LOVE FOR SALE (Enigma X Beta)
CHAPTER 1: The Warehouse
Marco Xion [Alpha]
Three months, three fucking months, and you give me excuses? 💢
Marco Xion [Alpha]
Your mother? Your sister? I don't care if your whole family's dying!💢
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
((gasping, blood trickling from his lip)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Please...
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
🙏 🙏 🙏
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Please... just one more week.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
I get paid next Friday. I'll give you half...
Marco Xion [Alpha]
Half? Half?💢
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Agh!!
Marco Xion [Alpha]
You owe us twenty thousand! 💢
Marco Xion [Alpha]
What's half gonna do?💢
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Marco❄️❄️
Marco Xion [Alpha]
(straightening immediately)
Marco Xion [Alpha]
Boss. I was just...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I can see what you were doing❄️❄️
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(stops a few feet away, hands in his pockets, studying April with detached curiosity)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
How much does he owe?❄️❄️
Marco Xion [Alpha]
Twenty grand. Three months overdue. This little shit keeps...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I asked how much. Not for commentary.❄️❄️
Marco Xion [Alpha]
(swallowing) Twenty thousand, sir.
SERG crouches down to April's level, tilting his head. His eyes are dark, unreadable. April can barely look at him.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Look at me.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(slowly lifting his gaze, terrified)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You have a name?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(whispers) Miyumi... but people call me April.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
April. (a ghost of a smile) Cute.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You're Beta, aren't you? I can't smell much on you.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(confused, nods slightly) Y-yes...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
And your mother needs treatment. What's wrong with her?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(voice cracking) Stage three cancer.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
The hospital in Japan, they won't continue chemotherapy unless... unless we pay upfront.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
My sister, she's only sixteen, she can't work yet, and I...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Stop.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(stands, looks down at him) You're a terrible investment, April.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Do you understand that? You work overseas labor, you send everything home, you live in a shoebox, and you borrow from people like us.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You'll never get out of this hole.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(tears streaming) I know... I know I'm worthless, I just...please don't hurt my family.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
They don't know I borrowed this money. It's my fault, all my fault...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(to Marco) Leave us.❄️❄️
Marco Xion [Alpha]
(hesitates) Boss?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(sharp) Did I stutter?❄️❄️
MARCO quickly exits. The warehouse door slams shut. Silence. April trembles on the floor.
Chapter 2: Sold
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Stand up.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(struggling to his feet, swaying)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I'm going to make you an offer.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You're going to listen very carefully, and then you're going to make a choice.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(wiping blood from his mouth) What... what kind of offer?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Your debt disappears. Completely. I'll also wire two hundred thousand yen to your mother's hospital tonight. Enough for her full treatment cycle.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(eyes widening) What? Why would you...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Because I want something in return.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(backing up slightly) I... I don't have anything. I'm nobody...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You have yourself. I need someone... clean.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Why??
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(blowing smoke)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
You'll work for me. Live in my house. Be available when I need you...for errands, for appearances, for whatever I decide.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
In exchange, your debt is gone, your mother gets her treatment, and you get a salary that'll support your sister through university.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(shaking) I don't understand...
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(suspicious despite his fear) That's... that's too much. What do you really want?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(dark amusement in his eyes) Let's just say I find you... interesting. And I always acquire what interests me.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Are you going to... (can't finish the sentence)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
What? Fuck you?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(laughs coldly) Not unless you beg me to. I'm not in the habit of forcing myself on anyone, April. I don't need to.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(leans in close) But make no mistake...if you accept this deal, you belong to me. Your time, your loyalty, your life.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
The only thing I won't touch without permission is your body. Everything else? Mine.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(breathing hard) And if I say no?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Then you walk out of here with your kneecaps intact...because I'm feeling generous tonight. But the debt remains.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Marco will come for you again. And again. And eventually, he'll visit your family in Japan.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(watches April's face pale) I don't make the same offer twice.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(hands shake as he processes everything)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(voice barely audible) Will my mother really get the treatment?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(pulling out his phone) Give me the hospital name and her patient number.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(stunned) Now?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Now. I don't waste time.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(reciting the information through tears)
Chapter 3: The Cage
SERG makes a call in rapid mood fluently spoke Japanese while issuing instructions. While April only hears numbers, wire transfer, and immediate payment and after two minutes, SERG hangs up.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Done.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
They'll receive confirmation in ten minutes.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Now. Do we have a deal?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(falling on his knees)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Yes... yes, thank you, I'll do anything...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Don't thank me yet. You have no idea what you just agreed to.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(studies his face) But I think you'll be perfect.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(Meeting his eyes) What are you?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(smirking) Something you've probably never met before. An Enigma.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(turns toward the exit) Come. We're leaving. You're bleeding on the floor.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(following on unsteady legs)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Where are we going?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Home. My home. Your home now.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(doesn't look back) Welcome to your new life, April. Try not to disappoint me.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
...
SERG's penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the glittering city. Modern, cold luxury. APRIL stands in the entrance, still bloodied, clutching his small backpack. A woman in her 50s, HELENA, the head housekeeper, look at him with concern.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(removing his jacket, tossing it to Helena)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Helena, this is April. He'll be staying here from now on.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Get him cleaned up, fed, and show him to the guest room on the third floor.
Helena [Housekeeper]
Yes, Sir.
Helena [Housekeeper]
Should I prepare something.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Everything. Clothes, toiletries, whatever he needs.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(glances at April) I'll have documents drawn up tomorrow. You start officially the day after.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(still processing)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Start what exactly?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(checking his phone, distracted)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Your job. We'll discuss details later.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(heading toward his private wing) Don't wander into the east wing. That's my personal space. Touch nothing in my office. Break nothing expensive.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
Wait, you're leaving?
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I have business. I'm not a babysitter, April.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
...
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
I mean, shouldn't we talk about...
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(mildly amused) What's there to talk about? You agreed. The money's transferred.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(studies him) You look terrible. Get sleep.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(frustrated despite himself)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
You bought me like... like furniture, and now you're just leaving?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
💭(Outrageous😤)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(eyes narrowing)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I didn't buy you. I invested in you. There's a difference. And yes, I'm leaving.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Do you have a problem with that?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(backing down immediately)
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
No... no, sir.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(stepping closer) Let's get something straight.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
I saved your mother's life tonight. I erased your debt. I gave you a way out of the gutter. The least you can do is not question every move I make. Understood?
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(swallowing) Understood.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Good 😏
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(to Helena) Make sure he eats. He's too thin.
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
(strides away, then calls back without turning)
Serg Kleran [Enigma]
Oh, and April? Don't even think about running. I'll know within three minutes, and I promise you won't like what happens next.
Miyumi Tanaka|April [Beta]
(stand frozen)
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![Marco Xion [Alpha]](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/12152718/avatar/43144037/17660593415.jpeg-s200webp?sign=1d0b325290706d401850f4fb03e4259b&t=69dbeda8)
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