Chapter Three - The meeting

Emiliana’s pov

I make my way towards the bar in the club, as I enter inside the club. “I need a shot of tequila please” I say to the bartender who is a pretty blonde, with nice ear piercings. He winks at me after giving me my drink, smiling I quickly drink the shot, while squeezing my face, as I am still not familiar, with the burning sensation at the back of my throat.

I quickly say to the bartender “ I am here to see Luciano martello, please where can I find him?” with a look of surprise on his face, he immediately points me towards a direction. I thank him, and made my way towards the direction he pointed, while feeling very anxious.

I grip my black purse tightly in my hand, with shaky legs as my confidence dwindles, taking slow steps up the stairs, which leads me to the top floor reserved for VIP’S. I Knock on the door guarded by two hefty bodyguards who don’t spare me a glance, hearing a voice asking me to come in . I enter the room immediately, happy to flee the presence of the intimidating, and scary looking bodyguards.

I am ushered to sit on a very comfortable couch, which will lure me to sleep, under a different circumstance.

“ And you are?” I hear a deep voice call out from across the room, I stand up immediately turning my head towards the sound of the voice, I am surprised to see the owner of the voice standing close to a chair I passed on my way towards the couch.

I am lost admiring the owner of the voice, who is a brown skinned man, with sharp and well chiseled jawline, bright green eyes, deep black hair cut short, lined with sporty waves, and a height of 6’5, and broad shoulders. “ I am Luciano martello, as much as I like the effect I have on you, I would love to have your attention” says Luciano martello pulling me out of my thoughts, with a smirk evident on his face.

I immediately avert my gaze, with my cheeks red and burning with embarrassment. “ I am Emiliana Russo, I recently discovered my father owe you some money, I would like to ask for an extension of the debt payment period.” I say in one breath.

I shift in my chair, while facing the picture frame above his head, waiting patiently for his response in the very quiet room. With the silence getting unbearable for me I briefly look at his face , which has pity, anger, and a longing look displayed on his face.

“ I don’t think I would be needing the money anymore, I want to marry you instead as repayment for the debt.” He says with a straight face, shocking me to my bones.

In anger, with my fingers curled up together tight, nose flaring and my eyes clouded in anger, I stood up, my eyes meeting with his in a locked gaze, “I would never marry you Luciano Martello!!” I turn my head away, “Never!!”

I move to make my way towards the door when his voice fills the room once more. “ I am doing this for your own good Miss Russo, I’m not the only one your father owes, and in due time everyone would want to hunt him down to get their money back. I learn you recently lost your mother, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to lose your father as well, I am willing to pay off all the debt, think about my offer and get back to me by midnight, as I always get what I want.”

Ignoring him, I leave his office burning with anger, shutting the door behind me with so much force. Moving downstairs, I immediately order more tequila shots and drink them while crying profusely, ruining my makeup in the process.

I call a cab service, while waiting for my cab downstairs, I walk a distance, away from the club, and squat inside a dark alley, allowing myself few seconds of solitude before my cab arrives.

I notice 2 hefty drunk men making their way towards me, I try to ignore them, by speed walking towards the exit of the dark alley which has the only source of light, however, one reach out to me, pulling me by the arm, reeking of alcohol, while the other one lean

by the wall smoking. “ Pretty girl I don’t like stubborn girls, let’s just do this and get done with it” says the drunk man holding my arm in a tight grip, while cornering me. Seeing the other drunk man distracted with lighting up his cigarette, I quickly push against his chest, kicking him in his groin, as I make my way running as fast as my legs can carry me towards the exit.

I reach the exit and flag down a car, as the men chase me in hot pursuit. A black car immediately pull over and I enter in haste, instructing the driver to increase the speed. Within few minutes we get away from the drunk men, I immediately turn towards my savior to express my gratitude, when my eyes landed on the last person I ever think would want to save me.

I sit inside the car, frozen in shock, as he grapsed my arm pulling me close. His eyes, were wide in fear, and it locked onto us, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.