BRYAN’S POV
As 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 ambulance sirens wailed outside and they rushed her to the hospital.
I got really scared, refusing to stay hidden any longer.
I made a promise to myself to keep her close, and watch her bloom under my attention.
The dinners, carefully crafted to impress, had become the highlight of my weeks. The gifts, selected to bring sparkles to her eyes, were merely a gesture.
That necklace in particular held real significance beyond its considerable monetary value. I’m sure she has no idea of its true worth.
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QUINN’S POV
At about 7pm, I trudged into the nightclub. It was time for my night shift. My mind was still reeling from last night's dinner with Bryan.
Eva intercepted me, concern etched on her face.
"Hey, Quinn, has Bryan...done anything to you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I shook my head. "No, nothing's happened...yet."
Eva’s expression remained skeptical, but she let it drop.
I headed to the back door to dispose of the trash. The cool night air hit me like a slap in the face as I tossed out the garbage. I pulled out a cigarette, ready to light it.
Suddenly, someone snatched it from my grasp.
"Hey!" I spun around.
Matt stood before me, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. "You don't smoke, Quinn. And you definitely shouldn't, with asthma."
My cheeks flushed with Matt standing too close.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice low and husky. "You're not yourself lately."
I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Just stressed."
Matt was Eva’s boyfriend and my new colleague. He was a mystery. His reputation in the red-light district preceded him – every woman knew him, and most had feelings for him. He was the charming type you would literally fall in love with.
Matt has been making his living since he was a teen. Currently, he is working as a muscle in most entertainment venues. Matt had earned his stripes. But beneath his tough exterior laid a complexity I couldn't quite grasp.
I dodged Matt's question, shifting the conversation. "Why did you start working here? "Mr. Jenkins has been trying to recruit you for ages."
Matt chuckled, his eyes crinkling. "The pay was too good to pass up. "He offered me triple what I make at other clubs."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a temptation."
Matt shrugged. "Can't say no to that kind of money."
I leaned in, a sly grin spreading. "But you're not here for the money, Matt. "You're here because you want to be close to Eva."
Matt's expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Don't be ridiculous."
I laughed, teasing. "Oh, come on". You can't deny it. "You've had a thing for her forever."
Matt's face turned Stoic, but his eyes betrayed him. "I'm just here for the job, Quinn."
But I wouldn't let up. "You're not fooling anyone, Matt. "Least of all, Eva."
Matt shrugged, his expression neutral with itchy words.
I raised an eyebrow, playful skepticism etched on my face. "Save it, Matt. I know you."
Matt's gaze locked onto mine, with a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
My words trailed off, a subtle hint of vulnerability slipping through them.
Matt's expression faltered for an instant, curiosity flickering in.
“What happened that night? He asked.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal.
Then he spoke, his next choice of words shook me.
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I stood frozen, Matt's words piercing my skin like icy shards.
"Why do you think I'm different from everyone else? The question lingered, ravaging my confidence.
“Look, I know what happened that day, Quinn, but even if I'm here, I'll just watch and do nothing” he explained, his voice cold.
“Since you work here, you have to accept the invisible rules. Some people approach you just to take advantage of you; don't naively think you can rely on anyone…sometimes, the person who hurts you the most is the one you trust the most.”
“What happened to you that day is nothing to me, so don't expect anything from me. And my past is definitely beyond your imagination.”
As I watched Matt walk away, the neon lights blurred alongside.
I felt a shiver run down my spine, despite the heat. His words cut deep, exposing my vulnerability. His sudden harsh tone and piercing gaze left me stunned.
In an attempt to shake off the unease, after work I joined my colleagues for a post-work meal.
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
Chapter 01_DINNER WITH MEI strolled across the sidewalk, my feet barely touching the ground as my heart beamed with excitement. It's my nineteenth birthday today, and the world seems to be unfolding its arms, embracing me with open possibilities.The news I had just received still resonated in my mind, like a sweet melody_ a scholarship for my outstanding academic performance. All the late nights, early mornings, and endless cups of coffee finally paid off.For the first time in my life, I felt the weight of my academic struggles finally lifting. I envisioned a bright future ahead of me. My dreams were within reach now.My excitement grew with each step. I turned onto my street. I couldn’t wait to share the news with Eva, my best friend and confidant. She called me earlier, she's probably waiting for me at home.I met Eva first at Eclipse, one of the biggest secluded clubs in the city where I worked part-time. Our friendship blossomed from that fateful night, and we became inseparab