Bound To Him

Sara sat in her room, feeling devastated. Finally, the wedding was over, and she didn't need to pretend to put on a happy face anymore. She couldn't even enjoy Ava and Tristan's wedding because her mind was somewhere else.

She had everything in control, her career was heading the way she wanted it to go, but now she was going to lose everything. She fought so hard to get to the top now it seems they are hell-bent on keeping her in the bottom.

Everybody thought she had come home to attend the wedding, but it wasn't true, she came to hide from her problems. She was scared for her life, not knowing what will happen next.

She didn't want to involve her parents, they were rich, but she doesn't think they can do anything about it anyway.

The person she was scared of was very powerful, she will never be able to fight him. He was the ruler of his country, all he needs is to lift his finger, and everybody will fall at his feet.

He was a gentleman when she met him, she was so naive to think he was a good person. Her initial thought was that he was misunderstood by everyone and that he had such a pure heart.

They met by chance, and she was immediately drawn to him, he was handsome and charming after all, but now that she thinks about it maybe it wasn't a chance meeting after all.

When he first asked her out, she apologized and told him that she was not free at that moment, she would usually avoid going out with men during her photoshoots, she did not want to encourage them because she was not ready to be in a relationship, and the photoshoots usually lasted a few weeks, and she was off to another country. 

She didn't do flings, but then he asked again so nicely so she couldn't say no.

She felt touched when they went out for dinner, the place was so luxurious, and he was attentive to her the whole time. Then the photographs got published. 

The next day there was a huge uproar with the media, this was the first time they saw him go out with anyone, he took the blame and appeased everyone saying they were just good friends. She should have been suspicious then because every time they met by chance and went out for dinner there would be photos the next day. How did the media know where they would be? She was always careful about these things.

Her parents wanted her to take business courses so she could one day take over their company, she had no male sibling, and being the eldest the responsibility fell upon her shoulders.

They could not count on Ava since she was so naive and did not seem like she had a mind for business, although she strived and took business courses. She finally found her passion in the form of jewelry design and now that she had a powerful husband like Tristan, they needn't worry about her.

Her mother was a retired model, she quit her lifestyle to look after her family, most especially her children. This had fuelled Sara's passion to be a model. 

Her father was not fond of the idea at first, but he compromised with her, saying that she could pursue her modeling career for five years, but after that, she had to come back and learn the family business. 

She had agreed, knowing that her father had good intentions and was just watching out for her future. Luckily the industry was kind to her, because of her mother's connections and her radiant beauty, they accepted her with open arms.

Her first gig was for a lipstick endorsement. It was a hit, and the sales increased tenfold as soon as it was released, there was no turning back. She always thought that if she was going to struggle a lot and had to wait for projects for the next years to come, she would have just gone back home, but she was at the top within her first year. All the companies clamored for her to be their ambassador.

She achieved in one year what others have been working for in the last five years, jealousy and hate were rampant in this industry, but since she was getting more love from different companies, it did not faze her.

The modeling agencies queued up to sign her, but she wanted a modeling agency that did not exploit their models or engage in shady business, so she chose the StarLight Agency.

From the moment they gave her their company information, she was impressed. They had a very systematic way of handling their business. They were very cooperative and accommodating with all her questions, and they ensured her that all their photoshoots were safe and taken in secure locations. 

They brought her all the best projects, and each and every product they endorsed was a hit. She was treated very well, so she made sure that she was loyal to them as well, other companies tried to poach her, but she was steadfast in staying where she was.

Bonnie was the assistant given to her when she first started, and since it was Bonnie's first time to be an assistant to a new model Sara considered her as a very good friend because they started their careers together, they went through all the rigorous schedules and all the ups and downs that came with the business. Bonnie was very efficient, and she took care of Sara very well.

Sara's career was reaching the sky, admired by millions of her fans, they copied her clothes, her style, her beauty regimen, everything she endorsed they bought. She became an icon and a role model for the younger generations. 

Until that fateful day. 

The models were never left alone, especially Sara since she has a multitude of fans always following her around, and she always has these hectic schedules that only an assistant can handle. 

They were shooting in a remote area, up in the mountains of a country abroad, it was for a cosmetic brand that wanted to showcase how natural and earth-friendly their products were, so they had to shoot in nature.

The shoot was for two days, so it was one of their easy days, realizing that Bonnie did not look so good because she was not feeling well, Sara had called her a cab so they could bring her to see the doctor.

For the first time, she was alone, and it was okay, there were in a remote area, there were no fans around, nothing bad could happen here, right? 

She was already in the room when she realized someone else was there, trying to get out of a bad situation she tried to talk him out of whatever he was planning to do. 

He was tired of her playing hard to get, he says, it was time she returned the favor, he dined her a lot and took care of her, but he never got anything in return for his kindness and his gifts. 

She knew what he had in mind, he had been hinting at it every time he bumped into her, he wanted her to sleep with him, but that was not going to happen. She was not a loose woman that slept around to get favors.

He got mad and forced himself on her but she got away before something bad happened.

After she got away, he threatened her saying he had something against her and that if she did not come back to him, he would ruin her, he had called her constantly after that and the threats were worse than the last.

She just started another photoshoot when she decided to leave, she was scared for her life, the next time he corners her she might not be so lucky. Giving them the excuse of her sister's wedding she escaped and came home. 

He knew how to find her, he called every phone number she had changed her number to. Maybe it was time she quit, she told herself. She still had 3 years to achieve all her dreams, but with this person threatening her, she would be better off just joining her father's business, to keep her out of his hands.

Whatever evidence he has must be bad, if it gets leaked her father's business might suffer.

She should have listened to her mother, her mom always said to be wary of people and know the facts before trusting people blindly, in a way she was just as naive as Ava, she was just stronger because she knew how to assert herself and speak her mind.

She was going to be a disappointment to her parents, she was doomed. She didn't know anyone who had more power and influence than this person who was threatening her life and her career. And even if she did know someone, where will she find him, and why would he want to help her.

Wishing that she paid attention to the people around her when they told her not to get entangled with him because he always got what he wanted, no matter what means it took, they also said that he never did anything if he had nothing to gain from it.

It was out of character for him to be a nice person, they said. But he always played that card that pulled on her heartstrings, that he was always judged because of his title and never his character, that like everyone else, he was just a regular human being.

She melted and put her guard down, and that's when he attacked.