"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.

Ava looked down feeling drawn to this man dressed in black, whose name alone was enough to instill fear in many.

Suddenly, Alessandro looked up and locked eyes with her. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped for that moment as her eyes collided with his several heights away.

He coolly tore his gaze away and walked in with his men behind him.

The door of the sitting room was pushed open and Alessandro walked in followed by his PA, Ethan Wallace.

"Sandro" Zena called.

"Aunt Zena" Sandro whispered and walked over to her.

"How have you been?" He asked.

"What do you want to hear?" She asked back.

"Maybe good news" He said with a light smile gracing his lips.

"I'd been good, how was your stay in Italy?" She asked.

"The usual" He replied coolly as he handed his coat to one of the maids.

"Did mother come by?" He asked.

"Visited twice," Zena said.

"Mother" Ethan called and walked over to Zena hugging her.

"How have you been?" She asked as she took a look at him.

"I'd been good," he replied.

"You both should eat dinner" She suggested and walked into the kitchen.

The next morning.

A knock on the door woke Ava up from her sleep and she walked to the door opening it wide to see Aunt Zena.

"Good morning Zena" She greeted yawning.

"You look a mess," Zena commented with a light smile.

"Yeah, I was tired yesterday, I will freshen up soon" Ava said.

"He wants to see you" The smile disappeared from Zena's face.

"He...Who" Ava stuttered as her eyes shot open.

"Go freshen up" Zena nudged her and Ava nodded mechanically returning into the room.

"You can come in" Her voice sounded from inside the room.

"I'm okay here," Zena said.

Ava reappeared all freshen up and dressed up.

"Follow me" Zena cast a glance at her.

Ava followed her quietly through the hallway, her eyes stopping on the dragon door for a moment before walking over to Zena who had already stopped at a door.

Zena raised her hands to knock on the door.

"Let her in" A cold detached voice sounded, making Ava flinch.

Zena nodded at Ava who pushed the door open, her eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the room that looked so much like a study room in an ancient palace.

"Ava" He mentioned her name.

Ava raised her gaze to him and her eyes widened for the umpteenth time since she came to this house as she caught sight of his face - Not in images or portraits.

Long fan-like eyelashes, long silky black hair laying on his shoulder, jet black eyes, a dragon tattoo on his neck trailing into his shirt, the light flickering on the tattoo made it more life-like.

"Sit" He instructed and she slowly sat down.

"You were the one that tried running away" He said with a voice devoid of emotions, and Ava nodded.

"Stupidly brave, I would say, don't try that next time" He said.

"I would like to negotiate with..."

"No negotiation" Alessandro cut her off his voice cold.

"You can leave" He said and she stood up, hurriedly walking out of the room.

She rounded the corner and held her chest breathing heavily when she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned back and saw a man also dressed in black with shorter hair walking down the stairs - eyes locked on her.

He had a sharper gaze, a black bag in his hands and a star tattoo on his neck.

" You must be Miss Ava" He stretched his hands, his voice deep.

Ava took his hands in a handshake - his hands felt rough to shake.

"Enjoy your stay here" He said and turned walking away just like that.

She walked up the stairs pushing the door of her room open. Moments later, Aunt Zena came to invite her to breakfast. She nervously walked into the dining room but she could not find him.

She took a deep breath before sitting down.

"You should stop by the company, I will go alone" She heard a cold voice coming from up the stairs.

Footsteps followed the voice and Alessandro and Ethan came into sight followed by a bunch of men on black.

Alessandro walked past her without uttering a word and she was too dumbstruck to say anything.

"You are not staying from breakfast again" Zena sighed.

"There's a whole lot of work to do, Zena" He said and walked out the house.

Ava finished breakfast and requested a canvas and painting materials.

Getting to work, she started painting attentively.

An hour later, she brushed the paint off and turned it to Zena who was watching her attentively.

The painting was in a dark hue. A girl looking out into the night, in a virtual cage, longing for freedom and a grave behind her.

"This is what I feel," Ava sighed. "I miss her"

"It's alright" Zena patted her back.

Ava nodded and walked to the back of the mansion where a garden was located. Sitting on one of the swings, she closed her eyes recounting memories to keep herself busy but all the memories were about her mother and she shot her eyes open as a tear rolled down her eye.

It was getting late and she stood up, pushing the door to the house.

"Aunt Zena," she called.

"Dear, I'm here" Zena's voice sounded from the kitchen and she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm so bored inside this house" She whined.

"Can you play chess?" Aunt Zena asked and Ava nodded.

Placing a bowl of fruits on the table by Ava, Aunt Zena brought a board of chess, and they both started playing.

The door flung open and Ava stiffened thinking Alessandro had returned.

"Ziven" Zena shrieked and threw herself into the hands of the newcomer.

"Aunt Zena, how are you doing?" Ziven asked.

"I'm fine, and you. You just came back from France?" She asked and Ziven nodded.

"So why are you here?" She asked again.

"I'm here for Draco, he was shot and I had not had the time to meet him" Ziven said.

"What do you mean he was shot?" Zena rose from her seat.

"Wow, you don't know about this, he was shot four months ago in Italy and that was why he postponed his return, Aunt Camila knows about that" Ziven said and turned to look at Ava.

"You must be the new girl," he said with a smile.

" Sandro was shot and I was not informed, I'm calling Camila" Zena said angrily.

"I think this was why you were not informed, you worry too much," Ziven said and made himself comfortable on the sofa.

"You've said enough right" Alessandro said from his back making Ava flinch, maybe they were all used to this but she did not feel his presence nor did she hear the door opening.

"Hey, I was trying to console Aunt Zena," Ziven said with a grin.

"Sandro" Zena called.

"I'm sorry" He said and walked to her holding her in her waist.

"You did something wrong right?" She asked.

"I did not want you to worry that's why" He said.

"Where's Ethan?" Zena asked.

"In the office," Sandro said.

"Draco, we have a lot to talk about" Ziven said.

" Zena, would you mind getting us coffee in the study room?" Alessandro said and Zena left.

"You should return to your room" Alessandro said to Ava who had been quiet,and she nodded walking to her room.

"Quite obedient," Ziven commented as he followed Alessandro to the study room.