Chapter 16

ANDREA'S POV: (Read carefully its ANDREA)

I sat on the bed quietly waiting for the third customer of today. It was hardly 6 in the evening and I was already on customer number three.

The night was yet to pass.

I signed sadly as I have learned to accept this life. I have no other option.

The door opened and a bald, bulky man entered in. He must be in his late forties.

"My my aren't you a beauty", he said smiling at me. At least he had all his teeth intact.

"Hello sir", I gave him a smile. We were thought to give a flirty smile, I tried but never succeed.

"An innocent one, I see. Good cause it suits your pretty little face", he smiled again and I got frustrated. I hated men like him who tried to make conversation. Acting nice, while they were everything but nice. The nice words were used just to make their night easy and enjoyable.

He laid down on the bed and I furrowed my eyebrows at him. He rolled his eyes at my questioning look.

"I had a fight with my wife so I am kicked out for the night. She will calm down tomorrow morning. I needed a night to crash so I came here. We have all night to get nasty, no need to hurry", he said the last part smirking.

A part of me was happy that there will be no more costumers tonight but a part was sad that I have to entertain this man for rest of the night.

"The name is Dave by the way", he held his arm out and I took it for a handshake but he pulled me towards him so I fell on his chest.

"What's your name baby"

"It's Maria", I told him my name which I use for customers. He chuckled.

"Now tell me the real name", the question was expected. All of them do this and if we tell them our real name we surely get into trouble.

"It's Maria for you", I said sternly and he rolled his eyes again.

Next second I was roughly turned around so that I fall on my back. He hovered over me and tore my dress making me gasp.

Guess he is just soft at talking.

-----------

Dave rolled to his side and I was breathing heavily to catch as much as breath as I could. This man is brutal. It's already been two hours and he stopped now.

"Mind if I smoke", he asked looking at me. I shook my head hurriedly. I was scared. As I said only his words were soft, his actions were brutal. Two hours were enough for me to learn that.

"Ohh I guess my cigarettes are over. I'll be back with some", he smiled again and hoped down the bed. Wearing his pant and shirt he just took his wallet from over the table and walked out of the room.

Wait, the table. There was a cellphone on the table. My heartbeat went fast as after a long time I could see a chance. A chance to get out of this hell hole and meet the love of my life.

Austin.

I took the phone and thankfully it had no lock. I dialled the only phone number I knew and which was permanently engraved in my mind. Which was my only line of hope and I could never afford to forget it.

My heart raced as I heard the ring. It was like a melody to my ear. I looked at the door and made sure that it was closed.

The phone kept ringing and my heart beat went faster with every passing second.

'Please pick up the call', I kept praying in my mind. 'Please'.

The phone kept ringing and no one picked it up. Finally losing hope and almost peeing in my pants due to the fear if getting caught I gave up and was about to cut the call but heard the very familiar voice.

"Austin Hawk", his voice was the same I remembered. Authority and sexy.

"Aus....", I started but was cut off when a strong hand took the phone off whilst shutting my mouth with another hand.

The man I recognised as one of my da... I mean Master's goons put the phone on his ear and listened to the other side while glaring at me.

"Hey, man Rick. How are you? Long time huh! How is...", he lied. These people were good at lying.

"Hey come on man...", he said again but soon cut the call and kept the phone aside.

"You bitch", as expected a tight slap landed on my cheek and my hair was been pulled harshly almost pulling them from their roots. I didn't care to scream. I have endured worst.

"Let's take her to the Master. Hope he will let us all have her tonight again as a punishment", the other man said and I gulped remembering the last time I went through the same 'punishment'.

I just hope Austin would care enough to know whose number it was.

---------------------------------------------------

AUSTIN'S POV:

I walked out of the walk-in closet of mine and Adria's room. I was already dressed in my usual office attire.

Adria was sitting patiently on the bed, waiting for my orders. She was still dressed in the pink halter neck dress she wore for breakfast today. She looked cute and young.

Because she is young you prick, my subconscious was giving me a disgusted look. I just ignored him.

'Show affection, care for her, show her that you can be nice', mom's words kept booming in my head. After the little drama with my mom and dad yesterday, Mom asked dad to leave the room as she wanted to talk to me alone.

******

"I can see that you care for her Austin. I can feel she is a good girl and a right one for you. Don't mess up with her", mom said holding my hands in hers.

"I am really confused, Mama. I don't even know what I feel about her. Initially, I thought that she was Andrea, well a part of me still thinks she is her. But I know she is not her, she is a completely different person. But I don't know why I felt angry after knowing that she has been with another man, after knowing that she still loves him, after seeing the way she pathetically cried when he was leaving the house. I just don't know what I am feeling right now. Hell! when Augustus suggested that we can keep Edward's daughter to cover the loss we had, I didn't support the plan, but when I saw her all the thoughts of letting her go flew away", I confessed her and she just kept looking at me, listening to me.

"Why did you.......... torture her?", was her next question.

"I.. I did...", I stammered. Well, any one would if the question comes from their own mother.

"I know Austin, I have seen her scars", her face was blank but she couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.

"Mom I.."

"Now isn't the time Austin. Just answer my question", she said.

"I.. I just lost control over myself. She took her ex's name in front of me and I lost it. The mere mention of another man was my breaking point", I signed and palmed my face, rubbing it vigorously.

"Even if she is Andrea you have no right to control her life. No right to expect that she should not be with any other man. It's her life and unless you are committed with her, married her, don't expect anything from her", mom said and I just kept staring at her.

"Look Aussie, I know you are confused. I know that when Andrea left you were devasted but don't you think you are being cruel to her?"

"I don't know mom. I was all gentle with Andrea yet she left me. I am a changed person now. I don't believe in love, I don't believe in being nice. I don't know why but I can't let this girl go. And I know that I am using the right method to keep her with me", I yelled now getting frustrated by my own confused state.

"Listen Austin I can't see you like this. I can't watch you being turned into a monster. I want you to settle down in your life. I wish nothing but happiness for you", she was almost pleading. "I know you were hurt but that doesn't mean you will hurt others. Please, I want you to give that girl a chance, give yourself a chance"

"I don't know what to.."

"Show affection, care for her, show her that you can be nice. And if you find happiness in seeing her smile............ You would know that she is the one", saying that she kissed my cheek and left the room leaving me all confused.

*****

So that's what happened. I realised that I should really give this relati....... give this thing a chance. I should be nice to her.

"Hey, you picked a dress for yourself?", I asked walking towards the bed. As I was just beside her she stood up but her head was still hung low, she refused to look at me.

That's what you beat into her. My subconscious snarled at me.

"Look at me baby", it was hard, too hard for me to be all lovey-dovey kind of man all of a sudden. I had never really been into a relationship except with Andrea. She was just 15 back then and I had to treat her like a little girl. We barely met but whenever we did, was the best time I had. I always used to order her, which she used to smile and obey. I remember the first time when I called her baby instead angel she started laughing at my pathetic attempt to be like a normal boyfriend.

"Austin...", Adria whispered bringing me out of my thoughts. She was looking at me, trying hard to keep her eyes locked with mine. Fear was clearly evident in her eyes.

"Did you pick a dress for yourself?", I asked softly, caressing her cheeks with my thumb.

"I.. I didn't know what... where we were going so I selected this", She pointed to a black long sleeve, body fitting dress, it was made of soft velvet fabric which gave it a nice shine and rich look.

"You have a great taste baby", I dipped my head to kiss her cheek but moved away after seeing her tightly closed eyes and shaking hands. We had done much more than just a kiss, why is she behaving like my kiss will burn her?

Feeling disappointed and angry I just clenched my jaw and fists, stopping myself to do something wrong and breaking the promise I gave to my mother.

"I will be working in my study. You have an hour, get ready and come down. I won't be happy if you make me wait much", I said in a flat tone and strode out of the room.

I walked in my study room. It was basically my office. If I have some work home I just work from here and as I am the boss I do whatever I fucking want.

"Dude you seriously need to see this", I didn't bother to look at the person cause the only person who can dare and barge in my office without my permission is my best friend.

"Can't you fucking knock for once", I said glaring at him to which he just rolled his eyes.

"You got to see this", he sat on the chair opposite to mine and slide his iPad in my direction.

It was a news about Patric Winter. The old man who owns 30 percent of the malls in the country. The guy was someone with 'brain'. When he started constructing at the area with hardly any population. People thought of him as an idiot. But he had plans. He studied, he had his connections in Government and knew which cities would change drastically in future.

So in short now the guy own malls and few restaurants at most profitable places. And I aim to buy them from him.

Tough job? I know.

Back to the news. The news was about him retiring because of bad health and giving his position to his son. We tried to negotiate with the old man many times but he was too clever to fall for our tactics. But his stupid son is nothing like him. I am damn sure I can crack a deal if I am able to manipulate him. The news brought a smile on my face and my sour mood was gone already.

"When will he be officially given all the rights?", I asked Augustus while giving him his iPad back.

"Next month may be. The sources say that Patric is ill so the paperwork has to stop. Although his son already took his place, until the paperwork is done he has to wait and rely on the orders of his father", he informed and I nodded.

"And yeh what abou...", Our conversation was stopped when my phone buzzed. It was an unknown number. I frowned looking at the screen, I barely get a call on this number of mine as it is the old one and strictly personal.

"What happened?", Augustus asked.

"Nothing, it's just an unknown number", I replied.

"Just an unknown number and you are staring at the screen as if some guy sent you nudes and you are confused about your sexuality after seeing a dick", the idiot being an idiot he is stated smirking. I just rolled my eyes and swiped the icon to pick up the call.

"Austin Hawk", I said in a cold tone.

"Au...", the voice was nothing but a whisper and was stopped soon.

"Hello....... Hello", I tried few seconds but there was no voice from the opposite side.

"If you don't fucking talk.....", I got angry but was stopped.

"Hey, man Rick. How are you? Long time huh! How is .."

"This is not Rick", I spat.

"Oh! Come on Rick I know ......"

"Don't fucking call here again", I said angrily and cut the call.

"What happened?", the idiot asked again.

"None of your fucking business", I said and sat on my chair.

"Aww I love you too"

------------------------

I lost track of time when I and Augustus started working in the office. After almost two hours mom sent Cara to call us as Adria was waiting in the living area since long.

I went there and gave an apologetic look to my glaring mother. My dad was sitting opposite to Adria.

When my eyes landed on her, she seriously took my breath away.

"Beautiful..", I didn't even realize that I had whispered the word. Or it was a whisper for me and a clear word for everyone around me. Her head snapped in my direction and our eyes locked.

Her eyes widen and she looked scared again. That look was ruining her beauty and I wanted to take the pain away from her beautiful eyes.

The black velvet dress was perfectly hugging her slim figure. Her short, cute, milky legs shining and looking more beautiful against the black fabric. Her lips were painted in maroon colour making her look like the temptress she is. Her long hair curled a bit and falling deliciously on her shoulder. Her eyes looking more pretty with the black something painted around them.

She was wearing black heels but could nowhere reach my height.

"Hmm. Hmm..", my staring session was stopped when Augustus coughed. I just scratched the back of my head acting like a complete idiot.

"God, you are looking so sexy. This asshole here doesn't deserve such a sexy woman, but a handsome gentleman like me does. Just dump him and go on a date with me", Augustus walked towards her tried to hug her. I felt her body stiffen when he went near her.

She was scared of him too.

I wonder what he ever did. A girl being scared of Augustus was the last thing I could picture. But I couldn't deny that he was nothing better than me. He could be a monster at times.

I inherited all the qualities from my dad but his manipulative nature and tricks were never something I ever learned or even tried. I was always a straight forward person.

Augustus on the other had worked hard and learned this quality from my father. He always found it... What he says 'cool'.

"Let's go and have a nice dinner. This asshole can wait", Augustus snaked his arm around her waist and started walking towards the door. Like a puppet, she walked with him.

"Augustus I swear if you take another step ahead I will kill you", I roared making him laugh and shake his head.

"Just joking dude. Don't get all Hulk on me", he raised both his hands indicating that he is defeated and stepped back from Adria

Her back was facing me now and that's when I realized that the dress had a beautiful design on her back. A floral pattern with black velvet material and some of her exposed skin. The black dress and her almost white skin looked more delicious because of the design.My fingers twitched to feel both the soft things, her skin and the cloth.

"Hmm Hmm", someone cleared their throat again. It was my dad. He was smirking at me.

"You are whipped", he murmured under his breath but loud enough for me to hear.

Ignoring all of them I walked towards Adria and held her tightly by her waist. Most like possessively.

"Mom... dad, we will be out for the night. Take care of yourselves and this idiot", I gestured towards Augustus.

"Hey I am not a kid", he complained.

"Auggie, dear I guess we should leave them alone and you have work to do", mom says.

"What?", all the colour from Augustus' face drained. I knew what was coming.

"Help me in the kitchen", she said and Augustus cursed while dad laughed.

"You too honey"

"No way in hell. I helped you yesterday"

"Now", she said sternly.

It was Augustus's turn to laugh now. The three of them walked towards the kitchen. Mom winking at me, Augustus laughing and dad glaring at him.