Chapter 1

Scarlett’s POV

I had just started my shift at the clubhouse when three guys walked in. They looked like trouble from the moment they stepped through the door, and I felt my guard go up immediately. 

As they approached the bar, I could see the way they were eyeing my up and down. It made my skin crawl. I knew exactly what they were thinking, and I wasn't about to let them get away with it.

"Excuse me, can I help you with something?" I asked, my voice firm and steady.

"We just wanted to talk to you, sweetie," one of the guys replied, his eyes lingering on my chest.

I bristled. "I don't think so. Please leave me alone."

"What's the matter, don't you like us?" another guy said, reaching out to grab my arm.

I pulled my arm away and took a step back. "I said leave me alone. I'm not interested."

The guys laughed, but I could feel my anger rising. I could see the way they were looking at me, like I was nothing more than a piece of meat. It made me want to hit them

And then, without even thinking, I punched one of the guys in the face.

I was no stranger to violence. I had grown up in a rough neighborhood, and I knew how to defend myself. But even I was surprised by how quickly the punch landed, sending the guy crashing to the ground.

The other two guys looked stunned for a moment, and then they lunged at me. But I was ready for them. I dodged their blows and fought back with all the anger and frustration that had been building up inside me.

It wasn't pretty. I was small, but I was fierce, and I fought with all the strength I had. The guys were bigger, but they were no match for me. Within minutes, they were lying on the ground, groaning in pain.

I stood over them, breathing hard, my fists still clenched. I felt a surge of triumph as I looked down at them. They had come into my space, trying to take what they wanted without any regard for my feelings or my boundaries. And I had fought back.

Damian’s POV

The cozy atmosphere of the bar was not enough to keep me from being consumed by the overwhelming emotions that had been weighing me down. As I rested on a barstool, I felt the intensity of the day's events wash over me like an unrelenting tide.

My stepmother's latest attempt to control my life had left me feeling helpless and anxious. Her insistence on arranging a marriage for me in the hopes that it would bolster my ability to manage my late father's business empire had left me feeling drained and overwhelmed.

The demands of my job had been unrelenting, and I had reached a point where I could no longer ignore the mounting stress and exhaustion. The weight of it all was crushing, and I knew that I needed to take a step back and give myself a moment of respite .

As I ordered a drink and watched the bartender work their magic, I couldn't help but think about how much I needed this break. The cool liquid that flowed down my throat was a welcome relief, and I savored the taste as it washed away the bitterness of the day.

The air was tense as I stood with my guard, talking about this and that, with the world moving around us. Suddenly, a noise caught my attention from the direction of the counter. Intrigued, I swiveled my head to get a better view of the scene. It was there that my eyes met a woman fighting off several men who were trying to assault her.

The sight was stunning, and my focus was transfixed on the woman's strength and resilience. Despite being outnumbered, she defended herself with remarkable prowess, repelling each assault with a ferocity that was both admirable and awe-inspiring. Her movements were swift and fluid, evincing a level of skill that betrayed a significant amount of training.

As I watched her, I couldn't help but admire her determination and strength of character. Her reaction in the face of danger was remarkable, and I felt privileged to witness such an inspiring display of human courage. Despite the danger she was in, she didn't falter or break under the pressure, and her unyielding spirit filled me with admiration and respect.

At that moment, I knew I had to meet her. "Make inquiries of this lady and get her number for me," I told my assistant. He looked at me quizzically, surprised by my sudden interest in a stranger. But he knew better than to disobey me and left to make enquiries.

As I waited for my assistant to return, I couldn't shake the image of the woman out of my head. Her strength and skill had left a lasting impression on me, and I felt drawn to her in a way that I couldn't explain.

Scarlett’s POV

As I made my way towards the counter, my attention was drawn to a young man in a suit who was staring at me intently. Who is he? I wondered. And why is he looking at me like that? I was bewildered, but I didn't let it distract me from my work. Suddenly, the man stood up and yelled at me, "You will surely pay for what you did. I will make you pay," before storming out of the bar.

I stood there, feeling a mixture of fear and anger brewing inside me. Who were these people, and why were they after me? I couldn't let them intimidate me, so I began to talk to myself. "Scarlett, you can't let them get to you. Stay focused, and don't let them see that they've gotten to you." Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down, but my fists remained clenched. Although they had invaded my space and threatened me, I had stood up to them, and that made me feel powerful.

******

I had just finished my work for the day when my boss, Tom, called me into his office. I could tell from the look on his face that something was wrong.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to hide my concern.

"I got a complaint from those guys earlier. They said you were rude to them and insulted them," Tom said, his tone serious.

I rolled my eyes. I knew exactly who he was talking about. Those three guys who had come into the club earlier had been nothing but trouble. They had harassed me, made suggestive comments, and tried to touch me. I had defended myself, but apparently, that wasn't good enough.

"Those guys were harassing me. I didn't insult them, I defended myself," I said, my voice firm.

"That may be true, but we can't have our employees being rude to customers. I need you to apologize to them," Tom said, his arms crossed.

My jaw dropped. "Apologize? Are you kidding me? They were the ones at fault, not me."

"I understand that, but you still need to apologize. It's the club policy," Tom said, his expression unyielding.

I shook my head. "No, I'm not going to apologize. I did nothing wrong."

"Then I'm afraid I have to let you go," Tom said, looking sad.

My heart sank. I couldn't believe it. I loved working at the clubhouse, and I didn't know how I was going to pay my bills now. I gathered my things and walked out of the club, feeling angry and frustrated.

As I walked down the street, I couldn't help but feel like I had been treated unfairly. I had been harassed by those guys, and yet I was the one who was being punished. It didn't make any sense to me.

As I walked down the street, I couldn't help but feel the sting of injustice. My heart was heavy with the weight of what had happened to me. I had been harassed by those guys, and yet I was the one who was being punished. It didn't make any sense to me.

As I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

I picked up and heard the shocking news.