Chapter 5 Human's Price

• The young woman on the stage was trembling as the auctioneer brought down his gavel. "Sold!" he declared, his voice echoes in the lavish room.
• All eyes were on Harrison Willow, the charming devil in a black suit, as he calmly stood, radiating an aura of dominance. Ivy followed in stunned silence, her heart racing as Harrison’s actions left her more confused and terrified than ever.
• Harrison gestured for his guards to handle the arrangements, his voice was cool and unaffected. “Make sure she’s brought to my estate. No delays.”
• Ivy grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with worry. “Why did you do that?”
• Harrison turned to her. “Because I could.”
• “That’s not an answer!” Ivy hissed, her voice trembles.
• Harrison’s lips gave a smirk. “In this world, power is the only currency that matters. Tonight, I proved that mine is absolute.”
• “You can’t buy a person,” she whispered, her voice breaks.
• Harrison leaned closer, dangerous whisper. “And yet, I just did. This is my reality, darling.”
• The car ride back to the house was tensed.
• “Is this what you do?” she finally asked. “Treat people like property?”
• Harrison stared at her. “Property. Control. Tools. Call it what you want. Everyone has their use.”
• “Even me?” Ivy challenged; her voice was full with bitterness.
• Harrison chuckled. “Especially you.”
• Ivy’s fists clenched. “You’re a monster,” she spat.
• Harrison’s smile fades, replaced by something darker. “You’ve said that before,” he murmured. “But you’re still here.”
• Back at the house, Ivy watched as the young woman from the auction was brought in. She looked weak, her face and trembling hands break Ivy’s heart.
• “Where are you taking her?” Ivy asked, turning to Harrison.
• “To safety,” he replied.
• Ivy’s face wrinkled in disbelief. “Safety? You just bought her like she was…”
• Harrison’s sharp stare cut her off. “Do you honestly think I’d leave her to the wolves in that room?”
• His words hit her like a slap. “You... saved her?”
• “I did what was necessary,” Harrison said. “Don’t mistake pragmatism for kindness.”
• Ivy followed as the girl was taken to a room in the mansion, unable to ignore the fear in her eyes. She knelt beside her; her voice was soft. “You’re safe now. What’s your name?”
• The girl hesitated before whispering, “Amara.”
• Ivy’s heart ached for her. “I’ll help you, Amara. I promise.”
• Later that night, Ivy opposed Harrison in his office.
• “You didn’t have to scare her like that,” she said, her anger residing within her.
• Harrison looked up from the glass of alcohol in his hand. “And what would you have done, Ivy? Get a rescue? Bargained with people who see compassion as a weakness?”
• “I would have tried,” she said.
• “Then you would’ve failed,” he shot back with irritation. “You don’t understand how this works.”
• “Then explain it to me!” Ivy asked, her frustration boiling over. “Explain how you can kill people, buy people, and still act like you’re the hero!”
• Harrison stood up; his movements slow. “Hero? Darling, I’ve never claimed to be that.”
• He walked towards her. “I’m the villain of this story. And you’re the one who walked into my web.”
• Before Ivy could respond, Harrison’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen; his face darkens.
• “Trouble?” Ivy asked.
• Harrison ignored her, dialing a number. “What do you mean they got away?” he growled into the phone.
• Ivy’s heart twisted. Whoever he was talking about, it wasn’t good. He ended the call, his jaw clenched. “We have got a problem.”
• “What kind of problem?” Ivy asked.
• “The kind that could get killed us both,” Harrison said, grabbing his coat.
• “Wait…. what’s happening?”
• “No time for questions,” he snapped. “Stay here and don’t move. If you disobey me again, Ivy, I won’t be so forgiving.”
• Before she could protest, he was gone, leaving her alone in the house with more questions than answers.
• Unable to sit still, Ivy decided to follow him. She crept through the shadows; her heart raced as she followed him to the garage.
• From her hiding spot, she overheard some of his conversation with one of his men.
• “...a leak in the operation. Someone’s feeding information to our enemies,” Harrison said, his voice was dangerous.
• “Who do you think it is, boss?” the guard asked.
• Harrison’s jaw tightens. “If it’s who I think it is, they won’t live to see another sunrise.”
• Ivy’s heart stopped. Was he talking about her?
• To be Continued….