His eyes roamed over me, lingering on every curve, filled with a hunger that made my skin crawl. "Stunning," he whispered, his breath caressing my ears.
His fingers began to trace the curve of my cheek. I shut my eyes in disgust, trying to shake him off, but he held tight onto me. His touch sent shivers down my spine as I panicked.
Jasper’s grin broadened as he continued, his hands sliding down towards my chest. I felt my face flush with humiliation and I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole.
Just then, Mr. Jenkins, intervened awkwardly, "Mr Jasper, please, she's just a waitress, she doesn’t engage...ah...sexually with clients"
Jasper chuckled, his little laugh made my body vibrate.
“Well, then I’d be her first. She doesn’t get to decide, I make the decisions.” He added.
Eva rushed towards us, kneeling. Her eyes were pleading.
“I’m so sorry Sir, for my negligence. It was all my fault. Take…take me instead. I’ll go with you, I’ll do anything. Just let Quinn go, please. She’s just a student.”
Mr Jasper didn’t relent. His hands still continued to move all over me, as though he did not hear Eva’s desperate plea. He tucked my hair behind my ears, to get a clearer view of my face.
He obviously didn’t care.
The ruthless sets of beings, usually the wealthy, famous ones with power, never did.
In one instance, I heard the ripping sounds of fabric. It only took me seconds to realize that Jasper had just torn my clothes. Panic set in, as I struggled to break loose, but he was too strong for me.
No one was trying to help me or stop him. They all stared fixated and I wondered why.
I felt abandoned and helpless as his eyes ravaged my body.
Just as all hope seems lost. A commanding voice behind ordered him to stop. He let me go immediately, and I staggered back trying to cover up the rest of my revealing underwear, in the open.
As they left, Mr. Jenkins' expression darkened. His anger fixed on I and Eva, "You two," he growled.
"You should be grateful you’re still here. Else, I would have fired you right on this spot. He made an attempt to leave, giving one final order on the spot.
“No one should dare help them” he ordered, leaving us behind.
I felt my world spinning and closing up on me. The room tilted, becoming black, void of colours and I fainted.
I remember waking up in the hospital, Eva’s worried face hovered above mine.
"Quinn, oh God, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
I struggled to sit up, confusion clouding my mind. "What...what happened?" I stammered.
Eva’s eyes welled up with tears. ”You fainted and Mr. Braxton Bryan sent someone to take you to the hospital.” You’re safe now.
My eyes widened. “Bryan Braxton?” The name echoed within me, stirring lost memories.
-----------------------
BACK TO THE PRESENT_
I stirred from my memories, Bryan's gentle voice pulling me back from my reverie. I blinked, disoriented.
I didn’t realize the car had come to a stop, and we were at our destination; the restaurant.
Bryan opened the door for me. As I stepped out, my eyes scanned the parking lot. I was wowed by the amount of people staring. I couldn’t entirely blame them; we made a striking couple, after all.
"Who's that with Bryan?" a woman whispered to her companion, eyes intently fixed on me.
"Must be his new girlfriend," the other replied, envy lacing in her tone.
I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. They had no idea.
Bryan offered his arm, and I took it, playing the part. We walked into the restaurant, faces turning to gaze at us.
"Right this way, Mr. Bryan," the maître d' said, leading us to our table.
As we sat, Bryan’s hand lingered on mine, making me very uneasy.
This is our routine now. He would invite me to dine with him, and I'd accept, trapped in a cycle of obligation. He'd escort me back home, never crossing the threshold.
The predictability was suffocating, it was a constant reminder of my vulnerable position.
Tonight was no different. Bryan's eyes scanned me, his expression critical.
"What’s on your mind? He inquired. And I quickly brush it off, feigning indifference.
“You can't look forced when accompanying me, I hope you know that?" he added, his voice low and commanding.
"Smile, Quinn. Laugh. Make them believe you're happy." My subconscious teased.
I forced a smile, my heart heavy, but who was I fooling?
Certainly not myself.
His sudden question caught me off guard. "What are your plans for winter vacation?"
"Urmm...my college is organizing a trip south for sketching, and I'd love to…," I replied, a spark of excitement flickering within me.
But Bryan's response cut short through mine. It was immediate and decisive.
"Come with me to Paris instead. I'll be on a business trip to Europe in a few days, and we can stay for a while. I can introduce you to some French artists."
My protests died on my lips.
It wasn't a request. It was a declaration.
As if my opinion held no weight.
I remained mute and ate in silence.
After dinner ended. He made signals and a man approached us holding a small box in his hands.
“I got this for you”, Bryan announced, revealing an opulent beautiful diamond necklace.
It was indeed beautiful. He smiled, urging me to turn, and he fastened it around my neck.
His fingers brushed against my skin. To outsiders, we were a blissful couple—handsome, beautiful, and seemingly in love.
But I felt great pain, sensing that Bryan was playing with me like a mouse. There was no way he had forgotten what transpired years ago. This was a game, and I was just a pawn.
He hasn’t mentioned anything to me. Constantly taking me for dinner and spoiling me thereafter? All designed to keep me captive to his whims.
I longed for him to reveal his true intentions. Do something to me out of the ordinary. Probably, make me face the consequences of our history.
My subconscious tried to play the devil’s advocate on me. “Maybe he doesn’t have such ulterior motives”. But I quickly silenced that thought. “I would be a fool to think that,” I countered.
As we left the restaurant, with Bryan’s arm wrapped around my waist. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was trapped in a gilded cage, with no escape.
The stare continued, people assuming we were a couple. Little did they know I was trapped in this charade.
His charade.
Bryan's hand covered mine, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
And I forced a smile for the onlookers.
BRYAN’S POVAs I opened the door for Quinn, her bewildered expression amused me.Her nervousness was so obvious that I couldn’t help but smile at her awkwardness.Once she settled in, I started the car and pulled away.My mind flashed back to the incident that forced me to reveal myself.Her current reaction mirrored the frantic nervous feeling I felt that day, watching her go through that attack.That night, I had saved her from Jasper’s grip. Her eyes were terrified when I looked back, her breathing heaving. Tension stirred within me and I screamed.“Get her to the hospital this minute.”Asthma.I remembered. She was asthmatic.My heart swiftly raced as I swiftly moved closer, cradling her fragile form.“Hang in there, help is on the way”, I assured him.Suddenly, her eyes rolled back and she slumped forward, fainting.Her friend caught her. “Get an ambulance, now!” I had barked at whoever stood close.The minutes ticked by like hours as we waited for the paramedics. Soon the ambulan
Eva's infectious laughter filled the air, and Matt's presence was surprisingly polite and courteous as we settled into a cozy restaurant, the aroma of sizzling meat and spices enveloping us.As we placed our order, my gaze drifted to the TV above the bar, catching my attention.Breaking news flashed on the screen: "Billionaire, Braxton Bryan Purchases Priceless Diamond Necklace at Auction." My heart skipped a beat.The camera pans to the stunning necklace, its diamonds glinting under the lights.My fingers instinctively rose to touch the identical necklace around my neck. A nervous tremble ran through my hand.One of my coworkers, Rachel, gazed wistfully at the TV. "I'll never make enough money to afford something like that." She remarked, her eyes wandering to my neck, and her brows furrowed""Wow, Quinn, your knock-off looks amazingly real!""Where did you get it?"I force a casual smile, trying to sound nonchalant. "Oh, I picked it up from a street vendor for seven bucks." The lie
QUINN’S POVMy slender fingers absently toyed with the diamond necklace hovering around my neck.. The sparkling gemstones danced in the light, but my mind was swirling with questions. Every scenario with him becomes more perplexing than the last. Why was he showering me with extravagant gifts? Is he trying to get me drowned in love ? Was it a genuine attempt to sweep me off my feet or a calculated act to buy my affection? The uncertainty churned inside of me. I couldn’t neglect the feeling that I was trapped in a whirlpool of confusion. As exhaustion claimed me, my eyelids become heavy, and I drifted off to sleep, clutching the necklace. “Quinn”, a soft, innocent voice startled me. I turned to face the caller and my eyes melted at the sight of a little boy, his little cute eyes boring into my soul.I became curious as I leaned in, attentive to why he called.“You must grow up quickly and marry me” he declared, his voice filled with conviction. My heart skipped a beat as I woke up,
QUINN'S POV His piercing eyes, once bright with laughter, now seemed like they were staring right through my soul.For a moment, I looked at the man sitting beside me, struggling to find remnants of the little boy I once knew, but I couldn’t."You should have already investigated me," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was kicked out ten years ago, and I was just a child at that time."Bryan's expression remained unyielding, his jaw clenched in a fierce determination. "Do you think you're innocent?" he spat, his words laced with venom. "Let me tell you, not a single person in your family is innocent."Before I could respond, Bryan grasped my arm, pulling me out of the car. I stumbled, my heels scraping against the pavement. We were parked outside what looked like a villa, secluded and isolated. The desolate landscape and vast emptiness engulfed us."Bryan, please," I begged, trying to wriggle free.He dragged me upstairs, his grip unrelenting. I stumbled, my feet barely
As his hands began to wander across my body, I clenched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the worst. The anticipation was suffocating. My heart raced with every touch.But as Bryan's lips left mine, I felt the chill of reality creeping back in. The warmth of his breath vanished, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.Yet, his hands refused to release their grip. They roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine. Every caress was like a whispered promise of what was to come."Bryan, please," I whispered again, this time my voice was barely audible, and my mind began racing with warning signals. My thoughts screamed resistance, but my body surrendered. This body betrayed me. His touch ignited a fire that spread through my veins like wildfire. I felt my defenses melting, my muscles relaxing into his soft caress.His fingers traced the curve of my neck, sending tremors through me. "You're mine, Quinn," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.His lips claimed mine once more, and I felt
---------------As his hands began to wander across my body, I clenched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the worst. The anticipation was suffocating. My heart raced with every touch.But as Bryan's lips left mine, I felt the chill of reality creeping back in. The warmth of his breath vanished, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.Yet, his hands refused to release their grip. They roamed my body, sending shivers down my spine. Every caress was like a whispered promise of what was to come."Bryan, please," I whispered again, this time my voice was barely audible, and my mind began racing with warning signals. My thoughts screamed resistance, but my body surrendered. This body betrayed me. His touch ignited a fire that spread through my veins like wildfire. I felt my defenses melting, my muscles relaxing into his soft caress.His fingers traced the curve of my neck, sending tremors through me. "You're mine, Quinn," he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.His lips claimed mine once
I drifted back to reality, my memories releasing their hold on me as I reluctantly sighed. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the remnants of Bryan's touch. Every joint ached, still stiff from the tension.Eva's concerned eyes met mine, filled with unspoken questions. I knew she saw the bruises, the physical evidence of Bryan's torment. But she didn't pry, she didn't ask the questions lingering on her lips.Instead, she enveloped me in a gentle hug, guiding me toward the couch. "Let's get you comfortable, okay?" Her soft voice soothed my vulnerable nerves.Eva handed me a steaming cup of tea, her eyes filled with empathy. "Drink this, Quinn. You're shaking."I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, letting the soothing aroma calm my soul.As Eva helped me settle in, my phone’s jarring ringtone pierced the silence. I stared at the device, paralyzed and unresponsive. The screen displayed Bryan's name, taunting me. Not even a minute to myself? I sighed.Eva picked it up, hesitating for
QUINN'S POV“I don’t bite, so what are you afraid of?” Jasper asked so casually as he held my wrist.I tried to break loose and to my surprise, he didn’t bulge, he let me go. “I’m just a little jumpy, mostly around those who gain joy from others' pain ”, I added, wondering where I got the nerves to speak to him so bluntly.His smile faltered for a moment, before he chuckled. “Fair enough. I deserved that”His acknowledgment took me by surprise. I expected him to get defensive, but he wasn’t.He studied me silently for a moment with genuine concern on his face before trying to reassure me.“You’re safe with me, Quinn. I promise” as if sensing my uneasiness.“Okay, how about we start over? As friends?” He added, extending his hands for a handshake.I stood puzzled, trying to imagine what went wrong with Jasper Brown today. My eyes scanned his table, he’d barely touched his drink, so I couldn’t easily pass him off as being drunk.He wiggled the hand in front of me, informing me that it