Raffael’s icy presence filled the room as he stood at the entrance, eyes scanning over the girls who had been dancing with the men just moments ago. The music still thumped loudly, but the tension in the air was like a heavy storm waiting to break. He didn’t need to say much. The armed ladies were already moving toward the men whom the girls had been entertaining. “Leave this place,” Raffael’s voice was calm but deadly. “Now.” The man closest to him, a burly figure with a thick beard, turned and scoffed, trying to mask his unease with bravado. “We paid much to have them tonight. We’ll leave when we’re ready. You can have them later.” Without warning, Raffael’s fist connected with the man’s gut, a sickening thud echoing through the space. The man gasped, stumbling backward, clutching his stomach, blood spilling from his lips as he hit the ground with a thud. Raffael didn’t flinch, his cold stare unwavering. “If I repeat myself, you’d be dead.” The other men froze, their faces
CLARISSA I stalked through the club, my heels clicking loudly against the marble floor, each step an echo of the anger boiling in my chest. The atmosphere was thick with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of glasses, but I was too focused on my goal to notice. I was looking for them—Daisy, Melanie, and Chloe. As I reached the dressing room, I paused, hearing the muffled voices behind the door. I pushed it open, and the sight inside made my stomach twist. The three girls were sitting on the floor, the first aid kit scattered beside them. Melanie was wiping the blood off her arms with shaky hands, while Chloe was dabbing a cloth to her swollen cheek. Daisy winced as she adjusted her position, trying to ignore the pain in her side. They were a mess, bruised and battered, and it was clear that Raffael’s thuggish women hadn’t held back. The moment they saw me, their expressions shifted. They went from hurt to pure, seething anger. “Look who finally shows up,” Chloe hissed,
ERICA The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the mop sliding across the polished floor. I had been cleaning for nearly an hour, trying to distract myself from the nagging thoughts that had been swirling in my mind since last night. Ever since Clarissa cornered me and told me that Raffael had Chloe, Daisy, and Melanie beaten up, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t know how to feel. Should I be grateful? Should I confront him? The idea of speaking to him made my stomach churn. Raffael wasn’t the type of man you casually approached, especially when he looked as brooding and irritated as he did lately. I adjusted the mop in my hand, glancing toward the door. The air felt heavier when he was around, and the tension only grew when I heard his familiar footsteps echo in the hall. A second later, the door creaked open, and there he was. Raffael walked into the room without sparing me a glance, his face a mask of cold indifference. He headed straight to his closet, tug
ERICA DAYS LATER As the music started, I stepped onto the stage, trying to block out the leers and crude remarks. The bass thumped in my chest, and I moved to the rhythm like I always did, my hips swaying, my body bending to the demands of the performance. The whistles began almost immediately. "Yeah, work it, baby!" a man shouted from the corner, his words slurred with liquor. "Show us more!" another chimed in, laughing as he slapped the table. I twisted around the pole, letting the music guide me. I was good at pretending it didn’t bother me. A man sitting near the stage leaned forward, his gold chains glinting under the lights. He shoved a wad of cash into my bra with a cocky grin. "That’s for being a good girl," he said, his breath reeking of whiskey. As I spun around the pole, trying to shake off the emotions threatening to overwhelm me, something shifted. I felt it before I saw it—a pair of eyes burning into me. I glanced toward the back of the room, and my sto
ERICA Hot breath hovered over my skin, teeth grazing my flesh, and nails digging deep into it. I could feel his arousal hard against me as he caged me, his body firmly pressed onto mine. Bruising kisses scattered across my skin, and I whimpered, too drained to even scream or fight back. “Tonight, I’ll show you exactly what you are,” his dark tone whispered into my ear. “Raffael!” I screamed, jolting upright from the bed at once. My breath came in labored and rugged, sweat beads coating my forehead even though the room wasn’t hot at all. I placed a hand on my chest, trying to steady my frantic breathing and heartbeat as I felt my heart sink into my stomach. Trailing my gaze to the clock in my room, I was shocked to find it was ten minutes past six. Had I slept through the entire day? Hurriedly, I stepped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up so I could prepare dinner. Ever since my terrible encounter with Raffael at the club a few days ago, where he practica
ERICA The sound of laughter and clinking glasses drifted up from the living room as I stood in front of the mirror, tugging nervously at the hem of the dress Raffael had chosen for me. It was a sleek black gown that hugged my figure in all the right places, yet it felt like a prison. Every inch of fabric reminded me of who had sent it—Raffael. Why does he always have to control everything? I smoothed the soft fabric and let out a shaky breath. The thought of stepping into that room full of people made my stomach churn. What if he found something to criticize? What if he ignored me completely? I wish! The latter felt like a great mercy. Hopefully he won't notice my appearance and I'll be left alone. With trembling hands, I slipped on my heels, taking one last look in the mirror. My reflection looked calm, collected, even confident. Inside, I was anything but calm. As I opened the door, the music and chatter grew louder, the muffled hum now sharp and vibrant. Each step toward
CLARISSADAYS LATER The penthouse was bathed in the amber glow of the evening sun as Raffael and I stepped inside. I had suggested that we spend time in one of his pent houses to celebrate his latest business contract and also to spend time together. The sleek, minimalist decor screamed luxury, but to me, it felt cold—like the man walking beside me. He moved with his usual commanding presence, his dark suit perfectly tailored, his expression unreadable. As the door clicked shut behind us, I tried to fill the silence with small talk. Did you see the latest article about you? They called you ‘the king of the underworld empire.’ Quite the title, don’t you think?” I said with a light laugh, watching for any reaction. “Hm,” he replied, loosening his tie as he strode toward the living room. I followed, biting my lip. He always gave me so little to work with. “Maybe I should start calling you Your Majesty,” I teased, hoping for at least a smirk. Instead, he sank onto the edge of the
ERICA Time seemed to tick too fast tonight. My eyes remained glued to the wall clock that hung in my cramped living room. It was already close to midnight, and yet my father still wasn’t home. It wasn’t unusual for him to come home late, but not this late. He was usually back by eleven, or ten on good days. Where is that man, for goodness' sake!? Could he still be at the bar drinking? Had he passed out somewhere? Was he safe? Had he gotten himself into another street fight? An annoyed huff left my lips as I sharply got up from the couch, pacing around the living room to clear my thoughts. The approaching footsteps of my younger sister snapped me out of my disturbing thoughts, and I quickly turned to face her. "Erica, are you still awake?" my younger sister, Lilibeth, asked, concern in her eyes as she approached me. I nodded as she embraced me, hugging me tightly. “Yeah, can’t sleep. He’s not back yet.” "Do you think he will come back tonight?" Lilibeth asked as she pull
CLARISSADAYS LATER The penthouse was bathed in the amber glow of the evening sun as Raffael and I stepped inside. I had suggested that we spend time in one of his pent houses to celebrate his latest business contract and also to spend time together. The sleek, minimalist decor screamed luxury, but to me, it felt cold—like the man walking beside me. He moved with his usual commanding presence, his dark suit perfectly tailored, his expression unreadable. As the door clicked shut behind us, I tried to fill the silence with small talk. Did you see the latest article about you? They called you ‘the king of the underworld empire.’ Quite the title, don’t you think?” I said with a light laugh, watching for any reaction. “Hm,” he replied, loosening his tie as he strode toward the living room. I followed, biting my lip. He always gave me so little to work with. “Maybe I should start calling you Your Majesty,” I teased, hoping for at least a smirk. Instead, he sank onto the edge of the
ERICA The sound of laughter and clinking glasses drifted up from the living room as I stood in front of the mirror, tugging nervously at the hem of the dress Raffael had chosen for me. It was a sleek black gown that hugged my figure in all the right places, yet it felt like a prison. Every inch of fabric reminded me of who had sent it—Raffael. Why does he always have to control everything? I smoothed the soft fabric and let out a shaky breath. The thought of stepping into that room full of people made my stomach churn. What if he found something to criticize? What if he ignored me completely? I wish! The latter felt like a great mercy. Hopefully he won't notice my appearance and I'll be left alone. With trembling hands, I slipped on my heels, taking one last look in the mirror. My reflection looked calm, collected, even confident. Inside, I was anything but calm. As I opened the door, the music and chatter grew louder, the muffled hum now sharp and vibrant. Each step toward
ERICA Hot breath hovered over my skin, teeth grazing my flesh, and nails digging deep into it. I could feel his arousal hard against me as he caged me, his body firmly pressed onto mine. Bruising kisses scattered across my skin, and I whimpered, too drained to even scream or fight back. “Tonight, I’ll show you exactly what you are,” his dark tone whispered into my ear. “Raffael!” I screamed, jolting upright from the bed at once. My breath came in labored and rugged, sweat beads coating my forehead even though the room wasn’t hot at all. I placed a hand on my chest, trying to steady my frantic breathing and heartbeat as I felt my heart sink into my stomach. Trailing my gaze to the clock in my room, I was shocked to find it was ten minutes past six. Had I slept through the entire day? Hurriedly, I stepped out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up so I could prepare dinner. Ever since my terrible encounter with Raffael at the club a few days ago, where he practica
ERICA DAYS LATER As the music started, I stepped onto the stage, trying to block out the leers and crude remarks. The bass thumped in my chest, and I moved to the rhythm like I always did, my hips swaying, my body bending to the demands of the performance. The whistles began almost immediately. "Yeah, work it, baby!" a man shouted from the corner, his words slurred with liquor. "Show us more!" another chimed in, laughing as he slapped the table. I twisted around the pole, letting the music guide me. I was good at pretending it didn’t bother me. A man sitting near the stage leaned forward, his gold chains glinting under the lights. He shoved a wad of cash into my bra with a cocky grin. "That’s for being a good girl," he said, his breath reeking of whiskey. As I spun around the pole, trying to shake off the emotions threatening to overwhelm me, something shifted. I felt it before I saw it—a pair of eyes burning into me. I glanced toward the back of the room, and my sto
ERICA The room was quiet except for the soft sound of the mop sliding across the polished floor. I had been cleaning for nearly an hour, trying to distract myself from the nagging thoughts that had been swirling in my mind since last night. Ever since Clarissa cornered me and told me that Raffael had Chloe, Daisy, and Melanie beaten up, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I didn’t know how to feel. Should I be grateful? Should I confront him? The idea of speaking to him made my stomach churn. Raffael wasn’t the type of man you casually approached, especially when he looked as brooding and irritated as he did lately. I adjusted the mop in my hand, glancing toward the door. The air felt heavier when he was around, and the tension only grew when I heard his familiar footsteps echo in the hall. A second later, the door creaked open, and there he was. Raffael walked into the room without sparing me a glance, his face a mask of cold indifference. He headed straight to his closet, tug
CLARISSA I stalked through the club, my heels clicking loudly against the marble floor, each step an echo of the anger boiling in my chest. The atmosphere was thick with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of glasses, but I was too focused on my goal to notice. I was looking for them—Daisy, Melanie, and Chloe. As I reached the dressing room, I paused, hearing the muffled voices behind the door. I pushed it open, and the sight inside made my stomach twist. The three girls were sitting on the floor, the first aid kit scattered beside them. Melanie was wiping the blood off her arms with shaky hands, while Chloe was dabbing a cloth to her swollen cheek. Daisy winced as she adjusted her position, trying to ignore the pain in her side. They were a mess, bruised and battered, and it was clear that Raffael’s thuggish women hadn’t held back. The moment they saw me, their expressions shifted. They went from hurt to pure, seething anger. “Look who finally shows up,” Chloe hissed,
Raffael’s icy presence filled the room as he stood at the entrance, eyes scanning over the girls who had been dancing with the men just moments ago. The music still thumped loudly, but the tension in the air was like a heavy storm waiting to break. He didn’t need to say much. The armed ladies were already moving toward the men whom the girls had been entertaining. “Leave this place,” Raffael’s voice was calm but deadly. “Now.” The man closest to him, a burly figure with a thick beard, turned and scoffed, trying to mask his unease with bravado. “We paid much to have them tonight. We’ll leave when we’re ready. You can have them later.” Without warning, Raffael’s fist connected with the man’s gut, a sickening thud echoing through the space. The man gasped, stumbling backward, clutching his stomach, blood spilling from his lips as he hit the ground with a thud. Raffael didn’t flinch, his cold stare unwavering. “If I repeat myself, you’d be dead.” The other men froze, their faces
Clarissa stormed into Ray’s office, her heels clicking against the tiled floor with urgency. Ray looked up from his cluttered desk, his expression morphing from surprise to confusion as he saw her standing in front of him, her hands gripping the back of the chair across from him. “Clarissa,” he began, leaning back slightly. “What brings you here? You don’t usually…” “Raffael is on his way,” she interrupted, her tone sharp and urgent. Ray’s brows knitted together, perplexed. “Raffael? Here? Why? What’s going on?” Clarissa rolled her eyes, her frustration evident. “Why else would he be coming? It is because of Erica ofcourse. That stupid girl that somehow found a way to turn our lives upside down” The name dripped from her lips like venom. Ray sat up straighter, his confusion deepening. “Erica? What did she do now?” “That lousy new stripper reported some nonsense about being bullied in the club. And under your watch, no less,” Clarissa snapped. “She even showed Raffael some
ERICA I stood in the kitchen, my hands busy chopping vegetables for the salad, while my mind wandered elsewhere. The house was eerily quiet except for the faint sound of laughter coming from the living room. Raffael and Clarissa. I didn’t need to peek around the corner to know what was going on. Her high-pitched giggles and the sound of his low murmurs were enough to paint a picture. I tried not to think about it as I moved to set the table. The clinking of plates and cutlery against the wooden surface was louder than I expected, almost like it was trying to drown out the scene in my head. But as I turned to grab the glasses, my eyes accidentally landed on them. Clarissa was perched on Raffael’s lap, her perfectly manicured fingers tracing his jawline as she leaned in for a kiss. His arm rested lazily around her waist, his hand splayed possessively on her lower back. I quickly looked away, but a strange discomfort settled in my chest. Why does this bother me? I shook the thought