Velmira
"Go clean that mess!" my stepmother roared, kicking my lower abdomen. I cried out in pain, scrunching down as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
"Ah!" I screamed as the pain intensified. My eyes grew blurry, and then everything went dark.
When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital. Looking around, I realized the room was luxurious, definitely a VIP suite.
"VIP suite?" my voice came out in surprise. I sat up slowly, lost in thought.
The door opened suddenly, and someone walked in the last person I ever imagined I'd see again.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, fear lacing my voice. He smiled, walked close, and pressed a kiss on my forehead, making me shiver.
"Where have you been hiding?" came his deep voice. I didn't answer.
"You've been hiding with my child," he said, and my eyes widened in shock.
"C–child?" I muttered, unable to believe my ears. There was no way I could be pregnant.
He chuckled and threw a stack of papers he'd brought with him. "Read them," he said, sitting in the chair beside the bed.
I picked up the documents and froze as I read the results. They stated that I was two months pregnant, but the baby was in danger. It was an ectopic pregnancy.
No wonder I hadn't felt anything like carrying a child, even though my menstrual cycle had been unstable and I often felt weak. I'd always thought it was because of the heavy workload at home pushing my body to its limit. But now, staring at the results, my hands began to tremble.
I had been my parents' only child until I discovered that my father had a second wife, who moved in just a day after my mother's death which was few days before my twenty one years birthday. Since then, she'd made my life a living hell.
When she learned that my father owned several houses and properties in the city, she urged him to move back there and he agreed. Her daughter and son, a twin who was a year older than me, attended one of the best colleges in the city, while I went to a less prestigious one. Yet, she was still jealous of my good grades.
When my father fell ill, she took charge of his companies and properties and made sure I dropped out of college. I was in my final year, desperate to graduate and get a job, but I had to make sacrifices to earn money for my tuition.
It was a cold evening. I put on a tight-fitting short denim skirt and a hoodie to hide my identity. When I entered a clubhouse, I took off the hoodie, revealing the too revealing outfit beneath. I hated doing this because it made me feel cheap but I had no other choice.
I promised myself that if I earned enough tonight, I would never do such a thing again.
During my online research, I learned that wealthy men paid more, so I began to search for one, hoping luck would shine on me. I was still looking when a man approached and said his boss wanted my attention.
My mind raced as I stood up reluctantly and followed him. He led me to a man dressed in black, surrounded by beautiful women. The moment I arrived, he dismissed them. They glared at me as they left.
"I–I…" I started, but he interrupted.
"Do your job," he said, his voice low and magnetic.
"How do I start?" I wondered, swallowing hard as I stepped closer to him. I leaned in and pressed my lips against his, trying to kiss him passionately. But he didn't respond.
I stopped and looked at him. He smirked. "Why did you stop?" he asked.
I tried hard not to let my frustration show. I leaned in again, repeating the same motion, but got the same cold reaction.
Just as I was about to pull away, he held my face and looked deep into my eyes. "Let me teach you," he whispered, sending shivers down my spine. Then he kissed me fiercely, possessively his lips claiming mine.
When he finally let go, I collapsed against his chest, panting for air.
"Stand up," he commanded.
I obeyed instantly, nearly stumbling. He rose from his chair and said, "Follow me."
My heart pounded. It was time, time to end it all. Time to give my first time to a stranger.
I followed him, my eyes brimming with tears I dared not let fall.
When we entered a luxurious room, I sat on the bed and waited. He removed his wristwatch, took off his shirt, and climbed onto the bed, kissing and touching me until strange, unfamiliar sensations stirred inside me.
After a long and passionate night, I woke up the next morning sore all over. The man was dressing and my eyes caught the sight of a medium sized dragon tattoo on his back, and fear pricked through me.
"What do you want?" his deep voice startled me.
I didn't answer right away, so he continued, "You gave me your first time… what do you really want?"
"I want… money," I whispered. "I need to pay my college fee for the final semester."
He smiled and pointed to a briefcase near the bed.
"It's all yours," he said, then walked out without another word.
I slowly approached the briefcase. When I opened it, I was stunned and hundreds of dollar bills stared back at me. More than enough for my tuition.
As I wondered how to leave without looking like a prostitute, there was a knock on the door.
I hesitated, then opened it. A man stood there holding a bag.
"My boss asked me to deliver this to you," he said, handing it over before leaving.
I opened the bag and gasped as it was filled with new, expensive clothes.
"He must be extremely rich," I murmured, biting my lower lip to suppress a smile.
Though
I never wanted any of this, I had already come too far. I could only accept my fate.