"Come here and clean this place—it's too dirty!"
His voice echoed through the room, loud and commanding.
"Why are you so lazy today? We're expecting a lot of important guests. You can't mess this up!"
Yeah… that's my boss.
Victor Sam.
My name is Elara Hayes.
I'm 21 years old.
A waitress in a high-end club.
Independent and barely surviving.
"Alright… I'm sorry. I'll get it done now," I replied quickly.
Cleaning wasn't even my job.
But I did everything I could—just to earn enough money to survive.
I rushed to the tables, wiping them down and arranging everything neatly.
A bottle of wine was placed at the center of each table
Except one.
That table ,No one was allowed to touch it.
Only my boss could place the wine there and only when that particular guest arrived.
After setting everything up, I changed into my uniform.
A black short skirt—so short that if I bent slightly, it would expose more than it should.
A white fitted shirt that clung tightly to my body.
And of course…a face mask.
Very important.
We were never allowed to show our faces.
For "safety," they said.
By the time I stepped out, the club was already filled.
Elites.
Powerful men.
People you could tell from their clothes, their watches, their presence
They were not to be messed with.
"Elara!" Victor called out sharply.
"Where have you been?"
"I hope you don't mess up tonight," he added, dragging me out of the dressing room.
"Go and serve the clients. Don't keep them waiting."
"Okay," I said softly.
I walked into the room, holding a tray of clean wine glasses.
One by one, I placed them on each table
Carefully avoiding that table.
"She looks so sexy… damn," one of the clients muttered.
I ignored him.
Like I always did.
He signaled to my boss and whispered something into his ear.
Victor nodded, then called me over.
"He wants you to serve him tonight," Victor said.
Then he leaned closer to my ear.
"You're lucky. If you behave well, you'll be rewarded greatly."
My stomach turned.
"Hey, cutie… pour me a drink," the man said.
I bent slightly to serve him, keeping my distance.
But his eyes
They weren't on the drink.
They were under my skirt.
He reached out, trying to touch my thigh.
I quickly dodged, forcing a smile.
"Here's your drink," I said, stretching my hand toward him.
He took the glass
But grabbed my wrist instead.
Pulling me closer.
I struggled.
But he forced me down beside him.
"Please stop… this is inappropriate," I said, trying to stand.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he smirked. "You're just too cute."
He let go.
For a second, I thought I was free.
I turned to leave.
And that's when I felt it.
A presence.
My eyes shifted toward that table.
Someone was there.
Sitting in the shadows.l
I couldn't see his face.
But his eyes
They glowed.
Red.
Too red to be human.
His gaze was steady.
Powerful
Cold.
A chill ran down my spine.
For a moment
it felt like the entire room went dark.
I quickly looked away.
My heart racing.
I needed to leave.
But before I could
someone bumped into me.
Maryann.
She hated me.
For no reason.
I lost my balance
and fell.
The sound of glass shattering filled the room.
The wine.
Expensive.
Very expensive.
"What is wrong with you? Are you blind?" the client snapped, standing up.
Before I could speak
SLAP!
Pain exploded across my face.
Maryann smirked.
"Serves you right."
"Oh, Elara… do you even know how much that wine costs?" she mocked.
"How could you be so careless?"
I stood up slowly, my voice shaking.
"I—I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to…"
"Sorry?" the man scoffed.
"Will your sorry bring back my drink?"
"You have two options," he continued.
"Get me another bottle… or pay for this one."
My heart dropped.
There was no way.
All my savings…
was barely a hundred dollars.
I fell to my knees.
"Please… I don't have the money. I can't afford it. Please…"
Tears streamed down my face.
"I'll do anything… just not this…"
"What's going on here?" Victor's voice cut in.
"Elara, what have you done?" he snapped.
"Do you even know who you just offended?"
He turned to the client.
"Sir, you can hold her responsible. Just… please don't stop coming here."
Then he looked back at me.
Cold.
Deadly.
"She will pay for it," Maryann added with a smile.
"Even if she can't afford it."
"I'll pay for the wine."
The voice came from behind me.
I turned.
It was him.
The same man who had been harassing me.
"How much is it?" he asked calmly.
Before anyone could respond
He cut in
"Of course… on one condition."
The man who harassed me stepped forward
"You'll be mine tonight."
My body froze.
"I'll pay for everything," he continued with a dark smile.
I stepped back.
"Please… don't touch me."
He laughed.
"Stop acting like a saint. We all know what you are."
He signaled to the guards.
"Take her."
"Wait," another client added. "Pay for the drink first."
He smirked and paid immediately.
Then looked at me.
"You're mine tonight."
"Please… don't touch me!" I cried as they dragged me.
"I'll do anything else—please!"
"Shut up," Maryann snapped. "You're lucky you're not dead already."
"Take her away," the man ordered.
"Let's see who dares to."
The voice was calm.
But dangerous.
It echoed through the entire room.
Silence fell instantly.
Everyone turned.
I slowly lifted my head.
And what I saw…