How did it all start? Oh, yes. It started with the abuse from my father, Victor. "Why are you always reading and going to school Elena, but seem to never have money to meet up with rent or when I need to smoke" he would scream at me. I had gotten used to his abuse after my mom's death when I was 5, he had taken up the habit of being an alcoholic, and now I was 19 years old facing his daily abuse and harsh words.
Even with how he behaved I still tried my best to take care of both of us, working side shift at a diner and still trying to study to become a lawyer under a fully funded scholarship in one of the best schools, I was in my final year, and couldn't wait to be successful.
"Elena, I need some cash for some important things," my father said with a commanding tone.
"I don't have anything to give you papa, the money with me is for our rent, I can't let you use it for drinks and smokes," I said firmly. And just like that that I triggered the harsh words again.
"You are useless. With such curves and a beautiful body like yours, you could get us out of this poor life, but you waste it," he screamed, walking out on me. At this point the insults didn't hurt anymore, I picked up my bag to head to school and was met with my second abusers, my neighbors.
"You are just wasting your time, you would soon end up like your father, the only good thing he had in his life was your mother," my neighbor blurted out. I sighed, looked at her, wondering how good it would feel when I prove them wrong.
As I got to school I was met with my final abusers, the cherry on the cake, my classmates.
"See how cheap she's dressed, how did she even end up in such an expensive school," a girl whispered to her friends as I walked passed her, almost like she wanted me to hear what she said and just like other days I didn't care, I mean what do they want to say that my own father hadn't screamed at me.
In class I sat alone, no friends, no one wanted to interact with the poor girl, at the beginning when I got here it was sad but now I couldn't give two fucks.
After a long day at school, I still needed to get to my shift at the diner but one of the mean girls in my class felt today was her day. "With how you dress I can't just imagine where you live," she mocked me.
I smirked. "No, you can't because unlike you, I don't have some rich papa tending to all my needs, especially the unnecessary ones," I retorted. She kept mute looking for a perfect comeback but I was not willing to stand around to hear what I already know, so I left.
Things were easier at the diner. No abuse or harsh words just everyone minding their business.
"Elena I would cover your shift, you should be home reading for your exams," Sofia said smiling. She's my co worker and a nice person, sometimes we have small talks but would always end short, it was a safe space.
"You don't have to," I said feeling tense.
"Yes I don't, but I can and I definitely take you as my little sister, so just leave this to me," she said collecting the uniform back from me.
"Thanks," I said smiling. At least one person still had my best interest at heart.
Going home was a 40 minute walk from the diner. I took my time walking home thinking of how life has been treating me badly.
"Elena, I thought you had evening shift," Marcus yelled trying to catch up with me.
"I do, but Sofia offered to cover it because of my exams," I explained. Marcus was my childhood best friend, well I didn't know if we were friends anymore because he looked at me weirdly these days, especially after joining some bad gang in the neighborhood.
"Should i walk you home?" He asked giving me that same perverted look.
"No you don't need to," I said walking a bit faster than him.
"Okay, I will see you later," he said waving a good bye. I nodded avoiding eye contact with him.
I got home tired but still had to read, I did not want to waste the opportunity of letting Sofia covet my shift. And luck was on my side, because my dad was not around to complain and yell as usual, I could finally study in peace.
I decided to do some chores before studying because the rodents kept chewing on the boards and the leaking roof just made everything worse.
I complained to the landlord and instead he mocked me saying I don't pay enough to get to complain for anything and I had no useful items for the rodents anyways.
I kept quiet on the matter because I didn't want any issues with anyone in this neighborhood and no one was going to support me anyways, so why try.
After cleaning up the board pieces, I went to my room, preparing to study when I heard a knock on the door. I sighed, reluctantly going to open it to see my drunk father, I rolled my eyes, there goes my studying time.
"Why... why did you take so much... much time to open up?" he struggled to put words together. I ignored his question and helped him inside.
"Papa aren't you tired of this habit, do you want to live like this forever?" I asked fed up by his behavior.
"How dare you..." he did not get to finish his statement when he collapsed on the floor.
"Papa," I rushed to him panicking but he wasn't moving.
"Fuck," I screamed out of frustration.
I checked his pulse, he was still breathing, although the pulse was faint. I kept trying to control myself from panicking.
"What do I do now," I thought to myself. My first thought was to call for help, but none of the neighbours would be willing to help out, instead they would laugh and mock me.
I picked up my phone from the table and the first person that came to mind was Marcus. He picked on the first ring. "Hey baby," He said with a sultry voice.
"Don't call me that," I said firmly. "I need your help with something, can you come over now," I added.
"Okay baby," he called me that name again.
"I said don't..." He hung up before I could finish my statement. What a bastard.
He showed up some few minutes later, at least he didn't waste time.
"What happened to him?" He asked, shocked to see my dad on the floor.
"I think he fainted, I don't even know, he has a faint pulse, I just need you to help me get him up so we can take him to the hospital," I said panicking.
"Okay darling, I will help you out," he said lifting papa up. I was about to scream stop calling me that, but I remembered I need his help so I just swallowed my anger and turned deaf ears to those weird and cringe names.
When we got to the hospital, the nurse rushed him to the emergency ward.
"You can't go in Ma'am," the nurse said politely. I nodded still trying to peep through the ward door.
"Ma'am calm down," she said before leaving.
"He will be fine," Marcus said to me. And that was the first time he didn't use those weird names.
I sat there for what felt like forever waiting and then finally a doctor came out.
"Miss Voss I would like to talk to to you privately," he said pointing the way to his office. I nodded and followed him.
"Is Papa going to be fine?" I asked as I entered his office not even waiting for him to have his seat.
He gave me a small smile and sat down, gesturing for me to sit down.
"Unfortunately your dad is on the verge of losing his life, he currently has kidney failure and would need to be operated on immediately." The doctor explained.
I put my hand over my mouth in shock, I always warned him about drinking but he never listened.
"How much is it going to cost?" I said wishing it won't be much but when he showed me the bill my eyes almost popped out of my sockets.
"If we don't operate on him immediately, he might lose his life," The doctor said plainly. I nodded and left his office.
How was I going to raise money for his treatment, I thought to myself as I walked back to where Marcus was. He looked less concerned, and was busy on his phone.
"Marcus I want to ask for another favour," I said not believing a time like this would ever come.
"What do you need?" He asked not even bothering to raise his head up.
"I need some money for Papa's treatment, it's very urgent, can you help me with it, I promise to pay it back," I said weakly.
"Oh I see, I could help you get the money, but you don't have to pay it back," he grinned widely.
I looked at him trying to read his expression but didn't understand. "You would really give me for free?" I asked shocked.
"Not really free darling," he said getting up and walking close to me, too close I had to take a step back. "You could pay with something else, I'm sure by now you know how bad I really want you," he added, tracing his fingers from my shoulders to my waist.
I moved back immediately frowning. "I will never sleep with you, if you don't want to help out just say so," i said feeling disgusted.
"You're playing hard to get now, but you would definitely come back to beg," he whispered in my ears before leaving. I stood there watching him leave as tears dropped from my eyes. There goes the best friend I thought I had, I mocked myself.
After a while I cleaned my tears and went home. I would come up with a solution but for now I had to study for my exams tomorrow. I tried hard to focus on what I was reading but the doctors words kept replaying in my head and Marcus reply to helping me out, I sighed, dropped the book and forced myself to sleep.
The next day came by quick, I prepared and left for school, although I didn't get to study much but I still put in my best for the exams, I didn't wait around for my school bullies, I had to get to the diner and see if I could work extra shifts to get extra money.
"So I can't get an extra shift?" I asked the manager as he explained I would need to be working fully if I wanted an extra income, I couldn't because of school.
"I'm sorry I can't help you," he sympathized with me before walking out.
"What's wrong," Sofia asked looking concerned.
"Nothing, I'm fine," I lied.
"Don't lie to me, you don't look fine, have you been crying?" She touched my cheek gently. As if on cue, my tears dropped and I broke down hugging her tightly.
"Papa was diagnosed with kidney failure, the cost for treatment is expensive and Marcus wants to sleep with me before helping me out with the money," I explained, crying even more. She held me tight, patting my back.
"If he isn't treated immediately, he might lose his life," I added between sobs.
"We would find a solution, I promise you, just give me time to think of something" she said breaking the hug to clean my tears. I wonder what idea could solve this problem.
I woke up feeling tired, today was a weekend so I didn't have much to do. I had waited all night for Sofia's idea but she didn't text, I guess she hasn't come up with something yet. I looked at my face on my phone screen, my eyes were swollen from crying, I didn't mind, because some times this was normal to me. After freshening up, I was debating on going to the hospital to see Papa or study, when an incoming call interrupted my thought.
The caller name read 'Sofia' a little smile formed on my lips, she had finally come up with an idea. I picked up the call. "Hey Sofia," I greeted.
"How are you?" She asked concerned.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"Have you come up with an idea?" I asked hopeful.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure you would like it, I'm on my way to your place," her voice was not cheerful, but I was still hopeful.
"Okay, I'll be waiting," I ended the call.
After what seemed like an hour, she knocked, I rushed to open the door.
"Come in," I gestured her.
"I knew you have been crying," she said as she sat down. I gave her a reassuring smile not to worry.
"I'm not sure you're going to like the idea, but it's the fastest way to get the money," she paused expecting me to say something but I just listened instead.
"There is a website where old men pay young girls to sleep with them for a night, just for a night and then you get paid," she emphasized but it was not about it being for a night. I stayed quiet for some time.
"I'm a virgin," I said quietly.
"Oh, I'm sorry for bringing up such an idea, I did not know," she panicked but I did not feel offended she was only trying to help.
"It's fine, I know you mean no harm," I said trying to ease the tension she felt.
"You sure it's just a one night thing?" I asked considering the idea. I kept my virginity for true love, but this was an emergency and who knows if I would ever meet my true love.
"Yes, it's just a night, but you don't have to do it, we can think of another way," she said calmly.
"There is no other fast way to get the money, except I want to do something worse than this," I exhaled.
"So how do we...," I was too shy to complete it, but she understood what I meant.
"We would create a profile for you and then wait," she said grabbing my phone. After the process was done, I uploaded the sexiest pic I had on my phone.
"So that's all?" I said surprised.
"That's just the easiest part," she said giving me a small smile.
After a few hours a notification popped up on my phone, it was a message from the app, I gave the phone to Sofia to check it out, she understood the app more.
"You have a client already," she said not to sure if it was a good news.
"Okay," I replied not believing I could do this for a man who spent most of his time abusing me with harsh words.
"He's in his sixties, are you sure you want to do this?" Sofia asked concerned.
"What choice do I have?, It's just a night, I would be fine," I said reassuring her.
We accepted the offer and the pay was exactly what I needed.
"My driver would pick you up in the evening," Sofia read the message on my phone. That was fast, I didn't even have time to look good but I didn't care, it was just a one time thing.
"I would leave you to get ready, if you change your mind before then, it's fine," she said hugging me.
"Thank you," I appreciated her.
I wore a simple black dress, it was just business, there was nothing special there. Once it was 8pm a black SUV was parked outside and I just knew it was his driver. I walked outside not minding the stares outside, I just knew I would collect a lot of insults when I come back, but I didn't care.
The drive to the house wasn't more than an hour, I was shocked to see a beautiful mansion, but then again, it was a wealthy old man, was I meant to expect less.
"Ma'am Mr Damien will be with you shortly, you can wait In the third room by your left," the driver directed me.
"Thanks," I gave a slight nod.
With the help of the driver's description I found the room, I sat on the couch close to the bed. My hands were shaking slightly but I held them firmly, not wanting to show any sign of weakness.
After what felt like 30 minutes, a tall handsome man, black hair, brown eyes, great physique and perfect jawline entered the room. He looked to be in his late thirties, probably Mr Damien's son, I thought to myself.
"I'm waiting for your father," I said shyly, even though I hated the fact I was shy.
He chuckled slightly. "My father is long dead,"
My eyes widened in shock and surprise, what does he mean 'long dead'.
"Darling you were waiting for me, My name is Damien," he introduced himself.
He looked nothing like the profile picture, it was confusing.
"You're not the one in the profile," I said confusingly.
"Yeah, that's a fake picture, I prefer to keep my identity private, so young girls won't end up falling for me, it's just sex," he said nonchalantly with so much pride.
I looked closely at him and I could have sworn I had seen him somewhere, but couldn't just place where. I brushed it off, might just be my mind playing with me. We stared at each other for close to five minutes, I didn't know what to do and I was not going to ask.
"You would need to freshen up, but I would join you," he said pulling off his suit.
"You don't have to," I replied quickly remembering I had to shave and would be too shy to look at him while doing that.
"I wasn't seeking your permission," he said with so much pride. I kept reminding myself I needed the money and just have to tolerate his ego and pride for one night.