Chapter 1

• SOPHIE
• “Hi.. uhm. I'd like to speak to Mr James Silvester please it's urgent” I pleaded, adding a sense of urgency to my words. Two days passed by and things only grew worse, the rent was due already otherwise we'd end up on the street. I had no other way other than to ask the only rich guy I knew.
• “I'm sorry ma'am. Direct contacts with the Boss is -
• Her voice trailed which made my brows crease on hearing the shuffling and little murmurs at the other end. I was about to hang up when I heard a male voice coming up next.
• “James Silvester on the line. Who am I unto?”
• My finger froze just a little above the red icon for hanging up. I was elated to hear his voice. My action to end the call paused.
• “James. It's Sophie”
• ****
• At exactly 6 o'clock I stood before the mighty building standing in front of me. I inhaled a deep breath walking in.
• I couldn't understand why he chose to meet up by this time at a hotel. I straightened my pink colored gown and proceeded to the lobby where I was given directions to the elevator.
• It took me nothing less than two minutes to find my way to room 307 where we finalized our meeting today. I knocked twice before the door pulled open.
• The door was pulled open from the inside. I Inhaled deeply about to step into the room when I heard a light thud a few metres away from me.
• It was a man.
• He appeared to be drunk and really wasted. He fumbled with his key card. I couldn't see his face because he had his back against me. Finally the door opened for him and I watched him stumble in.
• “Sophie?”
• Yeah right! I was a bit carried away. I stepped into the luxurious room scanning my new surroundings. I was very sure this was an executive suite. It had the finest cushions and lavish furnitures.
• “Nice room. Your taste never changed James”
• James cackled up in laughter ushering me to a seat on the ash cushion. Before me was two glass sitting on the coffee table and a bottle of wine.
• I wasn't really the type who drink and I'm sure that he knows about it too. He opened the wine and turned the contents into the two glasses. He placed the bottle back on the table and lifted one of the glasses to me.
• “James. You know I don't drink” I reminded pushing his hand holding the glass back. But he didn't back down.
• “Just a little sip?” He tried to persuade and when he saw that I wasn't giving in, he shook his head slowly “Even for our reunion? Not even a little sip?”
• Sighing, I accepted the glass from him. His lips curled into a smile as he picked up his own glass. He clicked his glass against mine and raised his own glass to his lips taking more than just a sip.
• I copied his actions and did just the same. The alcoholic taste gave me jitters. The liquid seeped into my mouth and ran down my throat. Not as bad as I had thought it would be..
• “I'm sorry about the other day Sophie. I was in a hurry and I wasn't paying attention to the road and…”
• “That’s fine James. Anyways I'm glad we could meet up today. I wanted to request a little favour from you”
• He took a seat next to me. A little closer than I had expected him to sit but again, I didn't think too much about it. He peered intently at me giving me his full attention. For the next five minutes I spent my time explaining everything in details to him.
• “A job and one thousand?” he questioned as he leaned back on the cushion.
• The words rolled off his tongue with a casual detachment that made my skin crawl. He rose from his seat, his footsteps slow and purposeful as he strolled over to the table where his sleek leather wallet rested. It gleamed under the dim light, a symbol of the wealth he took so much pride in flaunting.
• “Yes, please! James, I just lost my job and I am in dire need of money, that is why I have come to see you today. I don’t know if you can help me find a good job in this city, I need it urgently.” I pleaded.
• My breath caught in my throat as I watched him with uneasy anticipation. He wasn't so much of a good guy, I knew it because I spent most times with him at high school but I needed that money. I couldn’t let myself think about anything else. My heart pounded, and my palms were already slick with sweat. He’d help me, I told myself, though the dread in my chest was growing heavier with every second.
• He slowly flipped through a neat stack of crisp hundred-dollar bills, counting them out deliberately, one by one. “Looks like you’re in luck,” he said, that same cold, twisted smile creeping onto his lips. His eyes never left me as he waved the money in my direction like it was bait he was dangling it just out of reach to see how far I would go. “I’ve got exactly a thousand.”
• I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the unsettling feeling churning in my gut. Why was he suddenly behaving this way? “You’re going to lend me the money?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. There was doubt there—of course, there was doubt. Something about this felt wrong. Or was it the lightheadedness I was starting to feel?
• His smile widened at the question, a flicker of amusement lighting up his cold eyes, as if my hesitation entertained him. “Of course, sweetheart,” he said smoothly, his voice dipping into a low, intimate murmur that sent chills down my spine. “It can all be yours.”
• My heart dropped, and I forced myself to ask, “It can?” The way he said it made my stomach twist, his words hanging in the air with unspoken implications I wasn’t ready to face.
• James moved closer, his steps slow, measured. He was taking his time, savoring the moment like a predator playing with its prey. When he sat down beside me, the couch sank slightly under his weight, and I instinctively shifted away from him, my skin prickling with discomfort. His knee brushed against mine.
• “You see, Sophie,” he began, his voice a sickening blend of condescension and amusement, “nothing in life is free.” He let the words hang in the air for a moment, watching me squirm under the weight of his gaze. “You can have the money and the job, but first...”
• He reached out, his hand brushing against my thigh, and my body tensed. The touch was invasive, possessive, and it set off every alarm in my head. I grabbed his wrist instinctively, my grip firm as I tried to push him away, but his eyes glinted with something dark—something that told me he wasn’t going to stop.
• “James, what are you doing?” I asked, my voice sharper now, but there was an edge of fear I couldn’t hide.
• He didn’t even flinch. His expression remained calm, smug. “Come on, Sophie. Don’t be difficult,” he said, his voice low, almost soothing, as if he were trying to lull me into submission. His fingers inched forward again, sliding along the edge of my dress. “Let’s just have a little fun, and then everything you want will be yours.”
• I recoiled, shoving his hand away more forcefully this time, panic creeping into my chest. “James, stop!” My voice rose, my pulse quickening. This couldn’t be happening. Not him. Not now.
• But James didn’t stop. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, “You don’t need to pretend with me. I’ve seen you with other boys. You’ve always known how to get what you want, haven’t you?” His lips curled into a sneer, his voice dripping with contempt. “Don’t play innocent with me now. Just one night, Sophie. One night, and you can have it all.”
• His words were like poison, seeping into my mind, making me feel sick. My body trembled, my fingers clenched into tight fists as I fought the overwhelming urge to slap him. “You know I’m not like that,” I whispered, the words barely escaping through the knot of fear tightening in my throat. “I’m still a virgin, James. I don’t do this and you know that!”
• He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he processed my words. Then, to my horror, his grin widened, dark and twisted. “A virgin?” he repeated, his voice thick with desire. “Even better.”
• His words made me feel like I’d been slapped. I shot up from the couch, distancing myself from him as much as I could. “James, no!” My voice trembled with disbelief. “I thought you were my friend! How could you even think of doing this? You think you can buy me?”
• But he didn’t back down. Instead, he rose to his feet, his face hardening with irritation. The mask of charm he wore cracked, revealing something uglier underneath. “You really think I’m asking for much?” he snapped, his voice sharp and cruel. “I’m offering you a job and a thousand dollars, and all I want in return is one night. It’s not like you haven’t thought about it.”
• The anger that surged through me was blinding. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand lashed out, slapping him hard across the face. The crack of the slap echoed in the room, and for a brief moment, there was nothing but stunned silence.
• James’ expression darkened, his eyes flashing with fury. His hand shot out, grabbing my arm in a bruising grip before I could escape. “You think you can just hit me and walk away?” His voice was low, and menacing, his grip tightening painfully as he yanked me back toward him.
• I gasped, trying to pull away, but his strength was overwhelming. In one swift motion, he threw me onto the couch, his weight bearing down on me. I struggled, thrashing beneath him, but it was like trying to move a mountain. His face twisted into an ugly sneer, and I could see the cruelty in his eyes now, unmasked and terrifying.
• “No!” I screamed, panic rising in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. Not like this. Not with him.
• But James didn’t care. He didn’t stop. His hands pinned me down, his voice low and dripping with venom as he leaned in close. “You’ll regret that slap, Sophie,” he hissed. “Now, I’m going to teach you a lesson you won’t forget.”
• TBC!!