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~ Daniela's POV ~

"I think I'm going to throw up."

"Don't do that, my shoes are expensive." When Carson muttered the words to me as we walked away from Ayden and Atticus who were still glaring daggers into our backs, I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips.

At least it was laughter and not vomit because that would have made me look particularly weak in front of them.

"Hold on." When he suddenly grabbed my hand to stop me from walking, Grey also stopped a few feet away from us too. "What are you-"

Before I could get my sentence out Carson brought his lips to mine, pressing a soft kiss to them before he pulled away.

"Just to make sure they know you're mine." He gave me a smile while I just stood there in shock and Grey just chuckled next to us. Without another word we walked back to the banqueting hall, heading back over to the tables where everyone was sitting.

"Finally, where the hell have you all been? Ignacio has been giving me the eyes for the last twenty minutes."

"We had something to do." For once I was grateful when Grey spoke up for us as we took our seats again. I was aware of Aviana talking about something or another while I just sat there, trying to feel something.

I was searching for that anxiety that I was almost sure would catch up with me once my adrenaline rush cut off, I was waiting for that panic attack that, five minutes ago, I knew was coming.

But I couldn't find it.

"You okay?" When Carson leaned in closer to me, I turned to look at him giving him a smile which was somehow so genuine.

It was real.

"I'm okay." All he did was nod his head before he took my hand again under the table. Unlike I expected, I wasn't trembling or shaking, I didn't want to burst into tears at the way he held my hand to comfort me.

Instead I just leaned back into my chair tracing circles on the back of his hand as the servers brought out the dessert. Somehow I still had an appetite to demolish the chocolate fondant cake that they put in front of me, much to Carson's amusement.

I don't know why fancy food is always so small though, I finished it in a few bites.

"Slow down Trouble, it's not going anywhere."

"Be quiet." When he heard my response he just nodded his head turning his attention to his own cake, staring at it with a frown. "I don't think I should eat this."

"Why?"

"Fox gave me hell this morning for missing so many training sessions with him while Grey and I were away. Plus last night I ate all those sfogliatella."

"I told you that you were going to get fat but you didn't listen to me." When I shrugged my shoulders I heard Grey chuckle on the other side of Carson while my boyfriend just glared at me. "I'm not getting fat. I just think the sugar isn't going to help me when I have to train tomorrow morning with him."

"Look, if you don't want it then I guess I'll do you a favour and help you out, but you owe me." When I narrowed my eyes at him, swapping my now empty plate with his full one, he finally cracked a small smile, only for a second.

"Don't worry, I'll make it up to you. I know eating a second one is going to be really hard for you."

Although he was being very sarcastic, I only gave him a smile as I took a bite of his cake.

"How the hell is she so tiny?" When Grey muttered the words watching as I finished Carson's dessert in less than a minute, Carson responded just loud enough for me to hear. "I wonder the same thing everyday when I see how much she eats."

"I can hear you." When I finally spoke, taking the last bite of my second dessert the two of them laughed next to me causing me to roll my eyes. "You're so mean to her, don't you know that girls just love chocolate?"

Nodding my head in agreement with Aviana, I gave her a smile which suddenly dropped when I heard her next words.

"She can't help that she eats like a starving elephant."

The moment she said that flashing me a teasing smile both Carson and Grey laughed again while I just sat there pouting. "Stop it, I don't eat that much."

"We're just joking beautiful." Through his laughter he squeezed my hand while I just let out a sigh leaning back into my chair running my hand over my food baby.

At least I had my food baby.

"Ladies and gentleman if you'd like to quieten down we can get to the final part of the evening, the auction."

As soon as the host on stage spoke into the microphone the room began to quieten down, the only sound that could be heard was the clinking of the forks hitting the expensive china around the room. Once again Atticus took the stage as the host spoke, explaining how the auction would work.

"Courtesy of our generous sponsor for the evening Mr Atticus McKnight, the merchandise he donated will be up for bidding for any of you to win for the rest of this evening."

Merchandise?

As I sat there with a frown, the host gestured to someone at the side of the stage and soon a few men brought four women onto the stage. All of the women were dressed in fancy dresses with their hair and make up immaculately done. None of them even looked scared, they looked...happy? Each one had a proud smile on their face as they stood there eyeing up the men in the audience.

"We will start with number one, whoever bids the highest will take her for the evening once payment to Mr McKnight has been made."

They're selling the women?

"Carson..." When he heard my uneasy tone as I sat up straight in my chair, he suddenly tightened his grip on my hand leaning in closer to me. "Don't."

"But they're-"

"Daniela if you make a scene you'll get yourself killed, shut the hell up." Even as he whispered the words to me his voice came out hard as he kept his eyes firmly focused on the stage.

And just like that, the auction started as people began to bid for the first woman who looked like she was in her mid-twenties, actually all of them looked pretty young.

Dragging my eyes away from the stage and Atticus's sick smile, I turned to look at Carson, Grey and Aviana who were all watching with emotionless expressions on their faces.

"You're all sick." When I muttered the words Carson's grip only tightened on my hand while Grey's eyes shifted to mine for a second. "Daniela, shut up."

When I was told for the second time to shut up this time by Grey, I just turned my attention to my plate in front of me, trying to block out what was happening around me.

"Can we leave?" When I turned to look at Carson he subtly shook his head before he leaned in to whisper to me. "If we leave, they'll see it as a sign of disrespect towards him and his business."

"But-"

"I know it's screwed up Dani, but most of the people in this room don't care what's happening right now. We just have to stay until the end and then we'll go."

This time when he spoke his voice was much softer and all I could do was nod my head before I let out a breath. "Dani they're volunteers, they asked for this to happen."

"How do you know?"

"He's not stupid enough to sell women to a leader of another organisation just for one night. Trafficking is a business he does very quietly and every sale is permanent."

I guess that's why the three of them just sat there watching it happen. I didn't understand why at first since I never would have thought Carson would be the type to let something as sick as this go, but I guess now that I know it's all voluntary, it kind of makes sense.

It's still screwed up though.

Once they'd finally got through all four women racking up a total of 76 million dollars in earnings for Atticus, Carson finally stood up indicating that we were leaving.

I could feel eyes on us since everyone else was still sitting down as Carson took my hand helping me up before he handed me my clutch. It didn't take long for us to walk through all the tables back towards the back of the hall when someone called Carson's name from the bar across the room.

"Stay here with Avi, we'll be back in a second." Nodding my head I stepped closer to Aviana as Grey and Carson walked over to the bar to happily greet whoever had just called them.

"It won't be a second, they've known that guy for years." When she muttered the words next to me I let out a sigh turning to face her when I saw them ordering drinks at the bar.

"Dani I know that was so messed up but we're not sick, we didn't agree with it. We just couldn't do anything about it."

"I know that, but I just don't get why we had to sit through it."

"Because some guy in the past wrote up these rules and now we all have to abide by them. Trust me, I'm sure we weren't the only ones who disagreed with it."

"You definitely weren't." When someone with a thick Spanish accent entered our conversation we both turned to see the same guy who Aviana had been staring at all night.

Ignacio Domínguez.

"You speak English?"

And yes, that was the first thing she said to him as she stared at him in shock while he just smiled back at her. "Sí señorita."

"But I thought..."

"You thought I couldn't? I know. It was funny wasn't it?" This time when he spoke he flashed her a grin while she just stood there with her mouth open in shock before a blush began to form on her cheeks.

I really did feel for her. I can't imagine going a whole night with a guy thinking he couldn't understand you only then to find out he just chose not to speak to you.

"Why are you here?" When she finally recovered from her shock, she took a step back from him to put some distance between them. "You caught my eye earlier, I haven't been able to stop admiring you. You're so beautiful Aviana."

Of course she ignored his compliment.

"I noticed, it was creepy the way you were staring at me."

"Creepy?" When he rose an eyebrow at her in amusement I could tell she was becoming unusually frazzled by this whole thing. She wasn't used to being the one who was lost for words, but this guy just seemed as cool as a cucumber as he watched her squirm.

"You have a date with you and you spent the entire evening watching me, yes it was creepy."

"So you knew? That meant you were watching me too, no?" His amusement only increased while she just glared at him now totally at a loss for words. Thankfully for her, he decided to give her a moment to recover as his attention turned towards me.

"Sorry, I'm being rude. I'm Ignacio, Ignacio Domínguez." As he spoke he reached his hand out to shake mine, giving me a kind smile. Honestly it was hard to imagine he was the one kissing his date just to make Aviana jealous a couple of hours ago.

"I'm Dani."

"You're Carson Agnello's girlfriend?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" I wasn't aware that Carson was going around telling everyone about me. I'd only actually seen him speak to three people so far.

"News travels fast. You've been the talk of the evening."

"I have?" When he nodded his head he gave me an apprehensive frown before he finally elaborated. "They're saying  you were with Ayden McKnight and now with Agnello. It's just gossip."

So the people here did know who I was?

All I could do was nod my head suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the whole thing which I think he realised. "I don't know what happened Dani, I'm not judging and I don't gossip. It's what I heard, I'm only telling you because you have the right to know."

Giving him a small smile I nodded my head as I mumbled a 'thank you' before he turned his attention back to Aviana who seemed much less flustered than before.

"I would like to take you out for dinner tomorrow night."

"Well I'm busy tomorrow so." When she shrugged her shoulders trying to act unbothered by his words I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

"Whatever plans you have you will cancel."

That was kind of hot actually. Why doesn't Carson talk to me like that?

"But I-"

"Give me your phone." When he pretty much ordered her to hand her phone over, she took a second before she finally took it out of her purse and handed it to him.

"Your passcode mi amor?" (My love)

When he questioned her, he glanced up from her phone and in her direction, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not telling you." When she glared at him she snatched the phone back causing him to chuckle as she unlocked it, handing it back to him. It took him a moment to put his number in, texting himself so that he also had her number.

"Your address? I will pick you up." When he said those words she instantly glared at him again.

"No way. I never said I-" Before she could finish her sentence I took her phone from his hand texting him the address to Carson's mansion in Long Island. He once told me that it was where people come to conduct business meetings with him and it was well guarded anyway, so the location wasn't a huge secret.

It was actually open knowledge since random mafia men and criminals just turned up whenever they wanted - like the Hollande family.

"Thank you." He flashed me a smile before he turned to look Aviana who was now glaring at me. "I'll see you at 7pm mi amor."

Reaching out he handed her back her phone before he took her hand, bringing it to his lips so that he could kiss the back of her hand.

It's official. I ship.

Once he finally walked away she turned to face me giving me a cold glare. "You had no right to do that. I didn't want to go on a date with him, I don't go on dates. Anyway, this is supposed to be casual only."

Despite the fact she really did seem mad, for some reason I thought she'd just calm down when I continued to smile at her. "Aviana I was only trying to help you. It's clear that you like him, so why not just give it a go."

"Because he made me look like an idiot! Do you know how embarrassing that was?" When she whisper yelled the words at me, I took a step closer to her giving her a smile. "It was cute. Anyone can tell he likes you, he was only teasing you."

Even though her anger seemed to be reducing she still had a frown on her face.

"I don't go on dates Dani, I don't know how to do it. What do I even say? We've already done the deed and now I have to sit with him through dinner after what just happened."

"It's okay. Look, you have until 7pm tomorrow, right? I'll help you. We'll go through all the things you should say and should definitely avoid, I'll do my best to calm you down too and you can even practice on me if you want? It'll be okay."

When I gave her a smile reaching out to take her hand she let out a nervous breath before nodding her head.

"Thank you Dani...I'm sorry for being a bitch. This has never happened to me before."

"It's okay, don't worry about it. Just make sure you thank me at your wedding for pushing you to go out with him. Oh, and I want to be the God Mother of your children."

When I flashed her a teasing smile her glare was back almost instantly, but before she could say whatever was on her mind Carson and Grey came back over to us.

"What's the matter?" Taking not of her glare, Grey was the one who had the balls to ask her that. "This bitch is making me go on date with Ignacio."

"Don't call her a bitch." Even though it was clear that she didn't mean it in a bad way, Carson still jumped to my defence as he placed a hand on my bare back. "Of course you would take her side. Anyway, I want to go home I have drinking to do so let's go."

I couldn't help but laugh at her words as she walked away from us heading out the banqueting hall. As we followed behind her Carson was busy talking, or shouting, at someone on the phone when Grey grabbed my hand to stop me.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Glancing back at Carson he just nodded towards the doors outside which was his way of telling me to meet him there when we were done.

He really didn't look very happy with whatever he was talking about over the phone.

"Yes?" When I turned back to face Grey I noticed he seemed a lot more nervous than usual, which I obviously didn't help when I used a cold tone to speak to him. "I wanted to apologise to you."

"You already did that day Grey, there's no need to-" Before I could get my words out he quickly cut me off. "Not just about that, about everything. I've treated you like crap and you didn't deserve that."

"You're only saying this out of pity after what you heard earlier."

I mean it was true, right? This guy spent the last few weeks avoiding me all together after I looked after his daughter for him. Now that he knows the truth he's sorry.

Why couldn't he just be sorry before he found out about my past? Why did it take the truth of my life for him to finally apologise?

"That's not true Dani, I-"

"You called me Carson's bitch the first day you met me, and Ayden's sloppy seconds. Not to mention all the rest of the things you've said and the looks you've given me when you see me. I don't care if you're sorry and I don't care what your reasons for being sorry are. I don't want to hear it, just leave me alone."

When I shook my head taking a step away he spoke again causing me to stop. "Dani wait, just-"

"Only my friends call me Dani, you can call me Daniela. And I think it goes without saying, you keep what you heard to yourself. I never wanted to you to know."

When he clenched his jaw pretty much glaring at me for completely rejecting his apology, I just walked away heading out of the doors to go and find Carson.

Maybe I was being a bitch, I mean it was kind of a bitchy thing to do, but I was just angry all of a sudden. He hated me for weeks and now that he knows that I'm just Ayden's poor little victim and that I never would have gone back to him, now he wants to apologise?

Well he can go screw himself.

"What happened?" When Carson saw the angry expression on my face he put his phone in his pocket as he came towards me. "Nothing, let's just go."

"I just called my driver, we're going back to my penthouse for the night. I have to go see someone at a club when we get back but I'll only be an hour or so."

Without a word I nodded my head as Grey walked past us heading over to the car where Aviana was waiting for him so that they could go back to Long Island. Of course the fact he ignored Carson completely didn't go unnoticed by my boyfriend.

Once he was gone and it was just the two of us, I very much aware of Carson's bad mood, but he didn't say anything for the time being. It didn't take long for Carson's own personal driver to park up in front of us in a fancy black car. It wasn't as big as the limousine we came in, but it was still a luxury car with tinted windows and a divider between the driver and the passengers in the back.

Once we got in the car, Carson took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie as the driver spoke through the intercom from the front. "Boss there's some road closures in the city which have caused delays of up to an hour."

Of course this only seemed to annoy him more after his phone call and then this whole thing with Grey.

"Fine." As he muttered the word he poured himself a glass of scotch before he turned to face me. "What happened with Grey?"

"Nothing hap-"

"I'm not repeating myself again, just answer the damn question." This time when he spoke, I just felt my anger from earlier flare all over again.

"Don't speak to me like that Carson." Instead of responding to me he just averted his gaze to his drink, clenching his jaw while he waited for me to speak. "He