Chapter 1 Papers From Hell

• "Damon, please, I'm begging you, let me go," she pleaded desperately as he tugged her tied hands with his tie.
• Damon's eerie gaze sent shivers down her spine. She tried to search for any hint of emotion in his eyes, but they were as empty as his conscience.
• He released her and made his way to the bedside table in the room. Maya's fear grew as she wondered where he was going and what he had planned for her. When he returned, he was holding a pair of scissors.
• "I love it when you beg," he muttered, snipping away at her white dress, tearing it into pieces until she stood completely naked before him. "Beg, Maya, beg!"
• Maya swallowed hard.
• "Oh, so you're being disobedient, aren't you?" he teased, poking his tongue into her ear. "I like that too," he added, digging his fingers into her backside. "Because now, I have every reason to do to you what I've always wanted to do. Maya..."
• **SOME MONTHS EARLIER**
• Maya entered the room, utterly exhausted from work. Being a journalist had its risks, and today, had been particularly eventful. She had narrowly escaped a stray bullet during a clash between criminals and the police.
• Her sister, Anna, walked into the living room. Being the eldest, she was taller than Maya and carried herself with style. Anna was always more fashionable than Maya, and, to make matters worse, she was their parents' favored child. They made no effort to hide their preference for Anna over Maya.
• Maya always felt unloved by her family, including her father and mother. Even her other siblings, Anna and Brian, treated her poorly. Despite their family's wealth, Maya had to work to provide for herself. However, even then, her siblings had more money in their accounts than she did.
• Anna looked at her with disdain. "Maya, father wants to see you."
• "Why?" Maya asked her senses on high alert. Her father never wanted anything to do with her, let alone call for her.
• "Well, he didn't tell me, but there's a dinner tonight. He wants to talk to all of us," Anna explained.
• Maya glanced at her suspiciously. She was certain that Anna knew why her father wanted to see her, and the fact that she had been summoned to dine with the family was even more peculiar.
• "I'll be there in a minute," she finally replied.
• "Just hurry up," Anna said as she walked away. There will be a visitor soon, and Dad wants to finish the conversation before he arrives." As she reached the exit, she added, with a mocking tone, "And don't forget to take a bath, Maya. You stink."
• Watching her sister leave, Maya felt a wave of fear wash over her. The last time her father had called her was two years ago when she had slapped Anna for disgracing her in front of a crowd. Her father had punished her severely. It was not an experience she wanted to relive.
• However, since it was over dinner, maybe it was right after all. Being Alfredo Petra's second daughter always kept her on edge.
• She entered the bathroom and quickly showered. Putting on a light gown without a bra, her nipples were clearly visible against the fabric.
• Maya walked to the dining room, where her family was already seated around the table. Standing beside an empty seat, she waited for her father to reprimand her. She wondered what she had done this time. Despite her efforts to avoid him, it seemed she had still fallen short.
• "Sit down, Maya, let's have dinner," her father said softly. She looked up at him in surprise. Did he just speak to her in that gentle tone? She couldn't believe it. Was she dreaming?
• Still standing and unsure if she had heard correctly, her mother repeated, "Take your seat, dear. Your food will get cold." Her body tensed, but she sat down, and a maid served her food. The seat opposite her remained empty. Her father sat at the head of the table, while Anna, who was eyeing her up and down, sat close to their father, holding his hand.
• Maya noticed that her father looked frail and unwell. He also appeared anxious.
• Maya observed them as they started eating, unsure of what to do. She never felt comfortable around her own family, and it was evident.
• "Why aren't you eating, Maya?" her mother inquired.
• "Maybe she thinks we poisoned it," Anna spitefully remarked.
• "No, no," Maya quickly responded, "I don't think it's poisoned. I would never think that, mother."
• "Then eat your food."
• She began stuffing the food into her mouth hastily, not really savoring the taste.
• Her father cleared his throat. "I know you're curious as to why I called you here," he paused, "I want to know if you're willing to make a sacrifice for your family."
• Confused, Maya asked, "I don't understand, father."
• He looked at her angrily, so she quickly added, so he wouldn't hurt her like he always did, "Yes, father. I can make a sacrifice for my family."
• "No matter how significant?" he prodded.
• Maya felt uneasy about where all of this was heading, but she still answered, "No matter how big, father."
• He nodded and reached for a briefcase beside him. From it, he pulled out a paper and handed her a pen. "Sign this," he said, giving her the paper.
• This time, she had to ask, "What is this?"
• "This will be proof of your love for your family," he broke eye contact with her and looked out of the window before explaining further, "Anna found the reports on Cosa Nostra that you've been working on."
• Her heart pounded loudly in her chest. The project on the Nostra dome was personal, not meant to be seen by anyone. How had Anna stumbled upon the papers in her room? Maya hoped that nobody else had discovered it.
• "And she turned it over to the police for a small reward."
• She gasped, feeling shattered. No matter how her sister had treated her, she couldn't bear the thought of what was coming for her. Looking at her father, she wondered if they were making a mistake by keeping her here instead of hiding her far away from the impending danger.
• "Luckily, the Don had an insider who got the papers, so they're safe. But the Don..." His breath was shaky. "Wants something in return if we want to keep our lives."
• "What's that, father?" She asked, willing to do anything to help her family. If it meant going public and admitting that everything on that paper was a lie, she was ready. Maybe then she could finally earn her parents' love. "What do I have to do, father?"
• He looked at her and replied, "Instead of your sister, you have to agree with whatever Don Damon says."
• The shock hit her hard.