Chapter 2

• Meghan glanced at the time on her watch, she had lost count of how many times she had been doing it. Paul hadn't come back home, the anxiety and fear of not seeing him again broke her heart like every night. It was something she couldn't avoid.
• However, Paul wasn't the best brother, his gambling addiction had led them to ruin. In six months, her brother had squandered the inheritance their parents had left them. In just six months, he had ended a millionaire estate. He sold the stocks, lost the house and the car. What else did he have left to lose?
• Meghan had no idea of the latest mischief Paul had done.
• "Stop worrying about your brother, he's old enough to know what he's doing," Daisy said.
• "That doesn't mean I can't worry about him, Daisy. He's my brother."
• "Paul doesn't deserve a single minute of your concern. You hardly sleep! You don't live thinking about what he'll do next!" the young redhead expressed with some anger.
• Meghan sighed.
• "Maybe you're right."
• "Maybe?"
• Meghan opened her mouth to reply, but didn't say a word. The door of the apartment opened abruptly, revealing Paul. The man was paler than a ghost.
• "Paul!" Meghan shouted, running to his side as she saw him stagger, but her brother's hand prevented her from getting closer.
• Meghan felt a deep pain in her chest at her brother's rejection. When had things changed so much between them? When had Paul stopped being a good brother and become a stranger? Could the death of their parents have changed things so much?
• "What happened to you?" she asked, struggling not to cry. She felt hurt, frustrated, desperate. Meghan felt like she had reached the edge of a cliff and that, depending on her brother's response, she would either fall into the void or not.
• "Go to sleep," he growled.
• "How can you be so insensitive to Meghan? She's been waiting for you all night with bated breath!" Daisy shouted, in the silence of Meghan. The young woman took a step forward to protect her friend. "You have no heart, Paul, your vices will cause Meghan's suffering, why don't you understand?"
• Paul couldn't look Meghan in the eyes, but he did with Daisy.
• "Don't meddle where you're not called, Daisy," he growled angrily. He wasn't angry at the young woman, he was furious with himself for what he had done at the casino that night.
• "You're the worst of brothers, Paul," Daisy insisted, taking another step forward to confront the man; however, she didn't get close enough, Meghan's hand stopped her.
• "Let's go to sleep, it's late and I have morning classes tomorrow," Meghan muttered so quietly that it seemed like she only moved her lips.
• "We need to talk, Meghan," Paul said when the twenty-one-year"old turned to leave him alone in the living room."
• "I don't think we have much to say to each other, Paul. You promised me you wouldn't gamble again, but by your appearance and the pale tone of your skin, I know you didn't keep your promise," she said.
• "It's serious," he insisted hoarsely. As if he had cried at some point.
• Meghan nodded and left, she didn't want to know how serious the situation Paul had gotten them into this time was, she didn't want to think about what was coming for her. They had no money, no home, nothing...
• "I don't want to be a bad friend, Meghan, but I don't want to keep seeing Paul in my house, I've had enough of him," Daisy snapped.
• Meghan didn't have the courage to insist to her friend to forgive her brother, Paul had earned Daisy's resentment fair and square.
• "I'll talk to him, don't worry," she whispered, locking herself in her room.
• That night Meghan cried herself to sleep, there was nothing she could do to save her brother, he had condemned himself and it was time to let him go. Perhaps that way Paul could reflect on his actions. Maybe separating was what they needed to survive without causing each other more harm...
• The glass hit the desk, spilling some amber liquid onto the fine, varnished wood. Patrick was still in shock, he had left the casino and fled to the safety of his office, not wanting to see anyone.
• "Are you okay?" Harrison asked, entering the office. It had been an hour since they had parted ways.
• "No, and I don't think I can feel okay after what happened. What the hell was Summers thinking to bet his sister?" he questioned angrily. Patrick clenched his lips tightly, grateful that the glass was not between his fingers or he would have surely broken it.
• "He's a gambling addict, I suppose he can no longer measure the risk of his bets."
• "Family is the most sacred and important thing for a man! I would never dare to put one of my brothers in danger!" he retorted furiously.
• "They are two heads and think differently. What is significant to you may not be for him," Harrison replied, sitting down.
• "Damn it... I curse the moment I thought of going down to the casino, I should have had him thrown out without hesitation," he said.
• "You can't change what's already done."
• "I don't have to claim the bet, I have no interest in that girl," he reflected. That was it, he could simply wash his hands of the matter. They were in modern times, it wasn't like in the past, so...
• "If you don't claim your prize, rest assured he will bet her again and that poor girl may not be lucky a second time."
• "It's not my problem, I don't know her. Why should I care about her?" he questioned.
• Harrison sighed.
• "If you don't want her, I can take her."
• Patrick's fist slammed onto the wood, shaking everything on it.
• "What the hell are you saying?! Why would you take her? What do you want her for? Or are you hoping to make Kiara jealous?"
• Harrison shrugged.
• "Kiara doesn't even say good morning to me, I don't expect her to get jealous because I have a young woman by my side. Besides, I have no ill intentions with that girl. I don't know her, but I can imagine the kind of life she leads with Paul, I will keep her to help her, that's all," Harrison explained quickly.
• Patrick took his glass and drank the rest of the liquid in one gulp.
• "What about Ray?" he asked, almost forgetting about the guy.
• "He's gone, but you know he won't leave things like this; he lost half a million dollars in one night, if Paul doesn't deliver his sister to you or you don't accept the payment, it's very likely that Ray will end up with her..."
• Patrick took a deep breath.
• "Why would I want a girl?" he questioned.
• Harrison shrugged.
• "Your parents are going on a trip next weekend, do you think Astrid wants to spend her free time with Mia?" he asked.
• Patrick cursed again, he had forgotten about his parents' trip. They were going on a honeymoon for... he had lost count of how many times they had gone on a honeymoon, since he could remember, they always went alone. Twelve years ago, their little getaway to South Korea had resulted in Mia, the youngest and most beloved of the Ferreira Spencer family.
• The worst part was that he had forgotten about Astrid, how was he going to explain to his girlfriend that he now had a girl with him? God! When did life get so complicated?
• "Come on, it's time to go home," Harrison encouraged him. "Tomorrow is another day," he added.
• Patrick didn't go home, he called his sister Kiara to let her know he would be staying at the hotel for work reasons, it was a lie. In reality, he wanted to reflect on the recent events. He didn't call Astrid, his girlfriend was in Milan, at a fashion show with Alessandra and Larissa. He wasn't too worried, they were with family. Adriano and Fabiano had traveled with them to take care of them.
• The morning came and with it surprises and disappointments. Meghan left Daisy's apartment without waking anyone up and without having breakfast. She intended to find a part-time job that would allow her to have some income. She had to do something, no matter what; one thing she was sure of was that she wasn't going to starve. She had to be strong to survive and achieve her goals."
• She visited several places before going to university, but she didn't find anything for her, not having experience condemned her.
• "Meghan!"
• Daisy's shout made her stop, her feet hurt, all she wanted was to sit down and not get up until the end of the day and then, she would try again.
• "Why the hell did you leave without telling me?" Daisy asked in an annoyed tone.
• "I had things to do before coming to class," she replied.
• "Aren't you going to tell me what kind of things?"
• "I'll tell you later, now we have to hurry or we'll be late," she said, watching as her classmates ran to the classroom.
• "I brought you some food," she said, handing her a small airtight sandwich box.
• Meghan accepted it, touched by her friend's gesture and also feeling guilty for how abrupt she had been in her response.
• The day passed too quickly for her liking, she couldn't stay to continue her job search, Daisy didn't allow it. Her friend dragged her and took her home, to Meghan's surprise, Paul was waiting for her in the small living room of the apartment.
• "We need to talk," he said, looking at Daisy, silently asking her to leave them alone.
• "Meghan..."
• "It's okay, Daisy. Paul and I need to talk," she said. Her hands had turned into two small, strong fists. It was time to...
• "You have to come with me," Paul spoke, surprising Meghan for the second time.
• "Come with you?" she asked, furrowing her brow. Meghan and Paul hadn't gone out together for a long time.
• "Yes, there's something I need to do and for that..." Paul paused. "For that, you have to come with me," he said, taking Meghan's hand and leading her to the door.
• "What are you doing? What's wrong with you, Paul?" Meghan asked. She tried to stop him, squeezed her brother's hand, but he didn't let go, he dragged her down the hallway and into the elevator.
• "I don't like this at all," Harrison muttered as he got out of the car in the building's parking lot that Paul had indicated to them the day before. "Ray's car is here," he added.
• Patrick gritted his teeth, but got out of the car and noticed the red sports car parked in front of them.
• "What are you doing here?" Patrick asked when Ray approached them.
• "I came as a witness and also, I want to make sure you take the trophy home, Patrick. I paid of
• Patrick gritted his teeth, but didn't respond. He crossed his arms and waited for what seemed like an eternity while his conscience screamed at him that he was making a big mistake. None of this was legal, people couldn't be bought and sold. Let alone bet!
• "If Paul doesn't deliver his sister to you or you don't accept the payment, it's very likely that Ray will end up with her."
• Harrison's words echoed in his head, but he didn't have time to think further. The elevator doors opened and out came Paul Summers and a young woman who looked barely legal.
• "What does this mean?" the girl's voice sounded scared and for good reason. She was in the middle of four men, what could she think?
• Patrick's fists clenched tighter, his teeth pressed to the point of pain. How was it possible that Paul didn't realize the danger he was exposing his sister to?
• "Paul..." Meghan's whisper brought Patrick out of his thoughts.
• "I'm so sorry, Meghan. I swear, I didn't mean to, I, I don't know what I was thinking..."
• "What did you do, Paul?" Meghan insisted, fear settled in her chest, forming a knot in her throat that began to suffocate her.
• "I bet you in a poker game," he said.
• Meghan gasped, her face noticeably paled, her body lost strength and for a moment she feared she would faint.
• "Paul."
• "I bet you and lost you, Meghan. Now... he," he said, pointing at Patrick with his finger. "He is your owner..."