SOLD TO THE RUTHLESS

Isabella Marino stared blankly at the empty canvas displayed before her...the brush hovered over the white surface.

Her hand moved as she tried to capture the vibrant hues of the city skyline outside my studio apartment.

My mind though, remained blank as it was filled with a lot of baggage.

I sighed to myself as I tried to treason life.

The sharp sound from the door made me jolt suddenly from my lost state.

"Isabelle? Are you decent darling?" Her mother's calm voice was carried by the thin walls.

Isabelle sighed as she took one last look at her painting before setting her brush.

"Come in Mom."

Gina Marino swept into the room as the door swung open...her heels clicking against the tiled flooring.

Her blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, something that accentuated her immaculate makeup which was in contrast to Isabella's disheveled appearance.

People have always mentioned she looked like her mother. But she honestly couldn't tell how...

"Is this the way you want to keep living? Isa?" Gina cocked a brow as she looked about the room with disdain. "When will you give up this silly fantasy you call art? It's nonsense. Go find a proper job!"

"Stop raising your voice at me, Mother." Isabelle bristled at her mother's tone. "And it's not nonsense. You don't know what it is to me because you don't have it. Painting is my passion."

Gina gave Isabella a long stare that held absolutely no regard for what Isa had just stated.

Then she waved a perfectly manicured hand.

"Sure, and it's not paying the bills. You know that right? And speaking of which..." She suddenly trailed off, her gaze unintentionally landing on the stack of unpaid bills that lay on Isabella's makeshift desk. "What did you say about your painting again?" She slowly turned to her daughter, slightly fuming.

"Mom, I've already told you the money for your medical expenses will be ready soon. I just need to sell a few more pieces." Isabelle stated but she couldn't help her stomach from twisting with dread.

Gina's lips were tightly drawn into a thin line. "Hey, now you won't have to worry about that anymore," she said and took her designer handbag out of the car, from where she got the thick envelope. "I've confronted our financial problems. "

Isabelle looked at the envelope dubiously. "What is the meaning of that? What is the meaning of that? How?"

I will be plain frank and say that I've made a not-so-secret but very profitable deal. "The one that will, by the end of the day, guarantee our future. "

Before Isabelle could ask for more information, a sharp knock from the front door was heard.

Gina's arched brows became more and more clear. "Oh, it is he, isn't it?"

"He? Who the heck are you referring to Mom?"

But Gina had already moved her head, turning it to the door and walking towards it.

Isabelle hastened after her, and a feeling of unease came out of the pit of her stomach.

Gina threw open the door, and what came out was a tall, perfectly dressed gentleman who was standing in the hallway.

His solemn features were frozen in a stern expression, his eyes were concealed by the designer sunglasses.

"Mrs. Marino," he said in a voice that was low and authoritative.

"Mr. Callahan," Gina said with a sickly sweet smile. "Please, come in. "

Isabelle's breath was almost gone from her throat as the man came into the room, his tremendous nature seemed to be the life of the place that was so small.

She spotted him at once, Liam Callahan, the famous billionaire CEO of Callahan Enterprises.

"What's going on here?" She managed to ask trying to keep her voice steady even though it was shaking.

Liam's gaze came to rest on her, and, in the way his eyes tracked her form, she felt as though she was being stripped bare.

"This is the girl," he pondered, a trace of condescension was in his voice.

Gina nodded eagerly. "Yes, this is my daughter, Isabelle. The one I have talked to you about."

Isabelle's confusion deepened. "Tell him what? I don't understand, Mom what's going on?"

Gina's flawlessly painted smile stayed fixed throughout the whole movie. "

Dearie, I have set everything up for you to marry Mr. Callahan."

The words were in the air and they were so thick that you could feel them.

Isabelle's vantage point seemed to turn into complete chaos as she was absorbing the bombshell that her mother had just thrown.

"Marry him?" she finally said, hardly able to utter the words. "However. .. I am not even familiar with him!"

"That's not important," Liam interrupted, his tone being sharp and professional. "This way is supposed to be strictly transactional. "

Isabelle's mind was so confused that she could not understand what was going on. "What do you mean, transactional?"

"Your mother and I have reached a consensus," Liam said in a composed manner. "Instead of the given sentence, you will be my wife for a large sum of money."

Isabelle's jaw almost dropped, her eyes kept switching between her mom and the huge billionaire.

"You. .. tell me you're lying, Mom. You don't mean this do you?"

Gina's smile got the first time a little bit wavering. "Do not be so extreme, Isabelle. I did what was necessary to ensure our financial stability. "

"However, I can't just get married to a stranger! Isabelle exclaimed, her voice getting louder in desperation.

Liam fixed her with an icy glare that seemed to cut right through her.

"You are not giving me a choice of the decision, Miss Marino. The agreement has already been concluded. "

Isabelle witnessed her world falling apart as she realized the full extent of her mother's betrayal.

She was not more than a device for bargaining, a pawn to be used to satisfy her mother's greed.

As Liam's large size overpowered her, she understood the life that she knew was now a closed chapter and a scary one was about to begin.

Liam made his way to the couch as his assistant walked in.

"You can't be serious!" Isabelle's voice was shaking with a mixture of shock and outrage. "I will not do it. I will not marry him! "

Liam Callahan's cold look was fixed on her eyes and his jaw was firm. "I am afraid you have no other option, Miss Marino. Your mother has already agreed to my offer.

Isabelle turned towards Gina, her eyes begging. "Mom, don't you dare say that. How could you? How could you just sell me off like some kind of a product?"

Gina's smile which was perfectly painted never left her face, but still, a tiny bit of irritation came through her eyes.

"Don't act so overdramatic dearie. I did what was necessary to secure our future. You should be thanking me."

"For selling your daughter? Is that what you are saying?" Isabelle's voice got emotional.

It is a bothersome cooperation, Gina said, raising a hand to dismiss the idea.

"Mr. Callahan becomes a husband and we get the money and security. It's a win-win for both of us."

Isabelle felt nauseous due to the repulsion. "You are thinking out of the box if you believe I will join this. "

Liam cleared his throat, and the attention of everyone was once again on him. "I believe you cannot choose, Miss Marino. Your mother has already signed the contract." The thickness of his tone weirdly sent shivers down my spine.

He intimidated me even in broad daylight as he looked like one not meant to be crossed.

"Show her Leo." His assistant took out a legal document from the inner pocket of his immaculate suit jacket and put it in front of her so that she could see it.

Isabelle's heart dropped when she saw her mother's dainty signature at the end of the letter.

"No . .. " she whispered, her legs behaving strangely and becoming weak.

"The terms are evident," Liam said, his voice impersonal. "For the sake of ten million dollars, you will be my wife for a time of at least two years. If you don't keep your end of the deal, your mom will be the one to pay the whole thing plus the interest. " Then his tone darkened like stone dipped in water. "And I'm certain you wouldn't want that." His piercing emerald eyes, pierced through her eyes like they were staring right at her soul.

Isabelle's head was dizzy as the gravity of the situation was hovering over her.

Through her mother, she had been sold into a loveless marriage, all in exchange for the promise of money.

"You can't do this!" She cried out in despair, the claws of desperation grasping her chest. "It's. . . it's barbaric!"

Liam raised a single eyebrow.

"I'm sure you might be wondering why I'm telling you this, but it's legal. Your mother has given her permission to your side." Liam stated while his assistant retreated.

Gina put her hand on Isabelle's arm for a friendly gesture and to show that she was sorry.

" Don't cry now, sweetie, it is not the end of the world. This is a great chance for you."

Isabelle, not wanting her mother to touch her, backed away from her.

"What are you saying? You've exchanged my life for something else!"

"I've allowed you to live in luxury," was Gina's retort, her tone becoming firmer. "No more living on the edge, no more stressing about the end of the month. Mr. Callahan can provide for you in ways that you could never have thought of before."1

Isabelle looked at Liam, her eyes glimmering at the sight of the expensive suit on him and the air of wealth and power that he emanated.

She realized that her mother was completely right, he was a billionaire, a man with enormous influence and resources.

But at what cost?

"I won't do it," she said, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible. "I won't trade my soul.

Liam's expression darkened. "You have no option at all, Miss Marino. The contract is not negotiable."

He then pulled his jacket, this time getting a phone of sleek design.

With a mere swipe of his finger, he turned the screen toward her, and that was when Isabelle saw a bank account balance that left her breathless.

"This is the money your mother has already gotten in advance," he said in a serious tone. "If you do not keep your promise, she will be forced to pay back every penny, plus interest like l said before. So how do you intend to do that?" His tone could be compared to fine wine, only that it had venom in it.

Isabelle stopped breathing when the consequences of her own decision became clear to her.

Her mother had already taken out the cash, leaving them both in Liam's web.

"You, you jerk," she hissed, tears of frustration and helplessness boiling in her eyes.

Liam's lips shook into a bitter smile. "I like the name 'businessman ' and in business, a deal is a deal. "

He shut the phone and closed it, which decided Isabelle's fate.

"Let me know your decision and you will have some time to make up your mind. My assistant will be in touch with the details. "

Thus, he turned on his heel and walked through the door, leaving a trail of Isabelle's broken dreams in his obedience.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Isabelle came to her mother, who was as trembling as a leaf, with a huge amount of rage and betrayal in her body.

"What were you thinking, Mom?" she murmured, her voice straining with unseen tears. "How could you do this to me?" is a sentence that requires rephrasing because the speaker is asking a question.

Gina's look was of a hardened expression, any remnants of the motherly warmth disappeared from the eyes.

"Don't be so over-the-top Isabelle. I did what was needed to make our future secure. You should be grateful to me. "

Isabelle was shocked and somehow felt as if someone had slapped her. "Anyway, I appreciate you for selling me like a thing?"

"I gave you the chance of a lifetime!" I said my beautifully coiffed mask, which I wore to perfection, slipping for a second. "Can you imagine how many women would give anything to be in your situation? To be married to a man like Liam Callahan?"

Isabelle's stomach puked up with disgust. "I don't want his money or even his 'opportunity. ' I want to have my life back!"

Gina's lips started to curve into a sinister smile. "Hon, it's already too late for that, honey. You're his now.

After her mother dropped the bombshell, Isabelle was in a haze for the next four days.

Her mind was spinning.

Numb to the world around her, she meandered through her small apartment while she struggled with the realities of her new circumstances.

She was about to become a wife, to no less an unknown person.

Other than his enormous riches and power, she knew nothing about this man.

Her flesh crawled at the thought.

Naturally, Gina continued to act exasperatingly casually over the entire situation.

One afternoon, she came briskly into the flat with an armful of shopping bags and chastised, "Stop moping around, Isabelle. This is a good thing!"

Isabelle shot her mother an incredulous look from her spot on the worn sofa.

"How can you say that? You sold me off like a piece of property!"

Gina waved her hand dismissively.

"Reduce this drama, Isa. Haven't I done what I am supposed to do as a mother? You still want to be ungrateful?" She said through gritted teeth.

Isabelle seethed. "By trading me away to a stranger?"

"Last time I checked Liam Callahan is not exactly unfamiliar." Gina retorted.

He is among the richest and most influential guys in the city.

You need to be giving me thanks. Isabelle felt a twist of disgust in her stomach.

Expressing gratitude? For duping me into a marriage devoid of passion?" Gina gave her a hard, glaring look before breezing past her.

Her heels clicked against the hardwood floors and flung open the door.

I noticed a shapely woman who stood on the other side, her expression was that of polite indifference.

The woman asked, her eyes darting to Isabelle,

"Miss Marino?"

Gina gave a stately nod. "This is Isabelle, my daughter. Mr. Callahan's prospective bride."

The female gave a tense smile.

"Obviously. I'm Eliza, the personal assistant to Mr. Callahan. I've been sent by him to accompany you to your new home."

Isabelle's heart felt icy.

"My... new residence?"

"Yes, Miss Marino," Eliza calmly answered.

The plan is for you to move into Mr. Callahan's penthouse right away.

There, a car is waiting to transport you."

The situation's truth hit Isabelle so hard that her mind whirled.

She was being carried off to marry a man she hardly knew; this was occurring.

"I... I don't have anything packed," was all she could manage.

She shouldn't worry, Eliza reassured her.

"Mr. Callahan has made arrangements for the collection and delivery of your possessions to the penthouse. Right now, we ought to be leaving."

Isabelle's eyes darted to her mother as if to beg her to stop being so crazy.

However, Gina's expression stayed incredibly composed.

"Go on, sweetheart," she nudged her as she pushed her in the door.

"Don't keep Mr. Callahan waiting." A strong mixture of disgust and terror swirled in Isabelle's gut.

It was true that she was being ripped from the only life she had ever known and placed in a lavish prison due to her mother's avarice.

She trailed behind Eliza into the corridor, her every step felt like a nail driving a stake into her freedom.

She took one last, desperate look over her shoulder at the life she was leaving behind as the door clicked shut behind her.

She realized at that very instant that nothing would ever be the same.

*****

The elegant town vehicle slid through the urban streets, giving Isabelle a warped perspective of the outside world through the tinted windows.

Curling into a ball in the luxurious leather seat, she seemed to be trying to protect her bones from the cold.

Next to her, Eliza, who was always professional, was sitting rigidly and efficiently, tapping on her tablet.

She had left Isabelle alone with her whirling thoughts, having provided little in the way of conversation.

Isabelle felt her breath catch in her throat as the automobile approached a soaring glass-and-steel monolith.

This was it, the gilded cage that would house Liam Callahan and keep her captive.

Eliza led her past the staff's appraising looks, into the lavish lobby, and a private elevator.

The climb was vertiginous, both literally and metaphorically, as Isabelle tracked the increasing floor numbers.

At last, the elevator smoothly stopped, and the doors opened to show an opulent penthouse apartment.

With a gaping expression on her face, Isabelle emerged to survey the expansive area.

Elevated ceilings reached well above, and floor-to-ceiling windows provided an amazing perspective of the metropolitan skyline.

An aura of sumptuous luxury was created by the sleek, contemporary finishes and plush furniture that adorned every nook and cranny.

"Miss Marino, welcome to your new home," Eliza said in a clear voice that broke the quiet.

With a sharp gulp, Isabelle's throat became parched.

"It's... beautiful."

"That's right," Eliza nodded curtly. "Mr. Callahan did not cut any corners. I'll bring you to your accommodations now if you'll follow me."

Quarters?

Isabelle tasted something bitter after hearing the term.

Here she was, behind golden bars and everything, a prisoner.

Eliza took her down a corridor that was full of locked doors before coming to a stop in front of one at the end.

She pulled Isabelle in and the artist discovered herself in an opulent bedroom suite with a walk-in closet, sitting area, and private bathroom.

Eliza told her, "Your belongings will be brought up shortly. Please settle in. Mr. Callahan is scheduled to join you for supper at precisely eight o'clock."

Isabelle felt her heart thump in her chest. "Eat dinner? Alongside him?"

Eliza raised her exquisitely styled brow. "Obviously. After all, you are to be his wife."

The words hung there, oppressive and weighty.

Isabelle felt lightheaded as the lavish surroundings closed in on her.

Eliza appeared to detect her unease.

"I'll let you get comfortable. Just utilize the house line if you need anything."

She then pivoted on her heel and ran out of the room, leaving Isabelle by herself in her opulent cage.

Isabelle fell onto the luscious bed's edge and swiveled her head as the door behind Eliza clicked shut.

She was compelled to assume the role of a billionaire's wife and was living as a prisoner in a world of excess and money.

And in a matter of hours, she would see her captor in person again.