Chapter 1: The rude stranger
“Ma’am, we’re here,” Nivera heard the driver say to her, and it broke her out of her thoughts.
She placed the injection she had been staring at in her bag, and she stepped out of the taxi after paying the driver.
The cold air immediately hit her, and she cursed under her breath as she was wearing the skimpiest outfit she could find, one that left little to the imagination.
Without wasting time, she headed into the club, her heels clicking against the pavement. After passing through security, she was ushered into the main area of the club.
Inside, the club was a whirlwind of music, lights, and luxury. The air was thick with perfume and alcohol, and the bass of the music thrummed through her chest.
The crowd was a mix of celebrities, socialites, and the wealthy. Nathaniel would be in the VIP section, waiting. But before she faced him, she needed a moment to steady herself.
Alcohol always made her more confident, and she needed it now more than ever. Without wasting time, she headed to the bar section.
“Give me your strongest drink,” she said to the bartender, and he nodded, immediately mixing her drink.
“Here you go,” he said after a minute she took it from him.
“Fuck, that’s strong!” She said after gulping it down in one go, and the bartender smiled. “Give me another one.”
Once she had it in her hand, she turned to make her way toward the VIP section.
“You can do this, Nivera,” she said to herself. “He deserves whatever is coming to him and… shit,” she cursed when she walked into a wall, the contents of her drink spilling.
Her hand immediately moved to rub her head and she raised her head to look at the wall. Except it wasn’t a wall.
It was a man she had bumped into.
She opened her mouth ready to apologize, but the words died on her lips when she came face to face with him.
He was tall…taller than anyone had the right to be, and he was dressed in a sharp black suit that fit him like a second skin.
His dark hair was perfectly tousled, and his chiseled jawline looked like it had been sculpted by an artist.
But it was his eyes that truly caught her. They were a striking shade of blue, piercing and cold, like shards of ice that saw right through her.
For a moment, she forgot to breathe. He was, without a doubt, the most handsome man she had ever seen, much more handsome than all her ex-boyfriends.
A warmth crept up her neck as her thoughts betrayed her. Those muscular arms choking her neck while he pounded in and out of her.
But then he opened his mouth, and the spell shattered.
“You know the club is big enough and well lit for you to actually see where you’re going,” he said coldly, his voice filled with what appeared to be disgust and irritation.
“Unless, of course, you’re too busy chasing men to notice.”
“But you fools never learn to go after men who are actually willing to spend the night for a couple of dollars. Newsflash, they are over in that area,” he pointed to the VIP area.
Her awe was instantly replaced with irritation. His tone was sharp, mocking and judgemental, as if he had already decided what kind of person she was. A slut who was here to sleep with men for money.
“Excuse me?” she said, her voice cutting through the music. “You can’t just go talking to people like that.”
He smiled, though there was no humour in it, and her blood froze when his eyes went to her outfit, which left little to the imagination, indirectly proving his point.
Fuck, why did she have to wear an outfit which exposed her breast more than necessary.
“Save the innocent act for someone else. I’ve seen you type to know exactly why you’re here. Like I said, the men are over there.”
Nivera blinked, taken aback at the man's uncouth words. “Do you really think every woman that comes here is a slut?”
His gaze flicked to the VIP section, and she finally saw Nathaniel laughing with a group of people. When his eyes returned to hers, they were filled with contempt.
“No, only women who dress like you,” he responded, his voice dripping with venom.
“Women like you always find their way to men who are willing to spend. Just don’t spill anything else on your way up there.”
The insult hit harder than she expected, and for a moment, she was too stunned to respond. But then the anger flared in her chest, chasing away the embarrassment.
She wasn’t a slut, her career was proof of that, but the man seemed to have concluded that she was so.
“And men like you think you know everything, don’t you?” Nivera smiled as she turned and walked away from him, straight to the bartender.
“Here, can I get two glasses of that drink again?” She requested.
“Coming right up,” the bartender said, and Nivera turned back, making sure to keep her eyes on the man.
As soon as the drinks were ready, she grabbed them and made her way over to the man, who was now talking to someone.
“Hey,” she called when she got behind him, and he turned to look at her.
Before he could say anything, she emptied the contents of both glasses onto him, after which she placed them on the ground.
“Bet you’ve never encountered a slut as crazy as me,” she hissed with an evil glint in her eyes.
****
Good day. This book is the second book the book series, the first being "SAVED BY A CRUEL BILLIONAIRE" but it can be read as a standalone.
If you like this book, I hope you check the other one out.
Chapter 2: The daring stranger
Alejandro’s grip tightened around the steering wheel as he drove through the streets of the city, breaking a couple of traffic rules.
He would handle the fines. All he wanted to do was get home and sleep as his day had been another long one at the company with endless meetings, and endless paperwork.
He turned his attention from the road when his phone rang. The name on the screen made his jaw tighten as it was his assistant.
He wouldn’t call this late unless it was something important, and Alejandro was proven right after he answered the phone.
“Sir, we’ve got an issue,” the voice on the other end said. “In one of the clubs… someone’s been trying to plant drugs, or something else, the men aren’t sure. We need you to handle it.”
Alejandro hissed in irritation, after the assistant was done speaking.
He had just gotten out of countless meetings, and all he wanted was to get home and unwind. “I’m exhausted. Call my brother to handle it!” he snapped.
“Sir, we’ve tried calling him, but he’s not answering. We can’t get through. Sir, it's important.”
“Fuck!” Alejandro cursed under his breath and he banged his hand on the steering wheel.
The situation did sound serious and if it wasn’t handled, it could cause problems for them in the long run.
With a sigh, Alejandro made a sharp turn. “Fine. I’m on my way.”
By the time Alejandro arrived at the club, his mood was sour as he had to get through traffic to get there.
He parked and made his way toward the entrance.
“Sir,” the bouncers at the entrance greeted him, but he wasn’t in the mood for that.
His first steps into the club felt like a punch to the gut, loud music blaring, people grinding against each other, the smell of alcohol thick in the air, all of which gave him a migraine.
He was about to make his way to the back office when suddenly, a drink splashed across his chest.
“Shit!” Alejandro cursed, wiping at his suit. His expression darkened as he glanced up, and what he saw didn’t improve his mood.
It was a woman—of course, and judging by her looks, he was sure she was one of those women who only showed up at places like this to find a rich man to bed.
He took in the sight of her—petite, with long brown hair cascading over her shoulders, the type of woman who was always trying to catch his attention.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry,” she said in a seductive voice. “Why don’t you let me make it up to you by buying a drink?”
Normally, he’d have flirted, and played her game which would have ended up with her in his bed, but not tonight.
“It’s fine. Just… get out of my way,” he muttered, his voice sharp.
He saw the woman was taken aback by his rejection, but thankfully, she got the message and retreated.
His eyes scanned the room, searching for the two men who had supposedly been trying to cause trouble.
Picking up his phone, he proceeded to call his assistant so he could get more info.
He looked around, the pounding music grating on his nerves. His eyes flickered across the crowded space, picking out the usual suspects—drunk patrons, overly flirtatious women, men pretending to be richer than they were.
And then he noticed a woman.
At first, she didn’t stand out as she was sitting quietly at the bar, her fingers tapping the rim of her glass. But something about her caught his attention.
She looked out of place, even though she was dressed like the other women who were there.
Her slim figure and long, dark hair were striking, but it was the nervous energy around her that made him pause. She didn’t belong here, and yet she seemed determined to be here anyway.
“Hello sir,” Alejandro snapped out of his thoughts when his assistant answered, and he turned his attention from the woman.
“What exactly am I supposed to be doing here?” He asked his assistant.
“Well, sir, the men have…” the rest of his assistant’s words were tuned out when he felt someone bump into him and another drink splashed against his suit.
Alejandro froze, his jaw tightening as he stared down at the drink that now soaked his shirt.
“Are you fucking kidding me?!” He muttered to himself as he looked at his shirt.
His first instinct was to snap, to yell, but the words caught in his throat when he looked up.
This time, it wasn’t the first woman who had spilled her drink on his shirt.
No, it was her. The woman he had just been staring at.
His gaze lingered on her. She was slim, yet her curves were in all the right places.
Her face wasn’t plastered with layers of makeup, but her natural beauty was undeniable, sharp cheekbones, lips that were both full and soft.
Hmm, he wondered if they would be as equally soft if he kissed them.
Alejandro watched her begin to stare at him as if fascinated by him and his irritation only grew, and he felt his lips curl in disdain.
Here he thought she was different, but she was the same as the others. It was a shame as she was beautiful.
“You know the club is big enough and well-lit for you to actually see where you’re going,” he said coldly. His eyes narrowed, judging her.
“Unless, of course, you’re too busy chasing men to notice.”
The woman blinked, and for a moment, Alejandro thought he saw the smallest flicker of confusion. So she was a good actress as well.
“But you fools never learn to go after men who are actually willing to spend the night for a couple of dollars. Newsflash, they are over in that area,” he pointed.
“Excuse me?” she retorted, her voice cutting through the music.
“You can’t just go talking to people like that,” she continued, her tone sharp, just like his.
Alejandro’s gaze flicked over her figure, lingering for a second longer than he’d intended. Fuck, that outfit was revealing.
Didn’t she have clothes or something? Her face was enough to attract men, she didn’t have to take it up a notch by wearing such clothes.
He suddenly felt angry at the thought of someone else touching her.
“Save the innocent act for someone else. I’ve seen your type to know exactly why you’re here. Like I said, the men are over there.” He jerked his thumb toward the other side of the club.
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Alejandro thought she might lash out. But instead, she did something he didn’t expect. She smiled.
“Do you really think every woman that comes here is a slut?” she asked, her voice low and biting.
Alejandro sneered. “No, only women who dress like you,” he shot back, his voice venomous.
“Women like you always find their way to men who are willing to spend. Just don’t spill anything else on your way up there.”
The words stung more than he cared to admit, and he saw her pause for a moment, stunned. Why was he being unnecessarily harsh to her?
"And men like you think you know everything, don’t you?”
Her eyes met his, and for a second, Alejandro felt something shift between them, but before he could place it, she turned away, walking with purpose toward the bar and he rolled his eyes.
“Sir, oh good, you’re here,” he heard the manager say to him.
“Have you caught the two men?” Alejandro asked, and the manager started to fill him in.
“Hey,” He turned when he heard someone call out to him after some time.
When he turned, he found the woman in front of him again. This time, she had two drinks in her hand and before he could process it, he felt something splash against his shirt.
“What the hell?!” Alejandro growled, taking a step back.
“Bet you’ve never encountered a slut as crazy as me,” she hissed, and Alejandro’s eyes burned with fury.
The nerve of her! In front of the manager, no less. His hands clenched into fists, the urge to grab her, to make her understand her place, overwhelming.
“Listen, you little…” he started, but stopped himself when he realized that people were watching him.
He immediately reached out to her and pulled her closer to him, holding her waist to keep her steady. He heard her gasp and she froze.
“You’re going to regret that,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “I don’t know who you think you are, but if you think you can insult me in front of my people and get away with it, you’re sorely mistaken.”
He squinted his eyes when he saw the defiance in her eyes. She wasn’t backing down. Not an inch.
“You think I care about your threats?” she said, challenging him. “You’re just another asshole who thinks they can treat people like shit because of who they are. But guess what, I’m not scared of you.”
Alejandro’s breath hitched for a split second, something dark stirring inside of him. She was infuriating—yes—but there was something more. An undeniable spark.
One would have no problem in killing.
“You should be,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous. “Ow,” he cried out when she kicked him, which caused him to let go of her.
“I’ll be scared when you give me a reason to be scared,” she humphed as she turned and walked away, her hips swaying slightly as she moved through the crowd.
Alejandro stood there, watching her go, his mind racing.
Something about her, the way she didn’t back down, the way she challenged him—had left him unsettled.
If she wanted a reason to be scared, he would give her a reason to be scared.
“Get me her details and as soon as possible,” he ordered the manager. Everyone who entered the club, needed to get their ID scanned, so her details would be there.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
With a sharp exhale, Alejandro forced himself to turn back to refocus on what needed to be done.
But the memory of her, of the fire in her eyes, was already lingering, making him wonder just who the hell she really was.
It wouldn’t matter. He would cut her wings and watch her beg him to spare her.
Alejandro's eyes then darted down to his body, and he let out a curse when he noticed his hard on. “You got to be kidding me!”
Chapter 3: Drugged
Nivera walked away, her heart pounding in her chest and goosebumps on her body. She could feel the asshole’s eyes on her, but she didn’t dare look back.
How dare he hold her by the waist and get closer to her? Worse still, how dare her body react positively to his touch?
He had been nothing but rude and judgmental to her, but a part of her couldn’t stop thinking about how handsome he was and how strong his grip on her waist was.
Strong enough to hold her down, but not strong enough to hurt her. She was sure he would be the same in bed.
“Stop it, Nivera,” she scolded herself.
Tonight was about Nathaniel and getting her career back on track. She couldn’t allow herself to get distracted.
Taking a deep breath, she then made her way over to the VIP section where Nathaniel was.
Her chest tightened with every step, both due to fear and the wave of disgust she had to swallow.
Nathaniel Blackwell. The man who had nearly ruined her life, and the man she was now forced to beg and seduce in a desperate bid to salvage her career.
Her rising modeling career took a turn for the worse the moment she crossed paths with Nathaniel Blackwell, one of Hollywood’s most influential and dangerous men.
He had cornered her after a high-profile event in her changing room, and had tried to sleep with her.
She hadn’t thought twice before spraying him with pepper spray and kneeing him between the legs before running off.
Since that night, Nathaniel had made it his mission to ruin her career. Doors that had once been open to her were now slammed shut.
Agencies, photographers, and brands suddenly stopped answering her calls. Her once-blooming modeling career started going down the drain in a matter of weeks.
Failure wasn’t an option for her. If she failed in her career, her life would become her father’s property once again, and that thought sent a shiver down her spine.
He was surrounded by a few other men who laughed too loudly and drank too much. Her skin crawled as his pale green eyes lit up when they met hers.
“Nivera,” he drawled, as he stretched out his hands towards her. His voice was sweet, his smile as fake as the charm he tried to exude. “I didn’t think you’d really show up.” He said.
She forced a coy smile as she took his hand. Bile traveled to her throat when he pulled her to sit beside him, as his eyes immediately moved to look at her breasts.
The bastard didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was staring.
“Nathaniel, I figured it was time to make amends. I’ve been thinking about how I overreacted before, and… well, I wanted to apologize.” Her voice was smooth and seductive.
Nathaniel’s smirk widened, his gaze shamelessly raking over her. “Overreacted? Is that what you call what you did?” He whispered in her ear, and she winced in pain when he dug his nails into her hand.
Her stomach twisted, but she maintained her facade, leaning in slightly. “I was… emotional. You know I was caught.” The words tasted bitter, but Nathaniel didn’t seem to notice or care.
His hand reached for her waist, and she fought the urge to recoil as he pulled her closer. “You’re lucky I’m a forgiving man. Another man would’ve destroyed you for what you did.”
Forgiving man, her ass! The fool had destroyed her career.
“That’s why I came tonight. To show you how sorry I am… and, maybe, to make it up to you?”
Her plan was simple: pretend to apologize to Nathaniel, act like she was ready to give him what he wanted, and lure him into a hotel room.
Once they were alone, she would inject him with a mild sedative, strip him, and take compromising photos.
With those in hand, she would finally have the leverage to make him leave her alone.
Hopefully.
“Wonderful, let’s have some drinks!” Just at that moment, someone stepped forward and poured her a drink. It would be rude to refuse, and so she drank a bit of the alcohol.
“Come on, Nivera, we both know you're not shy when it comes to alcohol,” Nathaniel squinted his eyes at her. “Come on, darling, drink up!”
Even though he said it casually, she could hear the underlying order in his voice, and so she gulped down the entire contents.
Nathaniel’s eyes gleamed with delight as he poured her another glass. “I knew you’d see reason eventually. Once I'm done, should we get out of here? The suite upstairs is far more private.”
“That sounds perfect,” she murmured as she raised the glass to her lips.
But as she did, her body stiffened. She could feel it: the unmistakable sensation of being watched. Her skin prickled, and she dared to glance across the room.
There he was. The asshole from earlier.
He stood on the balcony overlooking the club, one hand gripping the railing, the other in his pocket.
His dark eyes were locked on her, his expression hard and unyielding, like a predator assessing its prey.
Even from the distance, she could feel the intensity of his stare.
Why was he still watching her? She grumbled as she tried to ignore his stare, but his presence loomed over her.
“Is something wrong?” Nathaniel asked, his voice pulling her back to the moment.
She shook her head quickly, plastering on a smile. “Not at all. Just… excited,” she lied, her fingers trailing down his arm.
Nathaniel became distracted when a man said something, and she couldn’t resist another glance toward the balcony.
Alejandro was still there, his focus unwavering. His displeasure was etched into every line of his face, and he didn’t even try to hide it.
Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like the noise of the club faded into nothingness. The air between them grew taut, the tension suffocating.
Stop looking, she told herself, but she was unable to do so. It was as if those eyes of his were a portal to some kind of trance he was putting her in.
Nivera's heart leaped when Alejandro broke his stare, all thanks to a guard walking up and whispering something in his ear.
Without another glance in her direction, he turned and strode toward the stairs, disappearing into the crowd.
Relief and something else—something she couldn’t quite name—washed over her.
The weight of his gaze was gone, but its impression lingered, as she could feel the way he was judging her for being with Nathaniel.
The fact that she was acting all slutty only proved his point even though it wasn't true, and she frowned as she felt suffocated. Who was he to judge her when he didn’t know the full story?!
She needed to clear her thoughts, or she would fail. “Nathaniel, I've got to use the restroom, I'll be back,” she said as she stood up.
She gasped and bit her lips to stop herself from punching him when he slapped her ass.
“Hurry back up. You’ll love the suite,” he said with a leering smile. “The view is almost as stunning as you.”
She forced a laugh, her mind racing. This was it. Her plan was in motion. All she had to do now was keep herself together long enough to pull it off.
She quickly left for the restroom and upon getting there, she turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face.
“Get it together!” she said to herself. It wasn’t only her career on the line, but her life as well, and she’d be damned if she went back to that world.
A frown appeared on her face when she was hit with a sudden dizziness, one that made the world spin.
Nivera immediately turned the faucet back on, and she splashed water on her face once more, but the feeling didn't reduce, rather, she started to feel hot all over her body.
Why was she… Shit! She cursed, and her eyes widened in horror as she realized that Nathaniel had drugged her. That had to be the only explanation.
That was why he was keen on her drinking that wine and now that she thought of it, she didn’t see him drinking from the same bottle.
“No, no, no!” She cried out. There was no way she would be able to do the task if she was drugged.
Nivera froze when the door to the restroom opened, and she saw two men at the door. Nathaniel’s men.
She subtly reached for her purse and opened it, reaching out for the pepper spray.
“Gentlemen, can I help you?” She asked, and she realized that she was slurring.
“You're keeping the boss waiting. Come on, let's get back to the club,” one of the men said as they moved closer to her.
Holding onto the pepper spray tightly, she turned just when the men were in her personal space and without wasting time, she sprayed them in the eye.
“Fuck you, bitch!” One of the men cursed as he swung at her.
She managed to dodge it narrowly, but the other man managed to grab her wrists. Nivera proceeded to spray more pepper spray, and she bit his hand so he would let go.
Her plan worked as the man let go of her while groaning in pain, and she didn't waste any time in rushing out of the restroom.
Chapter 4: I'll blow your head off
Nivera bolted out of the restroom, her chest heaving and her hands trembling.
The pepper spray slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor, but she didn’t dare look back.
Her pulse thundered in her ears as she stumbled forward, her legs unsteady beneath her.
The darn heels weren't helping matters, but she didn't dare stop to take it off.
The drugs coursing through her system made the world blur and spin, and she swayed as she clung to the walls for support.
She had to escape.
She couldn’t go back into the main club as Nathaniel would be waiting, which meant she had to find another exit, one that wouldn’t lead her right back to him.
Her vision blurred as she wandered, pulsing music fading into the background. What kind of club was this?! She grumbled as the corridors seemed endless, with no exit in sight.
Her breaths came shallow and ragged as she pushed herself forward, her legs threatening to give out with every step.
Finally, she reached a dark hallway which appeared to be far from the club, as she couldn't hear any music again.
She paused, leaning against the cool wall as she tried to steady herself. But her body refused to cooperate, her head pounding and her limbs growing heavier by the second.
Nivera paused in her steps when she suddenly saw him.
At the end of the hallway, illuminated by a faint overhead light, stood the man from earlier.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she took in the scene before her. He was facing another man, who was slumped on the floor, clutching his side as if he’d been hit.
Before she could process what she was seeing, the asshole raised a gun, his movements calm and deliberate.
Nivera’s breath caught in her throat, her body frozen in place.
The man on the floor begged, his voice weak and desperate. “Please… I didn’t mean to…”
The gunshot rang out, sharp and deafening in the silence.
Nivera’s scream tore from her lips before she could stop it over what she had just witnessed, and the colour drained from her face when the man turned instantly, his dark eyes locking onto her as she stood paralyzed at the edge of the hallway.
****
Alejandro stood on the balcony overlooking the club, his expression a mix of frustration and boredom as his gaze was focused on a particular woman.
The woman from earlier, the one who had the audacity to pour not one but three drinks on him, was now draped over Nathaniel Blackwell, her body language seductive.
He clenched the railing tighter, his dark eyes narrowing. Nathaniel Blackwell. The man was infamous for his affairs, despite his very public marriage.
Alejandro knew the kind of women Nathaniel attracted—opportunists, gold diggers, or anyone desperate enough to be ensnared in his web.
And just as he had thought, the woman was one of them. Yet, she had the audacity to be mad when he called her for what she was.
He didn’t know why it irritated him so much to see her with Nathaniel.
Maybe it was the way she looked so innocent, but she wasn't.
Or maybe it was because, for a moment earlier while she was sitting at the bar, he’d thought she was different.
“Sir,” a voice broke through his thoughts. A guard approached, his tone low and urgent.
“We’ve got eyes on the two men you asked us to track down. They’re still in the club, but they’re moving fast. They know we’re onto them.”
Alejandro straightened, his annoyance with the woman shoved aside. “Show me their photos.”
The guard handed him a tablet, displaying the images of two men taken from the club’s security cameras.
Alejandro memorized their faces in seconds. It was easy as he had a photographic memory.
“Spread out and comb the club,” he ordered. “They shouldn't get far.”
With a final glance toward Nathaniel and the woman, Alejandro turned and left the balcony, his focus now on the task at hand.
He searched through the club and his search led him to a restricted area, dimly lit and eerily quiet compared to the chaos of the main floor.
Whoosh
The first punch came out of nowhere.
Alejandro reacted instantly, his reflexes sharp from years of training as he dodged it.
The man lunged at him again, but Alejandro sidestepped, grabbing his attacker’s arm and twisting it behind his back.
“You picked the wrong person and on the wrong day,” Alejandro growled, slamming the man into the wall.
The goon struggled, managing to land a weak punch to Alejandro’s side, but it only fueled his anger.
With a swift, calculated movement, Alejandro disarmed him and delivered a brutal blow to his jaw, sending him crumpling to the floor.
“Please,” the man begged, blood dripping from his mouth when he realized that the situation wasn't in his favour. “I didn’t mean—”
Alejandro didn’t let him finish as he pulled out his gun and fired.
The gunshot echoed through the hallway, and Alejandro let out a slow breath. He turned to leave but froze at the sound of a scream.
His gaze snapped to the source of the sound, and there she was.
The woman from earlier stood at the edge of the hallway, her face pale and her wide eyes locked on his.
She looked like a deer caught in headlights, her body trembling as she stared at the body on the floor and then at him.
“Don’t run,” Alejandro warned coldly, raising his gun and aiming it directly at her. “I’ll blow your head off if you try.”
She froze, her chest heaving, as if she couldn’t decide whether to faint or bolt.
Alejandro approached her slowly, his gun never wavering. “You’ve got some nerve to have followed…”.
A sharp pain in his neck interrupted him, and his hand instinctively shot up to the source. His fingers grazed something small and metallic.
An injection.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he met her gaze again. The little shit fucking injected him with something.
“I swear, I'm going to kill…”
His words cut off as the world around him tilted. His vision blurred, his limbs growing heavy as the drug surged through his system.
“You little…”
Before he could finish, the drugs took full effect, and he collapsed to the floor.
Nivera stood over him, her breath coming in short gasps. She stared at his unconscious form for a moment, her heart racing.
She didn't have time to waste and so, she ran once again.
Chapter 5: Good afternoon
Nivera ran, her breath ragged and her legs barely holding her up, but she didn’t dare glance back at the man she had just injected.
The drugs’ effect in her body was getting more and more lethal, but she pushed harder, her instincts screaming at her to put as much distance as possible between her, the club, and everyone in it.
The drugs coursing through her system made the world spin violently, blurring the edges of her vision.
Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the pulsing music that faded as she moved further.
She had to get out!
Her fingers trailed along the walls for balance as her legs wobbled beneath her.
Nathaniel would be waiting in the main club, watching for her return like the predator he was.
What kind of club was this? She gritted her teeth, frustration mixed with fear.
She froze when someone suddenly appeared in front of her. From the clothes, she realized the woman was an employee.
“Please, I’ve been drugged; I need another exit, one that doesn’t lead back to the club.”
“Oh my, come with me,” the employee said as she held Nivera and helped her walk.
They then began to make their way to the exit, with Nivera praying that the employee wouldn’t take her back to the men she was running from.
Finally, a heavy door marked with an “Exit” sign appeared at the end of a narrow hallway.
Relief washed over her as the employee pushed it open, and she stumbled into the cool night air.
“Come, let’s get you in a taxi away from this,” the employee said, and Nivera couldn’t be more grateful to her.
The alley behind the club was quiet except for the distant hum of traffic.
The sharp contrast to the chaos inside the club made her pause, her chest rising and falling as she fought to steady her breathing.
“Thank you,” she said to the employee when they got to the street.
“You’re welcome. This club is a dangerous one, as predators come here. A word of advice, don’t come back here,” the employee advised, and Nivera nodded, not even needing to be told as she had made that resolution herself.
“I won’t. Go back inside; I’ll be fine,” she said, and the employee nodded before leaving.
Nivera didn’t have time to linger, as her eyes scanned the street just the same time a taxi rolled into view.
She stepped into the light, waving frantically.
The cab screeched to a halt, and she yanked the door open, collapsing into the back seat. “Drive,” she gasped, her voice trembling. “Just drive!”
The driver turned in his seat, his brow furrowed in concern. “Miss, are you…”
“Go, please!” she interrupted, her tone sharp despite her fear.
The driver shrugged and pulled away from the curb, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Nivera sank into the seat, her body trembling as the events of the night replayed in her mind. Nathaniel’s leering grin. The stranger’s dark, piercing eyes. The gunshot.
Her stomach churned as the image of the man slumping to the floor played on a loop in her mind.
It was the first time she was witnessing someone being murdered, and she pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to suppress the bile rising in her throat.
The stranger had killed that man in cold blood, his movements calm and deliberate, and it was obvious from his demeanour that it wasn’t the first time he was doing so.
The conclusion made her shudder as she asked herself the question: if their confrontation in the club hadn’t been so public, would he have killed her too?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see his face glaring back at her through the rear window.
Nivera shook her head to stop herself from hyperventilating.
She couldn’t go back to her apartment. Nathaniel’s men would already be looking for her, and there was no telling if the stranger would do the same.
The drug she injected him with was supposed to last hours, but she didn’t want to take the risk.
Her voice wavered as she leaned forward, addressing the driver. “Take me to the nearest motel.”
“Sure thing, but it’s going to cost you.” The man nodded, changing lanes.
A few minutes later, the cab pulled up to a small, dingy motel on the edge of the city. The neon sign flickered, casting eerie shadows across the cracked pavement.
Nivera paid the fare with shaking hands, muttering a quick “thank you” before stepping out.
It took her several minutes to drag herself inside the motel, as she was beginning to lose sensation in her body.
Nathaniel was a bastard!
If the drugs had knocked her out and were instead slowly incapacitating her, it meant he wanted her to be aware of what he was doing to her but not be able to fight back.
The clerk barely glanced at her as she checked in, handing her a key to one of the upstairs rooms. She climbed the stairs, her legs heavy with exhaustion.
Once inside, she locked the door and slid the chain into place, her hands trembling as she secured the deadbolt.
The room smelled faintly of mildew, and the furniture was worn and mismatched. But it was safe.
She immediately collapsed onto the bed, her body sinking into it.
Her thoughts spiralled as she replayed the events of the night once again. This had been her last chance, her one shot at salvaging her career and proving her worth.
Now, it was over!
Tears welled in her eyes, and she let them fall, her body trembling.
Her name was Nivera Elton, and she was the youngest daughter of the Elton family. The Eltons were one of the richest and most powerful families in the world.
They had ruled the finance and investment world for years. That sounded nice to everyone, but not her. It was a tradition in their family for every child to be groomed to join the family business.
This was what was a huge problem for her, as unlike her siblings, who were polished and obedient, she had always been the black sheep.
Where they excelled in boardrooms and followed her father’s orders without question, she had always craved freedom. She wanted a life of creativity and passion, qualities her father dismissed as frivolous.
When she finally mustered the courage to tell him she wanted to pursue modelling, he had been more than furious.
However, he had given her two years to prove herself, to rise to the top without using the Elton name. If she succeeded, he would leave her alone and allow her to continue her career.
But if she failed, not only would she lose her inheritance, but he would marry her off to someone of his choice, and knowing her father, she knew she wouldn’t like his choice.
The moment she made a debut in the industry, her career took off with various companies approaching her, and she had done it without the help of her family’s name.
People only knew her as Nivera, and it was easy to keep her family name a secret as the Elton family were one who took their privacy seriously, and so she didn’t grow up in the spotlight.
Everything was going well until Nathaniel struck.
There were still months before the deadline was up, but it was over.
She had no choice now. She would have to go back home, face her father’s disapproval, and marry whatever man he deemed suitable.
The weight of her failure pressed down on her chest until she cried herself to sleep, which wasn’t hard considering the fact that the drug finally knocked her out.
****
Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, and it hit Nivera’s face, which forced her eyes to flutter open.
For a moment, she lay there, disoriented but calm, the events of the previous night a hazy blur.
Letting out a yawn, she sat up and stretched, closing her eyes as she tried to shake off the lingering exhaustion.
“Good afternoon,” a low, chilling voice drawled, and she felt her heart stop.
Her eyes flew open, and she froze, her breath caught in her throat as she turned to the direction where the voice had come from.
The devil sat in the chair by the window, his dark eyes fixed on her with a predatory glint.
His posture was relaxed, one arm draped over the back of the chair as though he owned the room.
