Chapter 1
Women are all the same. They're worthless, always cheating and lying, and the ones who haven't yet will eventually.
This girl I'm here to collect in exchange for her father's debt—sooner or later she'll betray some man, just like Veronica betrayed me. So I won't feel bad about taking her with me and separating her from her sister.
And I'm also doing this for her own good. I'll take her to work for me at home, or maybe I'll bring her to the clubs to do honest work, without having to sell her body for money.
She comes out the gate with red eyes—she's been crying.
Her sister stands beside her, sobbing. The old man won't even show his face.
I'm surprised—she's the same girl I saw at the traffic light the day I closed the deal with him.
Those same eyes, full of mystery and magic. Except today they're sad, tearful.
“Let's get this over with. Come on,” I call out.
She looks at me with a hard expression, her eyes cutting into me like a blade, full of hurt.
The way she presses her lips together shows me all her anger.
Her sister grabs her tight, and she says something to the girl before getting in the car.
She doesn't look my way and doesn't move. I try to break the ice.
“What's your name?”
“Seriously? You buy a product and don't even know its name?”
I grip the steering wheel and clench my jaw at the same time, taking a deep breath.
“Look, I wasn't the one who saw you as a product—your father did.”
“But you accepted, didn't you?” She raises her chin, making it clear I'm going to have my work cut out for me.
“I didn't have a choice,” I say, trying to stay calm.
“Now my sister's unprotected. Who's going to stop him from doing the same thing to her?” She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “She's only fourteen.”
“He won't do that to her.”
I face forward, acting like I don't care, but I'm going to try to bring the girl to stay with her. I'll figure something out.
“Can I ask you a question?” she says.
“Go ahead,” I say, giving her my attention.
“Am I going to work for you? Am I going to be your sex slave? What are you going to do with me?” She stares at me.
I press my lips together again and look back at her.
“I don't know what I'm going to do with you yet.”
“Can I ask you for two things?” She holds up two fingers.
“Go ahead.”
“First—if you can, look after my sister for me.”
“Okay. And what else?”
“If you're going to make me your sex slave, the first time... be patient and careful, because I've never done any of that.”
Fuck. Look what this damn old man did—the girl thinks I'm a monster.
“No, I'm not going to make you my sex slave. Relax. You'll only do that if and when you want to.”
“I don't want to,” she responds the moment I finish speaking.
I want to laugh but hold back. We drive on in silence. Then she speaks.
“Aurora.”
I turn and meet her beautiful eyes.
“What did you say?”
“My name. Aurora. But you can call me Lola.”
“Aurora. I like it—pretty name. It suits you, Lola.”
She doesn't say anything else. When we arrive at the mansion, I notice her taking everything in.
She walks slowly through the garden, caressing some flowers, then holds onto the pillar at the entrance and climbs the steps.
She goes to the end of the veranda and leans on the low wall separating the front from the back of the house, gazing at the pool.
I feel bad for her. This girl is making me go soft.
I take her inside and call my housekeeper.
“Yná, this is Aurora. She's going to be living here with us from now on.”
Yná looks at me, confused, furrows her brow, and moves her lips as if to say something but thinks better of it. She closes her eyes like she needs to concentrate, then asks.
“Is she a guest or an employee? I need to know so I can figure out where to put her,” she explains.
“Put her in the guest room, in the same hallway as mine.”
My housekeeper's eyes go wide—she knows I don't let anyone stay in the same hallway as my room—but she doesn't question it. She signals to Lola, who follows her in silence.
As soon as they're out of earshot, I call Marco. He picks up right away.
“Lorenzo, go ahead.”
“Marco, track down that old man and offer him money for the younger girl.”
“What do you mean? Have you lost your mind? The other girl is way too young and—”
“Just do what I tell you, damn it! What are you thinking? That I want the girl for myself? I just want to bring her here to be with her sister. Lola's really worried about her.”
“Lola? What's that about, Lorenzo? Since when are you two so close?”
“Keep asking stupid questions and I'll cut your tongue out.”
“Forget I said anything.”
“Great. Find the old man and handle it. I want the girl here with her sister as soon as possible. I'm not risking this kid ending up with some lunatics.”
“I'll see what I can do.”
“Don't just 'see.' Do it!”
“Got it, boss. I'm on it.”
I hang up the phone and stare at the door in front of me.
The image of the beautiful young woman who came to my house today flashes through my mind.
She's really getting to me. I remember her asking, “Am I going to work for you? Am I going to be your sex slave?” I smile to myself.
I'd love to have that beautiful little thing underneath me—or on top.
“If it were up to me, you'd be mine—but only if you wanted to be,” I say to myself.