The Trade

Having grown up in a small town in Texas, Aurora dreamed of the day she could leave for New York and break into the modelling business. She wanted excitement, thrills, and to find a man who could fulfill her in so many different ways.

After being in New York for two months and not having any luck in her modelling career, she had to take a job as a waitress in a small diner to pay for her rent and to eat. It was on a slow day that she saw a man walk in and sit down; two other men were with him. He was gorgeous, his skin tanned, with long hair pulled back into a ponytail, and he wore an expensive suit. She guessed his age to be in the early twenties.

As she comes over, she hands him the menu and smiles. She was surprised when he grabbed her wrist and held it while he spoke to her.

“You’re new here. What is your name?”

“Aurora, Aurora Ice,” she said, feeling the firm grip he had on her; it didn’t hurt, though.

“Nice name. We’ll have the special,” he said, letting go of her.

After their meal was eaten and the bill paid, he stayed behind while the other two men left. He asked her to take a break and join him for coffee. Since she was going on break, she accepted his offer.

“I am Abe Ridley. You’ll forgive me for being blunt, but you are too beautiful to be working in a diner. I would think that you were an actress or a model.”

She smiled and blushed at his compliment. “Thank you. I actually came here to try to get into modelling. But it’s so much harder than I thought it would be. I found out you need to know someone connected to the business before you can even think of getting noticed.”

“You’re in luck. I happen to have a friend who owns a modelling company, and with one word from me, he’ll check you out. I could make some calls if you like.”

Her eyes lit up; she couldn’t believe her luck. “Would you?”

“Of course, I would. Let me take you to dinner tonight, and we can discuss it further.”

She started to wonder whether he was telling her the truth or just saying it to get her to go out with him. After all, she didn’t know him and had not seen him until today.

Seeing her hesitate, he reached over, taking her hand in his. “I know we’ve just met and you do not know me, so that we can go to a public place. You will be safe having others around. I am telling you the truth about my friend, but I also find you attractive and would love to get to know you.”

She looks at him; he is so handsome and thinks, what would be the harm in one dinner? “OK, Mr. Ridley, I would love to go out with you.”

“Excellent,” he said, standing up, and grabbed a napkin. “Write down your address, and I’ll pick you up at seven.”

She was dressed and ready by the time Abe knocked on her apartment door. “Would you like to come in for a drink first?” she asked, stepping aside for him to enter.

With his back to her, he checked out the small space that was her apartment and made a face, one of disgust. Turning back to face her, he put on a smile. “I’ve made reservations, so we should go now.”

“Oh, alright, I’ll just grab my purse.”

When they got downstairs, there was a black Mercedes-Benz with a driver waiting. He opened the door for them, and she slid in first, followed by Abe. She was impressed with how much of a gentleman he was being and the way he made small talk with her. The restaurant he took her to was impressive, and they all seemed to know him and gave him extra attention.

“Those two men over there,” She discreetly pointed. “They walked in behind us, and now they keep staring at us.”

He placed his hand over hers. “Have no fear, they are my men.”

“Your men,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“I am a very wealthy and well-known man; they are my bodyguards. A man in my position has many enemies, and it’s best to have some protection.” He smiles at her. “May I order for you?”

“Yes, please do,” she answered, taking a sip of her wine.

During the meal, she found him quite charming, and he didn’t try to get fresh with her; she liked that in a man. She felt at ease with him, so when he suggested they go back to his place for a nightcap and said he would make that call to his friend, she agreed. She didn't think anything bad would happen.

Abe placed his hand on the small of her back as he walked her over to the door to his penthouse. He stepped aside for her to walk in first. She couldn’t believe her eyes; it was so posh and elegant, and she had only seen something like it in books.

“Have a seat, and I’ll get us some wine,” he said, walking her over to the white leather sofa.

“Your home is beautiful and so big,” she said, taking the wine from his hand when he offered it to her.

“I will give you a tour of the place. It has three bedrooms and four bathrooms: an office, a den, and an exercise room. You’ll like the kitchen, it has every new appliance. Can you cook?”

“Yes,” she said.

Taking the glass from her and setting it down took her hand. “Let me show you around, and then we can sit and talk. I want to get to know you better.”

“It’s amazing,” she said when the tour was done.

When they sat down, he moved closer, putting his arm around her shoulder. “If you don’t mind, I would like to kiss you.”

She closed her eyes when he placed his lips on hers. At first, he was gentle, but then he pushed her back, and his kiss turned more demanding, crushing her lips. Suddenly, she felt fear and, putting her hands on his chest, pushed him away. More fear crept inside her when she saw the anger flashing in his eyes. He was different now; his demeanour had changed, and his body had become rigid.

Just then, his phone rang; he moved and, standing up, answered the call. ”Bring her here now,” he said and hung up.

She stood. “I see you have company coming. If you could order me a cab, I’ll go home.”

“I’ll see you get home after I deal with a problem.” He goes over to the bar and pours her another drink, popping a pill into it before turning around and going over, handing it to her.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Something didn’t feel right to her. She jumped when there was a loud knock at the door. Taking a long sip of her drink, she watched him go over and open it. Two men entered, each one holding the arms of a woman as they dragged her inside. Frozen in fear, all she could do was sit there, speechless.

The woman was young, around her own age. She wore an expensive gown and had on a diamond necklace and earrings.

“Abe, please,” the woman cried out.

Aurora gasped when he raised his hand and slapped the woman so hard. If the two men weren’t holding her, she would have fallen to the ground.

“Don’t speak,” he barked at her. “You have disrespected and betrayed me when you talked to one of my enemies. What should I do with you?” He snapped his fingers, and the two men backed away.

“I’m sorry, Abe. Give me another chance to prove my loyalty to you. I’ll do anything you want,” she said, tears falling down her face.

Abe walked behind her, putting his hand on her neck as he leaned over and caressed her neck with his lips. “Anything?” he asked her.

“Yes, anything.”

His arm went around her neck, and his hand placed on the side of her head. He used blunt force as he twisted, snapping her neck, and she fell to the floor, dead.

Standing up, she let out a scream, dropping her glass and spilling red wine over the thick white carpet. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the scene before her. The last thing she remembered before she passed out was Abe cursing that now he would need to have the carpet replaced.

********************************************

Her head was pounding, and when she opened her eyes, she had to wait until her vision cleared. Something was definitely wrong. Turning her head, she saw Abe lying with his back to her, and he was naked. She felt sore between her legs and, lifting the sheet, found she too was naked. Her hand flew to her mouth to stop from screaming when she realized what must have happened, and remembered what he had done to that woman.

She moved further from him when she saw he was awake and watching her. “What did you do to me?”

“Fucked you,” he said with a smirk on his face.

“You drugged and raped me, she said, tears filling her eyes.

“I had to, I knew how upset you would be after seeing how I dealt with a problem. I really wish you hadn’t seen that.”

“Just let me go, and I won’t tell anyone,” she cried out.

“I can’t do that, you are a witness.”

“Please, I just want to go home.”

He sat up, reaching over to take a strand of her long blonde hair, twirling it between his fingers. He smiled. “Oh, sweetheart, you are home.”

It dawns on her that he was never going to let her leave, not alive anyway. The next three weeks were hell. He had taken what little money she had saved in a bank account along with her phone. He had gotten rid of her apartment and all her belongings, and her job was also gone. At first, she fought him and refused his advances, but the more she fought him, the angrier he became, and her punishment worsened. With the threat of death looming over her head, she knew she had no choice but to do as she was told. Finding out he was mafia, she realized there was no escape from him or his brutality.

The only peace she got was when he went away on business. Sometimes he was gone for days, and she didn’t have to endure the sex when he climbed on top of her, grunting and groaning like a pig. She had to close her eyes and pretend she enjoyed it. Any hope of running away was out of the question as he had his men keep watch over her.

Soaking in the tub, she wanted to wash away Abe’s touch as she cried, wishing she were back in Texas. She kept her parents a secret from him, telling him they were dead. She couldn’t risk him going after them if something were to happen and she did escape. Someday she would, that she was sure about.

Saturday night was Abe’s night to go out to the casino to play cards; he always made her go with him. She was made to sit quietly by his side, dressed in an expensive dress like some trophy. She also had to wear the jewelry that he took from the woman he murdered. This night was again going to change her life when she met another powerful and wealthy man by the name of Dominick Quintus. Now, whether it was for the better or not wouldn’t be known for some time.