Chapter 2

I was still standing outside the apartment staring at the sky when I heard footsteps. I turned around. It was the man who calls himself my father. The same father I couldn't leave even when I said I would.

But not anymore.not this time.

I walked back inside. Away from him. I didn't tell him about the diagnosis, there was no reason to, he hasn't been a father to me all these years, he wouldn't start now.

He followed me back in, walking behind me like someone who has done something bad and wanted to say but couldn't say it out. He always does this when he needed money and I have none to spare.

I turned around facing him "what is it dad, I have no money to give to you so stop following me" I said to him.

"That not it" he said almost immediately I ended my sentence. His hand to his head itching like a kid who doesn't know where to start.

"The thing is-- the thing is" he stammers

"For christ sake dad --- say something" I shouted

"I-- l-- did it again" he said "you did what, dad what in heavens name did you do"

"It happened again -- but-but this time I was so sure I was gonna wins, I mean I did win but decided to go again, then I lost all my winnings and loans" he confessed

"Wait what, you did what" I was dumbfounded I had just cleared the last debt and now another "how many thousands?" I asked he hesitated to speak at first but finally did "7 digits hon"he said "what!!" 7 what!!? You gambled away a million how did you even get a million" I shouted already feeling dizzy

"The thing is I won hon I actually did win but I decided to go again the stakes were high I was sure I would win, so you'd never have to lift a finger again so I took a loan and signed you off as the collateral" he said

"You say what now – you did want? Sign me off? What am I?

Your property?"

I can't do this. No I won't

"It's your problem dad it's on you so you go solve it"

"I have nothing to do with it" I said my piece

I couldn't stay in this house with him one bit longer so I grabbed my bag and proceeded to go out.

Few steps out I heard a voice or rather we heard a voice. A voice I can never forget just hearing the voice alone give me a shock. Gold teeth as I addressed him and his men. Loan sharks. They are here and it only means one thing. Trouble.

I looked back at my father " you see what you've done" I said to him. He came closer pulling me by the arm "come hide they must be here for you" he said

My dad took me and shove me in a pile of clothes even taking more from the closet and adding it " don't come out he said"

I stayed quiet. Breathed quietly even when the smell of the clothes made me feel like I was being strangled. I stayed still.

Gold teeth came in-- I call him that due to his gold teeth implants that were unevenly placed.

He came in grabs my father by his neck asking him where I was. my father didn't say. The other men he brought along with him were busy looking for any thing valuable or sellable in the house but nope nothing was valuable in the house we'd had already sold most things to clears debts.

My father gets beaten but still begs for time with the little strength he has from getting hit repeatedly "if you don't bring your daughter to us by tomorrow or our money we'll rip out all your organs that are sellable and give your remains to dogs" gold teeth said and he meant that --- they have been cases where some persons who owes them goes missing and were never found.

They eventually left and I came out furious but on looking at how awfully beaten he was I couldn't say anything but just sat there with him ---- yes he is my father and I hate him so much but- I guess I also love him. Apart from being an addicted gambler and a drunk he was also a caring at times. The way he cleans my shoe and puts them in position before I go to work each day, waits for me when he closes so we'd go home together saying "a young lady shouldn't walk alone when it's dark" he says

Those little things

Those little things mattered. To me

If - if only he didn't gamble. if only.

I looked at him and remorse was written all over his face. Same face I've seen so many times. Again. And again.

I'm not doing this I thought to myself. Before I could mutter out the words from my mouth I heard him say "you should run, don't look back and go you have done enough, I've tried to stop but I can't, I really tried hon, so go before they come back" he had this look on his face I have never seen before when he said that. I hesitated. Looked at him. He blinked twice slowly while silently saying "go"

Tears rolled down my eyes I do love my dad but what about me. Don't break. I told myself." You're dying so be the bad daughter for once"

I stood up looked at my dad one last time "there's money behind my closet get yourself treated" I said and walked towards the door. The gate to my freedom was finally Infront of me----- or so I thought. I opened the door to find gold teeth standing there with both hands to his waist smiling.

"My dear Zara you are going to be auctioned" he said

Chapter 3

Damien voss POV

---

"Damien." I heard my father shouting from the door.

He's the only man alive who'd dare use my name. Out there, in my world, I'm not Damien. I'm "sir." I'm the reason conversations die when I walk in. I'm the last mistake you'll ever make.

Being at the top means you don't get respect - you take it. You see it in the way their eyes drop to the floor when I pass. In the way their hands shake pouring drinks they didn't spill. Fear keeps people honest. Fear keeps them alive. I like fear.

The ones who tried to double-cross me? You won't find them. Not because they're hiding. Because I don't leave tales behind.

Now my father's at my door, saying a name I rarely hear. That means one of two things: he needs something, or he's about to die. I don't care.

Either way, I'm not happy he's here

"Damien" "Damien" "where the hell is your boss" he asks my right hand man "upstairs" he replied

I could already hear his footsteps climbing up the stairs. I didn't move. I know why he's here.

"Boy didn't you hear me calling you" "I just got off the phone with Mr Romano that you didn't show up for the date" he said. I didn't reply. Seeing as I refused to look his way or say a word, he came closer and took the glass of alcohol in my hands and smashed it right on the floor. Now I was looking at him. Anger. I held it in.

"Why don't your little wife give you a child you can marry off in an arranged marriage to make the voss empire bigger and leave me the hell out of it" I said. Full with rage.

"It's all for your own good, it'll all be yours someday" he said. "Well I don't need it" I replied

"If that's all you have to say--now leave"

"You're already way past thirty and I want you married with an heir before passing the empire to you" he said. He doesn't really know when to give up.

"I am not getting married--if that pleases you to hear and you can't do anything about it' I said and stood up. About to walk away when I heard...

"Your shipping routes" he said. "I'm cutting off all your shipping routes till you get married--- no arranged marriage?--- fine–then bring me someone--and no tricks boy" he said and walked away.

Old Voss might be old but he has strong and powerful connections and shutting down my routes is no big deal for him.

Just as he left, Enzo my right hand man came up.

"You okay D" he asked. He grew up with me and knows the beef between I and my father better than anyone else.

"The shipping routes are gonna be cut off" I said to him.

"What?!-- but we have a huge order coming in- we can't let it fall apart" he said

"You think I don't know" I said angrily. "There's never a time where you and old Voss have a peaceful conversation" he said.

"Well he never learns to leave me the hell alone" I said.

I walked about the room thinking of what to do. Nothing. Nothing was coming to me.

Enzo was busy at the other end of the room placing calls and receiving calls but a solution doesn't seem so easy to find.

Old Voss was good when it's comes to this game too good actually-- lucky. Also very lucky he's my father- someone else would have been easier to handle. Way too easy.

I was still pacing around the room racking my brains for a solution but none seemed to come my way. I looked at Enzo hoping he got something- anything but the look he gave me told me otherwise. "We are fucked D" he said

A maid came in with a mail, gave to Enzo and left.

"An auction, we get invites once in awhile" he said "we gat no time for paintings and stuff" I said.

"No D, not stuffs, humans" he said and I gave him a stare that says "I don't care".

"For old Voss to do this-- what does he want?" He asked. "Marriage of course" I said. "This is a really important time for us, but no routes = no business expansion except---- I get married" I completed. "Don't kid me D where will you get a bride" Enzo asked. I stayed silent for awhile, hands running through my hair.

I was about to walk out when my eyes fell on the unopened mail on the table "a bride you say" I walked to the table and picked up the mail. Opened it.

The date said today 10pm. I looked at Enzo and said " Go get ready I'm buying myself a wife".

I said while lighting a cigarette.