Sophie nervously shifted on her feet.

"I reckon you know who I am. I have a proposition for you. It will include our involvement. Naturally, you'll be taking care of financially. As a bonus I will offer to pay for your brother's education." He spoke bluntly. 

Sophie was so nervous her toes were tingling. Did she hear him right? Her blue eyes searched his face with uncertainty. He can't be offering what she thinks he is. She was in haze, and before it cleared up he continued on,"I will give you until tomorrow to think this over. Come here after your shift is over if you want to accept my proposal." The cigar in his hand burnt down and he squished it in the ashtray in front of him. 

"You can go now." He dismissed her.

With a heavy heart Sophie walked home still grinding thoughts in her mind. 

When she placed their supper on the table Eric complained,"Sophie can we have something else for supper beside cornmeal? This is the third time this week." 

Sophie's eyes field with tears. He was too little to understand they were lucky to have even that. 

At that moment she made the decision. Sophie knew what she had to do tomorrow. If it was only her she had to think about she would starve before she would say yes to a deal like that to sell herself. 

The next day she knocked at the office door and just walked in before she lost her courage. It felt like she walked into the lion's den. 

Jaxon lifted his head from the papers he read. The unhidden satisfaction appeared in his eyes followed by the smirk on his handsome face. 

"Sophie! I see you are here. That means one thing I suppose." His voice was smooth like a honey, and his silver eyes sparkled. They even lost their iciness. 

"Yes, Mr. Barnett." It was all she managed to say at that moment. She expected to wake up at any moment, but she wasn't surprised when he offered her a house and schooling for Eric in exchange to be his mistress. Sophie closed her eyes and tried not to think of what she just agreed to. She was ready to sacrifice herself for Eric. He will resent her one day for this, but she was prepared to take that as well. It was out of desperation that she said yes. Anything to secure his future. 

He pulled something out of one of the drawers of his desk. "Here is the key to your new accommodations in town." He intensely looked at her. Sophie wished she could vanish but stood still. 

Jaxon got up from his chair and walked towards her, and took the strand of her hair in between his fingers. The movement was so intimate it felt like he sealed the deal with it.

"It is a furnished townhouse. You will be able to find all necessities there. Ben will take you to collect your stuff. I'll make arrangements for your brother to live in the boarding school." He saw panic in her eyes, " They let them come home for holidays and a few weekends in the year, so you will be able to see him then. He will learned necessary discipline and it will help him in the future.”" 

"How long will this last?" She spurted out.

"As long as I want you Sophie, or I marry. This will be very discreet." 

A few days later she said bye to Eric with promises that he's allowed to come home soon. 

"I'll miss you Sophie." He tried his best not to cry, to be brave, but his blue eyes so much like her own were moist.

For a long time Sophie looked after the carriage that took him away, and wiped her eyes. 

It all happened so fast that Sophie's head was still spinning. 

Later on Jaxon sent his carriage to pick her up. They arrived in front of one of the fancy houses and they stopped. Her stomach churned but she closed her eyes and bravely walked a few stairs when the older man in white gloves opened the door for her.It took her by surprise. 

She presumed that was his butler. 

She stepped into the most luxurious house she could have imagined. The polished floors were shining, and so were the solid wooden doors. The paintings adored the walls and fresh flowers were placed in the vases on the little tables along the hallway. 

"Please follow me." The guy softly spoke to her. She walked behind him almost oblivious to her surroundings.

In her mind dwelled Eric's education: his ticket to a better life. She told herself that she wasn't important. It didn't matter what happened to her. Sophie made a deal with herself to never involve emotion into this. 

She felt strange in her new dress. It was almost as if this wasn't her. 

Jaxon waited for her in the large room with a massive fireplace. He didn’t even look at her, but he addressed the old guy,"Thank you Sam. That would be all for now." Sam nodded and quietly closed the door behind him. Only then he turned his attention to her. 

"Sophie, you look beautiful." She looked at him, unsure of what to say.

“Thank you Mr. Barnett.” It was almost a squeak out of her. 

He came closer to her and traced his finger down her cheek.It felt soft and silky. His eyes were devouring her. He was so close to her she could smell his cologne and feel the heat that radiated from him. Her first instinct was to pull away from him, but her mind told her to stay still. This was the bargain she made. 

"Jaxon, my name is Jaxon when we are alone." 

Without much of a fuss he pulled her into his strong arms, and with gentleness captured her lips. At the first impact Sophie shivered. Her mind tried to form a barrier against this attack on her senses. She numbed her senses or at least she told herself that. His hands caressed her back bringing her closer to him. She felt his strong, lean body against her. An involuntary moan escaped her. This was stronger than her and she melted into him. She forgot who she was. Why was she here? She forgot about embarrassment, and only this moment counts. It was a new feeling she wasn't prepared for. Jaxon lifted her and carried her up the wide stairway into one of the rooms with the large bed in it. He closed the door behind them, and soon her dress slid down and piled up on the floor. Guided by his expert hands her back touched the soft sheets. He disrobed and laid beside her. He shifted and covered her with his strong body, and she could feel every one of his hard muscles. Slowly he kissed every inch of her, building up desire. 

"Sophie! Say my name." It was a request. 

Her lips parted and she whispered, " Jaxon" 

When he took her innocence she barely felt it and soon the bliss took over. When he was fulfilled he stood up, throwing his robe on.

"I'll let you wash and dress. Ben will take you back." The gentle, seductive voice was replaced with cold dismissal. With that, he exited the room and closed the door. Sophie's chest got heavy, so that is how it feels to be a bought woman