The Collateral

Earth jerked off Oliver, who was in pain in front of his father, who James had beaten.

"Oliver... wake up, boy!" mumbled Mark trying to pull his son. Oliver was still holding his painful stomach from Earth's dreadful punches. Meanwhile, James was washing his hands in the sink before wiping them with an expensive handkerchief. He gave it to one of his men as he walked towards Mark.

"You dare to run from me, don't you?" said James standing arrogantly with one hand in his pocket. James glanced down at Mark and his son Oliver. He snorted and shook his head.

"Where's my money?" James demanded repeatedly. One of his loafers tapped against the floor, waiting for the answer. Mark turned to his son, who was also looking at him.

"W-Won't my daughter pay for it?" said Mark. James slightly opened his mouth in disbelief. What kind of father would sacrifice his daughter to pay off a debt? James nodded then, he thought to himself. He was not surprised by Mark's attitude as a parent. James' biological mother was also not much different.

"She didn't pay yet!" James replied. Mark then looked up and thought quickly.

"I-I will pay for it tomorrow. Unless you can take my daughter, Mr. Belgenza." James frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"My daughter is young and hardworking. You can make a maid in the mansion without paying her salary. Or whatever you want," answered Mark was offering his daughter as a guarantee system. James thought for a moment.

"You mean you offer your daughter as collateral when you can't pay?" Mark nodded as he looked up. James swallowed. He should have thanked Delilah for saving his life, but instead of repaying her, he wanted to entangle her. James raised the corners of his lips at the idea.

This morning he called Dubrich's auction house asking if they had a stock of women like Delilah. And surprisingly, if their answer is no. They have never found a woman as James's request of physical features.

"Is 100 thousand Euros worth your daughter's life?" asked James with his evil smirk.

"I'm sure he will be able to serve you well. Delilah is also a virgin. She has never dated anyone!" Mark spoke instead of promoting his daughter. Oliver only stayed quiet and chose to look down at the floor.

"I don't know if I want to get a virgin. Vomero has a lot of them. I'll point to anyone I want. Why is your daughter so special and worth 100 thousand Euros?" James questioned by making comparisons.

"How about if you try her for one night? If you like her, you can have her," repeated Mark, closing the offer to sell his daughter. James urged to step on Mark's head. The man shamelessly sold his biological child.

"Fine… but I need your signature on a letter of agreement. I'll give you one more week to pay off the money. Otherwise, I'll take your daughter. One more thing! Once you both run, you'll die. Got me?" Mark nodded and nudged his son into nodding as well. James then gave the code to Earth to get closer. He whispered to Earth to make a letter of agreement as he wanted.

James charged 5 percent interest every day in the agreement when Delilah did not pay it in one week. That means the 100 thousand swelled even more. With an evil grin, James took the deal that Mark had signed. He folded and tucked it into his suit.

"Your life is saved today. But, we will face next week. Prepare my money, or you will pay more, and your daughter will become my slave!" stated James to stand up and walk out of the small apartment where Mark and his son had been hiding. After James left, Oliver murmured to his father.

"What should we do, Dad?" asked Oliver in a trembling voice.

"I think it's time we head back to Pennsylvania. I have a friend who can help us. We're leaving in a few days, so that mafia won't know that we're leaving."

"Then what about Delilah?" Mark huffed in annoyance.

"Leave her here. Hasn't Mr. Moretti promised to give us money and a new place in New York if we manage to trap James Belgenza?" Mark whispered again as he sat on the floor. Oliver caught his breath and nodded.

"I'm sure he'd be pleased if we managed to kill James Belgenza."

"But how, Dad? Delilah won't do it?" Oliver was looking at his father.

"She would do anything for me. She loves me very much. Once she enters the mansion, that girl will kill Belgenza as we wish." Oliver still seemed doubtful.

"Then what should I do?" Oliver asked.

"Convince Delilah if she has to fight back if Belgenza keeps her imprisoned."

"James Belgenza will kill her!" Oliver said.

"No… Belgenza likes Delilah. Those eyes, no one can resist them," Mark replied with his evil smirk. Oliver sighed and leaned against the wall behind him. There was a trace of guilt in Oliver's heart if he had to leave Delilah in this situation. After all, Delilah is his sister.

Meanwhile, the innocent Delilah finally accepted an agreement from a loan shark who gave her 30 thousand euros at 30 percent interest. Delilah pledged the store ownership letter as collateral. Now Delilah is ready to negotiate with James Belgenza to extend the deadline for paying the money.

The day she had been waiting for to pay was coming. Delilah was already in her apartment, waiting for James Belgenza to come to get his money. Delilah had prepared herself, but it turned out that no one came until noon. She kept waiting until night, and the man still didn't come.

"Did he neglect it?" Delilah muttered after peeking through the curtains of her house.

"I can't be dreaming, can I?" Delilah murmured again. She slapped her face, and it was only after the pain that she realized that she wasn't hallucinating. Delilah was still waiting and fell asleep shortly after the whole day.

Meanwhile, James, who has signed another agreement with Mark Starley, is now in Hong Kong to attend the Jayden Lin inauguration event as the Leader of the Golden Dragon.

James came to Hong Kong by private plane. Earth accompanied him. He entered a profoundly guarded elite residence. The place is quite spacious, with a mansion in the middle. The dense city of Hong Kong seemed lost in that place where James stopped at a place that looked like a pagoda with a prominent golden dragon symbol in front of it.

"This all belongs to the Golden Dragon?" James asked Earth. Earth joined in admiring the place and nodded.

"I feel like I'm watching a 50's opera show," James muttered again and was greeted with laughter by Earth.

"I understand, sir." A supreme member of the Golden Dragon, also Jayden Lin's right-hand man, Han Kazuya, came to greet James and Earth with a smile.

"Welcome, Mr. Harristian... Mr. Lewis..." greeted Han, politely bowing his head slightly. Earth joined in greeting, and James also nodded with a smirk. Both of them are welcome inside to enter the main hall.

James looked for Jayden, who was nowhere. Several middle-aged Chinese men gathered and chatted with each other, but Jayden wasn't there.

He opened the door and glanced around, looking for Jayden. He finally saw Jayden holding his phone and leaning against the wall. While walking casually, James stepped closer to Jayden.

"Jay, what are you doing here?" Jayden sighed as he turned to see James walking towards him.

"You came?" James nodded and smiled, then stood next to Jayden.

"Are you alright?" James asked over.

"I don't know, James. My mood is breaking up!" Jayden said, tapping the phone against his thigh, which he folded against the wall.

"What is it?"

"I just called Ratu..." James raised his eyebrows at Jayden.

"I mean to chat with her. I need to talk. I miss her so much suddenly," Jayden continued. James smiled and nodded.

"Then? What's the problem?"

"I think I overdid it… don't I?"

"About what?"

"I told Ratu that if I loved her, ah James, what should I do now?" Jayden replied in a sigh.

"Don't you tell her that every day?"

"Yeah, I hope she doesn't misunderstand and think that I..."

"Wouldn't it be nice if she knew how you feel?" Jayden shook his head and leaned his head back.

"Maybe she's angry with me. Now she's not replying to my text at all!" James nodded in understanding.

"If she gets angry, she won't pick up your phone. Don't worry too much, Jay. If anyone sees you, then people will think their Leader is in trouble. Now come with me. The tea party will begin." Jayden took a deep breath and nodded. James put Jayden's coat neatly before he walked down the corridor and into the main hall. Loud applause ushered Jayden's steps which officially became the Supreme Leader of the Golden Dragon. Jayden was called Leader Lin by the group. And James, who let go of his grip on Jayden, joined in the ovation.