ELISE'S POV
There were continuous knocks on the door and by every minute that passed, the knocks got louder.
At the same time, it was like the sound of the knocks was ringing in my head and it gave me goosebumps.
"Elise! Open the door! You have to pay me today, or else you are going to stay behind bars! I'm going to label you a thief!" The person behind the door thundered, angrily and I shook.
"Elise, I never knew you were such a thief and liar! Your family is so deceitful! Look at how you owe us all! Pay up!" Another person yelled.
I was filled with so much fear at this point and it was as if they would break down the door and take me away.
My head was downcast and my eyes were filled with tears as I looked down at the pile of bills on the table. From the water bill to the electricity bill and also, to my mother's health bills.
"What are you going to do now?" My mother asked as she stood beside me, with her hands akimbo.
My heart stopped beating for a moment hearing her say that and I looked up at her, with teary eyes.
"I don't know what to do, mother. I have no money." I replied, shakily.
I know she wouldn't want to hear that but I had nothing else to say.
My back became hunched like there was a heavy load on it. I had been working tirelessly without rest, and the few dollars I got from my jobs were used on my parents. At this point, I was already looking like a walking corpse.
"You don't know what to do, huh? You have to get money in any way you can! You can't keep us starving without water and electricity!" My father's voice boomed out and my head went even lower.
I couldn't even look him in the eye, knowing he was disappointed.
"I'm trying my best, father! I really am." I replied, as I slowly looked up at him.
I expected him to see the pain and stress in my eyes but he turned his head the other way.
"Then your best is not good enough! You need to get a good job and take us out of here!" He yelled and I flinched.
Sharply, he turned to my mother and then said, irritably, "Talk to your daughter! She is so dumb and can't even make money!"
My mother in turn looked at me, disappointedly and then walked away. Their words and actions had never hurt me just like they did at this point.
On the other hand, my creditors were still knocking and even though I had no money, I still had to show up. My fragile heart couldn't take all the knocking and cursing anymore.
With a deep breath, I stood up to my feet and walked fearfully toward the door. Immediately I opened the door, I was pulled out of the house.
Before long, I got a slap across the face and someone yelled.
"Where is my money, you bitch!" The owner of the loan shark I had borrowed from yelled and quickly, I went down on my knees. My other creditors had left since they couldn't continue knocking but the loan shark workers were still there.
"I'm sorry..." I said, shakily. A tear slipped from my eyes as I looked up at him. I was suppressing the pain from the slap but it only gave me more turmoil.
"Where is my money?!" He thundered.
"I don't have it now! I promise I'll pay up next week. Please, understand me and have mercy." I said, pleadingly as I looked up at him with teary eyes.
"And what happens if you don't pay up, next week?" He asked, with a wicked grin. I knew what he was thinking already and I shook my head, immediately.
"Nothing happens! I'll pay up!" I declared, fearfully. I couldn't fathom what he would do to me if I didn't!
I was determined to work 100 jobs just to get by.
"Alright! I'll wait for you!" He said and sharply he turned to walk away while his minions gave me dirty looks that made me feel disgusted with myself.
For ten minutes straight, tears streamed down my eyes as I cried silently. I was still kneeling and I couldn't even get up anymore since my body had become so stiff.
"Do you need a handkerchief, huh?" I heard a deep voice and I froze for a moment. At first, I thought it was a creditor and I was already thinking of how to get away.
"Relax, it's me." The voice boomed out again as I was about to get up and run.
I froze again but in the next second, I heard steady footsteps and a man so tall and handsome came to stand before me.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized just how elegant he was and this man was my step-uncle.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?" I asked, with wide eyes. As I cleaned my face and rubbed my eyes off the tears in them.
I always had a crush on Uncle Damien but it faded off when he wouldn't even visit our house anymore.
"I'm here to help." He said and then winked at me.
"Help?" I asked, trying to control myself. I didn't want to act as if his actions bothered me.
"You need a job, right? I'll offer you a job as my assistant in my company! The pay is huge! You can use the money for whatever you want." He declared and I thought I was hearing things.
Uncle Damien offered me a job and it was too good to be true.
"Are you serious, right now?" I asked with excited eyes.
Uncle Damien had one of the biggest companies in the city but it was a mystery why my own father still lived like a pauper. However, I didn't care about that at this point.
"Yes! You can resume work immediately! You know I'll always care for you!" Damien said with a low tone and eyes filled with fire.
I didn't know what that was but the happiness in my heart couldn't be quantified.
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"Mom! Dad!" I screamed as I rushed into the house with my eyes wide.
I couldn't wait to share the good news with them.
I finally got what they wanted.
"What is it? Did you get money so soon?" My father asked as he walked out of his cramped bedroom with a frown on his face.
Soon, my mother followed after.
I didn't waste time sharing the news with them.
"Mom! Dad! Uncle Damien just offered me a job! A good-paying job as his assistant!" I yelled, in happiness.
I was already dancing around the house while I said, loudly.
"I'll be able to pay all the bills now! I'll take Mom to the hospital and we won't have to starve anymore!" I said, with a happy tone.
"No!" My father suddenly yelled and I froze.
"What?" I asked, with raised brows.
"I forbid you from working with that beast!" Father yelled and I froze. I could see hate in his eyes and I shook for a moment.
"What?" I asked, in shock.
This was an opportunity to make money and he was saying that.
"You cannot go close to him, Elise! He is bad! He hates us and we hate him as well! You should never trust a man like that!" My mom thundered, in anger.
The hurt and agony in her eyes were obvious and I knew that there was an ongoing strife.
ELISE'S POVMy eyes were swollen and it was like I was going to fall down on my face as I stood without even being aware of my surroundings. Last night was hell with my family after I told them about the job I got with Uncle Damien.The hatred and scorn from my parents toward him was too much. At this point, I still couldn't decipher why they would feel that way toward such a sweet man like Damien.Later on, I had to promise them continuously that I would not work as Uncle Damien's assistant. And now, I was out late at night to work at the bar."Hey, what are you thinking? Get me a glass of whiskey!" A gruff-looking man shouted at me and I was drawn out of my thoughts, abruptly."I'm sorry! I'll do that right away." I said, quickly in panic as I looked at the man before me. My hands moved to take the bottle of whiskey but then it froze, in the air.My lips shivered in fear seeing the creepy smile he was giving me."Nice to meet you again, Elise." He said to me with a wink. I was disgu
ELISE'S POV"What's going on, mother? Where is father?" I asked, in panic. I was worried sick for her at this point."I... I feel weak, Elise. My drugs have finished and there is no way to get new ones." I heard her say and I gasped. I realized that we didn't have any money and my father wasn't making any effort to get money for my mother's bills."Mum... Mother, I'll find a way. Please, hold on." I said as she shakily held onto me. My heart was breaking every second and I couldn't continue to watch her suffer that way because of their strife and hatred toward Uncle Damien.Before long, we heard loud footsteps and before I knew what was happening, I got pushed into the room, and the door slammed shut. It was obvious that my mother was afraid of my father seeing us together.As I paced around my bedroom, I came to a decision. I couldn't let them hinder me from growing. I took up my phone and texted Uncle Damien. I accepted the job and he agreed to pick me up the next morning.__I was
ELISE'S POVDamien's words made me free of all my worries and I couldn't wait to be his just like he wanted.But at the back of my mind, I knew we could never work."No, Uncle Damien! I can never consent to this!" I replied while I pushed him away. I acted like his touch scarred me and like I was disgusted with him."But you feel attracted to me, right?" He asked with raised brows. He looked dejected but I wasn't going to let him fool me."No, I'm not attracted to you." I lied, smoothly."I can never be! I cannot disgrace my parents. Let us keep our relationship strictly business with no strings attached!" I declared and in the next second, I directly walked out of the office.__It was a new day for me and as usual, I walked into the company's building with Damien by my side. Sneaking out of the house has become so easy now.At this point, I had eyes on me as usual but then there was a shift in the atmosphere.Everyone looked at me with eyes filled with disgust and it was like they d
DAMIEN'S POV"What do you want here, Elise?" I asked coldly as I saw Elise walk in.She wanted to sit beside me but I was quick to stand up and face her."I.. I..." She let out, stutteringly, she was obviously disoriented by my cold stance. "I have been thrown out by my father. Please, I have nowhere to go except here." She said, shakily."You have no place here, Elise! Leave now." I declared and she froze. I couldn't look at her the same way anymore after what happened."What... What did you say?" I asked, in shock."I say you have no place here anymore! Leave! Get out of my life! You are the cause of all this! Go!" He yelled and I staggered, in shock."Please, don't do this to me. I have nowhere else to go. You know I'm innocent, uncle!" She said as she was about to go down on her knees to beg me.But before she could do that, I took hold of her hand and dragged her out of the house.I flung her out and her body landed on the floor with a loud thud."Go, Elise, and never come back
DAMIEN'S POV. I retracted my hand from her neck and glared balefully at her. She disgusted me. "Get out of my house! I don't want to repeat myself." I yelled and stepped away from her.Nicola smirked darkly; she simply walked past me and went to sit on my couch. My eyes widened in anger and I faced her with disbelief written all over my face. "How dare you sit on my couch? After everything you've done? Do you know the damage that you've caused, you ruined that poor girl's reputation!" "If you wanted to do anything, you shouldn't have involved her. It's me you wanted, you should have come at me!" I yelled, shaking in anger. Instead of showing any remorse or at least fear. She parted her legs and placed one of them on the couch, showing me her panties. This was the height of shamelessness. The next thing I saw her doing was taking her hands into her gown and removing her panties. She was so desperate to have me but was the first person to push me away. How hypocritical was she?
CHAPTER 7 — From rags to riches. Elise's POV. My eyes slowly opened and my nose was welcomed with a scent that I found familiar. I tried moving my body but a pair of hands were firmly wrapped around me. As my eyes fully opened, they were staring at someone's hairy chest. Curious and terrified to know who I was lying with, I raised my head slowly and my eyes widened in shock. "Damien" I gasped but instantly closed my mouth. I wriggled slowly out of his grip because I was disgusted by his embrace. Last night, he slammed the door heartlessly in my face and now, he had his hands wrapped around me. Something wasn't adding up. Successfully getting out of his arms, I quietly crawled out of the bed. As my feet touched the cold floor, I let out a soft gasp. I lowered my eyes to look at myself and I was completely naked, there were also dried blood stains between my thighs. Tears stung my eyes and I looked at him, he was also naked as well. My hands desperately flew to my head as I tr
Elise's POV. "Elise, I know that you might not want to return to California but it's high time you get over your fears. And anyway, no one would be able to recognize you." Jones said. Jones was wrong about me being afraid but he was right about my hidden identity.I was known as the faceless model for a reason. It was a nickname I was given because I never revealed my face. I always wore a beautiful mask that made my identity unknown. This made me different and so special from every other model. My walk and body were perfect but my masked face attracted more attention to me. I became the hottest and most mysterious model in Country N, and from there, my fame spread around the world. The rest is history.Jones was also unaware of certain things about me. He didn't know one crucial detail about me which was my real name. He thought my real name was Annabel Claw. My life was surrounded by secrets but it didn't matter as far as it was perfect. "Annabel, you aren't saying anything.
Elise's POV. I dodged the knife, by tilting my head. The knife ended up hitting the mirror and causing it to break.Quickly, I moved away from there but I wasn't planning to run. I didn't know her but I needed to know what she wanted from me. "Why are you here and how dare you try to attack me?" I questioned, my voice cold and raised scarily. "What…do you want from me?" Instead of responding, she got a hold of the knife again and made threatening steps towards me. "So, you ended up getting famous to seduce him again right?" She asked, her voice filled with resentment and malice. "I always wondered who was behind that mask, I always wanted to meet you but the moment you stared at Damien like that. I instantly knew you were Elise." How did she know my former name? What connection did she have with Damien? Was she one of his playthings? "I don't know what you're talking about." I feigned ignorance. Although Nicola's claims were true, I couldn't let myself get drawn in. I didn't kn