CHAPTER 2

"I will take her with me,” Bobby said calmly, letting his words sink deep so each of them could hear. Sarah’s heart skipped a bit, but she was brave enough to pull her hand away.

“Please keep her out of this." Jonah begged. She is still my little girl.”

“No, Jonah, don't be ridiculous; you and I know that these aren’t kids any more. Huh?” Bobby said, scanning their bodies again with his eyes. Both girls had good assets, and Bobby is sure someone has to harvest them while they're still fresh. He grinned sheepishly, exposing the set of braces in his teeth.

"They are ripe and mature enough for the harvest, 'or don’t you think so?” Bobby asked, grabbing Sarah by the wrist again, pulling her harder to himself this time. This enraged Sarah; she yanked her wrist hard and freed herself from his grip. Her strength surprised the group because they all know how difficult it is to get something out of their boss's grip.

“You have so much power and affluence, but that doesn’t mean you can harm us and go free, Mister," Sarah spits venomously.

Now her beauty and curviness weren’t the only things that attracted Bobby. He liked the fire that burned within her and her fierceness to save her family. Perhaps she might be useful to him in the future to accomplish his plans perfectly. She is smart, and that’s all that mattered.

‘Your family owes me money, so I am free to do as I like. Bobby said, as he leaned forward to intimate her more, but Sarah didn’t move an inch.

“You are brave, uh!

"Let’s see how long that little bravery of yours is going to last. I am Bobby Duke, and whatever Bobby wants, Bobby gets. You heard me!" He barked in her face.

“I don’t care what your name is,” Sarah said, stinging his ego. - "But I promise you that we will pay you all the money that my father owes you in full,” she tried to request, but it sounded more like an order.

“And you think you can save up to pay me with the peanuts you make from that god-forsaking bar?” Bobby squalled.

His men burst out in laughter, and after letting them laugh for a while, he raised his hand to stop them.

“How do you know where I work?” Sarah asked, her large eyes widening in their sockets. Bobby had seen her the other day, working and serving tirelessly at the bar. That was the first time she caught his attention, but he had no idea she was Jonah’s daughter. What annoyed him was the fact that she didn’t even bother to look at him twice. I mean, who doesn’t look at Bobby Duke twice at the bar? A man who had all the handsomeness any woman could think of.

“How did you know that? Have you been stalking my daughters?” Jonah asked, slurring his speech.

“Oh! Shut the hell up, bastard; I have better things to do with my time.” Bobby added

“You should be ashamed of yourself for letting this beautiful damsel take up your responsibility while you lavish your life away on liquor and gambling."

“Stay out of our business. Do not interfere in our business,” Sarah glared at him.

“I never want to do it again as long as your jerk of a father returns every penny he owes me.".

“We will pay up. "Just give us a few more months.".

"48 hours is all I can spare,” Booby blared loudly.

“That’s too short,” Sarah tried to plead. She swallowed the lump in her throat and examined Bobby’s emotionless face.

“48 hours or be ready for my property,” Bobby said, then snapped his fingers at his men. They immediately jumped and followed him out. Sarah held her sister in her arms for a while, too perturbed to speak. She rushed to the window and watched them screech their wheels away.

“What do we do?” Olivia asked, but Sarah didn’t answer. Sarah hurried, got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and headed for the bar.

**********

At the bar, Derrick sat on a bar stool, swaying slightly as he stared blankly into his mid-way empty glass. He slurred his every word as he gave his order to the bar attenter, Sarah, with unapologetic eyes.

“My brother is deliberately trying to pull me down,” Derrick began, "but I won’t let him ruin my life and the family business I and my father have toiled for.”.

Sarah leaned in, a concerned look sweeping across her face. This wasn’t the time to listen to a stranger blab about their family feud; she has 48 hours to pay some money she knows nothing about just to save her family from the cruel hands of that brutal Bobby Duke. That’s even more reason she had come to work overnight; at least she could add up her little savings and the money a few other family members had raised for them. With this, she was sure of wiping out the reproach of her family forever. She didn’t want to engross herself in his conversation.

“Sir, I think you’ve had too much to drink in one night,” Sarah told D frankly.

Derrick's grip faltered, and his now-emptied glass clicked against the surface of the counter. “Mix me another shot," he insisted, his soft voice tinged with desperation.

Sarah signed, already upset by his demand. “And what if I don't?” she said in a mildly harsh tone.

"Then I’ll have you fired,” he replied, stumbling over his words.

“Ha! Ha! Jokes on you!” She feigned a laugh in his face.

Derrick locked his gaze with her for a while before proceeding with the complaint he had to make.

“You know... you are actually the only one listening to me right now." His words were filled with honesty. My father… He is insensitive and blind to see all my brother's shady businesses, but I know all about it." Sarah’s eyes softened for a moment as she listened to him.

‘Then why don’t you just speak to your father? Maybe he would listen." Sarah added

A bitter chuckle escaped Derrick’s lips as he caught Sarah’s gaze. ‘And you think I haven’t done all of that?”

“If you say so, but I think you should get going,” she informed him. Derrick clumsily pushed the empty glass in front of her. He tried to stand up, but he lost his balance, stumbling dangerously. Sarah rushed to his side and held him. She took him out of the bar, letting him lean on her for support.

"Betty, please cover up for me. I need to take him to a safe place. He is really drunk.”

“Sure” Betty responded and went her way without hesitation.

At the gate, Derrick pointed to his car and let go of Sarah’s grip. He swayed clumsily towards the car.

‘Shit’ Sarah muttered as panic filled a better part of her soul. She rushed over to him and grabbed his keys. She helped him into the passenger's seat while she hurriedly took her seat in the driver's position. "Do you really want to risk your life for this stranger?” Derrick asked her in a croaky baritone voice.

“Uhmm… Where exactly do I drop you off?’ she inquired.

“Landmark hotel” Derrick's response was clear and precise.

Within a few minutes of driving, they arrived at the hotel. Sarah assisted Derrick out of the car and into the hotel with the utmost care.

‘Room 306’ Derrick mumbled the words. She led him peacefully into his room, but just when she could make her exit, Derrick gripped her tightly on her waist, causing her breath to quicken.

“You are really drunk, Mister...'

‘Call me Derrick,” he protested.

"Uhmm, Derrick, I can't; she tried to speak again.”.

“Say no more—is it money? I have lots of it." He brought out his phone and asked Sarah to call out her account digits. Her eyes widened; this has to be a miracle, and finally she doesn’t have to use all of her savings to pay that bastard. Selling herself for money isn’t right, but at this point she is left with no other choice; after all, no one would know she did anything like that. Derrick is even too drunk to remember her face or what happened between them. She hastily called out her account digits as he punched each number into his phone. In a few seconds, her phone beeped in, she brought it out, and she swiped through the credit alert she received.

"$1 million?” she screamed. He pulled her close to him, his voice full of desire and passion as he whispered the words in her ear, “Spend the night with me.” Sarah’s heart raced with a sudden desire.

“I ummm…”

Sarah tried to explain, but before she could find the perfect words, Derrick's lips were locked in hers in an unexpected kiss. She is astonished at how quickly his drunken state is replaced with a deep longing; she shuts her eyes instinctively, responding to the kiss with fervour. He quickly pulled her to the bed and began to explore her body, and then he paused.

“You haven’t told me your name.”.

I’m Sarah,” she answered quickly.

“I have never felt like this for any woman in years,” he said, flashing her a smile, then continuing to trace her body with his lip.

The loud chime from the phone got Sarah jumping to her feet. She hurriedly traced the phone with her hand and studied the strange number calling her phone at 8 a.m.

“Hello! Is this Miss Sarah Carter?” The caller asked

“Yes,” she replied.

“Your attention is needed at the Greek specialist hospital; your sister Olivia had an accident."