CHAPTER 2 - Can I see your face?

Most people had heard about the masked man and only saw his pictures in the news. None had seen him in person. It was rumored that he was soulless and blood followed him everywhere he went. If he was here, then it was going to be chaos. Some people had already begun to make their way out of the club secretly but others wanted to see what would happen or why he bidded so much for a virgin. Maybe he was insane.

Ariana opened her eyes at the sound of the voice. She thought her fate was sealed with eight hundred thousand and she needed to be auctioned again. This timely intervention was unexpected but her hope returned. Even if the man would be a sex maniac, the fact that she wouldn’t have to be auctioned again nor work in the club again was enough consolation.

“Five million,” the MC was excited. The bidder would have to pay thirty percent of the amount bided to the management of the club so this was a good catch since twenty percent would be deducted from the victim's earnings as well. This was the best they’ve had for auctioning any virgin.

“Yes, five million going once, going twice, going thrice. Congratulations, Mr….you just won a virgin,” the MC said quickly. He was afraid of the man and wanted to hasten things and leave.

“Let her go,” the masked man said coldly, expecting the cage to be lowered. He hated to see women treated without dignity. It wasn’t as if he liked them but he couldn’t bear to see them hurt. Women and children were his breaking point.

The MC signaled the man holding the chain to lower the cage but no one expected the cage to open, while it was still hanging in the air. Everything happened fast but the masked man reacted faster at the sound of a shrill, running to the bottom of the cage and ducking in time to make his body a cushion for the one falling.

Ariana fell on something hard and strong arms wrapped around her waist, while she coughed and shivered from fright. She wasn't hurt in any way, just beyond shocked. Seeing what had happened and being gripped with fear, the man holding the chain took to his heels, as the masked man roared,

“Stop him!”

The man was quickly apprehended by security men while the masked man helped Ariana up from the floor. She was still shivering and clueless as to what just happened till Juliet wrapped a warm towel around her. The masked man walked up to the man, who was pleading with the security men. His communication gadget was intercepted and Dario said through his Bluetooth,

“If you dare to mention my name, I will wipe out your entire family.”

The man knew that his end had come, as he was thrown violently on the floor in front of the masked man. “I’m sorry please, it was an accident,” he pleaded on his knees.

“Then I’m also sorry,” the masked man said. The man on the floor was confused but the understanding set in when the masked man ordered,

“Put him in the cage.”

The man was horrified and continued to plead, thinking that he was going to be auctioned when the masked man instructed, “lift the cage.”

The cage was lifted with chains to the ceiling when the final order came, “open the cage.”

As soon as the cage opened, the man came flying down but unfortunately, there was no one to cushion him when he hit the hard tiled floor, his head smashed into the ground. Blood oozed out like water and everyone was terrified. It was true indeed. Blood followed the soulless man everywhere he went.

“He’s dead,” one of the security men reported before being asked.

“Clear up the mess and ban auctions. I will talk to your manager tomorrow,” the masked man said in his usual robotic voice. The mask was made with a voice filter that hid the man’s real voice.

Most of the billionaires were upset because the auction was being banned but dared not voice their displeasure. Almost everyone had heard about the masked man and how stone-hearted he was. He carried hell with him wherever he went. He wasn’t an easy target because no one knew his real identity. As the tapping sound of footsteps began to fade when the man dressed in black from head to toe was walking away, people could finally breathe again.

Ariana slowly regained herself when she was prepared to be sent to the man who purchased her. Not only did he buy her at an outrageous price but he also saved her life. Now, she had a little above two million, which she could start a business or invest in after paying off Dario and the club’s share of her earning. She had already signed for everything she made to be sent to Dario before the auction, never thinking that something like this was going to happen, and not knowing Dario’s real intentions.

“Can you arrange for the difference to be transferred into my bank account?” She asked Juliet when she came out of the shower while drying her hair. The makeup from before was too heavy and she felt so cold that she needed a hot shower.

“Of course, I will take care of everything. Are you ready?” Juliet asked while choosing lingerie for her.

“I think so,” Ariana said while covering herself with a robe.

“Good luck then,” Juliet said and left while Ariana was escorted by the costume girl to the room of the man who just purchased and saved her.

The large presidential suite seemed scary to Ariana because she was going to lose her first time. In the same sense, she wouldn’t have been alive at the moment if this man hadn't appeared. He might be dangerous but she owed him everything and would gladly endure whatever he would do to her. She didn’t know how long she waited but slowly fell asleep on the couch. She was just afraid of laying on the bed.

Familiar tapping sound of classic leather shoes jolted her awake before the light was turned on. The masked man was about to take off his mask when he felt a strange presence. Turning around, he saw a strange face. Without the heavy makeup, Ariana looked pure but carried her usual proud look. The masked man was surprised to see a woman in his room because he never arranged for one.

“What are you doing here?” He asked in a robotic voice.

Ariana was confused but explained, “You purchased me for five million.”

The masked man began to understand that he had forgotten the auction rules. Maybe it was because he hated such events. He was there on a different agenda but when he saw the cage being lifted in the air, his agenda changed instantly and he wanted to help her. “Oh. You are free. Go and live your life.”

Ariana was even more dumbfounded. “You mean?” He was standing close to the door and she was by the sofa. She wished to see the face behind the mask.

“I mean I’m not going to do anything to you. Today is your lucky day, now off you go,” the robotic voice, not the most pleasant, sounded again, dismissing her.

As good as it seemed, Ariana felt uncomfortable and displeased. She felt that she owed him too much and couldn’t leave without giving anything in return.

“I want to pay my debt. You purchased me so I’m yours,” she removed the long robe, exposing the transparent lingerie she wore. The masked man turned his back to her and roared,

“Don’t make me regret it young woman, get out.”

His harsh tone made her embarrassed and her face flushed. Her eyes were glassy and her voice teary, she accused him, “You are worse than the monsters. It would have been better if you treated me like a whore because this….this is even more demeaning.”

The masked man turned around, walked up to her, picked up her robe, and covered her form. “Was I wrong to give you back your life?” He asked her. Ariana was still teary as she stared longingly at the black mask that did an excellent job of hiding the man’s facial features.

“Yes. Because everyday, it would ring in my head that I owe you,” she said haughtily. The man was confused but didn’t regret saving her.

“No. I will never make you feel that way. You might not even see me again,” he said and led her to the door. Before he opened it, Ariana’s hand pressed against his hand on the door knob which was covered with a black glove.

“Can I see your face?” She asked pleadingly.