Sold To Him

Tess' POV.

Wiping down the bar, my father is meeting with some businessmen. They have this aura about them that makes me afraid of them. I wish I could hear what they are saying, but I am too far away and don't want to be nosy.

One of them keeps glancing at me, I am trying to stay calm, but I don't know if he can see I am nervous. I grabbed some stuff to take outside so I can get some fresh air, I know working constantly is getting me to the point I am going to hate it when I am older.

Business is slow, and I know my father is struggling to maintain my mother's cancer treatment. I don’t know if she is going to make it through it but I am hoping she does.

My father glances in my direction and frowns and then turns and signs something, handing it back to one of them.

"Pleasure doing business with you." The man he handed the paper spoke with a thick Russian accent. "We'll be in touch." He said, glancing at me and then focusing on my father.

"Let me show you out." My father spoke in a nervous voice.

I don't know if he is scared. Maybe he is worried about my mother. Or maybe he owes this man now. I don't know.

But I hope business picks up and he can hire people because working here every night after school, my grades are falling, and there is very little I can do about it.

When my father returned to the bar, he didn't say anything. He went to the office and closed the door. I could hear him talking to someone, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.

"Hey there, Tess." Michael, the bartender said, coming towards me. "Wow, this place is cleaned up better than I do." He mused. "Been here long?"

Without looking at him. "Yeah, all morning. Dad had some important people here earlier and wanted to impress them, I guess." I said, rolling my eyes. "How are you?" He said, touching my face. "Miss me?"

"Maybe," I said, walking away from him.

Michael has a crush on me, but my dad put it to rest when he said he couldn't date me. Which, in a way, is a good thing. I don't know if I like him back and he's a lot older than me.

"Michael, good you're here." He said, looking at me. "We're about to open. You need to be on your toes tonight. Mr. Ivanov is sending people here tonight to test the food."

"I always am," I said, rolling my eyes. "Hire more people, and this place won't fall short of what it once was."

I didn't stick around to get chewed out. I went and put my work shirt on and then my wolf pendant that my Mom gave me before she got sick.

She told me it would help me and it would help her, but she is still sick and dying, and I don't know what I will do if she dies.

"See now you look too nice to be a waitress." Michael joked. "Your father is angry today. I would avoid him."

"He's been grumpy since he found out my mom got cancer, three years I think now," I said, rolling my eyes.

I walked past him and put my name tag on. I didn't want to be here until midnight, but I didn't have a choice.

"Tess." My father growled. "Come in here."

I walked into the office, half expecting him to yell for something, but he handed me money.

"Here, since you've been here all day." He sighed. "I am sorry about earlier. I had to sign something to get some help. Tonight is a test run to see if he'll help me or not."

"No worries, I know this is a lot to take on. Mom is not doing well." I sighed.

I know he doesn't want to talk about it, and that is fine. I don't want to face losing her, but I know it's going to happen.

He didn't say anything he didn't have to.

"I'm going to work."

I left him there, I didn't hover long as I knew my going to make this night happen was all he wanted. I have seven tables to myself. Sometimes, I want to quit, but I don't.

I also get to seat people and get their drinks and everything else.

First customer, great, I am not ready for tonight.

"Welcome to Danny's," I said, putting on a smile. "Booth or table?"

"Bar." He said in a Russian accent.

"Right this way," I said, leading him to the bar. "Michae l will take your order, and I'll bring it out." I smiled as he sat down.

"Thank you, love." He said with a wink.

Two hours before closing time.

I was at the bar when a strong cologne hit my nose. I looked, and three men walked in. They are well-dressed and look pretty serious.

Were these the men that my father was afraid of? Or the ones that will put this restaurant on the map or in the ground.

"Tess." My father growled. "They are here, please just keep to the restaurant."

"I will." I rolled my eyes.

"Welcome. Sorry for the delay. Booth or table?" I asked, grabbing the menus.

"Booth, please." He said in a Russian accent.

Great, another one. I wonder if they are all related to this deal my father signed.

"Right this way." I smiled, leading them to a quieter area of my area. "Do you know what you would like to drink?" I asked as they each got comfortable.

"Vodka and a Coke separately for us." He said, looking at the other two.

"I'll be back with them. Here are the menus." I said, handing them out before I walked away.

I am nervous even though I know how to keep it together.

"Tough crowd?" Michael asked.

I glanced at the table. "No, they are nice, vodka and cokes for them don't make them wait. I don't know if they are here to see if they want to help my dad." I said, glancing back. One of them is staring at us.

"Here." He said, handing me the tray of drinks.

Walking back over to the table, I placed each one of them in front of them. "Did you decide what you wanted to order?" I asked nicely.

"Tell me about your specials?" The man dressed the nicest asked.

"We have a Polish steak and boiled potatoes, beef stroganoff, or we can do the soup of the day, which I wouldn't recommend," I said, keeping eye contact with him.

"So if you were me, what would you suggest?" He asked.

"Please, Mr. Ivanov she doesn't know what you would eat." My father said coming up from behind. "I think you'd like the steak it's cut fine and very good."

"I didn't ask you, Danny." He snapped at my father. "Please, if you would?" He said, looking at me.

"If I were you, I'd like the beef stroganoff," I said, holding my breath, hoping he didn't like my choice.

"Hm." He said, glancing at my father and then back to me. "I think that sounds good." He mused. "Maybe there is some hope here. Go ahead, Tess." He said, looking at my father. "Guess you and I will have a chat while we wait. Sit down, Danny."

I walked away, which was kind of intense. I don't know if he truly wanted the food I chose, but I am glad he didn't give me any shit for the choice.

I walked into the kitchen, and Michael followed me.

"What happened?" He said, touching my arm.

"Nothing, but my father wanted to come and interrupt, so now he is most likely getting his ass chewed out. That table is the one that is helping the restaurant." I said, turning toward the cooks.

"Beef stroganoff, make sure it's good, please, guys."

"Anything for you, Tessie," Andrew said, smiling.

When their food was ready, I took it out there and then I went outside to get some air.

"There you are." My dad said, coming outside. "What the hell was that?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "He asked and put me in the spot. I like beef stroganoff, so I recommended it, and apparently, he liked the idea."

"I'll take the table, it's getting late go and do your homework." He snarled. "Then take your ass home, I won't be home tonight. I have more work to do thanks to you."

I went back inside and to his office like he said. I knew whatever tip he left for me I wouldn't get it. That's fine though since my dad gave me money from earlier.

I grabbed my bag and went out to the lobby. My dad was at my table. I could tell the one they spoke is pissed off that I am not there to finish the table.

The one that kept staring at me stood up when he spotted me. I kept walking. I am sure my dad is going to kick my ass when he gets home.

As the cold air hit my face, I closed my eyes, and my anxiety cleared up a little bit.

"Hey, wait a minute." An unfamiliar voice spoke.

I turned to face the voice, and my heart went into my throat.

Tess' POV.

I didn't know what to say. One of the Russians stood there, and he was kind of hot. I didn’t want to be rude and not say anything if he was part of this deal my dad was making, I had to be nice. I have to be calm though, I don’t know if I can though.

He stopped walking and stared at me for a minute before speaking. My heart is racing, I look around to make sure I have somewhere to run if I need to run but I am frozen in place. "Where are you going? Do you always leave in the middle of serving?" He mused.

I took a deep breath before speaking, I know I cannot mess this up. "No, my dad told me to leave. He is angry at me, and I know he is going to scream at me for days because I messed up." I said, trying to hold back my tears.

I wasn't sure if he would say anything, I guess it didn't matter. I know I don’t know him and I shouldn’t worry about what my father is doing and what he gets himself into. I know if he involves me in this it's going to change a lot of things.

He smiled. "You didn't screw anything up. You need to tell your father that." He said, taking a step towards me.

I looked at the door half expecting my dad to be standing there waiting to yell at me because I was not going home and I was standing there talking to someone he was afraid of. "Doesn't matter he took over. This whole thing is a disaster. I need to go." I said, walking away from him.

I could feel his eyes on me, I didn't dare to turn to look back. I didn't want to mess this up any more than it already is.

I don't know what my dad is going to do to me when he gets home, but I know he isn't going to be gentle.

“Wait.” He said catching up to me. “Why don’t I give you a ride home, since it's about to pour?" He said looking up at the sky. “I would feel better knowing you got home safely.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Well, I want to know more about your pendant.” He said pointing to my wolf. “You like wolves?” he smirked.

“Yeah, they are loyal, pack and family. It's something I’ve wanted for a long time; this brings me some comfort.” I said touching it. “Do you?”

“Of course.” He said pulling out his wolf pendant, ours almost looked the same, except mine had jades on it. “Almost the same as yours.”

“I got mine from my mom,” I said as it started to rain.

“Let’s continue this in the car.” He said asking me to follow him, and I did.

I know it’s a bad idea to follow someone to their car, it's night and raining and well I don’t want to walk in it. I know I am going to be protected.

He opened the door to his SUV and helped me inside before he ran to the other side and got in. “Wow, it's pouring.” He mused. “Guess I kind of came out in the nick of time huh?”

When he got in, he smelled good. I don’t know what he is wearing but I wanted to be wrapped around in it, I know this is crazy. I tried to keep my cool, I hope he doesn’t notice I am smelling the air. “Yeah maybe.” I giggled.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Marcus, and of course I know yours. Tess.” He winked. “You were doing well tonight, shame your father doesn’t think you can do it alone. How old are you?”

“Seventeen, I cannot wait until I can get out of this place, my father makes me work because he doesn’t have money to hire someone to help me.” I sighed. “My grades are failing, but never mind about that. I am sure you don’t want to hear everything about a teenager’s problem. How old are you?”

“Twenty-four.” He smirked. “I had those same problems, except I had more than one person barking orders at me, it was hell growing up but it will make you stronger if you want it to, you are strong aren’t you, Tess?” he asked.

“I’d like to think so, the blisters on my feet tell me I am still alive.” I sighed. Remembering the pain I am going to feel when I take the bandages off, I didn’t want to keep having them but I don’t know how to make them stop forming.

I closed my eyes and thought about the first time I got one, it was kind of cool to see the liquid come out of it, but then another and another one happened and they started to hurt more. Now they aren’t healing and it seems like my feet are always on fire.

Shaking my head bringing me back to the car. “Sorry.” I sighed. “I am sure you don’t want to hear about that stuff.” I giggled in nervousness. He didn’t say anything, and he managed to find my house. “Um, how did you know where I live?” I asked kind of worried.

“Your father.” He mused. “The address is on the contract he signed with my boss Dante, but don’t worry, I won’t come here unless you want me to or you need a ride. I’m not a weirdo I promise.” He said as the car came to a stop. “See you around Tess.” He smiled.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said before getting out of the car and running to the door. It was pouring out, I glanced into the road he was still sitting there, I closed the door and took off my shoes. My feet are hurting, I know I need to get better shoes but I need the lightweight ones.

Pulling off the bandages, my blisters are bleeding, I turn on the bath and wait for it to fill up before stripping and getting in.

The hot water hurts my feet, I ignore the pain until it's numb. I thought about Marcus, his green eyes were memorizing, I knew he was going to come back to the restaurant, and I hoped he wouldn’t say anything to my father about giving me a ride home.

I know I won’t say anything because I know it's just going to cause more issues than I want, and I don’t want him smacking me since he seems to be doing that a lot more. I have bruises on my arms and back from him hitting me.

Getting out of the tub, I am tired and it's almost 1 am now. I don’t know if I will get up for school tomorrow, I know I need to but I don’t know if I will. I know if my dad finds out I am cutting school he is going to freak out at me but it doesn’t matter, I don’t care anymore.

I sat near the front door and watched the rain. I don’t know if he is coming home tonight, I know he likes to go and drink and stuff. I wish he wouldn’t, I know he is taking from the restaurant because he can’t deal with my mom dying but there isn’t anything we can do about it, I wish he would see that.

No, I don’t want to see my mom die, but it’s not going to change anything. She is suffering through all the stuff she is going through, part of me wants to go and see her and tell her that she should come home and die since she is likely to die at the hospital without us there. I don’t know how I am going to react when they finally call and say she has taken her last breath.

Turning the TV on, I wanted to lay here but I know I won’t be able to sleep if it's on, but my mind keeps wandering back to Marcus. Why did he come outside and give me a ride? Is this some kind of thing to get me to talk? I hope I didn’t say anything that he can use against my dad, he didn’t look too happy when I told him I had blisters.

I know he shouldn’t care, I am no one to him, but I did kind of like him. It was nice to have a conversation with him as he does like wolves. I know lots of people like wolves, but I could tell by the pendant he has it goes deeper than that.

Looking at my pendant, I wish I would have asked where he got his, I wanted to get more wolf stuff but my dad doesn’t like it when I look at it. Yeah, I have some secret wolf stuff that he doesn’t know I bought I know he would destroy them before I hide them.

Getting to my feet I went to the fridge and grabbed some milk and cookies, yeah, he keeps the junk food in the house which is awesome because I couldn’t go without sugar. I grabbed my bag and looked to see if I finished all of my homework, I knew I had to figure out how to keep up with school I had one more year and I needed to make it. If I want to get out of this shitty town.

I went back to the window and watched the rain more, it was calming down but still coming down nicely. I remember being a little girl and running around in it with my mom. I miss those days, I miss having her around with her bright smile.

Now she lays in a bed and doesn’t say much, I don’t know if she is giving up on life or if she knows everything isn’t going to be alright and she is leaving me with a bad memory of her. I will never forget her, and what she has done for me. I am heartbroken.