SOLD!

"Lucio why aren't you enjoying your party"

Busted. I've been hiding on the balcony from my family. They've planned a surprise birthday party for me but to tell you the truth I forgot today was even my birthday. My father texted me earlier to have a word with him at our hotel in England and because I thought he was about to hand over the company to me I was on my private jet out of Italy but when I got here the first thing I heard was a loud SURPRISE. They know I don't like surprises nor any form of celebration.

It has been two years since I've seen my mother and siblings. My mother's name is Giulia and I have a brother and sister, Luciano and Gianna, who are twins and are still in college. My father and I would cross paths once every couple of months but only for business purposes. My family lives in England but on my twenty fifth birthday I asked my father for a bigger responsibility in the family business. He agreed and gave me Italy and France to run. The deal was that if I successfully run the franchises in Italy and France I will prove to my father that I'm more than capable of becoming the next CEO of Avaldi Enterprise.

Two years ago Italy and France was at the bottom of the list out of all our franchises. My father was close to shutting them down. When my father handed over them to me I took on that challenge and worked the hardest I've ever worked in my life to remove Italy and France from the bottom of the list and put them on top. I've also made my father billions of dollars in that process.

I've sacrificed a lot for my success. In the office I'm known as a ruthless bastard behind my back. I have no social life and to be honest I prefer it that way. I have no friends in Italy nor France, my family lives in another country and I have no time for a love life. I do travel a lot but I'm not a condo person. When I moved to Italy I bought a mansion in Florence.

I'm alone most of the time whenever I'm there even though my housekeeper lives on the premises.

My uncle finds me on the balcony. I'm more close to my uncle than my father because growing up all my life all I could ever remember my father doing was work. He would leave home at 8am and come in late or go on long trips all over the world so I never grew up with my father around much but I do understand why now. Running an empire takes a lot from you. My uncle however who is my father's younger brother was there for my siblings and I whenever my father couldn't be and he would always say to us the reason why our father works so hard is to give our family the life they never had when they were young. My father and uncle is originally from Italy but my mother is from England and because of the love my father has for my mom he had no problem leaving his birth place for my mother.

My father and uncle, Luca and Luigi Avaldi, are two of the most powerful men I know but they both chose separate paths to gain their power. Let's just say my father chose the honest way while my uncle didn't. My uncle was the leader of an Italian mafia. He claims to have retired now.

"Uncle Luigi you found me," I uttered sarcastically.

"Lucio you've become your father, this is not good for you," my uncle continued, "you're twenty seven, you should have a woman by now, don't you want marriage, children?"

"I don't think I'll ever have time for that. I want to become CEO not soccer dad".

"What about a bed mate huh, someone to keep you warm at night?"

"Uncle Luigi like I said I don't have time to go out there and find a girl eligible and honest enough that can handle my lifestyle and besides I don't want nor need a woman at this point in my life," I stressed.

"AH", my uncle released then he just stood there for a while until he finally spoke again, "come with me my boy, I have a bit of a surprise for you".

I'm curious to know what surprise my uncle got up his sleeves, I guess a birthday party wasn't enough. I follow my uncle back inside to where the party was coming to an end.

I bid my family a good night and was on my way out of the building with my uncle. I hadn't even seen my father to talk with him about our deal two years ago. My mother said he had an unexpected call and had to leave urgently, like I've never heard that before.

My uncle and I pulled up at the airport. What is this old man up to?

"Uncle where are you taking me?" I asked because my plan was to be back to Italy as soon as I can.

"We're going to France my boy, to pick up your present".

We've arrived in France and a car is waiting for us upon our arrival. I help my uncle into the car then I enter from the other side. I'm curious to know what exactly is this present my uncle has for me that I have to fly all the way to France for.

We arrive at a shipping dock and at first I thought my uncle bought me a yacht which made no sense because I already have one but there wasn't any yachts around, just some huge cargo ships with a lot of crates and containers.

My uncle and I are greeted by a group of men. They all spoke Italian along with my uncle then we're escorted in one of the ships. There are other men dressed in business wear just like my uncle and I, but I've never met any of them before. They all seem to be acquainted with my uncle of course.

"Luigi Avaldi! What an honor", one of the men dressed in coveralls greeted my uncle. They both spoke in Italian for a while then I overheard my uncle say my name. I extended my hand to shake the man's hand then formally introduced myself. Of course I spoke in Italian. Although my family and I speak fluent English due to my mother, Italian is our first language. We also speak French, German, Dutch and Spanish. The man introduced himself as Paul but somehow I could tell that was a lie.

"Gentlemen", Paul spoke in English, diverting his attention to the other men on the ship, "I have in my possession eleven of the most beautiful women you would ever feast your eyes on but they do come with a price. The bidding starts at 50,000 Euros per girl".

What the hell is Paul talking about? Bidding on women? What the hell is my uncle apart of? I look around for the nearest exit because I know exactly what this is and I don't want anything to do with it. Before I could walk away I feel my uncle's hands on my shoulders, stopping me from my attempted escape.

"Just tell me what you like and she's yours", my uncle whispered in my ears. Before I could respond Paul brings out a group of girls all dressed in lingerie, fright evident on their faces. The other men are smiling and making disrespectful comments to the women and it's getting under my skin. These men look old enough to be their grandfather.

I look at the eleven women standing in front of us and they all look scared except for one. She looks like she lost hope and she's more afraid for the other females than herself. I also notice all the other men pointing her way. Paul, eager to please his guests, told her to step forward. When she does a man in the corner shouted one million Euros then another shouted two million Euros and the bidding continues. These men are acting like dogs in heat. I don't know what got over me but somehow I blurted out five million Euros. I looked over to her and her eyes are on the floor, tears escaping them. One man dares to compete against my bid and shouted seven million Euros, does he have any idea who I am? It's between him and I and I'll be damned if I lose. I instantly shouted eight million Euros. This individual has the audacity to bid nine million Euros. My hands are clenched into a fist and my veins feel as though they want to pop out my head. I feel my uncle's hands grip my shoulders and I forgot for a moment he was there.

"Ten million Euros" my uncle spoke and the crowd of men gasped. Paul looked as if he was about to catch a heart attack.

"Going once, going twice", my eyes are on the man in the corner who had the audacity to challenge me.

"Sold to Luigi Avaldi, your prize will be packaged and ready for you outside", Paul said as his men take her away.

"Where are they taking her", I say and my uncle patted my back and led me outside the ship.