Money and pride

Let me speak with you for a little bit about my life. I am Lily Anderson, daughter of the neighborhood gambler. I came from a poor family and I have a single older brother, my mom breaks my heart whenever I am reminded of her. She died from hunger; dad preferred to sleep with a prostitute instead of feeding her.

I was 13 years old when I witnessed my mom's death, she refused to eat the food I brought her and insisted that dying would just be better, I begged her to reconsider as I didn't want to lose the only reason why I continue living. She did not listen to me nor care about me at all but I do not blame her for leaving me behind, after all, no human would want to live this way.

One day, Dad came back drunk from the club he frequented; he looked at me with disgust in his eyes.

-" I never considered you as someone useful in my life, Lily. Today I can proudly say that you are though." he started.

I ignored his drunken talk, it was my exam period and I was not in the mood for this. Studying was the only way for me to escape poverty so I studied as hard as I could with the money I get from my job.

-" You fucking bitch... I am talking... to you, stop ignoring me... for god's sake." He stuttered throwing a bottle of whiskey in my direction.

I dodged it and got up heading to step out of the tiny tuna can we lived in, I knew that he would not shut up anytime soon. I opened the door and was surprised when my eyes met those of a scary individual leaning on his car's rail. He had several bodyguards by his side and they were all wearing black.

I suddenly recalled what dad has said earlier and turned around closing the door behind me.

-" What the fuck have you done, asshole?" I asked imagining the worst scenario ever; I am not ready to become a prostitute. I have to run away, I thought.

-" I sold you out to a fancy-looking businessman to pay off the debt I owed him." he retorted struggling to get up from the ground.

I had to act quickly; I need to run away as fast as I could. I grabbed a backpack in which I put my wallet, mobile phone, several books, and two sets of clothes, that is literally all I own. I jumped from the back window and ran into the backyard trying to get away from this house. As soon as I passed the high backyard fence, a hand came out of nowhere and held my arm.

I flinched awkwardly directing my gaze to the man who towered over me preventing my escape. I tried to kick him in the guts but he grabbed my leg and lift me on his shoulders. I tried to get down but his hold was stronger than I expected, he swiftly threw me into his car and closed the door.

I glanced to my right and spotted a bodyguard sitting by the right window, another one was sitting in the front and the man who caught me sat on my left side closing the door behind him.

-" Go." he ordered the driver.

-" What is the deal you made with him?" I asked trying to stay calm, it was not the first time I go through a similar situation so I dealt with it professionally using my wits.

-" He sold you to our master to pay his 2 million dollar debt." the bodyguard who sat in the front replied looking at me from the rearview mirror.

I already know that the deal was made illegally so there is no need of mentioning that what they are doing is wrong because they will not give a shit about it.

-" What is my fate?" I asked again trying to pull any information out of them.

-".."

No one answered me, the air was too thick and even breathing was hard to do. I was scared that they would force me to do something I hate. I don't mind working or even participate in an underground ring fight but not stripping out of my clothes, my pride wouldn't allow it. I prefer to die than to go through such humiliation.

My mind started going wild so I decided to brush these thoughts off by doing something else. I pulled out a book from my bag and started studying the lecture I could not continue earlier, I have an exam tomorrow.

They all stared at me which made the ambiance even more awkward and all of a sudden, a burst of laughter came out of the man to my left.

-" Ha-ha... You are a courageous little one, I like you already." he commented. His voice was so rough and his body figure was huge so even his smile was a little bit scary, to be honest. I did not know how to react to what he said so I just did not reply and kept reading my book silently.

-" We have reached, master," the driver said.

They stepped out of the car and pulled me out; they were surrounding my petite body so that I would not even think of an escape route. I glanced at the mansion in front of us who is a million times huger than my house.

What the hell? I thought that this kind of structure only existed in movies; it would take me an hour to walk through every inch of this mansion.

-" Do you like it?" The mysterious man questioned.

-" It will be your home from now on," he added in a dark tone that made goosebumps run through my body.

I am not trying to be pessimistic but this does not sound good at all, I prayed silently.

I was sitting in the man's office, he ordered the maid to bring me a minted tea and I drank it slowly waiting for him to start speaking. A man entered the room and handed a document over to my kidnapper.

-" Take this contract and read it carefully." he started.

I took the file from his hand and started reading. My eyes grew wider by every written word, what is this bullshit? He wanted me to monitor his son while going to the same college as his and also push him to focus more on leading his father's company instead of dating.

-" Are you aware of what you are asking me? I am assuming that you are a businessman so writing such a contract is..." I said stopping midway, I did not feel the urge to anger him yet, I want to get out from this safely after all.

-" Is what?" he asked. I was going to say childish but I will take it back.

-" Far-fetched." I replied.

-" You are right, you might think it is weird and out of nowhere but I have my reasons. All you have to do is straighten his life, once he gets to his old self, you will be free." he continued.

I glanced at the contract again, he was right. All he asked for was to set his son straight and I will be free to leave this place, I will also be paid handsomely and able to attend an expensive high-class college for free. I would have been insane to refuse such an offer if the situation was slightly different but given our first interaction, all of this was just weird.

-" Why me?"

-" I know you will be able to finish the job and also you have a reason to finish it perfectly." he added.

Uhmm... I am not convinced.

-" What if I refuse?"

Upon saying that, the man beside him glared at me as if he was saying; why are you so stupid?

-" You will die," he stated coldly and I could tell from his tone that he was not joking; he already drew the lines making it obvious that I should not cross them when speaking with him.

-" My secretary Mark will show you to your room,"

Mark motioned for me to get up and I followed him to my room, we stopped by the second floor. We soon reached my room in the middle of the hall and he started giving me instructions regarding the mansion's rules.

-" Young master Shawn gets mad easily and he does not like to be ignored, he hates those who talk back to him, and more importantly, he despises stupidity. Make sure you do not get on his nerves if you want to get out of here anytime soon. This is your room, you are not allowed in any other, college starts at 8 am; the driver will drive you there and breakfast at 7." Mark instructed.

I nodded and he left right after.

Shit, he forgot to tell me where the bathroom is, I need to clean myself, I ran after him to ask him about it but unfortunately bumped into a wall or so I thought until I raised my head and spotted the man standing in front of me.

-" Watch where you are going... Wait, just who are you? It's my first time seeing you here," he said irritated by this whole interaction. I was about to reply but he cut me off.

-" Ya know, never mind," he added while walking away.

-" Do you know where the bathroom is," I asked, I could not see Mark and he was the only one present for me to ask about directions in this huge mansion. It seems that he was taken aback by my sudden question because he swiftly turned around and looked deeply into my eyes.

-" What?"

-" The bathroom? Where is it?" I repeated.

-" The fuck you are stopping me to ask such a stupid question." he spat out; his voice was dominating and radiated the same darkness in his father's voice. I can tell by now that he is his son, looking at his face from such a close distance proved it. They had the same facial features.

-" It's not as if I asked you where your brain is, I was just asking for directions." I retorted earning another glare from his side. I was not trying to act cheekily but my pride would not stand still while I am being addressed in this way.

He surprisingly grabbed me by my shoulders and pinned me to the wall behind me, he glared into my eyes and I could feel his anger from the way he acted.

-" This is the last time you address me with such disrespect, do you understand?"

I looked at his hands that were grabbing my shoulders and I smirked.

-" Anger issues, I see." I said while grinning and I quickly slid down and got away from his grip backing away. I do not like how he treats me at all, he is an arrogant spoiled brat who wasn't taught a thing about respect.

I did not expect him to walk my way again, it looked as if he was about to hit me so I elbowed him as soon as he stepped into my personal space but that did not stop him. The punch only left a very faint bruise on his face and he took the chance grabbing me from the neck.

He lift me up from the ground single-handedly which was quite impressive, to be honest. I did not have the time to react nor did I expect such action to come out from him. I grabbed his hands trying to break away but in vain; he raised my body to his head level and whispered in my ear dangerously.

-" If you can't respect me then I will force you," He threatened.

I was starting to lose my breath and I needed oxygen more than anything now. I gathered all my power and kicked his chest with my leg, which pushed him to take a step back. I was breathing heavily sitting on the ground with my hands placed on my neck glaring at him.

He was fascinated but also irritated by my vicious attitude, which caught his attention. He glared at me from above and walked away as if he found satisfaction from looking down on me while I was trying hard to regain my breath. Fuck him, who does he think he is?

No one was anywhere to be seen on the second floor; I gave up on going to the bathroom and went back to my room. This day was shitty enough; I didn't need it to get any shittier. I felt angry and mad, I wanted to teach this boy a lesson but I knew that getting on his nerves will not do me any good just as Mark has told me, he is fuckin insane.

I grabbed my mobile phone knowing that calling the police will not be helpful at all, it wasn't when I called them before and it won't be now. If a few bucks prevented them from arresting my father then a billionaire will have it easy.

I glanced from the window and counted the guards outside, there were 20 guards that I could see, and that was a mere side of the mansion, I do not want to even imagine their total amount. The ground was far away since I was on the second floor, jumping will result in a bone getting broken. My best option at the moment is to wait for college's time.

I opened the wardrobe to hang my clothes and was surprised when I found several outfits in there as well; they all were my size, which pushed me to think that this kidnapping thing was planned. I was too tired to think anymore so I wore my pajama and jumped in a bed that was the size of my room back at my old house.

I woke up due to the sun rays that tickled my face, I didn't realize I was that tired, I slept right after I placed my head on the pillow. I do not usually need to set an alarm, my biological clock is very dependable so I always wake up at this time; six and a half am. I wore my clothes and was earnest to find the bathroom.

I opened several doors walking along the hall but none of them led to the bathroom, I opened the door of the fourth room and unluckily spotted Shawn who was shirtless and was putting on his pants. He glared at me and walked in my direction but I quickly slammed the door and entered the room next door, which was, fortunately, a bathroom.

I locked the door, he kept knocking on it but I totally ignored him, I brushed my teeth with a clean toothbrush that I found in my room and washed my face, I looked in the mirror and I looked fabulous for someone who just woke up. My hair was long and dark black; I had big grey eyes, a petite figure, and a rounded cute face with a sharp jawline that highlighted my face.

My eyelashes were long and I weighed 46 kilos, for an 18 years old girl that is considered below average. I cleaned myself and I headed out assuming that the Shawn guy left but as soon as I opened the door, he pushed me inside and closed the door behind us.

-" What are you doing?" I shouted. He placed his hands covering my mouth and cornered me to the bathroom's wall.

-" I heard all about it from dad, do you think you will be able to meet my standards? You better wake up before you get entangled in something you that exceeds your power." He growled warningly enjoying towering over me. He removed his hand from my mouth to hear my reply.

-" If you want to see me out that badly then all you have to do is hide your dating life and show your dad that you will work hard from now on, the solution lies in your hand. In addition, if you did not move away, Mark will come upstairs to fetch me for breakfast. I believe you don't want to be misunderstood." I explained.

-" You don't know my dad, it's not just about work. You will understand very soon." He mumbled in a voice that I could hear and then exited the bathroom.

I did not understand what he meant but I did not have a good feeling about it. I hope that things do not get any more complicated.

I went downstairs and followed Mark who waited for me. We soon entered a hall where there is a huge table right in the middle. Mark motioned me to sit next to his master whom I knew was called Gerald. Shawn was already seated across from my chair.

-" Why aren't you wearing the clothes in your closet?" Shawn's father asked not bothering to look at me.

-" I prefer to wear my own clothes," I replied.

The whole room stared at me, this is the second time this happens and it makes me nervous every time.

-" Let me rephrase it for you young girl, go wear the clothes in your closet." he said but I was not used to taking orders yet so I acted slowly. He stood up from his seat and headed to a maid and slapped her strongly on the face. I placed my hands over my wide-open mouth not able to process what happened.

The maid fell to the floor and blood appeared on her face, I ran to her rescue pulling her up and we headed to my room together.

-" Don't tell me that happened because of me?" I asked putting on a violet blouse and boyfriend jeans.

-" It seems that Master admires you a lot, Miss." she replied with a broken voice.

I did not even understand what that means.