~LEONARDO~
My guard returns immediately after the stripper finishes performing with information about her.
I am shocked to find out that she is the sister of Marcus Russell—the bastard who used to work for me and carrying out some dirty operations for me.
She is the sister to the bastard who stole my money, a huge amount of it and ran off, only for me to hear that he's dead after searching for him for about a week.
I really wanted to see his dead body then and be sure that he's really dead but he was said to have died in a car accident with the car exploding and burning his body to ashes.
He was dead and there was no way to get my money back and I had no intentions of letting it go, so I searched for his family and found out that he has two younger sisters—one aged twenty three, and the other, eighteen.
I didn't know who they were, didn't even see their faces, just asked my right hand man, Antonio Torenzo to let the older one know about the money her brother took—he told her it's a loan—and how she must pay back.
This world is really a small one. Who would have thought that Marcus' sister would catch my attention one day?? That I would want her all to myself??
"Very interesting," I keep repeating as I prepare a contract for her before requesting that I want to see her.
Now, I'm standing in front of his sister, after receiving confirmation from Antonio that she is really the one, and telling her that she owes me, but she's acting all confused.
And I'm surprised at her confusion.
~GEMMA~
"What do you mean by I owe you a lot of money, Sir?? You're clearly not the man I'm owing. And how do you know my brother??" I ask him, still very much confused.
First, he knows my real name. Now, he knows about the debt and my late brother.
What more does he know??
"Are you trying to deny that you don't owe me??" He says darkly, and stands straight on his feet.
He's really tall, way taller than me, but if he's planning on intimidating me with his height then he has failed.
My blood is boiling. I won't let this man trap me into being his personal stripper just by lying to me.
How dare he lie to me??
"I'm not denying anything, Sir. It's the fact. I don't owe you a dime," I say, standing up on my feet too but quickly regret it when one of his guards shoves me back to the seat.
I land with my butt on the seat before I can even register what is happening.
Leonardo smirks at me.
"You don't stand when I haven't given you the permission to," he say in a warning tone.
My heartbeat increases.
"I don't owe you, Sir," I tell him with a shaky voice this time. "I owe one Mr. Antonio and I have been paying the money every week."
"Ooh!" He mutters, realization dawning on his face. "Now I understand. I thought you're trying to deny it."
"Antonio works for me. I am his boss and I put him in charge of collecting the money your brother took from you. And about how I knew of your brother…. let's just say he's an old friend." He explains with a cold smile on his face and shows me a picture of him and Mr. Antonio on his phone.
I am shocked beyond words.
Sir Antonio is working for this mad man?? And my brother was an old friend of his?? How could my brother keep a friend like him??
"I'm so…sorry, Sir. I didn't know Mr. Antonio works for you. I'm really trying my best to pay back the debt. I prom…."
"I don't deal with small payments" he cuts me off impatiently. "How long is it going to take you? You've been paying back the debt for almost a year now but you haven't even touched the least of the amount your brother owes me."
"I'm sorry, Sir. I'll look for more menial jobs to make the payment faster," I plead with him.
Realizing that he's the one I really owe makes me very humble. I just need to plead with him to give me more time.
"Become mine Gemma, and the debt is erased. Fail to comply, and not only is the debt still active, but your life, and the life of your sister, is at stake," he threatens me and my fear turns to fury immediately.
How dare he threaten me with my sister?? My only family!! What rights does he have??
"You are wrong if you think I'm just a whore you can buy…" I snap angrily. "I already promise to pay you back the money my brother owes you. You have no right to threaten me with my sister's life! She knows nothing about this. She's still very young, so leave her alone!"
He suddenly starts laughing, making me feel stupid.
I am angry and lashing out at him, and he's laughing?? Very insane!
"I know the debt isn't enough to break you," he finally say after he's done laughing, the words cutting through my anger like ice. He leans forward, his focus absolute. "But your sister is. And I'll use her against you."
He pulls the burner phone from his pocket, taps on the screen for a while and then turns the phone to my face.
The sight of Chloe's innocent, sleeping face on the screen makes the air rush out of my lungs. He doesn't need to elaborate. The threat is concrete.
Fuck! Damn it!!
How did he get a picture of her sleeping at home?? Has he been stalking us? For how long??
"Please sir, don't hurt her. I will pay the debt. Just don't hurt her, please" I beg shamelessly now.
"I don't have that patience for you to pay up the debt. The clock runs out now." He slides a contract toward me. "Sign it, and she is safe forever. Refuse, and you lose everything. I already know what you're worth to me, Gemma. Now you must decide what your sister is worth to you."
One look at him and I know nothing can or will ever change his mind.
So I nod. He has found my breaking point. I don't want to lose my only family remaining. The soul I love the most in the entire world.
My hand trembles violently as I pick up the pen and write my name across the contract. It is a transfer of ownership, a deal to my soul.
He sits back, the tension in the room finally snapping. He curves into a terrifying, possessive smirk, his cold gaze burning over my body.
"Good girl. Welcome to your new life, Gemma Russell."