I was scared. Really scared I must say.

Where are they taking me?

Who are these people?

Are they going to kill me?

Am I going to get killed with my body thrown in the sea and never be found?

Am I going to end up as dinner for sharks?

Oh God!

My train of thoughts came to an end immediately the car came to a halt.

"We are here." one of the huge men finally said.

Throughout the whole ride none of them spoke to me. The whole thing was so confusing. Like why the hell am I brought to the huge mansion in front of me?

I was pulled out of the car and was asked to follow one of them. I did so without complaining.

I mean if I'm going to get killed, I should at least put up a fight but that will be later. Not until I find out who the hell they are bringing me to anyway.

I did as I was instructed and followed the huge man into the mansion.

The mansion was huge like really huge but I wasn't bothered about that.

Perhaps it belongs to some drug lord?

Or maybe a loan shark?

Out of all the numerous population of earth why does it have to be me?

This better not be some scene from the movie where the poor main character is kidnapped and the bad guys demand for ransom.

I don't have six figures in my account. If I did I wouldn't be here in the first place for goodness sake. I need to clear the air. These people probably mistook me for someone else. I'll be very happy if they realised that instead of wasting all of our time.

Or am I mistaken for Jamie? I mean that's the only explanation. Jamie is a highly paid model. Since we are friends they probably thought I was her or..

No! Kayla is my best friend and she's dating the heir of Royal hotel. Perhaps they wanted to kidnap her and demand ransom from Shawn, her boyfriend.

Okay this doesn't make sense. Why will I be mistaken for my friends? I'm just an ordinary girl working in a coffee shop and trying to make it in life. I'm not..

"Your answers await you in that room miss." the huge man in suit said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Was it really obvious that I was deep in thoughts?

Okay this is it. I either go in and come back out alive or in the worst case scenario, I go in and never come out.

But whatever the outcome may be, I'm not giving up without a fight.

"This it Ria." I muttered to myself before turning the door knob.

I walked into the room and realised I was in an office.

A man was sitting behind the huge desk with his back turned to me. Immediately he felt my presence he turned to look at me.

He was an old man. Probably in his 70s. He smiled at me but the smile wasn't reaching his eyes.

His eyes.. A familiar pair of grey eyes.

Oh my God! He isn't? Or is he?

"Miss Lee. It's nice to finally meet you." he said, standing to his full height.

By now, he was standing in front of me. His whole presence screamed power and authority. He was oozing confidence and much more. I felt intimidated and he knew it. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction he wanted.

"Who are you? Did you ask them to kidnap me?" I voiced as calm as I could, straightening my back and trying so hard to calm my nerves.

"Let's sit shall we?" he smiled, leading me to the sofa.

I scoffed.

Such an arrogant old man.

A very annoying one too.

I watched him settle on the sofa before taking my seat opposite his.

"Who are you?" I asked again, not hiding the fact that I was annoyed this time.

"Oh we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Antonio Moretti. I'm Dante's father." I felt chills rush down my spine and not in a good way.

Should I get up and run away?

With those huge looking ass men outside, I probably wouldn't make it to the door. So I don't think it's a good idea.

Can the floor open up and take me instead? That's one hell of a better option but it's not going to happen isn't it?

"I won't beat around the bush." he said in all seriousness, pouring himself a glass of wine before taking a long sip.

The truth is my hands were shaking and I was one nervous wreck. Still, I put on a straight face. There was no way I was letting the old man have the satisfaction of intimidating me.

"Let's make a deal." he spoke, setting down his now empty glass of wine on the table.

"A deal?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes a deal. See Miss Lee i believe you are a smart young lady. I don't know how much my son pays you to keep his bed warm but I have a better offer for you." he said, crossing his legs and folding his arms.

Just when I thought he couldn't be anymore intimidating.

Great.

He pulled out a briefcase from under the table and set it on the table. My eyes followed the movement of his hands as he opened the briefcase and turned it to me.

My hands formed into fists immediately I realised where the whole conversation was leading to.

"One million dollars. You can have it but on one condition. Leave my son and never see him again. Simple isn't it?"

I gasped, still looking at the man in front of me with the unshed tears that were begging to fall anytime soon.

"You can have a much better life. You can go back to school, get out of your hole of an apartment, that coffee shop and establish yourself. This is your opportunity. If you are smart you will take this chance."

He is right. With this huge amount of money I can have a better life. I can have everything I've always wanted except.. Dante

"You've been watching me?" my voice sounded broken even to my own ears.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere." was all he said.

"Well that is rude. And for your information I and your son ended things. We are not together anymore." I spoke with the courage I didn't know I had the whole time.

The man was arrogant, rude, annoying, you name it. He was getting on my every last nerves.

Who the hell does he think he is?

"That was what I thought until you were seen together again. I guess he didn't take my warnings seriously."

"Warnings? What warnings?" his words rang in my ears. His cold eyes met mine and I almost gasped.

"I promised him I would ruin you if he didn't end things with you only to find him meeting up with you again. Well since you are here then I better let you know." he said, getting up to his feet.

"Take this money and never see Dante again. Or else I'll ruin you, your friends and every loved ones of yours. It's a promise and one I'm willing to fulfil. Dare me."

You see, in a movie or some novel the woman is meant to choose her love over money. But this is reality and I'll have a better life with the money Mr. Moretti has offered in exchange for leaving his son.

But you know what I hate the most? That will be people who are so full of themselves. And I actually thought at first that Dante didn't care about me anymore. That almost made me take the money but now it's actually different.

This man, his father, threatened his own son just to have his way. He is what you call a disgrace to fatherhood. It's a real shame that Dante has a father like him.

"Mr. Moretti. I don't know why you think your son is paying me to sleep with him but you know what? I don't care about what people like you think about me. And I want to thank you very much for telling me that you threatened your son to end things with me. I almost thought he didn't care about me anymore and I was going to accept your offer. But you know what?" I stood up and his cold eyes followed my movement.

"I'll have to reject your offer Mr. Moretti. You see, love cannot be bought but I guess people like you will never be able to understand. I love Dante and if he's willing to be with me again then I'm ready to fight for him. So leave me the fuck alone and yes I dare you to try to ruin me. You can always try but in the end love always win."

"You are making a terrible mistake." he spat, anger obvious in his eyes.

The mere thought that I got the old man all riled up was victory itself. And now my courage had doubled tenfold.

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. We shall see Mr. Moretti."

And with that said, I turned my back and stormed out of the mansion.

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

"Stop sucking like a fool. Wasn't it your choice to refuse the money?" Kay rolled her eyes.

"I know. You think I did the right thing?" I asked, my eyes glued to the old wallpaper in my sitting room.

"Well if you ask me, one million dollars is no joke. With that huge amount of money you can be everything you've always dreamed of and more." she told me.

"Ugh! I should have just taken the money right?" I whined, my face in my hands.

"But you know that only means you will no longer be with Dante. That would have been the price you had to pay." Jamie's voice came through the phone.

After my encounter with Mr. Moretti, Kay came over to my place the next day. I told her everything that happened. Jamie too, but she couldn't make it because of her sudden trip to Korea for a magazine shoot. So instead she filled her absence by being present through the phone.

"So you think I did the right thing?" I asked.

"Yes. And I'm so proud of you. People like Antonio Moretti needs to be put in their place."

"I'm not saying you did the wrong thing honey but one million dollars girl." Kay groaned.

"Right? That's a lot isn't it?" I sighed.

"Exactly my point. You could have taken the money and still be with Dante. His dad would have ended up playing the role of Santa." Kay shrugged.

"Then it would have been a Christmas-came-early gift trust me."

"I should have done that right? Oh I'm so stupid. How come I didn't think of that? I wish they had kidnapped us both. You would have been so helpful."

"Uhm.. I don't think that's a good idea." Kay smiled sheepishly.

"Come on Ria. You did the right thing so stop beating yourself up about it." Jamie groaned through the phone.

"You chose your love and that's all that matters."

"And where the hell is the Dante anyway?" Kay asked.

"I don't know." I sighed.

"Just give him some time Ria. Everything will fall in place okay? I have to go now. Bye girls."

"Bye Jamie." Kay and I said in unison.

"You heard what she said right? Everything is going to fall in place so stop over thinking and get some rest okay?"

"Thank you. I wouldn't know what to do without you girls." I told her before enveloping her in a tight hug.

"It's what friends are for honey. Do you want me to sleep over?"

"I think I'll be fine." I smiled.

"Alright I better get going then. It's almost midnight."

"Thank you and good night."

"Good night honey."

I was just settling down on my old couch when the door bell rang.

Why is everything in my apartment so old? Ugh! I really should have taken the money.

I sighed before going to get the door.

"Did you forget something this time again Kay? You are always so.."

My mouth hung open in the air immediately I opened the door.

It isn't Kay.

It's actually..

Oh my God!