Fated to the don

Alicia's POV

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!"

My voice echoed through the apartment as the door swung open and hit the wall with a dull thud.

The smell hit first... dust and that ugly scent of other people where they didn't belong. Then my eyes adjusted and my heart dropped straight into my stomach.. the place was fucking destroyed!

"Holy shit." Maureen gasped behind me. "What the hell happened?"

I stepped inside like my legs were on autopilot. Couch cushions were ripped open and tossed aside, the coffee table was flipped, one of the chairs lay on its side like it had given up on life, drawers were pulled out and dumped and our tiny TV was gone...so was the microwave. Even the stupid lamp I hated because it flickered was missing.

"Please." I whispered, already moving. "Please, please, please..."

I didn't wait for Maureen. I ran straight to the corner behind the sofa, dropped to my knees and shoved my hands under it. Dust coated my palms as I dragged out the shoebox we'd hidden there.

It was open.. and empty!

There was no envelope, no bundle of wrinkled bills and no coins.. nothing!

"No." I said, shaking my head. "No, no, no..."

Maureen rushed over.

"Ali? What is it?"

I turned the box upside down like the money might magically fall out if I asked nicely but still nothing.. not even a penny.

"They took it." I said, with myy chest tightening like someone had wrapped a belt around it and pulled. "They fucking took it!"

"Oh my God." Maureen said. "No. No way."

"That's all the money we had!" I jumped to my feet and kicked the sofa so hard my toe screamed in pain. "Goddammit!" I slammed my fist into the armrest. "That was everything!"

Maureen ran her hands through her hair, pacing like a trapped animal.

"We should've taken it to the fucking bank!"

I rounded on her.

"Don't say that."

"I'm just saying..."

"We had reasons!" I snapped. "Valid reasons."

"Like what?" she shot back. "So burglars could have easier access?"

"Oh yeah, because banks are so easy for everyone. You forget they freeze accounts, right? Or.. or charge fees we can't afford?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it.

"And my credit is trash." I added. "You know that.. we can't go borrowing now and your account is already overdrawn. If we'd put that money in the bank, it would've disappeared anyway."

Maureen stopped pacing and her shoulders slumped.

"I know." she said quietly. "I know."

We stood there for a moment, surrounded by our ruined life and the silence felt loud. My hands started shaking so I sat down hard on the edge of the sofa and pressed them together.

A knock hit the door and I flinched while Maureen froze. Another knock came, firmer and annoyed.

"I'll get it." Maureen muttered.

She opened the door and of course... because my life had officially decided to hate me... it was Mr. Rogers.. our landlord.

He stood there with his usual sour expression, his jacket neatly pressed and his eyes scanning the apartment behind us with clear disgust.

"Evening." he said. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Yes." I said flatly. "You are."

Maureen shot me a look but Mr. Rogers ignored me.

"I'm here to remind you both that you have three days left. Court's ruling came through this morning."

My stomach twisted.

"Three days?"

"I was generous already." he said. "After three days, I have permission to remove you and your belongings by force."

"Please." Maureen said quickly. "Sir, there's been a break-in. We just got back and everything's gone."

He glanced around again, unimpressed.

"That's unfortunate."

"Our money was stolen." I said, standing up. "All of it."

He sighed like we were boring him.

"My problem remains the same. Rent is due. Either you pay or you leave."

"Can't you give us more time?" Maureen pleaded. "Just a week..."

"No."

"A few days?" I asked. "Please."

He adjusted his jacket.

"I've been patient long enough. Three days. That's final."

Then he turned and walked away like we were nothing.. like our lives weren't falling apart in real time and the door closed softly behind him.

I sank back onto the sofa, staring at the wall and I didn't even feel angry anymore.. just empty.

Maureen started pacing again.

"Okay. Okay. Think. We need to think."

"There's nothing to think about." I said. "We're screwed!"

"No, we're not." she said. "There has to be a way."

"I'm just a waitress." I reminded her. "I barely make enough for groceries."

"And you think I drown in money at my job?" she snapped, then stopped and her face fell. "But I'm in debt.. a lot of it."

"Exactly." I said. "So borrowing is out."

She stopped pacing and slowly, she turned and went to her room. I heard drawers opening and closing before she came back holding an envelope.

"There's only one way now." she said.

My heart dropped before she even said it.

"No."

She held it out.

"Alicia..."

"No fucking way." I shook my head so hard my vision blurred. "Don't even say it."

"You said yourself the pay is huge."

"I don't care."

"We'll be homeless!"

"I don't care!"

"Yes, you do." she snapped. "You care a lot."

I stood up.

"That place is dangerous."

"It's one night."

"It's an underground fashion auction for rich assholes." I said. "Anything goes at those places."

"You'll be fine." she insisted. "You're just modeling."

"No." I said. "We both agreed we wouldn't go."

"That was before this!" She gestured around the apartment. "Look at us, Alicia!"

I clenched my fists. .

"I won't do it."

Maureen's voice softened.

"Please. This is our only hope. Or else we're sleeping on the street in three days."

I hated how reasonable she sounded and I hated that she was right.. my resolve cracked.. just a little.

I looked at the envelope again where my name was written on it in elegant ink. Just one night and big money.

"Fine." I whispered. "One night."

Maureen let out a breath and hugged me.

"Thank you. Thank you."

I didn't hug back.

***

The next night found me behind the curtains, heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. The backstage area buzzed with voices as models whispered and assistants rushed around.

I pulled out my small hand mirror and checked my reflection again.

Long red hair, loose tonight, falling in waves down my back. Pale skin that almost glowed under the lights and blue eyes that looked too big for my face.

I barely recognized myself.

The dress was blood red, medieval in style, hugging my waist and flowing down in heavy fabric. It felt dangerous like it belonged to someone braver than me.

"Next." someone called.

I swallowed and when I stepped onto the runway, the lights blinded me for a second then the crowd came into focus.

I heard whispers, laughter and catcalls but I lifted my chin and walked anyway.

Rich bastards...

I stopped at the end, posed like they wanted, turned... and then something in the crowd caught my eye...

Alicia's POV

I turned back toward the crowd and that was when I did a double take.

There was a man in the VIP booth and not just any man by the looks of it.

He stood out in a way that made the rest of the room blur. Everyone else was talking, laughing, drinking and leaning toward one another like vultures dressed in expensive suits but this man sat still.. perfectly still in an uncanny sort of way.

The booth itself was raised, guarded and dimly lit. Whoever sat there had to be insanely rich.. the kind of rich that didn't need to show it. Multi-billionaire among billionaires kind of rich.

His face was sharp and unreadable with no smile, no frown and no interest in the people around him. His eyes... grey and coldly focused... were locked on me.

He didn't blink for once and rhe moment our eyes met, something surged through me.

It wasn't normal.. it felt like electricity shot straight through my chest and down my spine. My breath caught, my fingers tingled and my heart skipped like it had forgotten how to work for half a second. Not just that but I suddenly felt a strong arousal and a feeling of attraction towards him.

What the hell was that?

I almost missed a step.. almost. My heel wobbled and panic flashed through me but I forced myself to steady. I finished the pose, turned smoothly and walked back like nothing had happened.

In my head, I was freaking out.

Get it together, Alicia!

He was just a man.. a very rich, very intense man. Probably used to eye fucking women like they were things he could buy.

I lifted my chin, annoyed now. Fine. Eye-fuck me all you like, rich stranger. I've seen worse!

By the time I disappeared behind the curtains, my heart was still racing as I tried to figure out what in the actual fuck had just happened back there!

The auction wrapped up quickly after that as applause echoed through the hall, people stood amd voices rose. The models began to scatter backstage, some laughing, some checking phone and others already being pulled aside by designers or buyers.

Maureen rushed toward me the second she saw me.

"Oh my God." she squealed, grabbing my arms. "Alicia. Alicia. Did you see them? You killed it. Absolutely murdered them!"

I huffed.

"Relax."

"No, I'm serious." she said. "You were the sexiest one out there tonight. Hands down. This is a big win. A big one."

"I just want to go home." I muttered.

Someone suddenly cleared their throat behind us.

I froze and slowly, I turned.

Oh my gosh... It was him!

Up close, he was... worse.. or better. I couldn't decide.

He was tall with broad shoulders filling out a perfectly tailored black three-piece suit, black hair brushed back falling just past his shoulders. His face was all sharp lines and quiet danger and grey eyes that looked like they'd seen too much and cared about none of it. He looked even more unreal standing this close.

"Miss." he said calmly.

His voice was deep, smooth and controlled. My knees almost betrayed me at the sound of it and I felt an embarrassing wetness between my legs.

I swallowed.

"Yes?"

"You were exceptional tonight."

He didn't smile but something about the way he said it made my stomach flip.

"Thank you." I said, hoping my voice sounded normal.

Maureen immediately stepped forward, flashing her brightest smile.

"She really was, wasn't she? Alicia has always had that effect on people."

He didn't even look at her.. his eyes stayed on me.

"I bought your dress." he said.

"Oh." I said dumbly. "Okay."

"But I want more than the dress."

He let the words hung for a while between us.

"I want your body."

Silence suddenly crashed down on us. Maureen and I stared at him and then at each other.

"What?" I blurted.

He studied my face like he was weighing something and then he reached into his suit and pulled out a folder so crisp and white.

"There's a contract." he said calmly. "If you're interested."

"For what exactly?" I asked.

"Your body in exchange for twenty million dollars which will be paid right now."

Maureen gasped.

Then... before I could even process what was happening... she snatched the folder from his hands.

"Twenty million dollars?" she whispered.

He nodded.

"Paid immediately."

Her eyes went wide.

"Deal!"

She signed..! Just like that!

My brain short-circuited.

"What the fuck?!" I shouted. "Maureen!"

She grabbed my arm and dragged me a few steps away.

"Lower your voice!"

"You just sold me like a prostitute!" I hissed.

"For your own good." she whispered fiercely. "We need this money."

"I'm not a prostitute!"

She scoffed.

"Don't act holy. This wouldn't be the first time you fuck a man for money! We've both done things before when we were desperate."

She sighed and looked around agitatedly.

"This is one night." she said. "One night with a rich man and then you're back home. Twenty million dollars, Alicia. One in a million."

I shook my head.

"No."

"We'll be homeless." she snapped. "We only have three days. Remember?"

I clenched my fists. Damn her! Damn the situation and damn the fucking empty shoebox!

After a long moment, I took the pen and I signed too. One night of fucking a stranger won't kill me.. I guess.

When we returned, I handed the folder back.

"It's done." I said stiffly.

For the first time, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes.. not a smile though.. but an emotion at last. He turned and gestured to another man nearby.

"Damon." he said. "Take her home. Make sure she's comfortable. I'll be there shortly."

The man nodded.

Damon was tall too, built like a wall and his eyes were sharp and assessing.

Maureen accepted a fat cheque with shaking hands as Damon led me away.

Outside, a black limousine waited with the inside of it all leather seats, quietness and power.

The drive felt unreal and at last.. we arrived at a towering penthouse surrounded by armed men in suits.. giving me the feeling this man was a no nonsense man.

Damon led me to a bedroom.

"Servants are available. Clothes are in the wardrobe and the boss will be here soon."

"He better hurry." I muttered. "I want to get this over with and get out of this place."

Damon smiled in a pitying way.

"Didn't you read the contract?" he asked softly.

My stomach dropped.

"No.. why?"

"You're his property now." He explained. "You belong to the Boss."

Alicia's POV

"What the actual fuck?"

The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Damon just chuckled and it wasn't a warm friendly sound.. it was the kind of chuckle you'd hear from a wolf right before it ate you!

"Maybe you should read things before you sign them, sweetheart," he said, leaning against a wall that probably cost more than my entire life.

"I wasn't even told anything!"

My mind was racing mow and then it hit me. My friend Maureen had sold me..! And I was stupid to sign the papers without reading it through.. I thought this was to be a one night stand!

Damon's smile spread slightly in pitty.

"What happened back there was a business transaction, love.. a simple exchange and you are the product. You're the boss's property now."

The air left my lungs in a whoosh. My trusted friend, my ride-or-die Maureen had taken a stack of cash and sold me!

"I want out," I said with my voice trembling with fear and rage. "Right now. This is insane!"

Damon just pushed off the wall and headed for the door.

"Yeah, I'm afraid you'll have to take that up with the boss."

"Who is he? What does he want?" I demanded with desperation.

But the door was already clicking shut behind him, leaving me alone in a silent rich prison.

When that terrifyingly intense man said he wanted my body, I thought... well, I thought it was going to be a one-night thing. A stupid, reckless, potentially mind-blowing fuck but this? He'd bought me. To be what? His personal, full-time fuck toy?!

A defeated llaugh bubbled up in my throat. This was so much worse!

The dress I was wearing... the one from the fashion auction... suddenly felt like it was strangling me so I practically ripped it off with my fingers fumbling with the tiny clasp. I needed my jeans and my worn-out t-shirt.. normal clothes.. my armor.

I marched to the massive wardrobe and threw the doors open and then I just stared.

There was nothing in there but lingerie and not the cute, cotton kind. I'm talking lace so delicate it looked like a spider's web and... were those stripper outfits?

I slammed the doors shut with my heart pounding. After a frantic search through the drawers, I found a couple of simple long nightgowns. They were still ridiculously silky and expensive-feeling but they covered me so I put one on.

Then, I waited. I sat on the edge of the ridiculously large bed, every nerve ending on high alert listening for a footstep and the turn of a doorknob but nothing came.

The silence was deafening and after what felt like an eternity, I finally worked up the nerve to lock the door from the inside and rhe soft click of the bolt was the most comforting sound I'd heard all night.

I didn't sleep.. I mean, I might have dozed off for a few minutes here and there but every little creak of the penthouse jolted me awake.

My brain was on a merry-go-round of panic, switching between 'Oh my god, I've been sold' and 'What on earth does this guy want?'

The next morning.. a sharp knock on the door had me shooting upright and my heart leaped into my throat.. this was it. Showtime..

I scrambled to the door and yanked it open, ready to face my mysterious captor.

It was just a maid.. a young woman with nervous eyes, holding a breakfast tray.

"For you, miss," she mumbled, not quite meeting my gaze.

The adrenaline crash left me dizzy.

"Where is he? The... the owner of this place?"

"He left very early this morning, miss," she said, her voice barely a whisper as she set the tray down.

"What the fuck?" I blurted out.

He buys a human being and then just... leaves for the day? What kind of psycho does that?

"When will he be back? What's his name? Please, you have to tell me something."

But she just shook her head with a flicker of genuine fear in her eyes and practically scurried out of the room, closing the door firmly behind her.

I was fucking trapped!

A whole day stretched out before me silently and terrifying. I tried calling Maureen.. I wanted to scream at her, to demand answers and to hear her pathetic excuses but my phone had zero bars. It had been like that since I arrived.. probably not a coincidence.

The day dragged on with each hour slower than the last. I was alone with my terrifying thoughts in a gorgeous soulless prison and ny the time night fell again, I was on the verge of running mad!

Then.. a soft knock on the door.. the maid again, I thought, maybe with dinner. I padded over and opened the door but it wasn't the maid.

He stood there, filling the doorway.. the man from the club. He was even more devastatingly handsome and infinitely more terrifying and just like at the club, my body betrayed me instantly.

That traitorous flush of heat, the pooling low in my belly and the sudden arousal washed over me again. My brain was screaming 'DANGER!' but my body was apparently waving a little white flag of surrender.

He didn't say a word.. just stepped calmly into the room as I instinctively backed away. He sat elegantly in a plush armchair facing the bed and gestured for me to sit on the the bed.

I was reluctant with every instinct telling me to run but where would I go? So I sat, perching on the very edge of the mattress.

"What do you want with me?" The questions tumbled out of me. "Who are you? You can't keep me here! This is kidnapping!"

He watched me with his gaze unnervingly calm.

"I told you what I want," he said, his voice a low rumble. "It's your body I need and you sold it to me, remember."

The bluntness of it should have horrified me.. it did horrify me but, god help me, a fresh wave of heat washed through me, making me shudder and I felt myself getting wetter between the legs and I hated myself for it!

"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded with my voice shaking.

A faint dangerous smile touched his lips.

"I am known by many names but formally, I am called Dmitri Hunt."

Dmitri fucking Hunt?! I shot to my feet with my blood running cold.

Oh no. No, no, no. Everyone in the city knew that name.. Don Dmitri Hunt! The head of the Velvet Mafia! A ghost story told in whispers! A man who made problems... and people... disappear! A man whose name was well known but only few who knew his face lived long enough to tell the tale!

"Oh, god... please," I stammered with my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest. "You have to let me go. I don't know anything! I'm nobody!"

He stood too and I backed up until the backs of my knees hit the bed and I sat down hard.

He didn't stop.. he sat down right next to me with his large body crowding my space. He leaned in close and to my utter astonishment, he... sniffed me like an animal scenting its prey and then a low soft growl rumbled in his throat.

"You don't need to fear me," he murmured in a sexy whisper that did things to me I couldn't control. "I'm not going to hurt you."

But his hands were already moving, one coming up to cup my breast with his thumb brushing over my nipple.

I gasped, jerking back.

"What the fuck.. Stop!"

He ignored me with his other hand sliding to my hip.

"I know you want this," he growled softly with his face so close to mine I could feel his breath. "Your body wants me and it's screaming for me. Do us both a favor and stop pretending."

And then his mouth was suddenly on mine, claiming me in a kiss that was hard and demanding while his hand squeezed my breast...!