The sun is directly shining in my face when I wake up the next morning. Not wake up, actually. I open my eyes, to the bright stinging light from the drapes drawn open, grab the pillow and slam it over my head like WWE. 

I used to watch it when I was younger, after my mother died. I thought if I became stronger, I could defend myself from the scumbags my stepdad brought around the house. 

Turns out they wanted nothing to do with his daughter. 

Somehow, the loan sharks and gangsters were more honest than the man my mother left me with. 

My head hurts. 

I groan as I crawl out of bed, finding my way with my hands while my eyes remain shut. Just there...a little bit more...I'm closer to the edge now. 

I miscalculate badly. 

One minute I'm reaching for the bed frame and the next I'm toppling to the ground in a tangle of sheets. My butt takes the brunt of it, hitting the cold flooring with a thud. 

I bite my tongue-on instinct-as I grab my backside, muffling my shriek of pain. It doesn't help, because the familiar metallic taste of blood fills my mouth. 

Great. 

I'm off to a good start this morning. 

I sit there, for a couple minutes, trying to ward off any more bad luck. Then I slowly untangle myself, standing to my feet. 

I glance around the room, my eyes widening at the dull wall colors and the large space. For a brief moment, my brain floods with panic. And then I'm reminded, as the memories come flooding back, that I'm not in my tiny bedroom in my shoebox apartment. 

No. 

I'm the property of the Hawthorne brothers, specifically Adrian Hawthorne. And he bought me for one dollar and a cent. 

The bed.  

I whirl around as my pulse skips. He was in bed with me last night. I remember holding my breath, pretending I couldn't feel the warmth from his body from my hiding spot. 

Like I couldn't smell him-all musk and masculine-invading my senses. 

And then he left. 

Because I slept off and ended up...

No. 

I race to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. My chest heaves as I stare at the mirror, at my reddened face. I manhandled him. And I could've touched him anywhere, but it had to be down there.  

"Oh god," I moan, slapping my hands to my face. "You should've slept on the floor, Alina."

Now he thinks I'm a creep. I'm the creep he bought from an auction because her alcoholic, gambling stepfather put her up for sale and nobody could spare a dollar. 

I sink to the floor slowly, gloom and doom weighing heavy in my chest. "I'll just stay here," I mumble to myself. "I'll lock the door and live out the rest of my days in this bathroom."

My eyes dart straight for the bath tub. I'd thought about sleeping in it last night and he said it was a foolish idea. 

Well, I doubt he'd say the same thing now. Adrian Hawthorne probably wants nothing to do with me at this point. 

I make it only a minute in before my stomach grumbles loudly. 

"Please." I wrap my arms around my waist. "Go away." It grumbles again, and a sharp, stinging pain tears across my stomach. I double over as my vision goes white, gasping for air.    

I try to breathe, but the pain intensifies, digging deeper into my stomach, as if eating at my intestines. 

I forgot. I have an ulcer. Another gift I got from working three jobs, dealing with a student loan and still having to bail my deadbeat parent. 

I fainted during a class in my freshman year and woke up in a bed, in a room with white walls, wearing an oversized gown. That's when I found out I had an ulcer.  

If I die here, nobody will mourn me.  I'll be forgotten by all. 

I'm not sure what pushes me to my feet-pure spite of my weak self will, but I drag my feet out the bathroom and out of the bedroom, still dressed in pajamas. 

The house is incredibly big. 

I walk down the stairs into a large hallway, then into another one at the end of the first hallway. Paintings line the walls, most of them abstract, but breathtaking nonetheless. 

I forget about my hunger for a bit, before the smell of something warm and rich, with mouthwatering spices, hits me. My stomach makes the demanding noise again. 

"Hi."

I whirl around. 

A woman stands a couple feet away. She looks like she's in her forties, with jet black hair tied into a strict bun and her arms folded behind her back. "You're Miss Wilson?"

I nod. 

She cracks a small, polite smile, tilting her head. "Good morning. I'm Grace, the housekeeper. Mr. Hawthorne is in the dining room already. I'll take you there."

"Dining room?" My lips pull in a tight, confused line. "I'm having breakfast with Adrian?"

Her lips twitch. "Yes. Mr. Hawthorne has ordered that your breakfast be served with his. Although..." she trails off as her brows furrow. Her gaze roams over my body and she purses her lips lightly. "I'm not sure if that is appropriate."

I glance down at my pajamas. "It's-" it's silk,  is what I want to say. It's the most expensive thing I've ever owned. 

"I don't have anything else," I mutter instead.

"Oh." Her eyes soften. "Well, then, we should get you some clothes.  I'll have the fashion designer come around later today. She should be able to get you fitted."

"But," she adds before I can say anything, "you're late for breakfast. Mr. Hawthorne is a very punctual man."

I nod meekly, following behind her. 

She opens a door, then steps back. "You can go in."

"Thank you."

The dining room-unsurprisingly-is more spacious than...well, my apartment. Adrian is seated at the head, holding an open newspaper to his face. 

I clear my throat. "Hi."

He sets it down, slowly. He says nothing for a minute and I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

My stomach growls. My knees weaken and I grab the closest chair to keep from crumbling. 

Adrian's brows crease sharply. He stares at me, an unreadable expression on his face. "You should sit," he says flatly. "Before your legs give out, Miss Wilson."

I feel my face heating up and quickly sink down on a chair, dropping my gaze to the table. Cinnamon scent wafts past my nostrils, from the covered plate two chairs in front of me. 

I avoid eye contact as I reach for it, taking the top off. Warm, fluffy pancakes greet me and a happy sigh slips past my lips. 

I grab one with a fork, then another, serving myself. I whisk the fancy syrup bottle next to it, spreading a generous amount on the small pile.  

My fork sinks in. 

I lift the first bite to my lips, already tasting it. 

"How did you sleep last night?" His tone is mild, almost polite-but there's a sharp edge beneath it. I glance at him, by mistake but he's already staring at me. 

I choke on air. 

"I find it interesting," he continues, setting it down with deliberate care, "how accurate your hands are... even in your sleep."

He pauses as my chest suddenly feels smaller. Then, quieter, Adrian adds, "Tell me, do you always reach for things like that unconsciously, or was last night different?"

I'm tongue-tied.  

"I-" I stammer for the first second, unable to look at him. "It was a mistake."

A genuine one. And it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't said we should sleep in the same bed. "It won't happen again," I tell him, lifting my head to face him. "As long as I have my own room." 

"You have your own room, Miss Alina," he says, with a little frown between his brows, as if the question makes no sense to him. 

My shoulders slump in relief. "Tha–" 

"The sleeping arrangements remain the same, however." 

My jaw drops. I stare at him blankly. "You just said I had my room. To myself. Now you're saying I have to sleep with you?" For some reason, I'm vividly reminded of how firm it felt against my fingers... how big it looked with his towel hanging loose from his waist. A traitorous shiver sinks to my stomach. 

I force the image out, shaking my head firmly. "I can't promise I'm not going to-" I swallow thickly, searching for a safer word, "get on your side of my bed, Mr. Hawthorne. I think it's best if I have the bed all to myself." 

"No." 

That's it. His tone is brief, like he's closed the subject. He picks up the newspaper again, returning to whatever he was reading before I walked in. I sit there, fork dangling from my fingers, my slice of pancake forgotten. 

What is wrong with him? 

I chew on my bottom lip, stewing silently. I'm either being punished for an offense I'm unaware of, or Adrian Hawthorne is the most oblivious person I've ever met. It's not that. 

I grit my teeth as I stab my fork through the pancake, hitting the ceramic plate. My upper lip twitches as I glare at the newspaper, wishing I could give him a piece of my mind. I'd be more than happy to let him know how much of a condescending, egocentric, arrogant asshat he is. 

But–

I sigh audibly, shoving a syrupy pancake bite into my mouth instead. I'd probably end up right back where I started-on a stage, in front of a bunch of wealthy people, wondering how much I'm worth. 

What's the retail value for a dollar and one cent? 

I finish the two slices in minutes, but Adrian doesn't touch his food, not once. Unless he's secretly a vampire who plans on drinking my blood at night-which would make sense with his insane rule...

I clear my throat again. 

He doesn't react. 

"College," I say the first thing that comes to mind. "I'm in my senior year, months away from graduation. I have to resume classes next week." Still nothing. I groan under my breath. "You're not going to take that away from me too, are you?" 

He folds the paper and sets it aside. "I don't plan on depriving you of an education, Miss Wilson," he says, evenly. "I've sent out a message to your faculty. The rest of your tuition and your outstanding loan have been paid off." 

I blink twice. What? 

"You'll be assigned two bodyguards," he continues, "and a driver. They'll take you to school and bring you back when you're done with your classes." 

My hope deflates. I knew it was too good to be true. "I don't need a bodyguard or a driver," I argue. "I used the subway and the bus station for three years. I'm perfectly capable of getting myself to school and back." 

Sometimes I walked when I needed to save cash, but I don't plan on telling him that. 

"That might've been the case, but you're safest where I can reach you." 

My scoff slips out. "Safest? You say it like you have a bunch of enemies waiting to grab me off the street." I fold my arms across my chest.  "You say you don't want me in your personal space, and yet we have to sleep in the same bed. Some people might call that controlling, Mr. Hawthorne." 

My chest rises and falls, frustration grinding at my gears. "You might as well come out and say you own me. "I'm sure you have a contract somewhere and you're just itching for the right moment to whip out your rules." My voice rises sharply. "Or better yet, brand me, Adrian." His name falls out. I barely register it. "After all, I'm worth next to nothing; I probably cost less than the cheapest thing you own." 

I run out of the steam at the end, my breathing loud and echoing through the room. 

The silence that follows from him is deafening. 

For a second, I wonder if he actually heard me. Then his expression shifts. His eyes narrow, darkening as they settle on me.  

"I had no idea we were on a first-name basis, Miss Wilson." His voice is cold, unfeeling. "And I'm aware of your opinion about our arrangement."

"You're free to hate me. You're not free to leave as you please."

A black, sleek Mercedes car. 

Of course. Adrian Hawthorne, one of New York's finest and wealthiest heirs, wouldn't choose anything less. The car I rode in when he took me from the auction house was more expensive, with plush leather chairs that melted my bones as I touched them. I'd forgotten about my worries for a minute back then. 

Just like I forgot about the conversation we had two days ago, in his dining room, when I told him I could take the bus to school. 

"You're free to hate me. You're not free to leave as you please." 

And then he'd folded his paper aside and walked out of the room without touching a single bite of his food, as if my mere existence were enough to ruin his appetite. 

"Miss–" The man standing by the back door, holding it open, prompted me to enter. I dug my heels into the terraced ground for a hot minute. I could defy him-tell the driver, politely, to take a day off. 

I'm sure he'll appreciate it. 

I don't think Adrian would, though.

His face flashes through my mind: the stern scowl sitting on his lips, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the air of arrogance he always carried around. I shake my head, wrapping my hands around my body with a shiver as goosebumps rise on my arms. "Eugh." 

"Thank you," I mutter as I slide into the backseat, tilting my head as the door closes. I sigh as the air, warm and toasty, wraps around me. It's almost winter, which means another round of double layering, because I don't have enough money for a proper winter jacket. 

I wonder what Adrian would say, though. 

He's bought me a bunch of practical, sensible clothes, including the pair of designer jeans I have on and the frilly, lacy blouse that had me double-checking if he'd hired a woman to do the shopping. 

"You're a woman. Who else would I hire?" His response, when I asked. 

I open my eyes when the car pulls away from the building, glancing through the tinted window. Something stirs softly in my chest, and I sigh quietly, pressing my hand to the glass. What would happen if I never came back? After all, the Holloways bought me for a dollar. I'm sure I can find a spare, crumpled note somewhere. 

And then where would I go?  Back to my deadbeat father, so he can trick me again? 

The car pulls up outside the hall for my first lecture and the door opens before I can reach for the handle. The same man from before stands behind it. He clears his throat, sweeping a hand out. "We're here, Miss. Your finance class for 9:00 am." 

I push my cheeks out into a forced smile. I hate finance. I only took it because I wanted to find a magic way to stretch out the peanuts I was making from my two jobs so I could pay my rent, get groceries and pay my light bill. 

And if I was lucky, the water bill and maybe some clothes from the thrift mall. 

"Thank you," I mumble all the same as I get out. I swing my bag over my shoulder, walking toward the entrance. I've only gone a few steps when I hear the brisk footsteps behind me. I stop, glancing over my shoulder. 

There's two of them now, dressed in identical black suits with wire pieces attached to their ears. It looks almost comical, like something out of a spy movie. 

My brows furrow and my nose scrunches in confusion. "Uhm...what is going on?' 

"We're following you, Miss." The one on the right, with an early receding hairline, says. There's absolutely no expression on his face. 

I purse my lips as my brows scrunch tighter. "Following me? Why would you do that? It's not like I'm going to run away. I need my college degree more than you think," I add, folding my arms across my chest. 

It's my only shot at not wallowing and dying in poverty. 

"It's Mr. Hawthorne's rules," he replies. "We're your bodyguards, and he's ordered us to go wherever you go." 

Adrian's words float above my head, my ears ringing with his disgustingly arrogant, deep voice. "You'll be assigned two bodyguards and a driver. They'll take you to school and bring you back when you're done with your classes." 

He did it. He actually-

"Okay," I take a deep breath with my hands half-raised, fighting to keep my cool. "Here's the truth. If you walk into that hall with me, everyone will know you're my bodyguards. Why?" I prop my hands on my hips. "Because you're too up-tightly dressed to pass off as college students. And then they'll be looking at me the entire time. And I'll hate it, because I don't like attention." 

"And..." I take a deep breath, pausing for air as the words rush out of me, "I might get so frustrated that I'll drop out of school."  

They say nothing, staring at me like I just finished speaking gibberish. I didn't think they were going to be reasonable anyway. Adrian pays them to do exactly as he says-not listen to a random college student. 

"Fine." I throw my hands in the air. "Go ahead. You can sit next to me if you'd like. But if anyone asks me why I have two, scary men around me, I'm going to tell them that your boss bought me at an auction for a dollar." I raise my voice at the end, subtly glancing around to see if anyone overheard. 

Nobody. 

I tilt my chin, taking a step forward. "Let's see how he likes it when his reputation turns to shit because of you." 

I hurry into a class full of over fifty students, keeping my head down as I find my way toward the back. There's an empty row behind a boy with a colorful vape and I slide into it noiselessly. 

A relieved yet exasperated sigh slips out. It took five minutes of silent stand-off, but they finally agreed to wait in the car until I was done. Or hang around, I don't know. I told them to make themselves scarce. 

I slap my bag down on the desk, reaching into it for my notebook, when something buzzes. I stop, glancing around to find the source of the sound. It buzzes again...from inside my bag. 

My fingers slip in and I feel something. A phone. 

A phone? I lost mine somewhere between trusting my stepfather and getting auctioned off. What is a phone doing in my bag? 

My eyes widen slowly as I take it out. It's the latest iphone, with a black solid case. I flip it, and the screen comes on. There's two messages, from a number saved as, "Do not ignore." 

I swipe open. 

"You shouldn't threaten your bodyguards, Miss Wilson." 

I read the second message. 

"Unless you're willing to follow up on it. And I assure you, I do know how to take care of my business. Which...if I might jog your memory, includes you." 

Freaking Adrian Hawthorne. I roll my eyes hard as my fist clenches, staring daggers at the screen. Then I turn it off and lean over, tapping the guy in front of me. He looks back. 

"Here." I stretch my hand out, giving the phone out to him. "It's worth over two thousand bucks and it's new. I'm sure you can sell it to get another vape when that one finishes."

He collects it without a word, flashing a smile with a missing tooth.

My mouth tips with a satisfied grin, and I dust my hands as I lean back into the chair. Take that, Adrian Hawthorne.