the papers himself. Hence, it made it utterly impossible to escape. Reporting this, whatever it was, to the police was also meaningless. Utterly useless!

“It wasn't my decision. I don't.. I don't agree with this.” She gazed back to the man seated regally across her. “Surely, it's rather evident I was hurdled here without my consent.”

James’ fingers on the glass of whiskey paused, his eyes shifting to the gun on the table. His expression, however, didn't quite form into any notable emotion.

Lei glanced up, her fists tightly bound around the documents. He'd mentioned he was the assistant and yet exudes this much.. aura. His boss.. oh heavens, she needed to find a way to get out of here. And Lucas.. once she got out of whatever situation this was, Lucas will–

“It's not your decision to make.” James dropped, slowly placing the glass on the table and picking up the gun. Leilani's senses grew alert. What was he going to do?

“It's mine.. I.. I am a living being. I get to make decisions.” She tried to feign defiance, but behind whatever brave facede she'd mustered, laid her trembling legs and her heart pumping at an abnormal pace.

James' lips tugged up. “Your life? That has been bought. Now you'll get to live by my boss’s rules.”

James glanced at the bodyguard who'd led her here, the bodyguard getting his signal nodded and brought out another piece of document, handing it over to him.

Lei’s brows furrowed, a crease forming between her brows.

“Read this, and let's be done with this conversation.”

Once the document was off his hands, he relaxed back to the sofa, his shoulder-length brown hair covering his left eye. He had a striking resemblance to a mafia lord, from what she'd heard they were described as. Was he just.. an assistant?

Once James noticed Lei's scared expression, his lips tugged up.

How can one person manipulate too many emotions at the same time? She was not really what she portrayed to be. He could tell by how she managed to put off a brave face whilist tugging nervously at her outfit. He glanced at the time, and his expression returned to the usual grim look.

They were running late.

“Done?” He asked.

Lei glanced up, her cheeks burning hot. This.. it was a marriage contract and with rules, stupid rules.. really stupid ones.

Did they expect her to sign a marriage contract? To whom? Sign her death off again? She just came out of a loveless marriage.. unwillingly, and now she was supposed to get into another one? Unwillingly? What was Lucas planning exactly?

“I won't sign this.” She bit hard on her bottom lip before glancing at the ridiculous contract rules, her eyes darkening as she read through.. again and again.

Rule one: Never leave the house without permission.

Who did whoever this is, think she was?

Rule two: Not allowed to make phone calls. Specifically to the police or paparazzi.

Leilani sneered. This single rule would not be adhered to, that was if she even signed the contract, which she wouldn't. She couldn't get the police to do anything, but the press.. they loved gossip, she could use them to destroy that bastard ..Lucas!

Rule three: Never question the boss’s decision.

That would be the number one thing she would do once she gets to set her eyes on the bastard who thinks she was some leasehold pet.

Rule four: All materialistic items will be provided. But emotional attachments [love] should not be requested from the boss.

She read this rule again. Asking for his love? Why would she ask a man she doesn't know for love?

The last rule was the most ridiculous.

Never engage in any kind of conversation whatsoever with a man.

“Ridiculous! This is outrageous!” She yelled. Not only was her right to freedom restricted, her right to speech, her right to be a human person, and her right to communicate. What right hasn't been violated by just a few five rules!

“Good, take her to the maids. She needs to be cleaned up.” James said, sizing her up. She looked like a total mess, her hair dishevelled, dark circles underneath her eyes, and her skin looked bruised and awfully pale.

“I won't let.. you take me! Let.. me go!” Lei barked, her gaze fixed on James. He had ears, he heard her right, why was he pretending like she agreed to sign the papers?!

“I won't sign the papers, I won't!” Her lips quivered as she unconsciously dug her nails into her sides.

James nodded. “You will.”

Lei's tongue tasted bitter as her nose scrunched in anger. She would enjoy kicking the words back into his mouth and making sure he swallowed until he was left gagging out blood! “I won't.. I said I won't, let me go!"”

“Where exactly? Where do you know in New York?”

Lei shivered at James' words, her entire body instantly recoiling at the mention of the city ‘New York.’

How long did she sleep?

“I'm.. This is New York?” She asked, eyes darting from the paper down the marble floor and then onto James.

Lucas.. transported her all the way from London down to New York? She was in.. she was in a foreign land?

Leilani had no relatives here, and now, apparently nothing to her name. Even if she tried to escape, how would she get herself all the way back to.. London?