731 Days

"That's unfair." I screamed at him.

"731 days? " My dad repeated.

I stood there, speechless, feeling my world closing in. My parents exchanged horrified looks, my mother grip my father's arm tight. It was as if they were witnessing the slow collapse of their daughter's life. But what could they do? They had sold me once already. 

"We'll pay you back!" I blurted out, grasping for any thread of hope. "The 3.5 billion—we'll find a way. It might take time, but we'll.."

"No." His reply was sharp and firm.

My father stepped forward, shaky but determined. "Please sir, she's our daughter. You can't keep her like this."

Lorenzo turned to him, his face unreadable behind the mask. "You should be thanking me. She's safer with me than with anyone else." 

"I will follow you wherever you go, no catching feelings" 

"How will you stay with a woman for these long, and you won't have feelings." 

"Why can't I?"

"These terms are ridiculous, how do you expect me to follow them?"

"That's's up to you."

"You are an asshole!" I yelled at him.

"I know." He said with a smirked.

"You caused all this, you were desperate, you signed the contract right away without reading." He added.

"Jerk," I spat at him.

Lorenzo took a step closer, pulled me to him and whispered to my ears. "Don't you ever call me that again, or you will regret it for the rest of your life." He threatened, I could feel his hot breath on my neck.

My legs were shaking but I won't back down easily. I stood on my toe trying to reach his ears then I whispered also.

"Do you think you can handle me? being with me with no touch, no feelings?" 

"Try me." He whispered back.

"What if you ended up falling Inlove with me?" I asked with confidence.

"There are lots of pretty girls with hot bodies, Summer. I didn't touch them, not to talk of you." He eyed me from head to toe in a mocking way.

"What do you mean?, I'm pretty and hot." I retorted back at him.

"Sure." He replied, taunting nodding.

"What if you ended up falling in love with me?" I asked with determination.

"I can't."

"I'm sure, I will make you."

"It won't be successful, to me, you are nothing but bedroom toys to satisfy my urge." He said to my irritation.

"And I changed that?" I pressed on.

"Trust me, you can never but if you do..." He stopped.

"What will happen?" I was curious to know.

"You will be free." 

"What?" I shouted.

"If you succeed, you will be free from the contract."

"Really?" I was super excited.

"Yeah." He shrugged, and walked away.

"Please Mr. there must be something we can do.." My father pleaded.

"No. Nothing can be done, she brought this on herself. As stated in the contract, you will receive an allowance of $10 million per month." Lorenzo said.

"Per month?" My parents gasped.

"Are you serious?" My father asked, his eyes widened.

Lorenzo nodded.

"Dad, don't listen to him" I faced my dad. " "Don't tell me you are agreeing to this?," I asked with a sad tone.

Lorenzo's eyes flicked toward me. "Mama, You signed the contract. If you want out, pay 10 billion."

"What, that's insane!" I shot at him.

"That's how it's works besides, the food you ate, the wine, spa service and the dress you are wearing now... so you know how much all of it costs?" 

I stood silent, dumbfounded.

"You should have married Anderson and avoided all this." My mum muttered, eyes downcast.

I stood, paralyzed. I didn't know if I should be mad, sad or pity myself.

Before I could respond, Lorenzo snapped his fingers, and bodyguards stepped forward. "Take them out," he commanded.

"Wait, no!" I cried, reaching for my parents as the guards gently but firmly moved them toward the door. 

My mother's eyes were wet with tears. "Summer! We'll fix this, we'll find a way."

"Take care of yourself, my girl," my father said before they disappeared down the hallway. The door slammed shut behind them.

I stood there, breathing hard, staring at the door. They were gone. I was alone now.

I turned back to Lorenzo, heart pounding in my chest. "This isn't over," I said with a shaking voice.

"I'll find a way to break this contract."

Lorenzo didn't even look up from the newspaper he had casually picked up again. "You can try. But in the meantime…" His voice lowered, dangerous, "remember who owns you."

His words struck like a dagger. My legs trembled, but I forced myself to stay upright. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

"And if I try to escape?" 

He set the newspaper down, his eyes finally locking on mine, dark and unreadable. "Escape?" His smile was slow, deliberate and terrifying. "I wouldn't recommend it."

Just then, the sound of something metallic clink behind me drew my attention. I spun around, heart racing, to find one of the bodyguards holding out a black collar, lined with faintly glowing lights.

"What is that?" I gasped, taking a step back.

Lorenzo's smile widened as he stood from the chair, taking slow, deliberate steps toward me. "Let's just call it... insurance."

The collar snapped shut around my neck before I could react. The last thing I saw was Lorenzo's smirk as my vision went black.