“As you know, lately the business has been struggling.” He begins. “With the world crying about global warming and climate change it's no wonder we are beginning to get hammered by the media. Nobody wants to deal in fossil fuels anymore, nevermind that there is currently no viable alternative. Anyway, to make matters worse, I am being undercut at every turn, not to mention having long time customers tell me no. Me! Can you believe it?” He asks, blatantly hoping I will blindly agree with him.
“Well, with the growing shift towards eco-friendly maybe we could branch out, throw some money in research and development and maybe get ahead of the …”
“No. No. No. we aren’t doing that. I have one way to help with this and that's to make a deal with the devil that is killing my business.”
“You’re going to make a deal with the environment?” I ask, sarcastically.
“What? No, stupid girl. Austin Aves has put forth a deal and I mean to accept it. The only issue is you.”
Me? How can I be an issue here? I don’t even know what is going on.
“What does he want?” I ask, curiosity starting to take root.
“You. For a minimum of a year.”
“Wait what!?” I almost shriek. “What, as some sort of servant?”
“You could say that.” My father responds, an ugly sneer coating his face.
An uneasy feeling takes over me at this point.
“He wants you to be his live-in mistress. Finally something you might even be good at.” my father leers.
I thought that this would be my chance to prove myself by bettering the business, not by spreading my legs!
“I won’t do it.” I say, determination filling my voice.
“You will. You will do it for the sake of the family.”
“So you are okay with me selling my body so that the business will stay afloat?”
“I’m not okay with it damn it. But he is offering to stop any and all attacks on our business and he is offering you one point five million dollars for the year and one hundred thousand dollars per month after. If you had any love or pride for this family then you would do this with no questions asked.”
My jaw almost hits the floor.
Is that how much he thinks I am worth? That means … that I won’t be stuck listening to Dad anymore. I could afford a decent apartment.
Almost in defeat I reply “Can you give me some time to think about it? It is a year of my life, and it's my body.”
“He gave me two days. I’m giving you twenty four hours.”
I nod and turn to leave, But just as I reach the door my father speaks up once more “I advise that you don’t take that long.
A conversation strikes up between my father and his lawyer just as I close the door. Pulling my phone out I flick a text message to my best friend.
Hey Kenzie, Need 2 chat. U free?
Not even a few seconds later my phone dings in response.
Sure girl. Mine works.
Gr8. I’ll bring the tequila. Cyu soon.
I hold my head high as I leave the office building. Thoughts of everything I had just learnt running through my mind.
Once outside my fathers office I quickly google the location of the closest subway station. Kenzie lives at the other end of the city, I would rather not spend over one hundred dollars on a cab if I can help it. Three blocks away I am descending into the subway station, swiping my metro card I pass through the turnstile and look up at the boards displaying the routes that were available. Locating the one which would lead me to Kenzie’s I move through the crowd to the platform to wait.The subway slides into the station and with a hiss the doors open. People pass through the doors, emptying the carriage in front of me. Unfortunately, instead of being patient an overly enthused teenage boy attempts to push through the crowd knocking down a young woman.Pushing my way gently through the crowd, I helped her to gather her things that she ha
Moaning as I wake, I roll over and clutch my head. Just how much did we drink last night?Glancing to my left I spy the two empty tequila bottles laying haphazardly on the coffee table. I must have passed out on the couch. Going through my memories of last night and remembering that Kenzie had sent that text, I quickly scramble around the living room in search of my phone. Upon finding it I sigh. Flat! Damn it all! I really need to check what she actually sent!“Kenzie! Wake up! I need your phone charger!” I yell, not overly fussed if I woke her up.“Quit your yelling I’m right here” she says walking out of
I walk into my fathers office building after the complete makeover by Anna and it feels as if everybody is staring at me. I don’t look that different do I? I start to think that maybe I may need to change my style. Standing, waiting for the elevator I cannot help but pull at the hem of my dress.“Stop that” Anna says, smacking my hand away. “And put your shoulders back. Slouching is unattractive. Plus it makes it harder to walk in those heels.”I make an effort to do as she says, lowering my shoulders and pushing them back. As I do so I can’t help but notice that it makes my chest both look bigger and perkier.“Anna?” I ask as we step into the elevator. “Have you ever met this
Charles and I sit in silence for a moment before I pipe up “So, how much of all of this is legal?”The man blushes red before replying “I am mainly here as a witness, your father has said not to discuss anything more with you.”I knew it! This can’t be legal! To be perfectly honest though, even if it was completely within the realms of legality I would probably still do it, just to get out from under my fathers thumb. I decide to take a seat behind my fathers desk. It can’t hurt to be seated in the place of power before Mr Aves even enters the room.The door swings open without warning and in walks Austin Aves, his black hair shining under the harsh fluorescent lights. He
Returning to my tiny apartment, I sigh. I head to my closet and grab my duffle bag I know I keep in there. I just need to pack a few things to take with me. Before I can even get started though there is a knock on the door. I head over to the front door and peer through the peephole. To my surprise there are two men standing there in coveralls.“Hi there, um can I help you?” I say opening the door just a crack and keeping the safety chain on.“Yes, are you Miss Victoria Stratos?” The man closest to the door asks.“Yes, that's me. How can I help?”“We have been sent by Mr Aves to help you move your belongings into storage. Is now a good time?&rd
One awkward car ride later and we arrive at a very tall skyscraper. Before I can open my door, the driver has made his way over and opened it for me. The kind man extends his hand to assist me out of the vehicle and I take it. Austin steps out after me and begins to walk into the building, his confidence evident in his swagger. As we head into the building I am astonished by all the stares, surely there are other things more interesting than Austin Aves stepping out of a vehicle with a woman. As a camera clicks, my face blushes.“Why are they all staring?” I ask him quietly.“I am guessing it is because it is not often I am seen with a woman on my arm, so much so that there were rumours that I wasn’t exactly straight.”“Well, are you? Straight I mean.”
Before either of us can say a word, Austin is pushing the button and the elevator doors slide shut. I glance at Erin and see the smile that had once crossed her perfectly made up face is gone, replaced by what I would almost call a sneer.“So… How long have you been working for Austin?” I say in an attempt to start a civil conversation with a woman who clearly dislikes me.“For longer than you will be around. I was here before you and I will be here long after he tires of you.” she snaps back.Okay I was not expecting that much hostility.Before I can respond she continues “Here is your key card. Only you and Mr Aves will have access to the apartment. If you lose this I will not replace it. You will have to admit your m
As I reach the top of the staircase I am once again faced with the decision of left or right. This time I chose to turn right first. Walking into a short hall I can either go straight into what looks to be a small sitting room or right again into a small foyer. I choose right entering the foyer and I turn towards the open door. To say I immediately fall in love with the room that greets me would be an understatement. Books line the majority of the walls and some small shelves scattered throughout the room. The light comes from many large skylights giving the room a more natural feel. Dark oak furniture accented with red furnishings soften the room slightly, but overall it feels like a very masculine space. Feeling as if I am trespassing I back slowly out of the room. Maybe I will explore the shelves later.