Who hit you?

ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW

"Did... did you really just lay your filthy hands on me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly as I pressed my palm to my cheek, which was beginning to throb painfully from the impact of the slap. As soon as the words left my mouth, their laughter erupted, filling the air with mocking glee.

"Seriously? Are you about to shed tears over just a single slap? What on earth are you going to do if Scar ever really puts you in your place?" one of them, adorned with a myriad of piercings, laughed as she nudged her companion, who seemed to find the situation particularly amusing as she simply continued to chuckle.

"You need to listen to me closely: I'm giving you a warning. Steer clear of the boss because he belongs to me and me alone. If he ever calls for you again, do yourself a favor and don’t go to him. I swear, if you do, next time it won't just be a slap you have to worry about... You really don’t want to test me on this," she declared, flashing a grin that showcased her gold teeth. The sight of her smile sent a strong wave of anger rippling through me, but I knew I couldn’t act on it.

She was absolutely right; both of them looked like they could easily handle themselves in a fight, while all I had to offer was a sharp tongue and quick wit. The last thing I wanted was to end up disfigured before I even had a chance to return home. So, with a deep breath, I decided it was better to keep my head down and lay low for now, biding my time until the boss decided to release me from this predicament.

“What on earth is happening here?” I heard from behind and turned, There he stood, the same creepy man, now clutching a plate of food.

“Good... Good afternoon, Flinn,” the girls chimed in unison, their voices laced with trepidation as they scuttled away in a hurry. Their frightened expressions only deepened my confusion—what could have stirred such evident fear in them?

“What just occurred?” he inquired, a hint of curiosity tinged with concern in his tone. In response, I instinctively lowered my gaze, my long hair cascading over my face in an attempt to shield my flushed cheeks. My skin is notoriously soft, and I was acutely aware that it must be blushing a deep shade of red at that moment because of the impact of the slap.

“Here, eat up quickly,” he instructed softly, pushing the plate towards me. I nodded slowly, feeling the urgency of my hunger pressing against me. I grabbed the spoon, determination coursing through me as I dug into the meal.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me at the prospect of food, but I also harbored a lingering desire to escape this situation. The way he hovered nearby made me acutely aware of his presence, and I could only imagine what he might be thinking as I devoured my meal in such haste.

“I’m done,” I announced after finishing, setting the cup of water down only to let out a loud belch. As I looked up, I caught him glaring down at me, his expression unreadable and slightly disapproving.

With a sharp clap of his hands, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically. Two women, donned in maid uniforms, made a hasty entrance, their heads bowed respectfully as they hurried to gather the scattered dishes.

“Stand up,” he commanded, and without a moment's hesitation, I complied, instinctively rising to my feet to avoid any complications or displeasure.

As he began to stride out of the room, I found myself instinctively following him, sensing that this was a directive unspoken. He retraced our earlier path, and an uneasy realization washed over me; it became clear that he was leading me back to the room of that cold-hearted man.

As we approached, I overheard a few whispers that piqued my interest.

“Whoa, she’s still here!” one girl exclaimed, her voice dripping with a mix of surprise and intrigue.

“So, it appears the Jefe enjoys the company of women as well?” another chimed in, their tone suggesting a hint of scandal.

“Mandy is going to be furious. She’s been attempting to get into his good graces for far too long,” another voice remarked, laced with concern.

“I can sense trouble brewing; Mandy won’t take this lying down. She’s going to confront her, and it won’t be pretty,” someone else warned, their expression serious.

“I just hope she’s prepared for the fallout,” said another, their eyes narrowed thoughtfully, as the murmurs continued to spread through the small group.

“She is attractive, though,” one admirer added, almost reluctantly.

“Attractive? Come on, she’s only got a nice nose and that’s about it!” another scoffed dismissively, casting a skeptical glance.

“She seems anxious. I wonder if she can handle this place,” someone else speculated, their voice barely above a whisper, as I instinctively clutched the hem of my dress, feeling the weight of their gaze upon me.

As we reached the door, he came to a halt, turning to face me. A slight frown creased his brow, and I could sense that he was contemplating something important. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken thoughts, while my heart raced, unsure of what was about to unfold.

“Go in,” he instructed, and I instinctively lifted my gaze, quickly averting my eyes to avoid his piercing stare.

“I… I… should I really go in?” I stammered, each word coming out haltingly, and he shot me an exasperated look that made me swallow hard, struggling to find my voice.

With a deep sigh, I gathered my courage and gently nudged the door open. As I stepped inside, I was greeted by an unsettling darkness. Who would intentionally draw the curtains and turn off the lights to envelop themselves in such gloom in broad daylight? I wondered to myself, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension as I moved cautiously towards the bed.

Once I reached the mattress, it became apparent that he wasn’t there; the room was devoid of any sign of him. A wave of weariness washed over me as I pondered my next move. I was feeling increasingly sleepy, so I decided to stretch out and lay down on the bed, hoping that a few minutes of rest might help alleviate the weight of my tiredness.

ROSS’S POINT OF VIEW

“Oh man, it was amazing, Ross!” Lawrence exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.

“You should have seen the way she was on top of me; I swear, it felt like she sent me straight to Mars!”

I nearly groaned, rolling my eyes at his overenthusiastic recounting of the night’s escapades. Sometimes, I really wish he would tone it down and not be so incredibly chatty. All I craved was a little bit of solitude, but it seemed that I had no choice in the matter. After all, he was my best friend, and I was stuck with him—whether I liked it or not.

"Tonight, we're meeting up again, and I can hardly contain my excitement about being whisked away from this planet once more," he said, his broad smile lighting up his face.

"It's funny, though," he continued, amusement dancing in his eyes,.

"that she thinks I'm going to fall head over heels in love with her. If only she knew that in my eyes, she's merely a fleeting one-night stand." A smirk crept across his face as he spoke, clearly enjoying his own words.

"Wait, who is this girl you're talking about?" I mumbled, trying to mask the fact that my attention had slipped away from him momentarily. I was curious, yet also slightly irritated that I hadn’t tunes into his conversation fully.

"Oh, you’re not going to believe this, man. It’s Sandy." His words rolled off his tongue with a casualness that made me scoff instantly.

"Of course! Everyone knows her reputation," I replied, shaking my head in disbelief.

"You need to tread carefully with her, Law. I mean, seriously, engaging with someone like her could be risky business. Do you even have any idea how many different guys have been with her?" I watched as a look of confusion settled on his features, clearly taken aback by my bluntness.

"I... I’m being cautious," he said, his discomfort evident as he shifted his gaze.

“So, did you catch a glimpse of that stunning woman the boss brought to the empire?” he quickly changed the subject, his grin reemerging, and I couldn’t help but laugh. It was a classic deflection, but it worked; I found myself intrigued by the new topic.

"I swear, Ross, she's not just sexy—she's stunningly beautiful too," he said, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.

"Her eyes are absolutely breathtaking, and to be completely honest, I find myself wanting to get a lot closer to her.” At that very moment, I couldn't help but let out a loud scoff of disbelief.

“Did you actually just say that aloud?” I replied, unable to mask my incredulity.

“You’re really tempting fate here, and trust me, if you keep this up, you’re going to find yourself in a heap of trouble—all by yourself. Just think about it: you’ve already dragged me into a mess once, and now you want to start up another one? Seriously, do us both a favor and keep your mouth shut about the boss's new girl from now on.” I watched him huff in response, a frustrated frown forming on his face.

“I was merely appreciating her beauty, and I thought it would be nice to be friends with her. It’s not like I declared that I wanted to get overly familiar with her!” he shot back as he reached down to grab his knife from the bed.

“I’m not trying to overreact, Law, but listen to me carefully: don’t even think about doing anything foolish with her. In fact, I strongly suggest that you keep your distance altogether,” I warned, hoping he would take my advice seriously. He glanced at me, nodding with a heavy sigh, seeming to finally grasp the gravity of the situation.

"I heard that the boss's sister is finally making her way back today," he said casually, and I could only nod in response.

"Yeah, I caught wind of Flinn giving the guys the heads-up to get ready, letting them know they'll be heading out to pick her up at 4 PM this evening," he added with a light giggle, clearly excited about the news.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing her again. I overheard some of the mobsters chatting, claiming she's quite the wild one... you know, a real savage. I’m a big fan of ladies with a bit of an edge," he continued, his enthusiasm palpable. I scoffed at his comment, trying to mask the amusement it brought me.

"I have a hunch that you might be walking into some serious trouble soon, you know," I said, half-serious, but he just chuckled softly in response.

"At least I'm putting myself out there, trying to find love," he retorted playfully.

"Unlike you, who's been hiding this massive crush on Chyna for ages! Seriously, man, it's time to come clean." He shot me a look that made me turn towards him.

"What? It's not like I'm denying it," I replied defensively.

"Maybe you should just confess your feelings to her. Who knows? The almighty tomboy might actually give you a chance." I could feel my cheeks heat up slightly as I turned my face away from him, trying to hide my embarrassment. It was true; I had this enormous crush on Chyna, but the idea of opening up about it felt so daunting. I hadn't found the courage to share my feelings with her yet, and it weighed on me more than I wanted to admit.

The last time a boy in the empire mustered the courage to confess his feelings to her, things didn't go well at all. In fact, he was left beaten so badly that he ended up unconscious for a remarkable two days. Honestly, I find myself quite terrified at the thought of revealing my own feelings to her.

"I'm going to tell her soon," I declared with a hint of determination, but my friend erupted into laughter at my words.

"You’ve been saying that for the last two years!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I guess your definition of 'soon' is a little unconventional." With that, he stood up and brushed his hands off.

"I need to head downstairs to check on how the party preparations are coming along," he added cheerfully.

"I simply can't wait for the party to begin!" With that, he made his way out of the room, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts.

EVENING

ELENA’S POINT OF VIEW

“Mmmmmmmmmm...” I let out a long, drawn-out groan as I stretched, feeling the fatigue seep out of my muscles. As I opened my eyes, I was startled to find a pair of piercing green eyes fixed intently on me. The suddenness of it made me shriek in surprise.

"Oh! Good... good afternoon, sir," I managed to stammer out after regaining my composure. However, the moment the words left my lips, I noticed a frown forming on his face.

“I mean, good afternoon, boss!” I corrected myself quickly, hoping to salvage the situation. He merely rolled his eyes, an expression that conveyed both amusement and exasperation, before turning away from me and heading back to his usual spot by the window.

I propped myself up, taking a moment to gather my bearings, and quickly realized that the room had slipped into an even deeper shade of darkness. The light filtering in from the window had grown dimmer as dusk settled in. I paused, a thought creeping into my mind:

"Wait… has it really become night already?" With that question lingering, I carefully swung my legs over the side of the bed and slid down onto the floor.

To my surprise, I discovered that it was already evening. Just then, a voice—cold and commanding—cut through the quiet.

"Pick up that dress on the table, freshen up, and put it on. There's a party." My heart raced at his words, and I swallowed nervously. As I stood there, I began to hear the faint sound of music playing in the background. I sighed softly, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation, and walked over to the table, where a dress was neatly wrapped in a bag.

At that moment, I found myself torn in thought, questioning whether he meant for me to shower in his bathroom or the one in the room where I had awakened. My mind was in a whirl as I considered my options.

Suddenly, his voice broke through my contemplation with a sharp question:

"Who hit you?" Instantly, I froze, my body tensing at his unexpected query.

"I... I… It was no one," I stammered, my back still turned to him as I tried to evade his gaze. I felt a wave of apprehension wash over me; I didn’t want to get caught up in any trouble. After all, what if the other girls decided to lie about me?

Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, building the tension, before I began to hear his footsteps approaching me from behind.

"There's something important that I haven't shared with you until now, and I feel compelled to reveal it at this moment, despite my aversion to repeating myself," he stated, his tone as chilling as ice. I could feel a lump forming in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of what he was saying.

"I absolutely detest it when someone is dishonest with me, looking straight into my eyes and weaving a web of lies. Believe me, you wouldn't want to find out what I do to people who cross that line," he continued, enunciating each word with deliberate precision, as if he wanted to ensure that every syllable etched itself into my mind.

"Now, I'm going to ask you once more, and I need you to be completely honest this time. Who... hit... you?" He paused after each word, allowing the gravity of his question to fully sink in.