I took a cab to the magnificent brilliant hotel. I got there ten minutes before two pm. After paying the cab man. I stood opposite the street as I stared at the hotel building. I don’t know if I should take a cab back to my house. “Do I just return back? And allow anything that wants to happen to happen. Or, I proceed and face the challenges with a brave mind”I soliloquised. Last time I was there I didn’t get enough time to admire the environment enough. I raised my head up to admire the gigantic building. It’s architectural style was outstanding. A little reality check took me back to the present moment. I remembered the reason I was there and my heart folds up again.

It wasn’t a good memory for me. Was only looking at it to put my worries behind and embrace the bright side of life. I called Michael on the phone, “Hello, where are you at?. I'm right here”. I looked around as I made the call. I didn’t see him in sight. “Walk to the receptionist, ask the receptionist. You are heading to the VIP bar”Michael said. “Ok”I ended the call and walked into the hotel’s main building. I took a step and paused, my heart racing. I held my chest like my heart was about to jump off from the inside. The receptionist greeted with smiles,“Hello, welcome to the brilliant hotel. How may I help you Miss?”. It was the same lady I saw last time.

I smiled back at her,”Am heading to the VIP bar”. The receptionist points out, “it’s the first turn by the second floor”. I beam, “thank you”. I walked towards the pointed direction. I took the elevator to the second floor.

“Be confident”,I said to myself. I walked smart out of the elevator, I walked a few steps and turned to the direction the receptionist said. A man stood at the entrance, “who do you ask after?”. The man questioned, The security entrance for the bar is more strict than the entrance to the hotel itself. “Michael Carter invited me”,I replied. The confidence I wish myself in the elevator is truly on me. I could feel my ego boosted.

The man nods, “You are welcome Miss”. He opened the door, and I entered the bar. There were some people there. Like a total of thirty-five people. In the bar it looks dark inside. Only the artificial lights made it visible to see each other. The artificial lights were much so, it beautifies the bar. I don’t expect less from a magnificent hotel like a brilliant hotel. I searched for Michael among the people there. Everyone was drinking, dancing and carrying on with their various businesses. Michael spotted me quickly. I saw him and I walked towards his seat.

Despite the dark room with many artificial coloured lights. Michael was handsome, his blonde hair was well brushed to the side. He looks cute but his character is the opposite of his looks. I walked closer to him. “Hello,”he said with a thick voice. I shivered, the voice rings on my ears with harsh tone. I was taken aback, my tongue sealed. The confidence that was with me vanished as his sight. I struggled to have a word out of my mouth. Michael looked at me in a disgusting way. He seized me up from my head to my toes “What is wrong?”. His face folds in anger.I had to force words out of my mouth I can’t just stand their acting dumb. “Hel, Hello, Hi”I stuttered. Michael looked at me like am an alien. “You look decent today. Why is the change in the dressing?”He scoffs. The dress I had on today covered all my body unlike the one I wore the first day we saw. I was forced to wear that because Madam Lucy said an exposing cloth will catch Michael’s eye.

I nodded, “This is the way I dress everyday”. I said without looking at his eyes. I avoided eye contact with him. He didn’t reply to what I said. I sat for more than ten minutes without him saying anything about my invitation then I asked.

“Why did you invite me here?”I asked. He looked at me with cold eyes. He took a gulp from his drink. “What would you care to drink?”. I blinked my eyes. I have been sitting there for quite some minutes. It’s now he deemed it fit to ask what I would love to drink.

“Any non alcoholic wine”I replied. He gave a young man standing not too far away from him a sign. The man approached him. “Get her a non-alcoholic wine,”he told the man.

I didn’t know they both came together. The man appeared after disappearing for a few seconds. He came with the wine and placed it on the table in front of me with a clean glass cup.

Michael looked at me from my head to my toes. “I think you should do this outfit more. You look better in it. And more beautiful than the last time”. I don’t know if I should blush. I still kept a straight face. I don’t want to look at him.

“Thank you”I poured my wine in the glass cup and sipped it. I did not know the reason he invited me here. He was done with his drink and watched me enjoy mine. “I want to have a serious discussion with you privately,”he said to me.

I looked around and there is no privacy here. So I suggested he might be moving away from the bar to a more quiet place. The music in the bar wasn’t too loud. One could still converse with it and be audible to the other person. “Take your last gulp, we will have to enter the room to have a better and clear discussion. I already booked a room”He said. I didn’t hesitate. Would I?. I sure can’t. I had no choice but to obey all his words.

His approach was a bit cool. He spoke those words like he was never a mean man. I know all his disguises were because he was in public. The power of me not being homeless depends on him. I didn’t thank him for clearing half of the debt. This is because my body was used in exchange for it. I love my dignity along with it.

Quietly, I took my last sip. The man he sent to get me drinks stood up. I figured he was talking to him with signs. I was eager to know who he was. Michael read my facial expression faster than I did. “He is one of my bodyguards,”he whispered. “Ok”, I nodded. Shouldn’t be a surprise. He's a billionaire, so it’s normal for him to have bodyguards. He stood up from his seat.  “Let’s go”he urged me. I exhaled as I packed my bag about to stand. My heart beat changed as I stood. He walked in front of me out of the bar. I walked right after him following his footsteps. My legs almost went numb as I tried to lift them. Behind the closed doors, I don’t know what awaits me. The meanness he showed was still fresh in my memories.

He entered the elevator, I walked fast to catch up with him. The elevator seems like a cold coffin to me. His bodyguard didn’t enter in it with us. He stayed behind. I could hardly breathe as I stood next to him in the elevator.

I don’t want to think of anything as it might feels like his reading my thoughts. I stayed mute. He didn’t utter any word either till we walked out of the elevator. He walked to room 224, swipe the card key. “Ah”I exclaimed. My heart skipped a beat as the room door was flung open. I don’t want to be locked in the same room with this monster. “Can we have the conversations outdoors?”I suggested.

“Get inside and not piss me off. Have been patient enough”He roars. His countenance changed. He was back to his beast mode. I fear for myself again. As I don’t know what treatment he will give to me today. 

Quietly, I walk into the room. He locked the door as I stepped in further. He banged it aggressively. Charger towards me laughing hysterically. He lift me off the floor, I became scared. “you look stunning”, he said. My breath seized for a second. I exhaled sharply, “Thank You”. He dropped me down. His hands grab my waist. “This gown looks too serious. Let me strip it and feel your sexiness,”he laughed. I held my gown tight against my body but he was stronger than I am. He moved my hands away with ease. He caressed my body and threw me on the bed.

He kissed me as he stripped me naked. My heart was racing at every move. I can’t shout or scream. Half of the debt has been care hopeful by the time I leave here the whole money would have been balanced. I endured. Michael was panting as he stripped me and himself. We made love again. It was painful the second time I experienced it aside from the first day. “You are so sweet and tight”,he whispered to my ears.

This time I didn’t fall asleep. I watch him go to the bathroom to have his bath. He came back and sat on the edge of the bed. “Go and clean up, we have to discuss,”he commanded. Shyly, I stood from the bed and walked to the bathroom. I checked the bed if there was any blood stain like the first time. None was there, only our sweat and his sperm on the bed spread. I tied the towel to the bathroom. Washed up. There was no bleeding today like the first time.

The pain in between my virginal wasn’t too much. I could walk well after the intercourse. I washed up and advanced to the inner room. Michael had picked his clothes and dressed up. He had ordered food while I was in the bathroom. One of the hotel staff knocked and brought in the food. She placed it on the table and left. “Eat, so u can have strengths for the conversation”Michael uttered. In my mind I was wondering what type of conversation would require so much energy. Initially, I was feeling hungry. It's thirty minutes past five in the evening. I ate gently. I don’t want any attitude that would make him talk to me anyhow. He joined me to eat his food. It was on a different plate. After the meal we took water to wash it down our throat and aid digestion.

Michael cleared his throat, “I believe you know the reason, you are here”. I concentrated as he started. He frowned his face and continued, “your family is in real debt. My father will clear the birth only if you agree to give me a child”. I sighed. He looked at me strangely, “is it the first time you are hearing it?. Have you not been told about it?”. I confirmed, “I have been told. I know”. “Better,”Michael remarked.

He moved closer to me, “I didn’t know it was your first time, till I saw blood on the bed spread”. I was ashamed I didn’t look up at his face. “It shows you are decent”. Michael placed his hand under my chin to lift my face up.

I still didn’t look into his eyes. I avoid making eye contact with him. “You should get pregnant quickly so my father can include me in his will and not also disown me”Michael said. Michael’s father is a billionaire. Michael is a multimillionaire. His father wants him to get a female partner to start a family with. He told him he would give his properties to strangers if Michael doesn’t have a child of his own before he dies.

Most times, Michael sees settling down as a waste of time. He prefers to hang out with some s*x hookers. He was never committed to any relationship. He believes they are only after his money.

“Once you get pregnant let me know”He said and stood up. He was done with his words and ready to leave the room. I felt like stupid and like a wasted bin. “I told you also then, that I am only into this to save my family from destruction. I don’t want to help my family and lose myself. I already lost my dignity”,I sounded sad. No one is coming to my rescue displaying a sad emotion wont move Michael’s mind like my stepmother’s strong heart. I swallowed the tears that wanted to form up. Michael nods his head, “that should be the problem between you and your family not with me. Get pregnant and let my father sort your family issues”. He spoke nonchalantly walked out of the door and left me there.