Ultimate Trade

"I didn't think you would be convinced so easily, Hailey." Zayn's words brought an unsaid annoyance on her face. 

She twisted her expressions to say, "Not letting me drink water or eat food, is that how you want me to submit to you?" 

"That's the least harshness we have shown to you as Lynn's daughter." he honestly told her, the curve on his face turning bigger. "If it was one of his men, his legs and arms would have been broken till now." 

"Hah, shall I be grateful to your mercy....?" 

"Perhaps you should. I have taken into account that you were unaware of your hierarchy." 

Hailey wanted to laugh at her destiny. One moment she was dreaming about earning more money, doin extra-part time. The very next moment her life was drenched with bad dreams. 

The dream of being entangled with Zayn Wakon. 

When Zayn didn't get the replies from Hailey, he walked up to her. Under the same dim light, after a day. 

"So, shall we talk if you are in your correct mindset?" he asked but Hailey didn't believe so. 

She did agree to continue this conversation regardless of her urge to escape the room of criminals. 

"Shall, we?" he repeated his question while the patience was ticking on the edge of his tongue. 

The frustration was evident in his speech and everyone knew what would happen to her if she took longer than expected. 

No wonder, Hailey wasn't a stranger to the change in his tone. His each tone was registered in her brain, her throat turning dry as the cold shivers ran down her spine over each passing second.

"I-I.. am willing to talk." 

"Good choice." he said and finally, one of his men brought another wooden chair. He sat in front of her, glancing at her face without breaking eye contact. 

"Your father is no ordinary man. Whatever happened and how... you are his daughters, a different story to tell. It can be only narrated by your mother." 

"But I can apprise you about the current circumstances- the dangerous ones." hearing this, Hailey gulped back but all her ears were on him. 

"Your father had only you, the illegitimate child. He has a right hand and other people in his gang who are now looking for you everywhere. Since it is revealed that you are his daughter, it was supposed to be a matter of time before they reached out to you and your mother." 

"Unfortunately.. for you.."Zayn leaned back in his chair, extending one leg beside her chair and watching her face with a bloody smirk curving on his fine jawline. 

"We reached out to you before them and here you are." Zayn finished the story while Hailey remained motioned. 

It was all anew for her, trying to process each sentence in her brain. She took a  deep breath, sigh escaping those lips. "So.. why.. this marriage.." 

"Your father has kept a huge fortune over you. If I marry you, I'm evidently removing my threat." Zayn replied. "You are his head. My enemy. If I marry you and keep under my wings, your gang-" 

"I don't have any gang!" Hailey replied spontaneously, and Zayn seemed amused. "Aiken.. Lynn's clan?" 

Hailey gave him a stare and Zayn laughed off, "Alright girl. Don't get angry. But let me put this straight." 

"You have a lot of money on your head and a gang to handle. If I let another gang gain access to you, trust me you will regret it more than here." 

"So... you want money?" Hailey questioned with the innocent face, the only fact that registered in her brain. 

"And the power which your gang has. Marrying you means merging two clans. There will be slight killings.. but I will be able to take over the better gang." 

"K-Killings...?" Hailey couldn’t help but feel her eyes turn wide. "You will kill more people?!!" 

"You think your group will let me snatch you so easily?" Zayn was surprised at her foolishness. "Your people aren't so good, Miss." 

However before that, she somehow nodded her head. "Marriage.. is the only solution." 

Zayn couldn't help but admire her innocence. Is she pretending or.. is this real her? He wasn't able to make up. 

"The only way to get your wealth transferred to mine is by marrying you legally and then you adopt your real surname with mine." 

If only she could believe it was so simple paperwork as he described to her. 

Hailey's emotions were a roller coaster. She had a big decision to make, alone in this life of hell. The sentiments of betrayal already left her body after learning about her identity.

This point could be described as per lonely and isolated self where her one big decision could lead to the ultimate trade with the criminal.

The expressions on her face fluctuated. She pressed her lips together, a pout on her mouth. Those eyes were closed, punctured with the conflicted thousands of whether to go with this option or not.

Because harm irked either side.

"W-what.. if I do not agree.. with your demand?" 

"Trust me girl, you will face deadly consequences." His deep, commanding voice resonated in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. "Y-You possess a real threat..."

“Hey…” His cold fingers brushed her chin, prompting her to lift her gaze and meet his dark brown eyes. He leaned in closer, their lips hovering mere inches apart, charged with an unspoken tension.

"I won't cause you any harm if you choose to cooperate. So, consider your options carefully, because I have no intention of letting you slip away from me, sweetheart."