Sold To A Billionaire

ZOE is a graduating college student from Manhattan. She's a scholar of a well-known company that deals with cars. She lives in four corners of a small apartment with her mother, Iris.

Iris works in a club nearby every night as a pole dancer who courts billionaires, politicians, and other rich people. Since she has been going after famous people, she has got the nickname 'ultimate courtesan.'

Zoe even gets bullied because of her mother's job. Despite this, she mastered ignoring everything. Her mother may not have a decent job, but she still loves her, and no one can change that.

"Zoe..." her mom called her name, and she stopped doing her homework.

Since their apartment costs cheap, she could easily hear voices outside her room. She then walked towards the door and opened it. She looked at her mom from head to toe, and she dressed seductively for her work again.

"Have you finished your homework already?" her mom asked.

She shook her head. "Not yet."

Her mother's lips formed an 'O'.

"Why?"

"I'm gonna ask if you want to go to the club and chill since it's Friday," her mom asserted and fixed her dress, especially in the bust area, where the cleavage of her boobies was flaunted.

"I'll just continue it then tomorrow," she replied. "Give me five minutes," she added, making her mom smile and nod.

"Hmm..."

She frowned slightly and looked into her mom's eyes. It seems like her mom wants to add something or say something.

"Ma?" she snapped out.

"Ah..." her mom cleared her throat, "-w-wear something sexy, okay," she stuttered.

Zoe arched her brow. "Why?"

Her mom flashed a smile on her face again. "Just."

Zoe then heaved a deep sigh and nodded.

"Wait for me," she said before closing the door.

She heaved a deep sigh as she walked toward her small wooden cabinet. She opened it and roamed her eyes inside. "Wear something sexy?" she whispered, "-but I don't have any sexy dress," she added. She laughs. Most of her clothes were shirts and jeans. She is not fond of dresses. She prefers loose shirts. Sometimes she wears a skirt, but she makes sure that it reaches her knee. She will never wear any revealing clothes or try one.

"Mom! I don't have any of..." the door of her room opened, "those," she whispered the last word as she faced her mom.

Her mom approaches her while holding a black off-the-shoulder dress. "Sorry, sweetie. I forgot you don't have any sexy clothes," she said and flashed a wide smile.

She arched her left brow as she reached for the dress. "I am taller than you, mom. And this is..." she lifts the dress to scan it, "-too short for me," she added as she looked at Iris.

Iris smiled. "You should try it-"

"And why do I need to dress like this? We go to clubs or bars, but this is the first time that I will wear this..." she glanced at the dress once again, "-kind of dress."

Iris let out a soft chuckle. "Sweetie, we will be going to attend a party."

Zoe arched her brow. "In a club?"

Iris nodded. "My last client invited me to attend his son's 28th birthday."

She arched her brow. "I thought we're gonna chill-"

"Of course, with free drinks, since it's a party," Iris interrupted and let out a disturbing chuckle.

She nodded. "I see. But it's fine if I don't wear this, right? It's not that I will join you and the rest. I will just have some drinks on the counter," she said, trying to avoid wearing this soul-chasing dress.

Iris crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Zoe..." okay, her mother already uses her warning tone. But there's no way she would wear a kind of dress like this.

"You knew I don't wear this kind of stuff."

Iris heaved a deep sigh and approached her. She cupped her face as she looked up at her.

"Look, sweetie, can you do this for mommy, just this time?"

Zoe met her mom's eyes and her forehead slightly knitted. Her eyes were confused, and her heart started to feel doubt, and fear suddenly lingers inside her.

She doesn't know-she doesn't want to overthink it, but she has a bad feeling about it.

When they took a cab towards the club where her mother usually goes for work, her mom seemed bothered-it looked like something was bothering her.

Zoe held her mom's hand and pressed it, and she felt that it was cold. "Ma, is everything fine? You seem unwell-" she didn't finish her words when her mom tapped her hand and flashed a smile.

"I'm okay. Nothing to worry about," Iris replied.

Zoe heaved a deep sigh and nodded. She didn't let go of her mom's hand until they reached the club.

Iris paid for their fare before they got out of the car. She smiled at her again when they walked towards the entrance, making Zoe frown.

"Ma, your smile is creeping the hell out of me," she uttered. Her mom doesn't usually smile or laugh. She's a busy woman during the day and night. When she comes home, Zoe is already asleep. And when she went to school, her mother had already left.

So, she knew, and she strongly felt something was bothering her mom.

However, she chooses to stay silent when they enter the club.

The loud music welcomed them. As usual, the club ambiance is still the same. The first floor is the dance floor and the bar counter, while the second floor is the VIPs areas, and the last floor, which is the third floor, is full of rooms-at least there were ten.

She's been in this club about four times now, and she can't pinpoint any changes. Except for those men who are outside. She hasn't seen those men in tuxedos. And what are they doing there?

Well, she doesn't mind. All she needs is to have some drink at least. And at the moment, she wanted to change her dress already. Her body was too exposed with her dress. Her cleavage can be seen if she pulls the hem a little bit.

She cursed under her breath when a hand touched her exposed legs while walking toward the stairs.

She glared at the man who was now staring at her like a pervert and got closer to her mom.

Iris saw it and drove the man away. "Sorry about that, sweetie."

"Ma, he just runs his fingers into my left leg," she complained, but her voice was in control.

Iris smiled. "No one can harm you here. Trust me. My client is too powerful. If I tell him that they touch you, that man will be dead-"

"What are you saying, Ma?" Zoe asked as confusion lit her eyes.

Iris' eyes widened. "Oh-it's nothing, sweetie. Come on, and the party is upstairs. They must be waiting for us," she said, which drew lines into Zoe's forehead.

They were on the last step of the stairs when Farah's eyes widened because of surprise. She was about to turn around, but her mom grabbed her in the arm, making her step forward.

"Ma..."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," her mom uttered as she grabbed Zoe by the arm again, and they walked towards the single couch where a man in his seventies was sitting, and a pipe was in between his lips.

Zoe started to feel fear when her mom's grip tightened on her arm as she pushed her.

"Ma... what are you doing-"

"Come on, sweetie. Please, behave," her mom muttered.

"B-But, Ma," she forced her feet to stop, but her mom pulled her again. "Ma... what are you doing!" her voice roared.

"Zoe, I told you to behave-"

"What are we doing in front of a murderer? And where's the party?!" Zoe shouted as she glanced at the older man.

"That person sitting on the black couch was the one who killed the President-"

"Shut up, Zoe. Just follow me, please..." her mom pleaded, and when Zoe met her eyes, she saw fear in them.

Iris pushed her forward and let her go.

Zoe shot a glare in her mom's direction. Suddenly two men went to her side and pointed their guns at her. She trembles in fear as tears fall down her cheeks. She glanced at her mom, and her vision started to blur.

"Why?" she whispered.

However, her mom didn't give her answers.

Iris faces the old man. "As promised, here she is. She's clean and pure. She's also at the right age-"

"Mom!" Zoe exclaimed when she got the idea of what was going on. "How could you do this...."

No one dared to answer her. She wiped her tears as she glanced at the gun on her right. She choked back tears when the man dipped the gun's muzzle into her arm. Her sobs got louder until a deep voice ruined the tension on the second floor.

"Dad. What's the meaning of this?"

A MAN in a gray polo and black trouser butt in, and then he walked towards the old man, whom he called 'dad.'

"Helios, son," the old man greeted as he stood up. A sly smile crept into the old man's lips.

"What are you doing here, dad? And what are these people doing here?" the guy named Helios uttered as he stopped his gaze on Zoe.

"You're doing it again?!" Helios' booming voice roared on the corners. He walked closer to his dad and grabbed the old man by his collar. "I'm warning you! Don't you dare tint my place with your schemes!" he asserted.

Instead of answering, Helios' dad let out a devilish laugh.

"Let them go, dad," Helios asserted once again.

The old man's devilish smile is still drawn to his lips as he equaled Helios' death stares.

"I will if..." he paused, which made Helios clench his jaw. "Well, I will let the young lady go-"

"Both of them. Let them go," Helios said.

"No. The older one needs to pay debts to me-"

"I am clear, dad. Let them go!" Helios shouted, making the old man's bodyguards point their guns at him. However, the old man raised his hand as a sign for them not to shoot.

Zoe doesn't know-she was confused about what was going on, but when the old man mentioned debts, she looked at her mother. Their eyes met, but her mom broke the gaze.

She knew that her mom was doing her best for her future, but she was also aware that she was good at gambling.

If Zoe analyzes the situation, her mom seems to have large debts to the old man, and since she can't pay it, she will sell her own daughter to save her ass-and thinking of this, her heart is being torn into pieces.

The thunderous voice of the guy who butts in cuts the hum of her thoughts.

"It's just money. And stopped this, now that I still have respect for you," Helios said as he pierced his eyes into his dad. "Remember, you killed a person once, and when you do it again, I'll make sure that you will rot in jail," he added.

"You can't do that, son. And why do you care about these people?" the old man asked as he glanced at Zoe and at her mother.

"I'll pay for her debts and let them go," Helios said and let go of his dad.

Helios walked closer to Zoe. And she locked her eyes on the man.

"Are you aware that your mother will sell you?" he asked, which made her shake her head and glance at her mom.

Helios leaned over. "Come with me if you still want to live," he whispered.

"Since you wanted to sell your daughter to this man? Then you better sell her to me. And don't expect me to return her to a mother like you!" It was Helios' last words before they left the club, and those words keep on replaying in Zoe's mind.

She was inside his car, and no one dared to talk, and she had no idea where he was taking her. She wanted to ask him. However, his aura is frightening. She tried to glance at him, but she seemed like she'd be dead if he caught her.

She heaved a deep sigh as she simply pulled down the hem of her dress, but it caught Helios' attention.

"If you don't like your dress, why would you wear it?" His husky voice sent chills down Zoe's body which made her shiver.

"Let me clear things to you. You are already sold to me, and I don't want you to get back to your mom. Stay-"

"I'll stay with you," she interrupted, and this time, she got the courage to face him.

However, the man's eyes are still on the road.

"Yes. And that old man that you just met earlier is my father-"

"I know. I've heard it," she cuts in again, making Helios' forehead crease.

"You took the courage to cut me off?" he asked, and this time, he glanced at her.

She pressed her lips as she looked away. "I'm sorry," she whispered and looked down. But she cursed inside her head when she looked at her body. Her cleavage is showing up!

She pulled her dress upward, but her long white legs flaunted this time.

Helios frowned when he saw what the woman was doing through his peripheral vision. A sly smirk crept into his lips. "Uncomfortable?" he asked.

"Yeah," the woman replied, which surprised him because of how she answered him. It seems like they've known each other for a long time.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

Zoe's forehead knitted as she looked in his direction. Helios turned to her, and their eyes met. It lasted for seconds before he returned his gaze to the road.

"Why would I be afraid of you? You just save me-"

"What if I'll be the one who will hurt you?"

Zoe's eyes widened, and they weren't expecting those questions from him. She knew that he was a stranger, but he did earn her trust when he saved her.

"You can do it? You will hurt me?" she asked as she steadied her gaze at him.

"So, you really don't know me," he stated.

Zoe saw how he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. She frowned. "I'm sorry. But who are you?" she asked. Indeed, she doesn't know him but the old man earlier, she got to know him in the news and newspapers, and it was two years ago.

She doesn't know a man named Helios.

Honestly, Zoe is not into social media, and that old man she got to know when she accidentally flipped a newspaper, and the news spread all over their university.

She doesn't even have a cell phone. She devoted her life to studying and buying the things she needed when she finished school. She got part-time jobs, but she never bought a phone. Her mom wants to buy her one, but she always refuses.

She has no friends to call her, to begin with, so why bother?

"Is that how quickly you forget about those people who're helping you?"

Again, she frowned and tried to think where and when did she meet the guy. He's handsome and got a perfect shape. He got muscles, but Zoe sucks at describing a man's features. All she could say was the man was Greek god-like. He got a sharp nose, tantalizing eyes in the shade of blue, and kissable lips. And she wonders how many women he kissed- 'shit, Zoe!' She cursed herself as she put those thoughts away.

She shook her head and looked past through the window. "We haven't met before," she replied.

Helios let out a devilish chuckle. "I see. At first, I didn't know that it was you; your back is facing my direction when I butt in with my father's business. But when I got a chance to see your face, I was surprised, and then I saw your mom-"

"Can you just get straight to the point?" she asked as she glanced in her direction again. "I'm sorry, but you need to know that I'm not good at recognizing people. I can memorize the names for a long time but not their faces," she replied honestly.

Helios nodded, and a faint smile crept into his lips. "I see. Don't worry. Just forget it."

IT'S been two days since Zoe lived with Helios. It's Monday, and she just went home from school. Her everyday life as a student became different the moment she lived with Helios. Yesterday, the man ordered someone to pick up and pack her things at her old apartment. However, they only brought her something that she would need at school but not her clothes because Helios bought many of them.

She knew he bought her but to the extent that he would buy her dresses and stuff. She couldn't say anything about his treatment. He's caring-despite the fact that he has a solid and scary aura, she still manages to stay calm on his side. And she has this strong feeling that she's safe when she's with him.

About her mom... they lost communication. But Helios assured her that her mother was safe. She trusts Helios' words. She doesn't know, but she felt at ease being with him in just a few days.

"Miss, dinner is ready."

"Thank you, Nana Milky. But I will wait for Helios first," Zoe said and smiled at Helios' butler.

"But Helios said you must eat dinner on time, Miss," the old woman said, which makes Zoe hold her hand.

"Nana, I'm okay. I will just wait for Helios, and you can have a rest. I will be the one who will prepare his dinner," she said.

The old lady sighed. "What else I can do? Since you live here, you always want to help, but Helios ordered that you don't have to and focus on your studies until you graduate."

Zoe crept a smile on her face. "Nana, I am just a nobody. So, I want to help."

The old lady shook her head and sighed. "Okay, then. I know I can't change your mind," the old lady said in defeat, then smiled at her. "You're such a beautiful and kind lady," she added.

She smiled back and let the older woman go into her room as she waited for Helios. Also, she needs to talk to him. She was curious about his treatment and the like. And why does he always ask her if she knew him?

And no matter how hard she tried to remember moments from the past people that she interacted with, she can't really remember him. The fact that she will forget the faces of people that she met, she also knew that it's pointless.

She glanced at the wall clock, and it was already eight in the evening. She turned off the television. Helios usually got home at this time, she thought. She stood up and was about to walk on her way to the kitchen when the main door opened.

And the man she wanted to see stepped inside.

A tint of shock was visible in Helios' eyes when their gazes met.

"What are you still doing?" he asked, and he walked to the wooden table near the door and put down his car key inside the swan's cup.

He started to take off his neckties as he walked closer to her.

Zoe sighed. "Did you already eat?" she asked, trying to be casual to him-well, they always talk as if they knew each other for a long time.

Yesterday, Zoe found out about his identity when she asked Nana Milky. He's a famous bachelor in the business world. He owned a car company.

"You knew I'm not eating dinner outside-"

"Yeah, you prefer Nana's dishes," she said and smiled. "Come on, let's eat," she added, which made Helios frown.

"You really talk to me as if we've known each other for a long time, yet if I asked you, you always replied that you can't remember," he said.

Zoe sighed. "It's the truth. I really can't remember-have we met before?" she tilted her head a little bit, "No matter how hard I tried to remember every event..." she shook her head, "-I can't remember that we have met before.

Helios formed a sly smirk on his lips. "Okay. Don't overthink about it," he said as he took off his coat and his necktie. He was about to throw it on the couch when Zoe rushed towards him.

"Let me," she said as she grabbed it. "I'll just put this on the laundry basket-"

"Zoe..." Helios called her name, which made her put to a halt.

She arched her brow and met Helios' gaze. She waited for Helios' following words, but his mouth didn't open, and just nodded at her before he walked towards the kitchen.

Zoe frowned. "Did he want to say something to me?" she whispered.

When Helios pulled the chair in the kitchen and sat, he cursed inside his head. Don't lose control, his inner self shouted.

He heaved a deep sigh and waited for Zoe. After a few moments, Zoe returned, and the woman started to serve him dinner, which she didn't need to. But it seems like the woman felt that she has debts to pay, so he just let her. Besides, it was the first time that a woman cared for her-he meant a stranger like her.

Zoe smiled at him, and he smiled back. And it's another thing that he does, unusually. He's not fond of smiling, but his heart softened with a simple smile or gestures from Zoe.

They eat dinner peacefully, and when he's done, he stands up and is about to put his plate on the sink when Zoe stands up and initiates to have it.

"You can go upstairs and rest. Leave it to me," she said.

He sighed and nodded. It seems he can't stop her. He then left the kitchen and went upstairs.

Zoe smiled unconsciously while washing the dishes. She doesn't know, but she feels like she was her girlfriend- "Damn it," she whispered. Then suddenly. She remembers that she needs to talk to him.

After she was done with what she was doing, she hurried to the next floor and knocked on Helios' room. She frowned and knocked once again but still, no one opened the door. She then tried to twist the knob, and her eyes widened... 'it's not locked,' she thought.

She pressed her lips together and heaved a sigh as she twisted it and pushed the door open. Her forehead creased when she didn't see Helios inside. She knew what she was doing was inappropriate, but she was just curious what his room looked like, and as she expected, it was shouted luxury, yet it was simple.

The interior paint is so cold to the eyes. It's gray and has a lining of black below. He has a king-sized bed. And the color of the sheet and his comforter is silky black. Now, she nodded. Helios maybe loves the color black and gray. The color of his pillows was gray.

She closes the door and roams her eyes inside his room. And her gaze stopped on the picture frames that were above his side table. She smiled. She walked towards it and grabbed it as she ran her fingers into his portrait.

"What are you doing here?"

Zoe suddenly put down the frame and turned around in his direction. Her eyes widened when he saw him.

Helios is half-naked!

And while he walked in her direction, her eyes went down to his navel-shit! Eight-packs, she screamed inside her head.

She was about to look away when her eyes caught the tribal tattoo on his left arm until it covered his left chest. She squinted her eyes, and thoughts suddenly came into her mind. Then she came to realize...

"Y-You..." her heart started to palpitate as the memories of that night came across her mind, "-you're that man-that tattoo..." she's sure that she already saw that tattoo-the unique tribal design...

Helios approached her side in a swift move and suddenly cupped her face and pressed his lips into hers.