Eleanor Vance POV

I kept my eyes on the road, lost in my own thoughts. The silence was broken by the ping of a notification on my phone.

I pulled it out of my bag and stared at it for a second. I was shocked when I saw the sender. It was my father. He was the last person I expected to message me. My hands shook a little as I opened the chat. I looked at the screen with dread.

"Send me money."

I let out a bitter laugh. I couldn't believe it. I rolled my eyes and dug my nails into the car seat. I was so angry. I wasn't going to keep this inside anymore. I typed back with fire in my heart.

"I won't. Forget about taking my money ever again, Father."

A few seconds passed. Then came his annoying reply. It made my blood boil.

"Really??"

I bit my lip. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I opened the window next to me to find some fresh air. He had a way of sucking the life out of me.

"Heaven's curse on him."

I ignored him, but he messaged again.

"Fine then."

My face twisted in pain. I shut off my phone and took a deep breath. That old man is going to be the death of me. I swear it. All I could think about was what I did to deserve a father like him.

What did I do wrong? Why do Ivy and I have to have someone like him in charge of our lives? There was no answer.

I had been standing in front of The Savoy for a few minutes. I was scared to go inside and talk to all those rich people. The bright lights and the loud music were already making my head hurt.

I played with my fingers and took a soft breath. Then I stepped inside. The place was beautiful. The room was huge with crystal chandeliers everywhere. The lights were so bright they took my breath away.

The first thing that hit me was the loud music. I closed my eyes for a second. The noise made my headache even worse.

"I really hate this noise!"

This kind of party was not for me. I found an empty table and sat down. I rested my body and just watched the people around me.

The air was full of fake smiles and polite talk. It smelled like lies. There were so many important people there. Then there were the employees. They were pretending to be happy to be at such a fancy party, but they looked exhausted. They were dying from tiredness.

As I was lost in my thoughts, a waiter put a glass of wine on my table. I think he noticed I didn't have a drink yet. I thanked him with a small smile and took a sip. Then I went back to watching the crowd.

Suddenly, the lights went out. My heart skipped a beat. I wondered what was happening. Then a bright white light hit a certain spot. It was Alistair and Catherine Blackwood. And standing between them was the eldest son. Julian.

He was wearing a dark black suit. He looked as cold as his eyes. He had a white shirt underneath. The first three buttons were open. I could see his hard, tanned chest. His black hair was pushed back in a perfect style.

"So that is Mr. Julian Blackwood!"

I whispered to myself. I stared at him just like everyone else. The room became very quiet when he stepped forward. He took the microphone. He tapped it twice to make sure it worked. Then he spoke. His voice was deep and full of power.

"Hello everyone. I am Julian Blackwood. CEO of the Blackwood Group and a Major General in the British Army."

Everyone cheered. They clapped and smiled. I clapped my hands too, just following the crowd. A few seconds later, he spoke again with a strong voice.

"I have been busy with the army, and I still am. But I am officially taking over the company. I will make sure we expand and grow."

I saw a proud smile on Alistair Blackwood's face. He clapped for his son. His mother, Catherine, had shining eyes. His sister, Margot, was smiling too.

Everyone was looking at Julian. They could feel his confidence. After he finished his speech, he gave a small, forced smile. He bowed a little. Then he started walking around the tables with his family. He was greeting the guests.

People knew Julian from politics. He was a man of great power and dominance in the military. He was famous for his control. He didn't smile much. His face stayed calm and serious.

As I watched them move from table to table, I saw Mrs. Adelaide coming toward me. She had a classy smile. I smiled back. When she reached me, I gave her a polite nod.

"How is the party?" she asked.

I stayed quiet for a moment. Then I answered her honestly.

"It's okay. To be honest, I don't really like these kinds of parties. They give me a headache. I wish they were more fun."

I stopped myself. I realized I shouldn't have said that to my boss. I looked at her quickly. Before I could say anything else, she laughed. She actually seemed to enjoy my honesty.

"It's okay, Eleanor. Just be yourself. I know these high-class parties are boring. To be honest with you... I hate them too."

She leaned in and whispered in my ear so no one else could hear. She acted like she was scared someone would catch her saying it. I laughed. I liked her even more. I took another sip of my wine. But before I could speak, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and groaned. It was my father.

I was so fed up with his calls. I decided to answer just to make him stop. I was so angry. I told Mrs. Adelaide I had to step out. I couldn't talk in the middle of all this noise.

I walked toward the back garden of the hotel. I took a deep breath. A cold wind hit my skin and made me shiver.

I was looking down at my phone as I walked. Suddenly, I slammed into something hard and strong. It felt like hitting a wall. I almost fell onto the floor. My things flew out of my hands. But then, a large hand grabbed my waist. He held me tight so I wouldn't fall.

I gasped. I was frozen. It happened so fast. I looked up at the man in front of me. I couldn't believe it.

It was Mr. Julian Blackwood!

"Mr. Blackwood?!"

His hot breath hit my skin. My whole body shook in his hands. I looked at how close we were. Why was he so close?!

He looked at me quietly for a moment. Then he let go of my waist. I quickly stepped back. I tried to hide how embarrassed I was. I felt his eyes on me. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, just watching me.

"I am sorry, Mr. Blackwood. I was looking at my phone and I wasn't watching where I was going."

I rubbed my hands together. This was our first time meeting, and I had crashed into him. He stayed silent. He was just as cold as I thought he would be. I sighed.

"I am sorry again, Mr. Blackwood. Excuse me."

I gave him a polite bow. I picked up my phone. It was still ringing. I grabbed my things from the floor and ran toward the hotel gate.

The Dark Side

"That bitch!!"

Arthur hissed with hate. He kicked the chair in front of him. He closed his eyes and imagined her dead. He looked through her wallet again. He was acting like a crazy man. He was looking for money, but there was nothing. He had already spent what little she had on the drink in his hand.

"So, Arthur Vance. Where is the money?"

The debt collector asked him. Arthur had borrowed a lot of money for a big bet. He had no way to pay it back. He had gambled everything on a win that never happened. He was blinded by greed. Now he had to pay up or he would be killed. These men don't show mercy. If you can't pay, they cut your throat.

Arthur stayed quiet. He was trying to find a way out. He had to find the money before they killed him.

"What are the ways to pay if I don't have cash?"

The other man laughed. He couldn't believe Arthur. "If you don't have the money, why did you start betting?"

Arthur got angry. "Just answer the damn question, Cleo!"

Cleo sighed. He was annoyed. "There are many ways. You can give up your property. You can sell anything expensive. You can sign checks. Or... you can bet the girls instead of the money."

Arthur stayed quiet for a few minutes. Then a sick smile grew on his face. He whispered to Cleo.

"Tell me that last one again, Cleo."

Eleanor Vance POV

My father had called several times while I was talking to Mr. Julian. Now he was calling again. Before the phone stopped ringing, I took a deep breath and answered him. I didn't want to, but I had no choice.

"What do you want, Father?"

"Is this how a good daughter answers her father? You hurt my feelings, Eleanor."

His disgusting voice crawled into my ears. It made my face twist with hate. I narrowed my eyes. He was faking his sadness. It made me so angry. I sighed and called him the worst names I had ever heard.

He laughed. He actually enjoyed it. Then he asked me a question that made me confused.

"Where are you right now?"

I frowned. Why would he ask me that? Since when does my father care about where I am? It was almost funny.

"Why are you asking?"

"You are at the party, obviously! Well, since they are on their way to you, let me tell you some happy news, my daughter."

I looked around. I didn't understand what he was talking about. What happy news? And who was coming here?

I felt a rush of fear and panic. His crazy laughter on the phone made my blood run cold. Then he said the words that made my body freeze.

"To be quick, because I don't want to waste our time, I made a bet. Sadly, I lost. A few hours ago, I asked you to send me the money to pay it off. But you thought you were smart. You refused to send it. So, I had no choice but to put my dear daughter up as the payment for my loss."

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. It felt like someone had thrown ice water over my whole body. The phone shook in my hand. It almost fell. I don't know how I stayed standing. I gripped the phone so hard that my knuckles turned white.

What on earth was this man saying?! What bet? What did he mean he bet me?! God... what was happening?!

"I don't understand. What do you mean you bet me?!"

My voice was shaking. My body felt like it was made of thin paper. I tried to stay calm. I tried to tell myself this was impossible.

"You stopped giving me money, didn't you? Since I can't get it from you, I can just use the girl who has the money as the bet instead."

He said it so simply. He sounded so calm. It was like he was betting a piece of furniture, not a human being with a soul.

"And because I know how much you love your stupid sister, I bet both of you together. I got a very good price for each of you."

He laughed again. He didn't care at all.

Did he really bet Ivy too?! Was he joking?! He told me he sold both of us. He said he got even more money because of our pretty faces.

He was talking like he was proud of it! Like he had won a great deal! Why was he talking about us like we were things to be bought and sold?!

My breath became fast and heavy. I couldn't stand anymore. My legs gave out. I fell to the ground. Tears started falling from my eyes. He didn't really do this, right? He has to be joking.

No father can sell his own daughters. No father can turn them into whores so easily!! No, no. This isn't real. It's impossible. My father wouldn't do this, no matter how bad he is. Right?

"Tell me you're joking! Please..."

I begged him. I was crying. My hands were shaking around the phone.

But his laughter on the other end told me the truth. He wasn't joking. He really didn't care about what would happen to his daughters. What kind of father was he?!

"How could you put me and my sister in a gambling bet, Father?!"

My mouth shook. My eyes were burning with hot tears. They ran down my cheeks. I was shocked. I was angry.

I couldn't take it anymore. I was sick of this man. He never stops destroying my life. Every chance he gets, he ruins everything for me and Ivy. It was like we were born just to suffer.

I collapsed into a ball on the floor. I gripped my dress. I felt so helpless. All he did was sound bored on the phone. He was tired of talking to me! He was acting like he sold animals, not his children!

"Don't give me a headache, girl! Good luck to you and your sister, my dear Eleanor!"

He said those words so casually. Then he hung up. He didn't want to hear another word. I looked around the empty air. I felt lost. My tears came faster and faster.

I gasped for air. I shook my head. I cried until my whole body was shaking with fear. I didn't know what to do! How could I escape this? How could I survive?

My mind was full of questions but no answers. How could I run from the fate my father wrote for me? And my little sister!! Ivy!

I jumped up in a panic when I remembered her. I searched for her name in my phone. My hands were shaking. My tears wouldn't stop. After a few seconds, Ivy answered.

"Listen to me, Ivy! We have no time! Pack all your clothes. Take all the money you have, and take my money too. Leave the house right now! Go to the Cotswolds countryside fast!"

I talked so fast she couldn't say anything. She was terrified. She could hear the crying in my voice.

"What is it, Eleanor!! What happened?!"

"No time, Ivy! Please... just do what I said and leave the house now!!"

She understood it was serious. She ran to her room to grab her things while she was still on the phone. I tried to tell her everything was okay. I didn't want her to panic more than she already was.

I wiped my tears with my hand. I tried to find some strength. All I wanted was to run away. I wanted to go somewhere where no one could find me. Especially not the men who bought me.

I moved to leave. Then I saw a huge black car. Large men stepped out of it. The moment I saw them, I remembered what my father said. These were the men coming to take me.

Panic hit me. My heart raced so fast I thought I would fall. I leaned against the wall. I was terrified. Then I ran toward the hotel gate. I had to hide inside.

"If I go inside, they can't get past the security."

It was my only way to be safe! I ran to the security gate. I opened my bag to find my ID card. I looked through everything quickly. But it wasn't there!!

I pulled my hair back hard. My heart was pounding. My blood was hot with adrenaline. I looked through the bag again and again. It was gone!

"Where the hell is it?! I had it just a minute ago! Where did it go?!"

I looked around in fear. I saw the men. They were spreading out. They were waiting for me to show up so they could grab me!

Tears of fear filled my eyes. My hands were shaking as I searched my bag for the thousandth time. It was really gone. I closed my eyes. I was losing my mind. I tried to be calm and find a way out.

"How am I going to get out of this?!"

There was no time to think. Every second made them closer to me.

"There is only one way."

I ran as fast as I could. I didn't care about my high heels biting into my feet. I reached the men's bathroom right next to the main gate. It was the only place I could hide.

I rushed inside. My hair was a mess. My face was red from crying and panic. My breath sounded like a dying animal. My chest was moving up and down wildly.

I slammed the door shut behind me. I leaned against it. I was shaking. I closed my eyes and tried to find my balance. My heart was beating like a war drum in my ears.

I could only think about the men outside. Did they see me? Would they break the door down?

Suddenly, a deep voice broke the silence. It was cold like a sharp blade. It made the blood freeze in my veins.

"Won't you explain why you are in the men's room... Miss Vance?"

I froze. I felt the cold marble behind my back. I opened my eyes slowly. I saw Julian Blackwood. He was standing at one of the sinks. He was drying his hands slowly with a paper towel. His dark eyes were watching every bit of fear in my soul through the large mirror.

Eleanor Vance POV

I froze in the corner of that bathroom the moment Major General Julian Blackwood's voice filled the room. I turned around slowly. My legs felt like lead. When I finally faced him, I met his deep, dark eyes. I felt like he wasn't just looking at me. He was looking straight into my soul.

I quickly wiped away the tears on my eyelashes. My fingers were shaking. I tried to think of something to say. There was no logical reason for me to be here in this fancy place, looking like a mess.

He pulled a dark pack of cigarettes from his back pocket. He took one out with his index and middle fingers. His hands looked strong and serious. He slowly raised the cigarette to his lips. I waited for him to look away. I just wanted him to blink so I could breathe, but he didn't.

Even when he lit the lighter, he kept his eyes on me. The orange flame reflected in his dark pupils. He was intentionally keeping me trapped in his gaze. I felt like a bird in a cage, unable to fly away. He didn't say a single word.

My anxiety got worse. My eyes darted around. I could barely stand on my feet because of my father's threats. My breath became shallow and messy.

I was trapped. Outside this room, away from the protection of the Major General, were the debt collectors. They would find me sooner or later.

My eyes shimmered with new tears. I struggled not to cry in front of the man who was watching me like a silent painting. He blew out a cloud of smoke slowly. It swirled around him like a thick, dark mist.

"I am still waiting for an answer!"

Julian reminded me. He narrowed his eyes, studying my frozen face.

I looked at him, my mind spinning. I had no other choice. I had to tell him. Maybe he could help me. He was a Major General, after all.

I took a deep breath and tried to stay steady.

"Mr. Blackwood, please help me."

I whispered it. I was so helpless. I squeezed my hands into fists so hard that my knuckles turned white and the bones showed through my thin skin. I bit my lip in distress.

I looked up at his dark eyes again. The moment our eyes met, a shiver ran down my spine. It made it hard to breathe. He leaned his head back against the marble wall. He acted like he hadn't even heard my plea. I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached.

"I am being followed. There are men looking for me."

He looked at me with cold indifference. Then he stood up straight, showing his tall, powerful height.

"And?"

"Can you help me get out of here without them seeing me?"

I begged him. I looked at the door. I was trembling. I could hear loud noises in the hotel hallways.

My heart dropped into my stomach. Many footsteps were coming our way. They sounded like war drums getting closer and closer. The sound of my racing heart was the only thing I could hear in the quiet room.

Doesn't he understand? Can't he see the terror in my eyes?

Finally, he decided to speak. He crossed his strong arms over his chest. He moved his tongue inside his mouth in a mysterious way.

"And what do I get in return?"

When his deep, masculine voice hit me, it felt heavy. My fingertips went numb. My brain stopped working. I blinked over and over. In return?! How could he ask for something from a girl who was about to drown?

"What could I possibly give you in return for your help?"

He kept looking between my eyes. His focus was so intense it stole my will. Without any hesitation, he spoke firmly.

"Be my wife for eight months. Then we will get a divorce."

My eyes went wide with shock. I felt the cold air dry out my throat. My mouth fell open. I couldn't believe it. What the hell did the Major General just say? Was he joking?

I ran my hand over my face. I gave a bitter, angry laugh.

"What??"

"My offer is on the table. I am waiting for your answer before those men walk in."

I gave a desperate, shaky smile.

"Don't joke, Mr. Blackwood. Joking doesn't suit you."

He ran his tongue over his bottom lip slowly. The movement made me swallow hard.

"Do I look like I am joking, little one?"

My smile disappeared. His serious face and confident eyes told me he meant every word. Marriage?! I stared at the marble floor. The light from the fancy chandeliers reflected on the ground. I couldn't speak. I hadn't even known him for an hour!

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what you heard. I will protect you from those men following you. In return, you will be my wife for a while. Then you will be free."

He said it simply, like he was giving a military order. He took confident steps toward me. He got so close that I had to hold my breath. I stepped back until my back hit the wall.

He kept coming until his shiny black shoes touched mine. He leaned his face down toward me. I felt the heat of his breath. It smelled like tobacco. It danced over my skin.

He moved his index finger under my chin slowly. His skin felt rough and warm. His cheek brushed against mine for a split second. It made my blood boil in my veins. Then he leaned toward my ear and whispered.

"Time is running out, Miss Vance. They will be inside at any moment."

I looked at him boldly, even though I was shaking.

"And who would you be to protect me from them?"

I saw a ghost of a smirk on his lips. Then he dropped the final blow near my ear.

"My woman."

I froze. That word hit me like an arrow through my chest. I felt my heart jump into my throat.

"Your woman?!"

He stepped back quietly. He rubbed the tip of his nose with his finger.

"That is if you agree, of course."

Suddenly, he blew a cloud of smoke right into my face. I looked away and coughed. The strong tobacco choked my lungs.

I was about to answer him. But then, the door burst open. A group of huge, brutal men rushed into the room. They ruined the quiet of The Savoy with their violence.