I pushed my way through heavy ballroom doors, my air was restricted, and my feet slammed against the cold marble floor. It was once a symphony of sound and color, now a mess of sound, a cacophony. Guests whispered behind gem-encrusted hands, eyes were wide and open, as Ethan was dragged by the men of security like a criminal. My baby brother, my Ethan. I know that something has to be done but what?

"Let me go–!" Ethan yelled, struggling against the hold of two burly men. His face was flush and panic was flicking through his eyes, yet his mouth was still trying to be alright.

I was running toward them, my pounding heart beating faster than eerily played classical music still resonating awkwardly in the background. "Stop! Please stop! That is my brother!"

The tall guard stared at me annoyedly. "Ma'am, step back."

"No," I snapped, panting. "You don't understand. He is only a child!"

"He broke up furniture that was worth more than what your lease was this year," said the guard indifferently. "We have our orders."

My eyes flicked to the broken pieces of a glass sculpture sitting at the room's center. My stomach was sinking. Out of everything he could've handled, Ethan picks that? That thing was priceless even lying in pieces.

"Ethan." I whispered, choking on his name.

"I didn't intend to!" he growled back, his eye flicking up at me, pleading. "It was gonna be a joke–"

"A joke?" I stopped him, the panic choking me now swelling up to anger. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Just when I was about to speak further, the crowd shifted. It became thick and the music ceased completely. Everyone was staring at one side and mine involuntarily drifted.

He was present, observing. The man who appeared to own the room without making it obvious. He was tall, with a crisp suit on, and cold eyes that caused individuals to stand up straight without a word. I had seen his face before in magazines, on business covers– Alexander Moretti. The ruthless CEO. The man whose surname spelled money, power, and fear.

Then those cold eyes were fastened on Ethan.

"Bring him here," said Alex quietly but with greater authority than the fists of the guards would ever have commanded.

They pulled Ethan toward them and I staggered behind them, not letting go. When they came to a stop before him, Alex never once looked at me. His attention was only on Ethan, like a hunter determining if the prey was or wasn't worth consuming.

"Do what you've done?" Alex demanded, his voice was strong yet firm.

Ethan gulped. "–It was just a joke."

Alex shook his head, the very slightest of smiles tingling at the corner of his mouth, yet his eyes remained hard. "A joke? That was a work worth two hundred thousand dollars."

The figure dazed me like a blow. My knees buckled. Two hundred thousand? My life savings could never pay for a percent of that.

"Please," I cut in quick, placing myself between Ethan. "It was an accident. He didn't mean–"

"Step aside," Alex cut in, his voice was like steel.

"I won't," I said, staring at him even though they made me feel like slinking back. "He is my brother. I'll take the blame."

A whisper went through the room, but Alex did not move. He regarded me, narrowing a little, as if I was some puzzle that he did not decide whether or not he wanted to solve.

"You'll take responsibility?" he repeated, slowing.

"Yes," I replied, though my voice trembled. "Please. He is just a teenager. Don't mess up his life over this."

Alex regarded me at last, and it was like being under cold water. "Do you realize what the consequences are? You don't come into my life and break something and walk out with a smile. Someone always pays. Someone paid."

My throat constricted. I yanked at Ethan's wrist, trying to shield him.

"Walter Moretti, if you don't mind.

"We don't have money. We don't have–"

"Money," Alex said quietly, to himself. Then his eyes focused. "No, you don't because that much is obvious."

His words stung me, but I was quiet, swallowing pride. Always for Ethan. Always.

"Well." Alex settled back a little in his chair, his bearing loose, his voice dangerously casual. "You're going to have a choice."

A chill ran up my back. I did not like the sound of that.

"What sort of choice?" I asked cautiously.

Alex's face twisted, but it was nothing affectionate. "Your brother goes up on charges, or." He paused and stretched it out so that my pulse was pounding in my head. ".you work for me."

I blinked. "What?"

"You heard me," said Alex, low-voiced, calm but with perilous finality. "Work for me. On my terms. Do what I tell you. Or see him go to jail for destructing. And believe me, Miss.?"

"Bella," I whispered quietly, my shaking.

"Bella." He left my name on his tongue as if trying it out. "If he goes in, it won't be at all just a night in a cell. I can ensure he charges stick. A record that will follow him the rest of his life. Every employment application, every interview. He'll have this error with him forever. Unless."

His eyes pinned me. ".you make it disappear."

Ethan started. "No, Bella. Don't listen. I'll take care of it-"

"You'll do absolutely nothing!" I spat, whirling on him. My heart was shattered, but my rage was stronger. "Do you realize what kind of trouble you are in?!"

Ethan stepped back, his bluster finally falling but his eyes brimming with remorse. "I didn't mean-"

"I didn't know either," I interrupted him, my voice trembling. "But that doesn't take it away."

Alex stooped forward slightly, elbows on knees. "Tick tock, Bella. What is it going to be? Your liberty. or your brother's future?"

The room was abnormally quiet. Even those of the guests who had been whispering stopped and seemed to hold their breath waiting for my reaction.

My hands shook and I hugged Ethan closer. My freedom, my life. All that I had fought for—to keep us afloat, to give him chances that never were mine—all of it. Could I ever give it up? Could I put myself at the mercy of a man like Axel Moretti, who seemingly game-played with life like it was a game of chess?

Then I looked at Ethan. His eyes were wide, tears were dripping, and he was scared to death but making attempts to cover it up. He was my brother and only family.

I closed my eyes for a moment. One, then looked at Alex once more and opened them.

"I'll do it," I replied, my tone low but unyielding. "I'll work for you. Just unlock and free him."

Alex's mouth twisted into the smallest smile. A predator is pleased with his prey. "Good"

He stood, towering above me, and for the first time, I realized how close he was. How his presence filled the space, heavy, sufficing, and inescapable. "Welcome to my world, Bella," he said quietly, his voice was like silk but cold as ice. "You just voluntarily surrendered your freedom." I swallowed hard. It was too late. I had made my choice and deep within me, I knew it all along–I had stepped into a trap.