The CEO's Redemption

Tiana stood in front of the man, terrified. All she remembered was that she and her sister, who was now at her side, had been taken away and thrown into the back of a van. He had been watching them since their arrival without saying a word, and none of them dared speak to him.

Tiana glanced at him out of the corner of her eye for the umpteenth time. He gave off a dark aura, imbued with fear, but it only enhanced his devilish beauty. He looked like he'd stepped straight out of a painting. From her father's descriptions of him, Tiana hadn't expected him to be so young.

- Your father is dead...

His voice abruptly pulled her from her thoughts. Her gaze flickered and she swallowed, watching his hand tap slowly on the table, as if he were counting each stroke of his fingers.

- Do you know what he did?

He straightened slightly, propping his head on his hand as he stared at them intensely.

Her father had worked for this man before he died. She wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but he owed her money, which he had squandered gambling. And now he was dead, leaving his two daughters to bear the burden of his debts.

Tiana bit her lower lip.

- We're trying to pay back... please give us a little more time...

It was the first time she had spoken since they entered the room.

- I never said I was patient...

His voice was malevolent, his gaze cruel. Tiana inhaled sharply.

This man owned a company worth billions; surely his father's debt was nothing to him?

"We... we don't have the money right now," she said with pain in her eyes. "How could he expect them to find such a sum when he knew perfectly well they didn't have it? Was he that cruel?"

Nicklaus stared at them, and the only thing he felt was rage. He gritted his teeth, trying to remain impassive. He could have forgiven many things, but not this.

No... this man had betrayed him to his enemies. He would never forgive that. They would pay.

-Then you'll have to pay...some other way.

Tiana felt Gwen's gaze turn to her, filled with fear. What other way?

Gwen's hands trembled at her sides as she stared at the man. He watched them silently, letting them drown in fear of what was about to happen to them, and then, after what seemed like hours, he finally spoke.

-One of you will have to stay here with me... as my mistress.

Tiana's mouth fell open in shock, she couldn't believe her ears.

Why was he so cruel? He wanted them to prostitute themselves for a mere sum of money when he clearly could have done without it? How could someone be so inhumane?

- We will pay you back, I beg you... We just need a little time... I promise you...

-If you can pay me now, fine. If you can't, then one of you will have to be my mistress... for five months.

He answered in a detached tone, oblivious to the pain that was evident on their faces.

Gwen turned to her sister, scared. She didn't want to stay with him, no. A man capable of doing that is a monster in the flesh. She pursed her lips, imagining the hell she would live through if he chose her.

Tiana bowed her head as tears welled up in her eyes. He seemed to have already made up his mind. She didn't know what her father had done to deserve such cruelty... or perhaps the man was just a black heart? Perhaps he was simply devoid of humanity?

She looked up at him, her throat tight.

- Who do you choose?

Those were the only words she could manage. They didn't have ten thousand dollars, and no one to turn to. They were orphans. Their mother had died when she was five and Gwen was four. Since then, they'd only had their father, who'd worked a series of odd jobs to put them through school. It was only a few years earlier that he'd started working for this man. He'd died suddenly, devastated after yet another gambling loss. And now they were left with this debt... and so many others.

A pained smile tugged at Tiana's lips as she blinked, trying to compose herself. The last thing she wanted was to cry. She wouldn't give her that pleasure.

Nicklaus watched the two young women; they seemed to be the same age, but one looked stronger. A small smirk played on his lips as he slowly turned his head toward the frailer one.

- I want her...

Tiana's eyes widened as she followed his gaze. He was talking about Gwen. At that precise moment, Gwen collapsed to her knees, gasping for air.

It was over. His dreams, his life, everything was falling apart.

She was going to have to spend five months with a man she didn't know would let her live? Five months with a complete stranger, five months trying to survive hell? No. No, she couldn't...

Why hadn't he chosen Tiana? She was there! She was the strongest! Why?

Gwen turned to her sister with a tearful look.

- Tiana, please... I don't want to stay with him... please... help me...

She begged, tears streaming down her cheeks. Tiana was the stronger of the two. If anyone had to go, it was her.

Tiana closed her eyes as she heard her sister's sobs. She couldn't let her do this. She was the oldest, it was up to her to protect her.

- Take me in his place, I beg you.

Her head bowed, the tears she'd been holding back for too long forcing their way out.

Nicklaus sneered.

- I don't think I stuttered when I made my choice.

- I beg you... Take me in her place... I'll do whatever you want... but let my sister go... I beg you...

Pain filled her heart as she begged him. As long as she could protect her sister, she would agree to anything.

Nicklaus watched them for a moment, then finally spoke:

- You can save your sister... but on one condition.

Tiana looked up, pain and hope mixed in her eyes.

-No matter what happens, you won't die during these five months. If you give up, if you die, or if you break our agreement in any way... I'll have no choice but to take your sister too.

Tiana blinked with difficulty, staring at the man who was smiling with satisfaction. How could another's pain bring her so much joy?

Those were her conditions. And even though she knew she was entering hell, she could only nod.

- Okay. I accept your terms.

- Tiana!!!...

Gwen screamed as two massive men dragged her sister away. Tiana turned around, her eyes full of sadness, looking at her tearful sister. Gwen made to follow, but a terrifying-looking man held her back and pushed her out of the room.

Tiana froze, staring at the door her sister had just been expelled through. The dull thud of the door slamming made her shiver. She swallowed, fighting back tears in the face of the inevitable. Slowly sliding her feet onto the marble, she moved forward.

The two men guided her through the hallway to a door on the right. One of them stepped forward with a set of keys. He looked at the number, fumbled with it, then unlocked the lock. Before she could even say a word, she was pushed inside.

She fell flat on her stomach, and the clinking of keys echoed behind her.

She knew she had just been locked up.

Tiana opened her eyes and realized the room was pitch black-pitch black. She couldn't even see her hands, even though they were so pale. Keeping her eyes open in such darkness hurt, so she closed them again and felt around. Crawling slowly to the wall behind her, she curled into a ball, her eyelids closed.

Her life had been a series of miseries. She was only twenty-two years old, and yet everything-her dreams, her ambitions, her joy, her hopes-had been snatched away in the blink of an eye. If one had the right to choose one's destiny, she would have preferred never to have been born.