Chapter Four: Man with a Scar

I am not arrogant. Yes, I am confident with my skills and every work; after all, I spent my sweat, blood, and tears making every book I wrote. I wrack my brain and squeeze it out to bleed an outline.

And well, I am proud to say that I have never gotten my outlines returned to me.

I checked my email this morning to see if the outline I submitted is approved yet to start with another one. A week has passed since I last submitted my manuscript, and I can't last long without doing anything. A week of resting my mind and fingers is enough. Any more than that, I might get writer's block which I avoid.

To my surprise and disappointment, however, I received news that my new Romance story, ' Sunset with Me,' was rejected without solid reasons. What annoys and disappoints me is not the fact that I got my first ever rejection because, for every outline I submit, I prepare myself with any result; what annoys me is the fact that it is only rejected not because I failed somewhere, but because they want me to try and write a spicier, a more mature story with bed scenes. An Erotic Romance book this time, as my editor said.

I admit that ever since I chose my passion as my job, writing anything beyond wholesome stories has never crossed my mind. I am not dense or stupid. I know the genre is hot and what is selling to readers these days, but I wanted to stay in my box and within that line.

And now my editor, my company wants me to level up my game and catch up to their best-selling writers and books.

"Ridiculous," I said under my breath and ruffled my hair in annoyance before spinning my chair around as I stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.

I am nowhere naive nor innocent; I know how sex works, but knowing and writing about it are two different things. It never even crossed my mind.

"Ugh. Is romance dead these days?" I asked in frustration, my hands dramatically making gestures. "Whatever happened to love each other first then... then doing the deed after. Is everyone after physical contact only these days? What about getting to know each other first? Chivalry? Romantic date?"

I sighed and stopped spinning, facing my laptop and visiting a bookstore's site to see what books sell. Ah, of course, my book wouldn't be in the top 10, and I didn't hope so; what's staring back at me is the top 10 best-selling books for the week, where five of ten are Erotic Romance books.

"And I thought my company wouldn't be like other companies who are after profit; I was wrong. Then again, business is business."

I decided to take myself out on a date to get my mind off it. I went to the museum, studied, and tried to read every painting hanging on the wall. I walked around while watching the people around me, wondering what was going through their heads. Wondering what's their story. Everyone has a story, you see. Stories that are only waiting to be heard. Sometimes, I will listen to the taxi driver I rode with; his blabbering about how his day went entertained and amused me.

This is how I spend my day when I want to get lost in my thoughts, walk around, study people, and eat alone.

But just as I thought about going home to the problem I was facing, makes me want to stay outside longer.

I blinked and forced my eyes away from a family having fun together in the park to read the message I received. A frown formed when I read Natasha's message, one of my only five friends since College. She's inviting me to a bar with the others, and I set my phone upside down on the table without thinking.

Call me a kill joy or someone not fun to be around, but I never liked bars or clubs. The idea of seeing bodies grinding, people switching salivas, and loud music appalls me. Sometimes, they still keep me around to make up the number of five. Natasha has this crazy idea that a group should contain five girls.

The last time I was with them was when we traveled to Los Angeles, and well, let's say that it was not a pleasant trip. I almost got entangled in a scandal because it turned out that Olivia saw a married man, and his wife caught them in the act when she followed his husband.

I am a homebody, and I want to stay in my space where I bond with my cats and watch movies while eating ice cream, and I'm proud of it.

But as I make my way back to my condo, the thought of going outside and possibly getting ideas for writing Erotic romance wasn't so bad; yes, I am not totally against the idea of writing that genre because something tells me that it's now or never, and I love writing too much to give it up, plus, I need to pay for my condo and daily needs.

God forbids the world will turn upside down when my family proves that my passion is nothing but a hobby.

And so I sent a message to Natasha that I was in with a sigh and went back home. Night came, and I got out of the taxi wearing a neither revealing nor overly conservative dress. It's a red silk spaghetti-style strap dress that stops above my knee. I kept my long hair in a bun and put on light make-up.

"Look who came out of her cocoon." Olivia, the oldest of us five, and a corporate secretary greeted me as I stopped in front of them before giggling and hugging me.

I returned the gesture and rolled my eyes at her. "I'm just afraid you'll sulk if I don't show up."

"You look great and... simple." Georgia, a nurse and the tallest of us, said next before kissing my cheek.

"You mean plain?" I deadpanned with a blank look, and she laughed awkwardly.

Next to greet me was Fiona, the only one that is genuine with her actions toward me. She's older than me, and I'm the youngest. Fiona is an artist who chose her passion over a stable job like mine. "Ignore the bitches. You look great, darling!" Her extrovert self beamed before hugging me tight, and I smiled before returning her hug with equal enthusiasm.

"Good to see you out of your condo, Via. Anyway, let's go! I'm excited to try this! You guys don't know what I went through just so I can get a pass for us five," Natasha blabbered before motioning us to get closer so she could whisper. "I had to give an old man with wrinkly d*ck a head, which wasn't pleasant." She said, and my face automatically scrunched up in disgust while everyone pretended to puke.

Natasha is the 'leader' as she likes to assume; she always wants to be the first to say anything and know everything. She likes being the center of attraction and wants fame and money. She's an influencer, as she likes to call it, with three thousand followers.

"Eww, Nat, too much information," Fiona exclaimed in disgust.

"Thank you for your service, Nat; I hope we can get something good out of this." Olivia who's currently single because her boss, with whom she had frequent encounters, finally chose his wife over her, and she now works for a much younger one she's still trying to seduce, but in the end... he turned out gay.

Fiona linked her arms with me, and together, we skipped the long line, and Natasha showed the security a bunch of tickets which I assumed were for us. He inspected and counted it before nodding and letting us in. Olivia and Natasha squealed before they practically ran inside.

I knew what would welcome me when I stepped inside with my an-inch black boots inside the bar. What surprised me, however, is that it isn't packed as I thought it would be. And unlike the other bars I went to, everyone has their group of people. There are unsightly scenes, but it's few, and I know they are lurking somewhere in the dark corners.

The waiter had us sit in the right corner, near the bar island, where a mountain of a man was sitting while minding his business and sipping his drink. It's not hard to notice him as he almost covered the bartender working in front of him, and he's sitting. The man turned his head around as if sensing someone was staring at him, and our eyes locked. There was something in his intense gaze and how it appears like his whole body went stiff.

I blinked softly when I saw the large ugly scar on his face. I am not one to judge, but his scar almost covered his whole face, making him look... scary.

I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to anger him if he was drunk, but as we sat, I could still feel his lingering gaze but ignored it. We ordered, and I only chose a glass of margarita. Yes, I am that typical homebody girl that is also not a fan of alcohol and cigarettes. You will also be the same if you grew up with religious and strict parents.

I immediately noticed the problematic duo searching for their prey, scrutinizing eyes dancing around and moving from one man to another.

"Look at the man on the counter, Nat. I bet he can destroy me in bed." Olivia moaned, and I pursed my lips, appalled by her not-so-discreet way of checking the man out. When the man turned his head again, Olivia instantly gagged. "Never mind."

Natasha laughed loudly. "What? I thought he could destroy you? And Liv, mind you that almost everyone here is rich. This bar is owned by a young billionaire only known as Alpha, and he does not let anyone in unless you're invited by a VIP which is us. I heard he's a casanova, so I hoped to meet him tonight and catch him." She said with a smirk painted on her red lips.

Olivia stared at the man again, possibly considering and weighing her choices. "I mean.. if he's rich, why is his face still like that?"

The table went silent as if thinking about what Oliva asked before Natasha clapped her hands.

"I know! Let us have a game. Why don't we? Let's have a dare, guys. Come on, and we haven't done this in so long."

"What are we, students?" Fiona asked while shaking her head and enjoying her vodka.

"Oh, please? I miss you girls, and I want to bond with you. It'll be super fun!"

"What is it first? The last time you had us play this stupid game, you almost had us arrested!" Georgia asked while flipping her hair.

"Let's call it 'Catch the fish.' Here's the deal, we all choose a man to be our date tonight, but here's the twist, whoever chooses the richest man and when he paid for our bill tonight wins!"

When I heard her lame name for the game, I backed out, and hearing the ridiculous dare made me want to go home instead.

But I am here for the experience, aren't I? Not the kind of experience that involves touch, but anything to get some idea.

"You guys are losers. Just admit you won't win against me." Natasha stated, seeing our disinterested faces, and everyone but I raised an eyebrow at that.

And just like that, the dare started.