Ava pushed open the door of her apartment and walked into the kitchen placing the bag of groceries on the kitchen cabinet.

Taking out the last pack of noodles, she placed it on the pot of boiling water.

"Ava, don't eat noodles, it's junk" She heard that kind and cheerful voice buried deep in her memories and a tear dropped into the pot. Cleaning her eyes with the back of her hand, she concentrated on cooking. After cooking, she served the noodles onto a plate and headed to the only couch in the house to eat.

The next morning, she was woken up by the ringing of her phone. Grunting, she picked up the phone and peered at the caller ID.

Dad. It read.

"Hello" She spoke into the phone once she picked up the call.

"You have to..."She heard his cold voice.

"Can you atleast ask about my well being, Mother is dead" Ava cut in.

"Oh" Came the off handed reply. "Sorry for your loss" He said his tone not giving off any emotions.

"Anyway, come home for dinner" He continued like her death meant nothing to him.

"In three days, I need to prepare for her funeral," Ava said, stressed.

"Will you be there?" She asked softly quietly hoping for a positive reply.

"No" Her hope was short-lived as he ruthlessly hung up the phone.

She dropped the phone on the table and hurried into the bathroom to prepare for work.

Ava heard the door of the motel push open - heels clicking on the floor announcing Janet entry.

Taking a deep breath, she continued cleaning the table.

"Why were you not at work yesterday?" Janet asked, nose puffed up with hands on her waist.

"I'm sorry" Ava muttered, she knew better than to explain.

"An apology won't do, your salary has been cut" Janet said.

"But..."Ava was saying.

"No but, do you know how hectic yesterday was?" Janet asked and just then a customer walked in and Ava had to attend to him.

"Ma, can I take a day off tomorrow?" Ava requested.

"Why?" Janet asked, arrogant as usual.

"For my mother's funeral" Ava whispered, the words cutting through her numb heart.

"Huh? Your mother is dead? Okay take tomorrow off but make sure to make it up" Janet instructed, her head held high as she walked out.

Ava sniffed as she packed up her things rushing to catch the next bus.

Ava dressed in black dropped the white lily on the grave of her mother.

"Goodbye mother, I will always miss you" She muttered. Looking around, there was practically no one with her, just a few of her mother's neighbors, heaving a sigh, she turned around walking out of the funeral home.

Her phone rang in her bag and she picked it up, the name flashing on the phone.

Dad.

"Hello," She said.

"I'm just reminding you that you are to come home for dinner today" His voice came through.

"I did not forget" She said, her voice cold and hung up.

Why was she needed suddenly? She will find out anyway.

She arrived at her apartment and took a shower, her heart already numb. She walked down the street and found herself in the park where she met Lora and her mother.

She looked round the park but no one was around so she sat on a bench just staring.

Her hand found her necklace and she tugged at it.

It was her Eighteen years birthday when her mother gifted her the necklace. Her eyes stung with unshed tears as memories of her mother came flooding in. She was now alone - in the whole world.

She stood up and flagged down a taxi giving him the address. Arriving at their family house, she raised her hand to knock on the door.

The door creaked open and her step mother appeared, Sara Martin.

"Oh, you are here, come in" She said with a smile that sent chills down Ava's spine.

Ava walked in not casting a second look at her and sat on the couch.

"I will go get your father" She said and left the sitting room.

Ava's eyes caught a picture of Clara hanging in a spot her childhood pictures once occupied but they were gone now - probably unaccounted for.

She could remember the night vividly the night her father returned with Sara and Clara, Clara who was two years older than her. She could remember how Sara's family forced her mother to sign a divorce so that their daughter would have an official status.

She remembered how her mother fought hard for her to get hold of Ava in court, she remembered...

"Aunt Kate, bring in the food" Her thoughts were cut off by this irritating voice. She looked up to see Ben Martin walking towards her.

"Ava, join us in the dining table" Sara said and Ava stood up, her eyes locked on Clara who acted like nothing was wrong even offering a fake smile.

"AVA" She heard her name being called. Turning around she saw Aunt Kate staring at her wide eyed.

"Aunt Kate" She called and hugged her tightly, making Clara roll her eyes.

"Child, I've missed you" Aunt Kate said. " Where's your mom?" she asked.

"She...she is dead" Ava stuttered.

"What?" Aunt Kate shrieked.

"We're hungry here" Clara grumbled and Aunt Kate quickly returned to serving the food.

Ava sat beside Clara, the food felt tasteless in her mouth even though Aunt Kate was known for her tasty food.

The silence slowly turned awkward with only the clicks of cutleries heard.

"Ava.." Her father started and she felt her heart tighten, she knew it was not a good thing but she had no other choice than to hear it out.

"You will be taken by Alessandro Moretti as payment for the debt I hold him, you were used as a collateral" He said voice devoid of emotions.

"What?" Ava shouted, her mouth hung open and eyes wide open.

"What the hell did you just say?" Ava dropped her fork on the table, eyes wide with a trembling voice.

"You heard me, the company was facing financial problems," Ben said coldly.

"I don't care" She snapped. "I never ate from your money, I begged you - begged you for Mom's treatment but you refused, you should have sold your beloved daughter instead"

A sharp slap shot landed on her face. It was Sara. Her face stung with pain but she hid it in, fighting back the tears - making sure not to give her the desired result.

"Don't mention my daughter in this" Sara warned.

"Your daughter?" Ava chuckled "She is more of a bitch, going about getting in bed with Shane" Ava bellowed.

"Ava, you should stop this, you have no choice" It was the first time in years her dad mentioned her name but he did not mention it how he usually did, she could hear disgust in his tone.

"I do have a choice, you see this, I'm not going to sit here and watch myself being sold out" Ava hissed at him picking up her bag ready to leave the house.

"Take her to her room" Ben instructed and two of his bodyguards came to her holding her on both sides.

"Let go of me, I'm not an item for sale" She struggled but they easily overpowered her, taking her to a room and locking the door.

The room was dark and stuffy and her hands found the light switch, flipping it, bright light flooded the room.

Her heart stopped. It was her childhood room and with it came the memories. The laughter, her mother's smile, her father before he became cold.

She scanned the room, dust clung to the curtains, this place had not been touched for years.

She opened the window and she saw the height of the building, the building was high - dangerously so - but she had to do something, she was not just going to sit there and watch herself being sold.

She opened the wardrobe but could not find anything in there. Her eyes glanced over to the bed and she pulled the bedsheets off tying it around her waist.

Looking out of the window again the building was pretty high but there were pipes that could aid her climbing.

Taking one last glance at the room, she saw a box containing her childhood pictures. Feeling tempted, she walked over to it and opened it, caressing the pictures with her fingers. Tears threatened to fall and then she stood up determined.

Walking over to the window, she looked down placing her legs on one of the pipes as she climbed down, her hands quickly gathered blisters, hands ached but she determinedly climbed down. Looking around she caught sight of her father's guards patrolling the area and she quickly hid.

After making sure the coast was clear she sprinted into the night.

She ran into the night not looking back.

Later that night...

Ava arrived at her apartment, she pushed the door open and quickly packed her necessities in her backpack knowing quite well they would come after her soon.

Martin family house.

"Check the CCTV cameras, she shouldn't have gone far" Ben barked when he discovered Ava had left.

"Sir, we've pulled out the camera feed of her room and here it is, we are still working on the ones on the roadside" His guard said.

Knock knock.

A knock was heard on the door and Ben freezed. Another knock was heard and he signaled his guard to open the door.

Ten men burst through the front door dressed on black and wearing masks.

"Where is the girl?" The leader asked.

"She...She ran away," Ben whispered.

"She did what? How long?" He asked again.

"Not up to an hour," Ben said.

"The boss will get back to you for that" The man warned and they rushed outside the house.

"Find her" He instructed his subordinates and they drove off into the night.

Ava's side...

Her legs burned, lungs screamed but she kept running, the sound of an approaching car made her freeze.

Headlights swept over her.

An SUV skidded to a stop beside her, the back door opened and hands pulled her in. Her head slammed against the roof of the car and she flinched in pain.

Rough hands blindfolded her and the car started again and she could roughly tell the car was entering the city again.

"Where exactly are we taking her to?" One of the men asked, his eyes darting towards the girl slumped beside him.

"Boss mansion" The leader replied.

"What? Boss mansion? Boss had never taken any captured lady there" A man said in surprise.

"Yeah, but that's what I was instructed, to take her there and not to a casino" The leader replied and the car pulled over.

Ava was dragged out the car and pulled into the house, the blindfold was removed from her eyes and the light shot straight into her eyes blinding her eyes for a moment.

As her eyes were still adjusting to the light, she was pulled into a room.

"Here is your room, you will be well taken care of, just don't try escaping because you won't be able to" The leader said and left.

Ava looked around the room which was painted in blue. It had a large bed and seeing the bed she felt sleepy, it has been a long day. Climbing into the bed, she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

The next morning, she woke with a yawn, her eyes shot wide open when she discovered she was not in that familiar small room but then the memories of last night came flooding.

The heartless Betrayal from her father, her shot at escape and how she was caught and tears flowed down her eyes again - She had been crying in the past week more than she had in her life.

She gathered strength and walked into the bathroom to freshen up. Walking down the stairs, her eyes fell on the fabulous breakfast laid out on the table and her mouth watered.

She sat down at the dining table and ate to her fill, she picked up the plates and walked into the kitchen where she met a middle aged woman.

"Dear, you are the girl brought here last night right?" The woman asked as she took the plates away from her.

"Yes ma" Ava replied.

"Oh, he has never brought a young girl home," The lady said. Ava had heard this from the men who had brought her in and she was quite curious why she was brought here and not to the...casinos.

"You can call me Aunt Zena, what's your name?" Aunt Zena asked.

"I'm Ava" She replied but her mind was not here, it was somewhere else trying to figure out why she was taken here.

Who was he? And why was she....different.

Ava's legs barely skimmed the floor as she walked round the mansion.

It had been boring the last week with just being fed and left alone, no one to talk to.

Her hands caressed the walls as she walked through the walkway. She pushed a door open and walked in, it was a mini library but the books in there were about economics and business. Above the shelves hung a portrait.

A man - dressed in black, icy cold jet black eyes, a tattoo peeking at his neck and long black hair that was rare in urban times resting on his shoulders.

Her gaze lingered on it for a minute too long before she turned around and walked out of the room.

Back downstairs, a wooden door caught her attention. A dragon carved into the woods shimmering under the lights. She placed her hands on the door knob feeling the coldness and pushed but it did not budge.

She pushed again yet nothing.

"Ava" She heard her name being called and turned around to see Aunt Zena walking towards her. "What are you doing?" Zena asked and walked over.

"Why is it locked?" Ava tilted her head to look at Aunt Zena.

"I don't know, it's not open to us, you should not be here" Aunt Zena said and pulled her away.

"What's in the room?" Ava wondered.

Aunt Zena pulled her to the sitting room but she followed her to the kitchen.

"Aunt Zena, how long have you been working here?" Ava asked.

"About 30 years ago, I was Sandro's nanny before becoming his cook," Aunt Zena smiled.

"Do you know why I'm here?" Ava asked and Aunt Zena stilled.

"I'm not sure, he had not brought any girl home before, I think you are different" Aunt Zena said.

"I want to negotiate with him, maybe paying the debt slowly" Ava sighed.

"Don't," Aunt Zena warned.

"Why?" Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe if you want to go to the casinos and throw away his little kindness of keeping you say from there, you can do it, he hates negotiation" Aunt Zena said and pulled Ava out of the kitchen placing a bowl of fruits and a cup of milk before her. "You should stay here," She suggested.

Ava shook her head as Aunt Zena returned to the kitchen. Anytime, she asks Aunt Zena a question about Alessandro, she was always tight-lipped about it.

She picked up a fruit and took a bite from it while switching on the TV.

The TV lit with recent news; Alessandro Moretti, CEO of Moretti holdings returns to US after half a year away. The reporter's voice echoed in the quiet house.

Ava's chest tightened as her breathing became rapid - he was coming home today. She had heard whispers from the other staff earlier but...it was still sudden.

Back in the kitchen, Zena looked over her shoulder to Ava munching on the fruits when her mind wandered to a memory she had buried deep.

Twenty years ago, Don Moretti was hosting a late night gathering, she had weaved through the crowd searching for him - Sandro. The air smelled of smoke, strong drinks and strong cologne with men talking in deep voices.

"Sandro" She whispered only to her hearing. And then she saw him, in the east wing of the building - standing over a groaning man lying in the pool of his own blood.

A broken wine bottle stained with blood was held by Sandro as his cold eyes were fixed on the dying man.

"Sandro" She called with shaken breaths.

The barely eight year old boy turned over to her.

"Zena," He whispered.

"Sandro, what have you done? " She questioned her voice below a whisper.

"He touched me, I told him to stop but he did not let go," Sandro said in a voice too icy for an eight year old.

"I know," She consoled holding him close to her. Her eyes found the almost lifeless man on the floor, he was Lucas, one of Don Moretti most trusted aides, with hands that refused to stay with him - all maids had complained about it.

" We should tell mom" Sandro voiced out. " But dad should not hear about this," He added. "I warned him" His cold voice sounded.

"You did nothing wrong but next time you should tell me first" She said, holding his trembling hands.

But he never did.

The voice of the reporter cut through her thoughts and she brought the plate of snacks to Ava.

"You should stay here" She repeated to the wide eyed girl.

She shook her head helplessly when there was no response and returned to the kitchen.

She was afraid for Ava, she should stay quietly at the kindness Alessandro already gave her by not dumping her at a casino.

Because Alessandro was never a man to negotiate with.

He was a storm you survived.

The house became even more quiet this night than every other night - Hushed whispers, the men walking through the house putting last touches to the house.

Aunt Zena walked over to Ava who was sitting on the couch after dinner.

"You have to go to your room and stay there throughout the night" Zena said and pulled her up, supporting her to her room.

Ava could not see that always smiling Zena, she just saw a nervous faced woman.

Ava sat on her bed, her mind flashing to the images of Alessandro that were shown on TV. She cleaned her eyes but sleep was not forthcoming and then she heard it, the sound of a car driving into the mansion.

She quickly shoved the blanket out of her body and walked over to the window looking down. A black car drove in with tinted glass closely followed by another and several others.

And then they began alighting the cars - men on black suits hurried over to open the door of the third car - a pair of black shoes entered her line of view before he alighted fully from the car.

The man in the portrait.

The man in those images.

The man in control of her fate.

Alessandro Moretti.