101

Bella fled the lounge angrily, her stiletto heels striking the marble flooring with every stride. It was a high sound that mingled with the distant wave of music coming from the main bar. And she could still feel the snake-like touch of Daniel on her skin, with his voice droning on in her head. “$1 million” he had said as if she was a bottomless pit of money and she would part with it without a second thought.

Believing that Daniel was now irrelevant, at least for her, was difficult. She made a fist, nails digging into the skin below, and exited through the double doors into the cool muzzle of the evening. The street was calm and the noise of the traffic was limited to the fleeting presence of the few cars. Bella inhaled deeply, attempting to shake off all burdensome thoughts. But she still snapped back to the man who was inside and how somehow, he managed to coerce her entire life around him.

“Not for long,” she muttered, only audible to her. Bella was about through with him. She ha