Bella's POV
"Grrrrrr."
The sound of my phone blaring jolted me awake. I groan, burying my face in the pillow, refusing to open my eyes. I tried to ignore it, but it kept ringing, pushing me to roll over to the other side of my bed as I screamed into the duvet.
Then I heard the twisting of my door handle, the door creaked open.
"What the hell!" I screamed, clutching my duvet against my chest as I stared at the intruder in Horror, shock, and disbelief, it was my best friend.
"Have you gone insane, maya?" I yelled.
"And how the hell did you get in, you little psychopath?"
She rolled her eyes and held up the spare key I gave her, "Come on, Bella. You're the laziest person I know. You forgot our outing, didn't you?" I sighed because.... I did forget. How do I ever put up with you?"
I faked gaps, sending a glare her way. Before grabbing my phone. 8am. What the hell!! Who goes out this early? Groaning, I buried myself under the duvet, I wasn't a morning person. Ignoring the fact that my annoying best friend had made herself at home and was now bouncing around my room.
Maya was perfect in her way. Her striking grey eyes and honey-blond curls framing her face, and her model-like body. Her parents, Mr and mrs Monroe, owned a small company they had a good reputation in society. Oh, and she was crazy. And acts on impulse.
And there's me.
Thick black hair that reached my waist—not natural; I was a redhead. But got bullied for it, so I dyed it. My weird green eyes, thick curvy thighs. A body most girls don't wish for, and boys die for. To me, I was plain and boring. And I love sleeping.
The duvet was yanked off me, cutting my train of thought. I blinked up at maya, now standing on my bed, hovering over me. "Bella, remember you promised," she said, giving me those puppy eyes. There where my undoing, I loved my best friend.
"But can I sleep in just a little? You know I love sleeping—it's my hobby. And it's still quite early," tried to reason, hoping for mercy.
Instead, she picked up a pillow and smacked me with it. "Nope. You are not wasting today in bed, Bella." Then she grinned widely " Because we are going shopping!!" She screeched.
I groaned internally but forced a smile. This was going to be a long day. Girls love shopping, but I wasn't like most girls. I'd rather do the opposite—Sleep. But maya loved it. Our personalities are nothing alike. But she's my best friend regardless.
****
We went from one store to another. I barely got anything, but maya was now holding her tenth shopping bag—this one from Sephora—when she nudged me, "Bella, look at that guy, he's so hot," she whispered.
I glanced over where she subtly pointed, then rolled my eyes. "Wait, don't tell me you don't find him attractive." She said with a snicker.
"Maya, I'm not interested in drooling over a guy who looks obnoxious. He's not my type anyway," I clarified. Maybe my type didn't even exist.
"Bella, you're nineteen and you're still waiting for some fantasy man to come sweep you off your feet. News flash, if you want a boyfriend, honey, you've gotta date."
I let her rant, tuning her out. I was just nodding along when something outside the glass storefront caught my gaze. A black car. Parked across the street.
I noticed it's been following me for a while now. At the studio gallery and now here. Or was I making things up? I closed my eyes, hoping it was just in my head and That when I opened them, it won't be there. But when I opened them, it was still there.
I forced myself to look away, listening to Maya talk about a pair of shoe she liked. But even if I tried to ignore the fear and panic growing in my head. It's been two weeks since this started, following me. At first, the mall, Maya's house, and now everywhere.
"Maya, it's the same car, the one I told you about a couple of days before?" I whispered to maya, giving her a subtle glance toward where the car was parked. She followed my direction, eyeing the car suspiciously, and then frowned."
"Bella it's just your own thoughts, this why I told you to come out more, and stop burying your yourself in that empty house with those books." I rolled my eyes, " But I'm serious. This is serious," I said.
She paused, looking at me. "Who do you think is following you, bella? You don't have enemies. You can't even hurt a fly," she stated the obvious.
I reflected on her words, indeed, I don't have any obsessed ex-lover like the ones I read in books. I wasn't famous in high school. And there were prettier girls in this town, so it couldnt be any mad stalker. Maybe she's right, it's just my imagination.
"Maya, let's go grab some burgers. I'm starving." I said, dismissing the thought. "Yuppp, Bella, let go. My stomach is churning," she said dramatically, grabbing my hand.
We ate at a small cafe opposite the mall. Maya kept telling about a date she went on, and how he threw up on her $1000 Versace dress. I laughed, the image vivid in my mind, but I couldnt shake the thought of the car.
After we had our fill, it was time to go home. Not like I had anyone waiting. Mum had died of cancer two years ago. no siblings, just me. Dad was hardly around anymore and when he was, he was either drunk or passed out. He hadn't been the same since she died. gambling became his escape.
A light tap on my arm pulled me from my thoughts, we had arrived at my house.
" Bye, maya," I said as I stepped out of the car. "Don't forget to pick me up for school, my car broke down," I reminded her.
"Sure, sweetheart," she hugged me tight. Then drove off. I waited until her car disappeared.
l turned towards the parking lot, Dad's car wasn't there,not surprising. we lived in a two-story bungalow, modest but well furnished. Dad worked as a salesman. Used to earn enough for us to live comfortably. Until Mum died, and he changed.
I turned heading towards the front door.
But there it was again. That same black car parked further down the street. A strange urge drove me forward, to confirm if it was real—or just my paranoia. Not thinking about the consequences. I strode towards the car, but it as I got close , the car suddenly accelerated and speed away. Weird.
shrugging it off, i walked inside. Darkness greeted me-except the flickering fire place. A shadowed figure sat there. whiskey bottle in hand.
"Dad?" I crouched to get a better look. His face bruised. A swollen black eye and other minor cuts.
"What happened to you?" I whispered, touching his cheek gently. I know these past two years we've been far from each other. But I still care, his my dad after all.
He looked up, eyes dazed, but worried. "My sweet rose." he muttered. "I tried you shield you from this life. But it always catches up with us,"
I was confused. "What do you mean, Dad?" I asked. "I'm sorry, please forgive me, my beautiful daughter." I still wasn't getting what he meant.
Then came a strange knock, almost immediately, a bullet shot went through the door. As the door smacked open. Men clad in black suits stormed in, guns raised. They formed a line. Creating a path for something or someone.
I felt it before I saw him; the air grew cold. His presence demanding attention, I stood in front of my father, shielding him, even tho my nerves where wrecking.
This strange man walked towards us, not caring that he barged into our home, as if he owned it.
"Who are you? Why are you in our house?" I asked. Putting on the meanest bitch face I could muster. He stepped close. Towering me. He lowered his face until we were eye to eye.
A godlike face. sharp jawline, 5 o'clock shadow, crooked nose. A neck tattoo peaking from his collar, And those eyes—deep amber with golden rings. They could swallow me whole.
"Oh, Rosa mia, you didn't know," his voice -dark baritone—sent heat pooling below my stomach. Making my skin prickle.
Then he leaned in, his breath grazing my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
"Didn't Daddy tell you...." he laughed low, "you've been sold." I froze, turning to my dad, desperate for denial or an explanation. But the resigned look on his face said it all.
"No.. No.. Dad, you didn't, right? He's lying. You wouldn't sell your only daughter."
But all I got was a hollow, broken whisper," I'm sorry."
This strange man grinned like the devil. " I own you now, Rosa Mai."