CHAPTER TWO

"Bikers den…" I was still muttering to myself. I was

really in the Biker's den. I couldn't believe this. I was going

to die for sure. Worse yet, what did Dad have to do with all

this?

"Are you sure you're not jesting with me?"

Alejandro gave me a glare that could even kill a corpse.

"Do you think boss is joking?" one of the men said.

"What do you think this place is? Disney Land?"

"What's your name?" Alejandro asked, drawing

everyone's attention back to him.

I felt proud of myself suddenly, forgetting all about my

circumstances. I was only eighteen, turning nineteen in three months and one day, but I'd achieved so much in life.

"My name is Sophia. I'm a first-year student at Brooklyn

College. I study accounting. I'm very good at—"

"You're ugly." Alejandro dropped his line, making my

jaw drop to the floor.

"Excuse me!" I huffed. "I may be plain, but I'm not

ugly."

Alejandro dismissed me with a wave. "Take the girl

away. I can't even bed her with my eyes closed. She talks

too much."

"You galoot," I snapped.

Sure, I looked like I'd gone through a twister just to get

here, not to mention running home after getting that fake

message. My appearance right now was no match to a

princess. In fact, I was no different from a beggar, what with my wild platted hair in a jumbled mess. But I was so not ugly. I did have some beautiful points too, like my freckles, for example. They were beautiful and I was proud of them. So how dare that Adonis bikers boss degrade my appearance like this? I'd give him a piece of my mind.

"Give me a million dollars, and I still wouldn't bed you.

In fact, even if you were the last man on this earth, I still

wouldn't bed you. And hear this. Even if you were the last

remaining man on this earth, and the fate of all humanity

depended on us, I still wouldn't—"

"SHUT UP!" he barked. "Say one more word and I'll

cut out your tongue and feed it to Beasty."

I wanted to blast another earful at him, but I was scared

he might really cut out my tongue. I didn't know about these bikers people. They looked scary, acted scary, and behaved in a scary way, especially that big boss. I didn't want to have to find out if they were going to act on their threats or not. It was best if I kept quiet. But then my curiosity to know what was in that letter got the better of me.

"Can I ask what my Dad wrote in the letter?" I tweeted

out.

He glared at me again and then threw me the letter. I

felt so mad. I really wanted to bash his handsome face. But what stopped me was that one single phrase in the letter that caught my attention when it landed on the floor.

…my daughter as collateral, in exchange for my debt…

"Debt! Collateral! Dad, you…" I went into full outrage

mode. I screamed. I yelled. I cursed.

What was Dad thinking? Using me as collateral in

exchange for his debt? So that's what it was all about. He

wanted to trade me for his debt, his plain daughter.

I continued to yell and berate him. Even if he wasn't

here to hear it, at least I felt better. I was about to release

another throng of words when Alejandro stopped my outrage.

"GOD, you're so bloody annoying," he shouted. He

massaged his temple, then fired a demand at the man beside him. "Bobby, take her away. Her screeching is hurting my ears."

The man named Bobby cowered in fear. "Yes, boss."

And then he scratched his head. "Where to, boss?"

Alejandro almost lost his temper. He glared at his

underling. "Do I have to spell out every single instruction?

Use your brain for once. Go shoot her or throw her over a

bridge or something. Just get her out of my sight."

"Come this way." Bobby dragged me until I almost lost

my footing.

"Hey, take it slow, pal," I yelled, pain shooting up my

leg. Then I turned to the big boss. "Look! How much does

my dad owe you? Maybe we could work something out."

"What are you suggesting? If you want to trade your

body, then I prefer to sleep with a pig."

"I'm not trading my body, you galoot," I yelled, firing

back at him for comparing me to swine. "I'm proposing I

pay for you via my excellent service."

He assessed me for a second longer, and then he signaled his underling again. "Take her

away."

"What?" I shrieked. No sooner had that word left my

mouth, I was dragged out the door again.

I dug my foot on the floor to stop Bobby from dragging

me forward. "Where are you taking me?" I pushed back and escaped his hold.

"To the bridge," Bobby said.

"No! You can't throw me over the bridge," I shrieked

again. My voice echoed around the large foyer as I fought

with Bobby to let me go. But he was as tough as a nail,

sticking to my skin like a barnacle to a rock.

"Okay, then, I'll shoot you right here."

"No!" Both Alejandro and I chorused out at the same

time.

I turned to stare at Alejandro in surprise. Did I have the

wrong impression of this man? Had he decided to change his mind about killing me? Maybe he did have a kind bone in his body.

I smiled at him. He ignored me and said to Bobby, "If

you want to kill her, take it outside. I just got the carpet

replaced. It's such a hassle to organize for a new one."

What?

I was so freaked out of my bones. Did he really mean to

kill me? That answered my question from before. Those

guns on display out in the hallway, they weren't merely for

decoration.

"You can't shoot me either. Not here nor outside," I

hurriedly objected. And then I revealed my last playing card.

I yelled with my eyes closed, "I'm an asset to you."

Alejandro smirked. "How are you an asset to me?"

Time to play the technical brain game. I squared my

shoulders and looked up into his eyes. If I can't lie through

my teeth then I'm a monkey's uncle.

"Let's think about this for a minute," I said like I was a

major philosophy professor and he the student.

"I don't have time," he retorted, his face darkening a

shade "Okay, for a second, then," I said in a rush. God, I was a puddle of gooey mess. My feet were about to give way.

"Just give me a second to explain myself."

"Your second's up. Bobby, take her outside."

"Wait!" I halted him, putting up my hands. "Stop being

so impatient and let me explain. If you kill me now, how are you going to know my Dad's location?"

He paused.

I smirked.

I finally had him in the palm of my hand. I knew I was

the smart one. There was no doubt about it now. Only a

smart girl like me could get out of this situation alive.

"I know he'll contact me sooner or later." I continued,

gaining confidence when the big boss still stood listening.

"So don't you think you should keep me alive, just so Dad can contact me?"

He stared at me for a minute too long. I only prayed to

God he would relent.

"Bobby, take her outside. And finish her quick."

"What? Why?" I asked in panic. "Didn't I just say Dad's

going to contact me? If you finish me off now, how are you supposed—"

"If I want to know where your old man's gone to, I have

my own methods. I don't need to keep your annoying mouth here. So annoying. Bobby. Take her."

"Yes, boss."

Crap, I'm in deep shit. No, wait. This is worse than shit.

I'm in deep pooh.

"You can't. You just can't. I said I'm willing to do

anything. I'll be your maid, clean your room, cook you food.

I'm good at cooking.

"I've got plenty of maids. I don't need another one. Go,

get out." He tossed me to the side like I was piece of

garbage, but I clung to his leg for dear life. I wasn't going to die yet. I hadn't even been kissed yet, let alone had a

boyfriend. Even if it was just for a minute or two minutes or two hours, I was willing to grasp his pants so I could stay alive.

I didn't want to die. I knew I don't want to, but Alejandro was stronger as he lifted me and pushed me off him. But one thing he didn't know about me was I was

resilient. No amount of struggling and tugging could peel

me off his pants. I stuck to him like glue.

"I'll do anything," I cried and begged, just to extend my

life. "Cooking, cleaning, even making coffee. I'm the best at making coffee."

There was a pause and his body went still. Have I got

his attention?

"Good coffee?" It was Bobby who spoke. He must have

had enough of my wailing and strangling his boss' pants. "If boss wants coffee, he would've—"

"Hush!"

That came from Alejandro. Bobby stopped his

blabbering. I let Alejandro's pants go and looked up at his

towering figure.

"You sure you make really good coffee?" He

asked.

I nodded and stood. "Of course." I boosted myself. "I

won the barista award for two years in a row. I worked in a café my whole life. Of course I know how to make coffee. And once you've tasted it, you'll become addicted to it like cocaine. Not that I ever tried cocaine of course. That's just for comparison."

"Hmm," Alejandro said, staring at me while tracing his

lips. "The coffee sounds tempting." Then he turned to

Bobby. "Test her. If her coffee tastes good, then keep her

and let her be in charge of the coffee making."

* * * *