TRAPPED BY HIS TOUCH

ANORA

SMACK!

The slap landed on my left cheek and echoed through the restaurant, but no one dared look that way.

I stumbled backwards till my shoulder slammed into a wall.

"You are so clumsy!" My father's wife hissed.

I could taste blood on my tongue, but I didn't cry. I couldn't. Tears were a luxury I just couldn't afford anymore.

"Go serve those gentle men over there, make no mistakes," she straightened her apron and continued, "Fix that your damn face before you go."

I nodded in response and carried the tray with my trembling hand.

"Smile, you idiot!" My stepmother hissed again.

I walked to the table, praying that my trembling hands would not add to the list of drama that had played out today. But, guess I was wrong.

At the table sat a gentle man, or so I thought, dressed in a suit that cost more than my family's entire home. Next to him was his assistant, who kept chuckling at some expensive jokes.

I tried not to let my hand shake as I reached for the glass of wine, but fate had other plans.

The glass slipped and its contents splashed directly onto the lap of the man with the expensive suit.

What have I done? I thought to myself.

There was silence for a minute or more. It felt as though the clock had stopped ticking and the world was paused.

Slowly, he pushed his chair back and stood slowly.

His entire leg was drenched, and his suit was ruined.

My mouth parted in horror.

"This suit," he whispered, standing to full, intimidating height.

"Cost over a million dollars!" He shouted

"I'm so.....so sorry," I stammered. "I didn't mean to, I...."

"Of course you didn't mean to," he interrupted.

He growled.

"People like you never mean anything! Look how you condemned a work of art with those shaky, tiny hands of yours, yet all you can say is you are sorry?"

I stood with my head bowed slightly, expecting a punch; luckily, I got none.

"Pathetic," he hissed and turned away. "It will be subtracted from the balance."

"What balance?" I said more to my hearing.

Just then, my stepmother rushed forward, bearing a napkin in her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Mr Nicholas, this stupid girl has been a burden to me; it's high time I dealt with her immediately."

She turned to me, "Get out. Now!"

I silently heaved a sigh of relief as I walked away dejectedly. At least, I would have some minutes to myself.

I kept muttering the name "Nicholas" and kept wondering who was stupid enough to buy a suit worth a million dollars. He must be super rich.

My stomach growled, screaming at me to eat something, but it wasn't time yet; I wouldn't eat until my stepmother deemed it fit.

I sat there for hours until I heard her call my name.

"Anora!" She shouted.

I dragged myself inside. Thankfully, the restaurant was empty now. My father was back too, and so was Serena, my stepsister.

Without a word, my stepmother, Emily, dropped a file on the table.

"Go ahead, open it," Emily said gently.

My hands shook as I reached for the file.

Slowly, I read the contents, but couldn't tell what they meant, or rather, refused to understand what it meant.

"What's this?" I muttered, staring at my dad, who refused to look me in the eyes.

Serena is leaving for the UK in a few days. You must have heard, she got the scholarship and....."

I was no longer listening. Serena never sat for any scholarship exam, how then did she......

"Did you hear me?"

I was interrupted by my step mom, whose face held nothing but disgust.

"No," I shook my head. "What did you say?"

"The loan needs repayment, we need extra money too. Your father here has agreed to the arrangement. Get ready, you will be used in place of Serena."

I blinked hard. "What arrangement, and why would I be used in place of Serena?"

"You dare ask questions?" Emily said and slammed her fist on the table.

"Well, since you don't understand, I will take the honour of breaking it down.

You will be getting married on Saturday. It should have been Serena, but as you can see, she's going to further her studies. Consider it your contribution to the family."

My Jaw dropped.

This isn't fair. First, Serena takes my scholarship, now I have to stand in for her and marry a complete stranger to help pay their loan and get them extra money.

"Wha.....what do you mean?" I stuttered and fixed my gaze on my father, hoping and wishing he could say something.

He nodded and reached for my hand.

"Anora, I'm drowning in debts, the restaurant is barely surviving and....."

"You choose to sell off your daughter?" I completed the sentence for him.

"Wash the dishes whenever you are done," Emily said and left, while Serena followed suit. I was now left with my Dad.

"Dad, what's going on?" My voice cracked as I allowed the tears to flow freely now.

"What about me? Am I not allowed to go to school? You choose to sell me off?" My lips quivered as I spoke.

I couldn't explain the pain I felt in my chest. But I clutched it hard and struggled for breath.

When I found my voice, I asked. "Who is he? My buyer."

He swallowed hard. "Nicholas Weston."

I opened my mouth in shock, but no word was formed. I had heard of that name countless times, though I had never seen him in person.

A few times, I heard ladies explaining their sex escapades with him. Safe to say, he has had his dick buried into almost all the women he had come across.

"The heir to the Westons' group of companies?" I asked.

"Yes." Dad nodded. "He was here earlier today; your mother said you spilt wine on him."

"What!" I exclaimed with my eyes wide open in horror. "Him?"