SOLD TO THE MAFIA | SAILUBPON

CHAPTER 5

Pon woke to the sound of his phone vibrating on the nightstand. He groggily reached for it, squinting at the screen. It was a message from Sailub:

Be ready at 3 PM for a date later at the mall.

His heart skipped a beat. Hemmawich, or Sailub as he was sometimes called, had always been a distant figure in Pon's life, a man whose presence weighed on him like a constant shadow.

The last time they'd spoken directly, it had been a terse conversation about the "task" he'd been assigned. Now, a date? With him?

Pon sat up, glancing around his spacious room. It was a far cry from the tiny apartment he had grown up in.

The luxurious surroundings felt so out of place, like they didn't belong to him, but to some other version of himself he couldn't quite grasp.

He couldn't ignore the growing curiosity that gnawed at him, though. What did Hemmawich or Sailub want? Was this just another one of his "tests"? Another way to exert control?

Despite the lingering unease, Pon got dressed in the clothes that had been laid out for him the night before.

A black tailored shirt and dark jeans-simple, but expensive. He ran a hand through his damp hair, trying to settle his nerves. Today, he wasn't just a worker or a pawn in Hemmawich's world. Today, he was a guest.

---

At precisely 3 PM, there was a knock at the door. Pon's heart raced as he opened it to find Pavel standing there, a slight smirk on his face.

"Ready?" Pavel asked, looking him over with a faint nod of approval, Pavel was a supportive brother to Sailub so he needed to take care of Pon and make sure he gets well taken care of just for Sailub.

Pon gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah, I guess."

Pavel led him to the car, which was waiting in front of the estate. The ride was quiet as they drove through the city, but Pon couldn't help but feel like he was on edge. He'd been to fancy places before, but this felt different like he was being carefully watched every second.

When they arrived at their destination, Pon's eyes widened. They were at a high-end mall, the kind of place he'd only seen in magazines.

The grand entrance gleamed under the lights, and the marble floors reflected the shimmering gold accents that decorated the space. It was a world he didn't belong to, yet here he was, walking into it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Hemmawich was already waiting for him near the entrance, his tall figure hard to miss. He was dressed impeccably, as always, in a tailored suit that made Pon feel underdressed by comparison.

His presence radiated power, but there was something else in his eyes an unspoken invitation to a world Pon wasn't sure he wanted to enter.

"You're late," Hemmawich said, his voice smooth but tinged with amusement.

Pon froze, unsure if the comment was meant as a reprimand or just casual banter. He quickly straightened up. "Sorry," he said, glancing at Pavel for reassurance.

"No need to apologize," Hemmawich continued, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "I'm just teasing. You're exactly on time. I have plans for you today, Pon. You're going to enjoy yourself."

Pon hesitated but nodded, uncertain of what the day would hold.

Hemmawich reached out, gently taking his wrist in a firm but not unkind grip. "Come on. Let me show you how we live in my world."