Leila's POV
The auction house buzzed with a tension of anticipation that made my skin prickle. I stood among the other girls, hands trembling and hearts pounding. We were displayed like merchandise for the highest bidder. Our fates hang, depending on who the owners will be.
Grace, the girl beside me was next. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she was dragged to the front. The auctioneer's voice cut through the air as he announced the bids.
"Eight hundred thousand," A man seated at the corner of the room called out, raising his paddle.
"One million," Another man called out from the back, his voice calm and commanding.
I watched as Grace's eyes widened with fear, and her hands shaking. The bidding continued, but the stranger with the commanding tone won. His dark eyes were intense and calculating as he rounded it off with 1.5 million. Grace was led away as her sobs filled the whole room.
My turn came, and my heart pounded louder with each bid. The men sneered, their eyes devouring me like I was a piece of meat. My body trembled as I rubbed my sweaty hands on my clothes.
The bids went higher and higher until there were just two men left; A chubby man seated at the front and the same mysterious stranger who had won Grace.
"Three million," the chubby man declared, impatient evident in his tone.
There was silence in the room for a moment.
"Five million," A stranger countered, raising his paddle.
My eyes widened in shock as I tried to figure out who this stranger was. The room was filled with murmurs and no one could counter the stranger.
The auctioneer's gavel slammed down. "Sold!"
As I watched him stand up from his seat, I couldn't help but wonder who this stranger was. Why had he spent so much money on me, and what could he possibly want from me? His slick black hair obscured his eyes, and his intimidating height forced him to bend slightly as he exited the room.
Two men in black suits led me into a white car, which then merged into the streets of London, following another white car. I assumed the stranger who had just claimed ownership of me was in that vehicle. As we sped through the city, my thoughts drifted to Micheal, my six-year-old brother fighting for his life in the hospital. The medical bills were overwhelming, and my waitress's job barely covered the rent. And now, this.
A few weeks ago, I was abducted by unknown men while walking home after my night shift at the restaurant. They kept me locked in a room with other girls who had been taken as well. We were imprisoned for three weeks- until today.
The cars finally stopped inside a majestic mansion, its gates opening automatically as we drove in. Stepping out of the car, I stood in awe, taking in the grandeur of the building. Whoever this man was, he had to be a patrician.
"Come with me," The stranger said, bringing me out of my daze.
I nodded and followed him without hesitation. He led me inside, his steps confident and graceful. The mansion was a maze of marble floors and priceless art. As we walked through the grand hall into the sitting room, two ladies in black and white uniforms greeted us. They appeared to be around my age, probably between eighteen and twenty.
"She'll be working with you from now on," he said, motioning to me. "Get her freshened up, give her something to eat, and then bring her to my office."
He walked away, ascending the stairs and leaving me with the two ladies.
One of the maids, who introduced herself as Mia, showed me to my room, handed me a uniform that seemed tailor-made for me, and told me I'd be given extra clothes and any other necessities. After having food, she led me to the boss's office, whom she referred to as Mr. Anderson.
"What is your name?" Mr. Anderson asked.
"Liela Flynn," I replied. Sitting opposite him at the front of his desk with my head down; my wavy brunette hair almost covering my face. Something about his face creeps the hell out of me. So, I couldn't bring myself to look at him.
"Lift your head," he commanded.
I hesitated but raised my head slowly to look at him. He had an imposing figure with dark, intense eyes that seemed to pierce through my soul, as he stared deep into my green eyes. His broad-shouldered frame exuded power. In contrast, my petit figure felt insignificant in his commanding presence.
"I'm Dominic Anderson," he introduced himself. "As your boss and owner, you will refer to me as Mr. Anderson. You are not allowed to have contact with or step outside this building without my permission. Your eyes and ears are closed to anything that happens in this building. Do you understand?"
His name sounded familiar. My eyes widened in shock, and fear gripped me as the realization dawned on me. He is Dominic Anderson, the mafia lord in London, popularly known for his ruthless, merciless, and aggressive demeanor.
"Yes sir," I replied, nodding my head multiple times, leaving my head down once again.
There was a pause before he spoke again. "There are cameras everywhere in this building. One wrong move and you could lose your life."
I nodded again without saying another word.
"You can leave now," he ordered.
I stood up and walked towards the door, and stopped in my tracks with my hands already on the door knob. After so much thought and hesitation, I summoned courage and turned back to him.
"Mr. Anderson." He lifted his head from his laptop to look at me, his eyes looking curious about what I wanted to say.
"My little brother is in the hospital alone with no one to look after him, and I've been abducted for three weeks now." That was all I managed to say before he responded.
"You'll get to see him soon. For now, rest and do as you're told." He replied abruptly like he already read my mind. It felt like he already knew I would ask him for this. But there was no way he would know about my brother when he just met me at the auction today.
He went back to focusing on his laptop, and I walked out of his office with the relief washed over me that I'd be able to see my brother again.
I needed to make sure he was okay and the hospital hadn't stopped his treatment because of the outstanding bills and my disappearance. He's the only family I have left.