Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Chapter 51

TANYA

At what point I became obsessed with the finer things in life, I do not know, but as I stare at the beautiful bag on the rack, I just have to take it home with me.

"And that one as well." I say, pointing to it.

"Right away, ma'am." The sales girl that's been following me around with the rest of the things I bought, says as she picks it.

I continue to walk around, looking longingly at some pair of shoes, and wishing I could also buy them. After physically tearing myself away from another swoon-worthy bag, I turn to her. "That will be all."

She hides her smile and nods as we make our way to the cashier. The things I bought are rung up, and I hand the cashier the money, making me ten thousand dollars less-rich.

Don't judge me. I like to splurge.

The sales girl scurries after me, laden with all I purchased and helps put them behind my brand-new Tesla car. I bring out a hundred dollar bill and hand it to her which makes her squeal and jump up and down like a bunny rabbit.

"Thank you so very much." And she scurries back inside the store with a big smile on her face.

"You're welcome." I smirk, before sliding behind the wheel.

I'm still smirking until I hit the freeway, and memories begin to assail me.

Memories of being pawed.

Memories of being used.

Dirty memories.

The smirk slides off faster than a rocket launch.

I release a sigh, heavy with regrets, but immediately shake it away as I say out aloud. "The road to success is paved with thorns and bristles. I did what I had to do and that's that."

Yeah, no! That doesn't make me feel any better, unfortunately.

I come across a red light, and impatiently tap on the steering wheel. A gust of wind filters in through the open window and lifts my hair. It also carries to me, the sounds of two people arguing, a man and woman on the side walk, on close inspection. Snatches of their conversation carry over to me.

"-didn't want to sleep . . . him . . forced me." The woman begins to cry uncontrollably.

I watch as the man stands with balled fists. From my vantage point, I can see his face clearly. He's probably debating on whether to hold her or stay mad at her. Seems like good sense wins, because he takes her in his arms and begins to soothe her. "- sorry, baby. . . need. . . money."

My eyes widen imperceptibly, and my mouth hangs open. It's not until I hear impatient horns from behind me that I realize the light has turned to green. I reluctantly drive off, replaying the man's words. So he forced her to sleep with another man for money.

Fucking coward.

I begin to seethe as memories begin to rise, once more, to the surface. No matter how much I try to squelch them, yet, they remain glued to the forefront of my mind.

The day Maxim lvanov led me away from the screening of the strippers, I was taken straight to a room where he told me he could make me a very rich woman if I was ready to play ball. I asked him what he meant, and he said it's better he showed me instead. He led me through another door and into another room.

What I saw would forever remain etched in my memory.

There was a damn orgy going on. About five men on one woman. He said he liked to watch. At first, I was repulsed and began backing out of the room, but he dangled a bait.

Half a million dollar bait.

It was even more than what Mr. Ash had promised me once I got information for him. I'd closed my eyes for a few seconds, imagining what I could do with that amount of money.

The moment I'd opened them, I knew what I would do.

Just one word had set the ball rolling. Three weeks only, and I lost count of the number of men I slept with. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about any infections, because we were all checked first to see if we were clean, because , and get this - Maxim did not want the men to use condoms. So, in the twinkling of an eye, my status changed. . . and my life as well.

I come back to the present, not realizing when it happens. All I realize is that tears are streaming down my face. I veer off the road and come to a stop on the side where I bawl into my hands. Whoever said the quest for wealth is an easy road, needs to have his or head examined. I never thought I would have to go to such drastic lengths to make money. Of all the stupid stuff I've done in my eighteen years of age, this last one just about tops the list.

I shake my head, mentally shaking away the vestiges of memories clinging to my mind.

No more! I clean the tears and snot from my face, and decide, here and now, to make good use of the money. I've already contacted an agent who has sent me pictures of some nice-looking apartments. Alicia and I are going to leave that dump today. Even if it means we get to stay in a hotel before eventually getting a suitable one, we'll do it.

But first things first, I need to make a phone call to Alicia. I further clean my eyes and clear my throat as I dial her number. I make sure to inject a lot of cheer into my voice when she picks the call.

"What's up, sis?" There's a few seconds of silence and I can just imagine my prissy sister cringing.

Then, she begins to ask several questions all at once. "Hey, T, how are you? Where are you? When are you coming back?"

"Whoa! Slow your roll, already. Anyone listening to our conversation will think I've been gone for almost a year."

"Tanya, just tell me when you're coming back so I can come pick you"

"Naah! There's no need for that, I'm already coming over to the flat now, and I'll. . . "

I stop speaking, because I know the moment she looses interest in what I'm saying.

What's captured her attention now?

I begin to chew my lower lip when I realize she's going to chew off my head with questions when she sees my new car. I'll just tell her Mr. Ash gave me a raise. I pause on that thought, because she can easily ask him. Whatever! I'll take the risk.

"Hey, T, I'll call you back in a second, okay." She says, after keeping me talking to myself.

"No, wait-" But she cuts the call. She fucking cuts the call on me.

I sigh and get myself together before I resume driving. It doesn't take me long before I get to the street that leads to our apartment. Drab - looking apartments, broken doors, large pot holes, and the looming forest. Everything makes me feel depressed. I can't get away fast enough from this place, I just need to convince Alicia to pack up her clothes and follow me.

Nothing else is necessary.

As I almost get to the front of the flat, a hot wave of uneasiness assails me. It's an off putting feeling, especially as the hairs on my body rise, and goose pimples erupt all over my skin. I know this is going to sound crazy, but it feels like an evil spirit is hovering around. I chew my bottom lip as I debate on whether I should pull up in front or just keep on driving.

I need to speak with Alicia. We've got to leave this place now.

Squaring my shoulders, I pull into the front of the house and come down. The key is already in my hand as I come down and lock the car. doors. A gust of wind blows, and when I look up, a woman is standing in front of the door.

I blink repeatedly, wondering if my eyes are failing me, or if I'm somehow going cuckoo. I take two faltering steps forward and almost fall when the woman waves.

"Mother?"

She gives me her signature smile, but it's wistful and sad. I just stand and stare at her, not daring to blink or utter a word for fear she's just a figment of my imagination.

"Mother!"

From one blink of the eyelid to the next, she's gone.

What makes it painful is that she doesn't just disappear, she literally fades . . . slowly, until she completely disappears. My whole body is shaking at this point, clutching the damn key of the apartment in my hand like a lifeline. After almost five minutes, I'm still standing and staring uncertainly, wondering if I'm not really going bat shit crazy after all.

I decide to get a move on, realizing whoever she was - because she couldn't have been my mother - isn't coming back. I shake my head to clear away the cobwebs and let out a shaky laugh, murmuring under my breath in the process. "This is some ghost story extraordinaire."

I will my legs to move forward as I try to get the image of my mother out of my head.

I can't afford to lose it now.

I make the short walk to the door on jelly feet, but as I open it and close it behind me, I feel steadier.

"Alicia!" I call out, flinching as my voice echoes back.

If I never see this apartment again, it will be too soon. Creepy ass shit is giving me the jitters. I inch forward, peering into shadowed corners. Small noises almost make me jump out of my skin.

"Alicia!" I call out again. Where the devil can she be? I thought she was home.

As I walk into the bedroom, the ill-at-ease feeling I experienced earlier, slams back into me. I can't put my finger on it, but something is definitely wrong. I turn three hundred and sixty degrees around, but nothing seems to be amiss. I'm about walking out when a form detaches itself from the wall and blocks my way.

"Hello, Tanya."

My heart kicks painfully in its cage as I stare at the man before me. "Boss?"

He moves away from the shadows and walks fully into the light. He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. They're cold as ice.

"Mr. Ash?"

He doesn't say anything except to stare at me, as if waiting for me to say something more. Cold chills run up and down my spine as goose pimples break out all over my skin.

"Mr. Ash, please say something."

Still, he doesn't. I don't know what he's waiting for as he continues to stare at me with those cold eyes.

Something is wrong.

Never mind that, something is definitely off.

I decide to do the same as he's doing and look at him. I really look at him. That's when I see it.

This man standing before me looks like Mr. Ash, but then again, he doesn't. There's something wild and untamed about him. Where Mr. Ash is controlled, with an air of mystery and playfulness about him, this man gives off a violent aura. Something on his face gives off unbridled violence. He's like a predator, and I'm his . . . prey.

Realization spears through me as I stagger back and reach out for my phone in my jeans pocket, but his voice is like a whiplash as he shakes his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

He holds out his hand with a twisted pull of his mouth as he moves even closer to me, getting into my personal space. He snatches my phone from my hand, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my chest. I feel stuck. Trapped. It's a sickening feeling that overwhelms me.

"Who . . . who are you?" My voice sounds like it's coming from far away. I try, but fail to keep the fear out of my voice. I watch, terrified out of my wits, as one of his hands curl around mine holding me captive.

Here's where things get odd.

He throws me onto the bed and pounces on me. Before I can say money, my hands are tied tightly behind my back. The strength of this man is scary. I'm shaking at this point but stamp down my fear. Something tells me he won't appreciate me showing it, so I look up at him, putting up a show of courage I hardly feel as I wonder what he's up to.

"You're going to take a message to Ash Thunder."

I lick my dry lips. "Yes! Yes, if you can just untie me, I promise . . ." I swallow down the hysteria bubbling up before I continue. "I . . I promise I'll give him the message."

He nods, and my heart thuds wildly with hope, but then he bends forward, and I see the crazed fervor in his eyes. "You poor thing." He shakes his head in sorrow, dashing the little hope I initially haboured. "The message you'll be sending to him . . . is your death."

If shock was something I could describe, I would have, but I don't even have the chance to dwell much on it as he brings out a gun from under his trench coat. His eyes don't leave mine when he brings out something else . . .

Shit!

It's a silencer.

I watch as he screws it onto the gun. This shit-head wants to kill me without making any noise.

Not if I can help it.

As if he's psychic, immediately I open my mouth, he shakes his head and holds something up in the air. It's a tee. On closer inspection, it's mine.

But, what. . . ?

My eyes widen when I realize he wants to stuff it inside my mouth. Terror like never before, blossoms in my chest, causing adrenaline to surge through my veins. That's when I begin to struggle. "Don't do it, please don't d-"

I clamp my mouth shut, but he grabs my jaw, squeezing hard until the pain forces me to open up. As soon as my mouth is open, he stuffs my tee right inside it.

I'm doomed.

Understanding floods me as tears prick my eyes. Now, I know why mother appeared to me.

She knew. . .

Oh, she fucking knew I was a goner. It was a warning of some sorts. I should have heeded it, I should have-

My mental rantings cut off when Mr. Ash's lookalike straightens, determination shining wildly in his cold eyes. This man is unhinged, but that's the least of my problems.

"It's nothing personal." He shrugs, aiming the gun at me.

I close my eyes and say a short prayer.