CHAPTER FOUR

The news of what Evie had done spread fast across the club and among the girls.

They all couldn’t believe that she had the audacity to run away from Lorenzo? What was she thinking? He was everyone’s number one choice. All the girls wanted to sleep with him. They dreamed of being with him. Not only because of he paid the most, but also because he sexy, hot and great in bed. He was the definition of a sex god. No wonder the girls were furious.

“Violetta shouldn’t have sent Evie to him. She should have sent me,” Mia one of the girls, said to another after hearing the gossip.

“Yeah. Evie is lucky he didn't kill her. I heard he is known for killing those that disappoint him,” another girl added.

“I can still remember the time he had me in his arms,” one of the other girls said dreamily.

“Me too! I was so happy. I thought I would die,” another agreed.

“Evie!!!!” Violetta voice rang out through the hallway as she walked towards the door leading to Evie’s room. She was pissed as fuck. Evie almost cost her life and not only that Lorenzo took back all the money he had given her for Evie. Half a million dollars. She wasn't going to let that go.

“What the hell happened, Evie? Why the fuck did you run away?” Violetta yelled angrily slamming the door as she barged into Evie's room.

“I’m so sorry,” Evie said quietly. Her face was wet with tears. She felt terrible. Violetta looked so angry that she wasn't sure how to respond.

“I just… I couldn’t do it. I’m not a whore! I'm not some cheap slut that sleeps with anyone for money. I didn’t deserve to be treated like that,” Evie explained. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

Violetta slapped her hard across the face. "You’re not a whore. Then what are you? Your father sold you off for some cheap change. He didn’t want you. He always told me he wished he never had you. You better start acting like a whore or I swear I will throw you out of here." She screamed at Evie, her anger bubbling up inside her.

Evie stayed silent. Her eyes filled with tears. Her life was shit. Why did her father have to sell her? She didn't know why. But she knew the answer. Because he was sick. Sick in the head. He used to beat her mother and Evie. She remembered when she was younger how he had come home drunk and hit her mom. He never stopped hitting her mom until she died of a heart attack. She was only nine years old then.

Violetta kicked the dresser and the mirror fell off smashing on the ground. She held Evie by the hair and dragged her out of her room and down the hallway.

“I’m going to teach you a lesson, young lady. Let’s see if a few whip scars will change your mind.”

Evie yelled kicking and screaming. “No!! Please, please stop! I’ll do anything you want. I’ll be good. I’ll do anything! Just don’t hurt me.”

But Violetta didn't listen. She continued dragging her. She threw her into a dark room and shut the door behind her.

The sound of whip cracking echoed through the entire club. It was late afternoon so there was no client around, just the girls and they were used to the noise.

Evie cried. The pain burned her skin. She could feel the blood flowing from the wounds. She bit her tongue to keep herself from crying out loud. She couldn’t really tell how long it went on, because she passed out a couple of times.

When Evie eventually woke up, she found herself in her bedroom lying in her bed. She didn’t know how she got back here but she was glad Violeta had left her alone. Evie felt weak. She couldn't move much. Her whole body was bruised and her neck throbbed. There was a lot of dried blood staining her white sheets.

“Oh my God, Evie. Are you okay?” Ingrid asked rushing into her room.

“Ingrid? Is that you?” Evie managed to say. Her eyes were heavy and her brain was fuzzy.

“Of course it's me, Evie. My client just dropped me off a couple minutes ago and I've been looking all over for you," Ingrid said taking Evie into her arms.

“I heard what Violetta did to you, Evie. What did you do?"

“I ran away from Lorenzo. I couldn’t do it, Ingrid. I couldn’t let a man take advantage of me like that. I’m not a whore!" Evie said with a sob.

“Oh baby. But that’s what you are. We're all whores at this place. This is our job. If you think you're not a whore then you must be crazy. Look at yourself. All bruised and cut up. You look like a piece of meat that someone bought to eat. That's what you are."

“No, I'm not," Evie argued.

“You are. It doesn’t matter. Violetta runs this place and you better get used to it, Evie. If you keep up this attitude, you'll end up on the streets. Or even worse, dead. Do you want that?”

“No…” Evie whispered. “Well, then I have a suggestion. You can either behave and earn money at this place, or you can leave. You choose. No one will stop you. It's your choice," Ingrid stated.

Evie knew she couldn’t leave. The streets of Chicago were too dangerous. She would be raped and killed in a matter of days if that happened. I will stay.”

“Good. Now, let's get you washed up. You look like you need a doctor. You're lucky Violetta didn't kill you. She wouldn't hesitate to do it. You should thank her, because if she hadn't beaten you up, you might have been dead right now. And you definitely would've ended up on the street."

Ingrid helped Evie to her feet, and led her to the bathroom. She prepared a bath for Evie, and once she was in it, she sat next to her.

“Guess what I got from my client,” she said to Evie while cleaning her cuts and bruises.

“What?”

“A big check,” she said pulling out the envelope from her pocket. "Here. Open it."

Evie opened it and saw hundreds of dollars. She looked at Ingrid with wide open eyes.

“Exactly, that’s what you could get if you put your mind to it. Now, I’m giving you this money to take care of yourself. I will take you to the best clothing store tomorrow and you can buy whatever you want. I'll pay for it, don't worry about that. But you have to promise me that you will behave from now on. Understand?"

Evie stayed silent as she stared at Ingrid. “Why are you being so nice to me? You barely even know me. Why are you doing this to me?"

“Because I care about you, Evie. I was once like you. Scared, alone, abandoned by the people I called my family. I was a mess. But I found help and I made myself stronger. So I am going to give you that same chance. Otherwise, you won't survive in this world.”

Ingrid got into the tub and sat next to Evie. Her hands wrapped around her shoulders as Evie rested her head on her chest. After a few minutes, Ingrid spoke again.

“I know this might not be the right time to tell you this, but you are going to be an escort for Lorenzo tomorrow night.”

“What?” Evie eyes widened and her heart started beating fast.

“Yes. He wants you to be his date to the gala he’s hosting tomorrow night.”

Evie shook her head. “You mean I’m going to see that monster again?”