Chapter 3

The day shift was quite stressful at the dress store. Snobby customers with bad breaths kept me busy.

"I don't like the color." one fat lady knitted her chubby cheeks in a disgusting frown.

"This is the only color maam." I spoke in my professional tone, keeping the smile intact. I know the trick too.

"Then leave it. I'll try some other shop." she scoffed at me with a challenging tone and left the store with her oversized ass.

Shop store duties suck. I don't know how on earth do some people handle these types of customers with little or no sense.

Once, a girl tried to throw tantrums on me telling that she has a lot of money and she is capable of getting whatever she wants. So, if the hairband she demands is not in the desired color and shape she'll order everyone to make her a desired one.

I sigh and wrap up the dress into the packet. Meanwhile the manager walks in and approaches me with a sad face.

"Meera dear, I'm really sorry but my condition is being a bit low. I'll be only able to pay you half of the amount of your salary this month. I hope you understand!"

No,I dont! Why does everything happen at the same time? I just wanted to slap his face and tell his miser ass to fuck off, but my Mother Teresa version 2.0 popped out of my head and said...

" It's ok. I understand. Take care. "I assured him. Take care, my foot! 

I bid everyone my goodbyes before leaving the store. All my expenses relied on this dress store. And so I was forced to adjust with everything. 

I sighed and started walking straight ahead to my apartment. The store was half an hour of walking from my abode, so good for saving transportation fare. 

My phone vibrated inside my jeajs and I picked up the call to hear a very familiar voice. 

"Hi Meera?" 

"Yes." 

"It's me Eleanor. I've found a match for you. Can you come here, to my office?" her tone was humble and excited. 

"Yeah sure. I'll be there in one." I licked my chapped lips to moisten them. 

"Perfect. I'll send David to escort you." 

"Ok." 

I wear my casuals and step out of the apartment, received by a smiling David. It would be completely wrong to say that I'm not irritated with the smiley faces all around. They seem so fake. Just like, I'm some kind of a bait they're feeding later to be sacrificed to the beast. But the bait here knows that she's the bait, so things just feel more awful. 

I move into the car and David drives me to the office within half an hour. 

"Meera! Come dear." Eleanor pulls me in a hug that I don't reciprocate. 

"Would you like anything?" 

"Some tea would be good." I spoke and sat on the chair against the desk. 

Basically, I didn't used to be so straightforward with asking any refreshments or anything I wanted oe needed. I used to be shy. But experiences taught me a lot. One of them is to demand what you need when you're asked for it. Humbly. 

One of the staffs brought me a cup of tea. The smell of ginger was extremely calming for my tensed up nerves residing inside my stomach. 

"So, you won't believe this when I say that I got like 10 proposals in an hour after I uploaded your profile." she smiled flashing her Colgate white teeth while I popped my eyes open like a cartoon. She's right. I don't buy what she's speaking. 

"And I went through all the prospects and ultimately came to this profile that I feel is just perfect for you." she handed me a file. I took it nervously. I hope it's not a man with a wrinkled face and white hair. Eww. 

I opened the file slowly, trying to slow down my spontaneous breathing. 

" Dhruv Saxena, a 33 years old business tycoon all over Asia and some parts of Europe. He gained success at a very young age, building his grandfather's empire of weapons and cargo shipments. Some say that he's also related to the underworld mafia families and is highly respected all over the world. "

" Mafia? Underworld? "I looked up at Eleanor with concern marred over my face. 

" It's ok, don't worry. He's extremely rich and mostly, he's not that old. He pays a high amount for hanging out with him. And our business assures safety and security. Nothing will happen to you." she walked over to me and squeezed my arm in assurance. 

I diverted my focus back to the file and a photograph of him between the pages. I pulled it out and scanned the tall, tan skinned, muscular figure staring back at me. He had dark black curly waves and his eyes teared through me like a spear. Extremely sharp and dangerous. Danger seemed to emit from his whole body. And he looked so confident, like nothing is at a level to him. 

"He's hot, isn't he?" I realized that I was staring agape at the photo and immediately pulled my lower jaw back. Eleanor smiled at me and walked towards the window. 

"He saw your profile and immediately called me. Says he wants to meet you." 

I gulped in the saliva stuck in my throat. A man like him wants to meet me? Why? Is it that he found me attractive or my virginity igniting the fire within him. Basically, men love to own a clean, pure virgin to later snatch it away. I've heard it a lot of times. 

"So, what do you think?" Eleanor snapped me out of my chain of thoughts and I just stared at her blandly. 

"Umm... I-I don't know." I replied honestly. But I didn't know why I was feeling the outburst of hormones in my system. 

"Well, you can meet him and talk with him, get to know about him. If things don't work out, then you can go for the other options. Though, I should add that the others are not that good." she spoke to me in an alarming tone. 

"Umm,ok."

"Perfect!"Eleanor clasped her hands together in excitement.

"So,I'll give him a call and ask him where he wants to meet. Also, do you ...umm...have something to wear for the date?"she eyed my dress skeptically.

"I fear not." I handed her a sheepish grin.

"No problem. That can be managed. I will hire a group of makeup artist and I'll get the dress just perfect for you!" she exclaimed. 

I sighed in defiance and asked her if I could take the file with me,but she denied telling that they can't risk on trusting anyone with the info.

David dropped me home safely and I walked up to the stairs to be welcomed by a group of men who radiated 'danger' whenever they lined up the stairs for a chat. More for picking on girls who walk pass them.

"Hey baby, wanna get your muffin buttered?"one of the creeps grinned with his infamous cocky smile and I resisted the temptation to break them on his mouth.

"Dude, that ass is hot. Would love to fuck you from your-'

'I told no smoking!' the landlord shouted from upstairs. At times I really feel grateful for his existence!

I sighed a breath of relief and walked up to my door, without sparing a second glance to the bunch of assholes, digging my skin with their pervert looks on me.

I didn't feel safe inside the place I was living. I never felt safe anywhere. Not to the divorcee bitch whom I call my mother. Not inside the apartment I'm staying. Not inside my own body. Why was I even born in the first place? And that also as a girl?

I pushed my sneakers away and hopped into the hard bed. It definitely hurted, but not more than the pain that was crawling deep within my soul.

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