Chapter 1 CHAPTER ONE A Night That Changed Everything

Clara POV

“Waiter! Move the fuck right here,” a voice roared from the crowd. 

I turned to the direction of the voice. It was a short man with pot-belly, the size as big as that of a pregnant woman. 

I rolled my eyes, adjusting the hem of the stiff, white cotton for the tenth time.

Though I knew it wouldn't make a difference, because this shirt was designed for a specific purpose.

Attention….

The fabric was high quality, almost too crisp against my skin, but the cut was relentless.

It was an oversized button-down, tailored just enough to cling to my curvy shape. And the length itself was a problem.

It stopped right at my laps, hanging barely two inches past the curve of my hips. It was short enough that every step I took felt like a gamble.

And without the dark, tiny shorts hidden underneath, I would have felt completely exposed.

The collar was left open, and the top three buttons were intentionally missing to create a deep, sharp V-neck.

It pulled across my chest, exposing my cleavage. And every time I reached for a high shelf or leaned over the mahogany bar to take an order.

The fabric shifted, revealing more than I was comfortable with.

I looked beautiful, no doubt, and sexy , and I just had to pretend to be okay with this God forsaken uniform.

I hated the way the air hit my skin where the shirt fell away, but looking at my rent, my tuition, my mom's medical bills and the empty cupboard back home.

I didn't need anyone to tell me that I needed money, and in this uniform. The money would come.

I put on the fake smile they paid for and found my way through the crowd. 

So much for being a waitress.

The bar was always too loud, and full of people. Everyone smiling like they had no problem in this world. Unlike me who had a sick mother at home to take care of.

I moved between tables with a tray in my hand, as I forced myself to stay steady even though my feet was hurting badly.

“Here are your orders,” I said, placing the whiskey on his table.

He stared at me like I was some kind of food to be eaten. But I moved away before anything else.

Customers can be so immature sometimes, especially when they are damn drunk.

Even as I walked back to the counter, I felt it again, like someone was watching me. I didn't need to turn my head to know that it was him.

The strange handsome guy sitting alone at the far corner of the bar. 

A Merlot wine carefully placed on his table, but he wasn't really drinking much. He was just watching.

Wait…Did I just say handsome?

Holy cow! 

That thought slipped out on its own. Because I don't do bar guys, definitely not some mysterious stranger in an expensive shirt who looks like they own the room and everyone in it.

I don't even make eye contact with them, what I do is avoidance. But here I am stealing glances at this dangerously handsome guy who has been staring at me like I'm the only one in this whole loud, messy bar worth looking at.

And that's the problem.

Because tell me why I'm suddenly pretending to fix glasses that don't need fixing just so I can steal another glance at him?

And the most annoying part is, he knows I'm looking.

Why can't he just stick his eyes to someone else? People like him don't matter to someone like me.

Still, I couldn't stop noticing, and I hated that fact.

“Hey! Miss waitress!” 

A loud voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I turned, and my eyes caught a table of men waving at me. 

I took their orders from the bar man and walked over immediately. Keeping my face calm and proffessional. Because that was the only way to survive this job.

Getting to their table. I placed their drinks down carefully.

“Anything else?” I asked.

One of the men leaned back in his chair and looked at me like I was a cheap slut.

“You know,” he said slowly.

“You're actually pretty.” 

“And sexy too,” another added, and they all laughed.

“Thank you.” I said, forcing a polite smile.

“Anything else?” I asked but the first man's eyes didn't leave my face.

His eyes wandered from my face to my breasts and down to the curve of my hips. He licked his lips like he'd seen a prize dessert, a gesture that filled me with immediate disgust.

“Sit with me for a minute.” He said, smiling cheapishly.

“I'm working.” I said, as my smile faded in an instant.

He laughed like I said something funny.

“Come on baby girl, just one minute.” He said and I stepped back slightly.

“Sir please, I said I'm working, don't make me repeat myself.” I said.

But instead, his hand reached out and grabbed my wrist tightly.

“When I say you sit with me, you be a good girl and obey,” He said, and the other men with him laugh like they were watching a comedy show.

“Let go,” I said, trying hard not to scream. But his grip tightened instead.

“How much are you worth? You're acting like you're too good for me, huh?” He asked, with a grin.

A few customers nearby were already watching.

At that moment, something inside me snapped.

“Nothing,” I spat.

“Because even if I had a price,” I continued.

“A pathetic, little, bottom feeder like you who thinks grabbing makes you a man, couldn't even afford the tax on it,” I threw, looking him straight in the eye, even though he was still grabbing my wrist.

The table went quiet for a moment, and then someone at another table laughed. It was low at first. 

But came again, louder, in a mocking tone.

The man's face turned red.

“You think you can talk to me like that?” He snapped, pulling harder.

“Let go!” My voice came out loud, but it was soon interrupted by another.

“Let her go!” The voice cut through the noise. Just three words.

The aggressive man turned his head, and so did I 

It was the handsome stranger. I hadn't seen him move before, but now, he was here. Standing few inches from us.

“And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?” 

Mr handsome didn't answer immediately. He just looked at him. Like he was deciding something.

“I said…let her go,” The room felt heavier after he said that. 

There was something about his voice that made the laughter around the bar slow down.

“Or what?” The man scoffed.

Mr handsome took one slow step forward. And without hesitation. The man finally released my wrist.

“Ah!” I groaned, rubbing the sore skin of my wrist as he released me. My knuckles still white from the tension of his grip. Leaving pale marks.

“I don't take orders from strangers,” I heard him say.

I shifted my attention from my sore wrist towards both men. Mr handsome looked at him and smiled faintly.

“You just did,” He said, in a mocking tone.

And the once quiet room erupted with laughter. Not at Mr handsome but at the man.

The man looked around and realized it too. It was obvious he was loosing. His chest rose fast.

“Whatever,” he muttered.

“I don't have time for this.” He said as he sat back down, embarrassed. 

But his eyes stayed angry.

Mr Handsome didn't stay long. He didn't even look at me properly after that.

He just turned and walked out like nothing happened.

By the time my shift ended. It was past 12:am and I was so tired.

I quickly changed into the clothes I came in with, dumped the uniform where it belonged and left the bar alone.

There were no cab, or taxi at this hour. Just me and the streetlights. And there was no way, I was going to trek all the way home.

I closed my eyes briefly taking in the cool air as I muttered a small prayer. I can do with a miracle ride as it stands now.

I pulled my bag closer and kept walking. Halfway down the road, I slowed down.

Something felt wrong, I could feel it in my bones. Like I was being followed.

I stopped for a second and looked around, but there was no one.

I let out a deep breath and started walking again. I stopped, and looked ahead me, because walking from the opposite direction were five men.

My steps slowed, and eventually stopped. The streetlights were on and I was able to see their faces..

Standing in their middle, was the man from the bar. The one I insulted. He smiled when our eyes met, like he'd been waiting for me.

Without thinking, I turned and took to my heels,but I wasn't so fast as they caught up with me in seconds.

“Well, well, well,” he said moving closer, while the other men, stood, watching.

“We meet again,” 

I took few steps back.

“Please, I don't want trouble,” I said quickly.

“Trouble?” One of the men said.

“You already have it,” he continued and the others burst out laughing.

They started spreading out. Surrounding me, my heart began to beat fast.

I turned my head slightly, looking for an opening,but there was none. Just the empty road.

The man from the bar stepped closer.

“You think you can humiliate me and go Scot free?” He asked.

“Please, just let me go.” My voice shook.

“No,” he said firmly, with a smile.

“I love it when you beg me, and tonight, I'm going to make sure you beg for your life,” he said and I flinched.

And that was when I realized that tonight was not going to end the way I thought it would.

And nobody was coming to save me. Not this time.