Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
DYLAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
The huge elevator suddenly felt small. I can sense a familiar presence coming from the man behind me. But I didn\u2019t dare to look. Judging by those two men standing beside him, I know he\u2019s a very important person that no one dares to mess with.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, that man who exudes an overwhelming aura gives off some sense of familiarity. I feel like I know him from somewhere that I couldn\u2019t remember.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Slowly and subtly, I glanced at him over my shoulder\u2013but to my surprise, he was already looking straight at\u00a0<\/p>\n
I quickly averted my gaze, pretending nothing had happened, as if I hadn\u2019t been caught. Even though my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest from the sheer panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t shake off the feeling that I\u2019ve already met this man. I wanted to ask him if we had already met, but I didn\u2019t have the courage to do so.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a shaky breath as soon as I stepped out of the elevator. The lobby was quiet, dimly lit with golden lights that gave everything a soft glow, but even that couldn\u2019t soothe the storm inside me. My heels clicked against the marble floor as I hurried toward the exit, not daring to glance behind me. I didn\u2019t need to\u2013I could still feel his presence lingering like smoke, even though I\u2019d left him behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was bad news. The kind that comes with dark eyes and dangerous secrets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the cool night air brushed against my skin like a balm. I wrapped my arms around myself, more for comfort than warmth, and scanned the street for a cab. A few passed by, but none stopped. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, wishing this day would just end already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was tired. So tired. My body ached, and my heart\u2026 well, it felt even heavier than my limbs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, an expensive\u2013looking black car pulled up to the curb in front of me, its sleek surface gleaming under the streetlights. The kind you see in movies, driven by billionaires or villains or both. But this kind of car doesn\u2019t impress me. I\u2019m used to seeing them all the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I took a cautious step back, moving away from the car. Soon after, a man walked out of the car and opened the door. I frowned in confusion. Is he offering a ride for me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t take long before I heard a footstep behind me. I turned around and saw him once again. I immediately realized that the car was meant for him. I quickly lowered my head and stepped aside, allowing him to enter his car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I can almost die of embarrassment. How did I even think that the car was for me? How can I forget that I was so broke that I had to dance in a strip club just to earn money?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was startled when I heard his deep baritone voice. \u201cDo you need a ride?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced a smile on my face and politely declined. \u201cThanks. But I\u2019ve got it covered.\u201d I was about to leave when I heard him speak again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
94)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to see you here again,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I breathed out, completely taken aback. I blinked up at him, trying to understand if I heard him right. \u201cI hope you don\u2019t mind me asking, but\u2026 what gives you the right to stop me from coming here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t mean to sound so defensive. It\u2019s not like I planned to return. God knows I had no reason to ever set foot in that club again. But something about the way he said it\u2013like he had the final say about whether or not I belonged\u2013rubbed me the wrong way. Who was he to decide that?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t flinch. Didn\u2019t even blink.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI own this building,\u201d he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My mouth fell slightly open. \u201cOhhh\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was all I managed to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could even gather my thoughts enough to say something else, he turned away. Just like that, he stepped into his sleek black car. The door closed with a soft, final thud. I stood there frozen, watching the car roll forward and disappear down the street, its headlights casting a soft glow on the wet pavement before it turned a corner and vanished from sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I was left alone on the sidewalk, stunned and speechless, holding nothing but the echo of his voice and the sting of feeling dismissed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did that bother me so much?\u00a0<\/p>\n
*\u00a0<\/p>\n
*\u00a0<\/p>\n
*\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a loud, tired sigh the moment I saw the busted\u2013up front door of my parents\u2018 old apartment. The hinges were barely hanging on, and the frame looked like it had been kicked in more than once. Just seeing it made my shoulders slump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But at least\u2026 this day was over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I walked in and dropped my bag on the floor with a soft thud. Then I collapsed onto the worn\u2013out couch like a puppet whose strings had finally snapped. My whole body ached\u2013not just from the dancing, but from the weight of everything that had happened today. Right now, all I wanted was sleep. Just a few hours where I didn\u2019t have to think or feel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But barely two minutes had passed when I heard a sharp voice from outside the busted door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell happened to my door?\u201d The landlady shouted, her shrill tone echoing through the hallway like nails on glass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned quietly and forced myself to sit up. My bones protested, but I didn\u2019t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me that vulnerable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:26 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second later, the landlady barged in, nearly tripping over the splintered wood as she pushed her way through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to charge you for this!\u201d She snapped, not even trying to hide the annoyance in her voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
94\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, she will. I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. The woman had never been kind to me\u2013not once. She didn\u2019t greet, didn\u2019t ask questions, and didn\u2019t care. Just rent, rules, and threats.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood up, reached into my bag, and pulled out the envelope of money. I peeled off a handful of bills, enough to cover the late rent, and held it out to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s the rent,\u201d I said flatly, not even bothering with a hello.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the cash, and for the first time, she was silent. Not respectful, not grateful\u2013just quiet. But I could tell she was thinking. Probably wondering where I got the money, what I had to do to get it. I didn\u2019t care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She took the bills with a huff, her lips pursed tightly like she\u2019d just bitten into a lemon. \u201cI need one thousand dollars more for the door,\u201d she muttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat couldn\u2019t have cost that much! It\u2019s been worn out. It was knocked off with just one kick! You can\u2019t charge me one thousand dollars for an old door!\u201d I yelled irritably.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how much I wanted to charge you for it. If you don\u2019t want to, you can leave anytime!\u201d she yelled back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scoffed. Does she really think I\u2019d stay here after what happened? This place wasn\u2019t even decent. I was about to yell at her once again when the thugs who broke my door suddenly showed up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be kidding me,\u201d I whispered under my breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here, ladies?\u201d the man asked as he leaned against the doorframe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho the hell are these people? Didn\u2019t I tell you visitors are not allowed in my apartment?\u201d the landlady interjected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCalm down, old lady. We\u2019re just here to collect some debt,\u201d he said with a disgusting smirk on his lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The old lady turned to me and said, \u201cI knew you were trouble when I saw you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019re done here, old lady,\u201d the man said. The landlady leaves as quickly as she arrives, leaving me with these two thugs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I suddenly feared for my life. I quickly grabbed the cash from my bag. I don\u2019t want them to stay here any longer. They only needed the money. Thinking it will make them leave, I immediately give it to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s the money. Now, you can leave,\u201d I said. My hand was shaking, but I was trying to hide my fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man raised his eyebrows as he got the envelope from my hand. It was more than the amount he was asking for, but it doesn\u2019t matter; all I wanted was to get rid of these bastards.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, well,\u201d he drawled, waving the envelope lightly in the air like a prize he just won at a carnival. \u201cIt\u2019s been a\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:26 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
pleasure doing business with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got what you wanted,\u201d I said quickly, taking a step back. \u201cNow, please. Leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But he didn\u2019t move. Neither did the two other men with him. They exchanged knowing glances, then turned their attention back to me like wolves circling a deer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, come on, sweetheart,\u201d he said, his voice low and taunting. \u201cDon\u2019t be like that. You look tense\u2026 Why don\u2019t we have a little fun before we go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His words were like ice water down my spine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Panic clawed its way up my throat. I took another step back, eyes darting around the room. My gaze fell on the small lamp on the side table. Not much, but it was heavy enough to do some damage if I had to. My feet inched toward it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But it was too late.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They moved quickly, surrounding me before I could even reach for it. One of them blocked the path to the door. Another stood in front of the window. I was trapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could barely breathe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every instinct in me screamed to fight, to run, to do something. But all I could feel was fear flooding my veins like poison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did I ever think paying them off would be enough?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave now, before I call the police!\u201d I warned them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, baby, we love to see you try,\u201d said the other man before they all laughed in unison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes landed on the knife sitting on the table. Without a second thought, I quickly grabbed it and swung it around to keep their distance away from me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it, baby girl. We want our woman feisty!\u201d said the other as they continued to laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no point in fighting them. There\u2019s no way I\u2019d win against these three men. That\u2019s when I decided to point the knife against my neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll die before you even touch me with your filthy hands!\u201d I threatened..\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man chuckled, \u201cWe don\u2019t care whether you\u2019re dead or alive, baby girl. We\u2019ll still enjoy every inch of you, baby.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as one of the thugs reached for me\u2013his hand brushing against my arm\u2013a sudden sound echoed through the apartment. The door that was barely hanging on its frame fell on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I held my breath when I saw the man standing outside the door. He\u2019s the one from the elevator. The one\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:26 Thu, Dec 25\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 16\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00c1(94)\u00a0<\/p>\n
whose eyes haunted me even when I tried to forget him. Tall, broad\u2013shouldered, and wrapped in a dark coat that somehow made him look even more powerful than I remembered. His face was calm, but there was something in his eyes that had changed. They burned now. Cold. Sharp. Deadly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thugs instantly backed away from me like I was suddenly untouchable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho the hell are you? Do you have a death wish?\u201d The man on my right shouted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the man who seems to be their leader quickly swatted him in the head with the envelope in his hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBoss!\u201d he complained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up if you still want to live!\u201d he scolded him. \u201cW\u2013What brings you here, boss?\u201d He stuttered as he lowered his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man stepped inside without a word, his gaze sweeping the room, landing briefly on me\u2013checking, like he was making sure I was still in one piece. Then he turned his eyes to them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And they all took a step back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI could ask you the same thing,\u201d he said smoothly, his voice low and calm but laced with something dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thug holding the envelope tried to smile. \u201cW\u2013We only came here to collect some debt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you get what you came for?\u201d he asked with his cold, deep, and baritone voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cW\u2013We did, boss,\u201d he answered without lifting his head. They were all bowing to him like some kind of god.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who the hell is this man?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The man remained silent. But the <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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