Miranda's POV
I hurried across the campus quad, backpack slung over one shoulder, dodging clusters of students glued to their phones as the morning sun filtered through the leaves casting dappled shadows on the path to my lecture hall. Sociology class started in five minutes and I couldn't afford to be late again not with midterms looming like a storm cloud.
Suddenly a line of sleek black luxury vehicles rolled up to the curb and they looked out of place here, they're shiny and expensive amid the beat-up student cars and before I could take another step, two guys in sharp suits stepped out from the lead sedan and they scanned the crowd then zeroed in on me. My stomach twisted as they approached fast with blank expressions.
"Miranda Hayes?" the taller one called.
I froze because why me? "Uh, yeah? What's going on?"
"Your aunt sent us and you need to come with us right now it's family emergency."
Emergency? Aunt Carla? My mind raced she hadn't mentioned anything this morning when I left for class. "What kind of emergency? Is she okay? And where did all these cars comes from?"
"No time to explain," the other guy cut in glancing around. "Let's go!"
I backed up a step. "Hold on, I need to call her first."
They exchanged looks then the tall one grabbed my arm gently but insistently. "Phone call is not necessary right she's waiting so come on."
Panic surged through me as I was confused. "Hey! Let go!" I yanked away my voice rising to a shout. "Help! These guys are trying to kidnapped me!"
Heads turned and students paused murmuring as a couple of teachers nearby frowned but didn't move and my friend Jake stepped forward. "Dude back off! And who the hell are you?"
The suited man ignored him tightening his grip. "Miss Hayes don't make this harder."
Sarah pulled out her phone. "I'm calling campus security! Hold on Miranda!"
But the display of wealth seemed to cow everyone, whispers rippled: "Those cars... must be important." No one intervened and those men hustled me toward the vehicle with my screams echoing futilely. "Stop! Please, somebody help! Help me please, they're taking me away!"
The door swung open and they pushed me inside onto plush leather seats the lock clicked as we sped off and my heart hammered against my ribs while inside the car, I fumbled for my phone in my bag. "I'm calling my aunt on you all because this is crazy!"
The driver glanced in the rear-view. "Signal's blocked for security purpose please relax." Blocked? What the hell! I tried anyway but no bars no service then I banged on the window. "Let me out! This is kidnapping! I'm going to sue you!"
Tears stung my eyes as buildings blurred past, where are they taking me? Aunt Carla had been acting strange, by snapping at me, disappearing for hours but this? My parents' crash six months ago had left me with her and things had gone downhill fast, was she in trouble? Or was I?
Finally we pulled up to a massive house or let me call it a palace sprawling across manicured lawns and they escorted me out with their hands firm on my elbows. "This way."
I stumbled along my legs were shaky. "Where am I? What's happening?" No answer till we entered through grand double doors into a foyer that screamed money and there in the center stood Aunt Carla, she clutched a bulky briefcase and her lips curled in a chilly grin. Relief flooded me at first because thank God she was here but then I noticed the cash peeking from the case's edge like stacks of bills.
"Aunt Carla! What's going on? These guys dragged me here!"
Her eyes flicked over me detached and beside her a man emerged from the inside and stunning like a model from a magazine but his gaze pinned me in place like hungry and intense. Albert Mondragon, I realized somehow though I'd never met him but the name floated in my mind from tabloid whispers and that look sent a shiver down my spine not entirely from fear.
Aunt Carla's smile widened but it didn't reach her eyes. "Miranda darling welcome to your new beginning."
"Aunt Carla! What are you saying? I said these guys grabbed me from school, said it was an emergency what's happening? Are you okay?"
Her eyes flicked over me, sharp and distant like I was a stranger. "Oh Miranda, stop the hysterics you're fine this is just business."
Albert watched silently without saying a word but I ignored him focusing on my aunt. "Business? What are you talking about? You sent those cars?"
She laughed with a brittle sound. "You're so naive, I didn't send them for an emergency can't you see I just sold you sweetheart? Albert here pays well." She patted the briefcase. "Enough to clear my gambling debts and some other stuff."
Hearing that statement cease my breathe. "Sold me? You can't do that I'm not some thing you can trade!" My voice cracked with panic rising. "You're my aunt! You're supposed to protect me!"
Then Albert shifted his presence looming but he stayed quiet still, letting Carla talk as she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Protect you? With what? Your parents left me with nothing but you and their bills! Albert's a billionaire though he used to be a porn star but knows how to treat a girl, you'll live better here than with me."
Tears burned my eyes because it seems I just heard something wrongly. "What? No! This is crazy you can't do this!"
She smirked stepping closer. "Already done and be grateful because not every girl gets into a mansion like this."
I shook my head backing away. "Please Aunt Carla, don't leave me here I'll do anything you want if you want me to work, I'll do and pay you back, anything!"
Her gaze hardened as Albert who finally spoke, his voice smooth as velvet. "We're settled Carla?"
She nodded opening the briefcase to reveal neat stacks of bills. "All here, she's yours Mondragon do whatever you want with her."
My knees buckled. "No! Aunt Carla, please!" I lunged toward her but she stepped back clutching the money. Albert's hand grazed my arm steady and firm holding me in place.
Carla didn't look back. "Grow up Miranda, you'll thank me one day." She strode toward the double doors, heels clicking.
I screamed after her. "You can't leave me! I'm your family!" But the doors swung shut behind her, the sound echoing like a gavel.
I spun desperate to run my sneakers slipping on the floor, but two suited guards appeared from nowhere blocking the exit. "No way out miss," one muttered with arms crossed.
Tears streamed down my face as I backed against a wall with my heart breathing fast, Albert approached slow and deliberate like a predator sizing me up as he reached out cupping my chin gently his thumb brushing my trembling lips.
"Don't cry Miranda," he murmured with a low voice. "You'll see that you gonna love this life style I'll make sure of it."
I jerked my face away voice shaking. "Let me go! I don't belong here."
His lips curved but not quite a smile. "You're exactly where you're meant to be just give it time." He stepped back gesturing to the guards. "Take her to her room she needs rest."
They grabbed my arms guiding me up like a sweeping staircase as I fought, but their grips were iron. "Don't touch me! Let me out!"
Albert followed at a distance watching. "Struggling won't change anything, get comfortable Miranda your new life starts now."
They led me to a massive bedroom all silk sheets and gold accents the door clicked shut, locking me in. I collapsed onto the plush carpet sobs wracking my body, my aunt had sold me to a man who looked at me like I was his next meal. The door creaked open I scrambled to my feet wiping my face as Albert stood there, holding a tray with food steaming soup, fresh bread and a glass of wine.
He set it on a table, his movements smooth almost too calm. "Dinner," he said with voice soft but commanding. "You must be starving."
I glared backing toward the bed. "I don't want your food I want to go home."
He chuckled stepping closer. "Home? To that miserable apartment with Carla? This is better, look around." His eyes roamed my body, "I'm not your enemy Miranda I can make tonight unforgettable if you let me."
My heart raced with fear, "Stay away from me," I snapped but my voice wavered.
He tilted his head studying me. "You're scared that's natural but you'll learn to enjoy this because I'm very persuasive."
I opened my mouth to yell but my eyes caught a glint in the corner a tiny lens barely visible tucked into the ornate molding and my stomach dropped into terror, was he recording this? Was this some sick game?
"What's that?" My voice shaking at I pointed. "Why's there a camera?"