Love and Debt

She was exhausted. Her body aches all over. She looked at the other side of the bed and saw the man beside her, sleeping quietly.

She gritted her teeth. She surrendered her body to the man she hated the most.

He was the heir of Cross Realty Corporation, Andrew Cross. Their company buys lands both legally and illegally. His father wanted to develop the area where her family's business was located. They already got everything except her family's ramen shop.

They never agreed to sell the shop to them, especially her. It was the only memory her grandmother left with them. Her parents worked hard to take care of the business when her grandmother died of leukemia. The business was there for generations. She wouldn't allow anyone to get it from them. However, a few months ago, Cross Realty started to buy the lands in the area. They said it was to develop the place around Northbay City Mall.

She met Andrew for the first time when he tried to persuade them to sell the shop. Their first meeting wasn't that nice. He's arrogant and so full of himself.

"Five million dollars. We'll buy it!" He said.

"No! Never!" She answered.

"Your place doesn't really cost that much but I'm already giving you a huge amount. Consider it as a reward from me." He said, smirking.

She really hated him so she went to the kitchen and threw water to his face.

"We will never agree to sell the shop! Over my dead body!"

His face went dark and started to smell the water she just threw.

"What's this smell?" He asked.

She started laughing and grinned.

"Oh you don't know? Why? Did your mother never teach you how to wash the dishes?"

"You! I swear one day you'll be begging in front of me!" He yelled while walking away from the shop.

She was so proud that she hadn't imagined that one day, she would be asking him for help.

They met a few times after he became friends with the rich kids she hung out with. She tried to be nice to him since Alora, one of her friends, asked her.

She doesn't really hate rich people, only Andrew and maybe some other kids who bully the weak. She was friends with some of the richest kids anyway. Alora, the Ice Princess, an heiress and who was recently engaged to the richest guy on campus, Luke Wilson, Emily and Peggy, who are also one of the top 10 richest kids in Golden Oak.

She was envied by many because she was close to them. She was included in the Bronze Class and those rich kids were in the Platinum Class.

In Golden Oak School of the Elites, the students were divided into four classes. The Platinum Class, they are the richest heirs and heiress and the royalties in the world. The Golden Class are those living in the limelight, the celebrities and models. The Silver Class where student's parents are professional workers of those above them. And then there's the Bronze Class who were accepted by scholarships and sponsorships of the elites.

She got accepted because of a scholarship. However, only the tuition fee is free. All other fees were to be shouldered by her family. They couldn't really afford everything so she started to run errands for the rich kids. She basically does everything for them. From projects, homeworks, even cleaning their shoes. She needed the money anyway so even if Alora told her not to do it, she still does. Her friends are willing to help her but she doesn't want to be a burden to them and take advantage of their kindness.

She stared at the man's face beside her. He was really good looking, she thought to herself. He has jet black hair, a set of black eyes, pointed nose and luscious lips. He's 5 feet 11 inches tall while she was  just 5 feet and 2 inches.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. She swore she had never intended to sell the shop and herself to this man.

Looking back, she was so desperate back then to save her younger sisters.

"If you won't pay, we'll get your daughters. All of them!" One of the men said.

Her father borrowed money from a loan shark and they were asking for ten million dollars as repayment. They didn't have that amount of money. They were already struggling as the bills of the shop and their house continued to pile up.

"No! Don't touch my sisters." She yelled and as she tried to grab her sister, Nika, from one of the men, she slapped him as hard as she could.

The man got pissed and hit her hard on her face. She felt that there's something ringing in her ears. Her cheek hurts but she ignored it. She looked at her sisters, they were crying. They were only 6 and 10 years old. Her father was beaten and her mother lost consciousness from fear. Who will save them? They were nobody. No one could save them.

Then the door of the shop suddenly opened and Andrew came inside. From his reaction, he didn't expect to see that scene.

She ran towards him and begged.

"Please help us." She said softly.

"What's happening here?" He asked, frowning.

He looked around the shop and it was a mess. Her parents were on the floor. Her father seemed to be beaten badly and her mother fainted. Two men were holding two little girls who were both crying.

"Mind your own business kid. This man owes us. He couldn't pay so we're getting his daughters." A man with a scar on his left cheek said.

"How much is it? I'll pay for it." He said.

She was surprised but relieved at the same time. Will he really help them?

"Ten million dollars or we'll get these girls and sell them to the underground cartel." One of the men answered.

"Please help us. Please save my sisters." Nina begged.

Andrew looked at the girl who was begging in front of her. Her face was tilted up looking at his face. Her hazelnut eyes were sparkling from tears. Her red plump lips had a small cut in the lower part and her left cheek was swollen. Did someone hit her? He gritted his teeth but tried to hide his reaction from her.

She wasn't like the other woman he dated. She wasn't classy or sophisticated but there was something in her that mesmerized him.

"How do you plan on paying me?" He asked.

"I'll do everything you ask. I-I'll give you myself." She suddenly blurted.

She was so innocent. She doesn't even know what was playing in his head when she said that. He brushed his hand to her cheeks and wiped the tears flowing from her face.

"Then I'll buy you and your shop for fifteen million dollars. From now on, I own you. You belong to me." He said with a wide grin on his face.