Back at Sensual Nights, Ace and Sam walked in, mingling with the crowd like any other person in there. A third man accompanied them, a blinding smile on his lips as he spoke to the girl by his side. After a while, he dismissed her with a kiss on the cheeks.
His attention returned to the other two men. Their conversation was drowned from the ears of others by the music.
"Your girl did come," he said, looking at Ace, amusement dancing in his eyes. Then he asked, "Why did you come here in person? To make sure she came? You know this isn't your territory."
"Ms Young isn't someone you can control easily," Sam answered, adjusting his glasses. "She is not exactly the obedient type, you see."
"Haha," the man laughed. A few heads turned in their directions but quickly returned to what they were doing before. "Why keep someone like that around? She is a risk."
"That shouldn't concern you, Nick," Ace finally spoke, his eyes staring at the girls on the stage. "Did you find out where she is?"
"She was sent home," Nick replied.
Ace's brows furrowed as his gaze darkened.
"Calm down and hear me out," Nick stepped back and raised his hands in surrender. "She came and the manager liked her. She got the job."
"Then?" Ace urged further.
"She was sent home after a while," he tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe a grace period?" Nick replied.
Ace's brows didn't ease, finding the whole situation fishy but couldn't understand why it was like that.
"I will look into it," Sam said beside him. "It may have been just a grace period or something more. We can't be certain until we know for sure."
"Don't," Ace said, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Sam.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Sam. But because it was not a good idea for an outsider to poke their nose where it didn't belong.
"...." Sam nodded.
"She got the job. That's all that matters," Ace said and turned towards the exit. "Let's go."
Nick watched him, shaking his head. Couldn't there be something going on between them? He wondered.
****
Eva's Pov:
"You can drop me off here," I said, staring into the darkness outside the car. The street lights barely illuminated the road ahead, casting long, uneasy shadows.
Rom pulled over to the sidewalk and stepped on the brakes. The engine hummed softly before he turned to look at me.
"Are you sure you want to stop here?"
I glanced around.
The road was empty, with no passing cars, no pedestrians. The houses were dark, their lights turned off, and doors tightly shut. If anything, this place felt more dangerous than walking alone in an alley in a crowded part of town.
I knew that, but I didn't want him to know my house. It was my not so safe haven. Ace knowing where I lived was dangerous enough.
"I am," I replied, unfastening my seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride."
He looked outside again, and I could almost see the thoughts running through his mind.
After a moment, he turned back to me, gave a small nod, and said, "Alright," before unlocking the car.
I offered him a faint smile and stepped out.
I waited for him to drive away, but he didn't, and when our eyes met, I knew he wouldn't leave. I pursed my lips and started walking into the darkness.
I could feel his eyes burning into me even after the distance increased.
"Not so much of a bad guy, huh?' I muttered under my breath, a small smile tugged at my lips, and I blushed as an intrusive thought made its way into my mind. "Maybe next time I might invite him in."
Yeah, I said before that he was my type of guy, mature, good-looking, and reeks of danger but is actually a teddy bear at heart.
But what was the possibility that we would meet again? Very slim.
I reached my house and, as usual, I knocked, and Liam opened. The look of surprise on his face as if he couldn't believe I actually came back made me smile.
"Did you get fired?" He asked, looking truly concerned.
"Get out of the way," I pushed him aside and entered inside.
"Was that your prayer?" I shot back, and he raised a brow in response. "I was told to rest today. The real work starts tomorrow." I explained.
"Right…" he said, and I knew he didn't believe me. "I made dinner. Yours is in the kitchen."
He walked off right after that, looking nonchalant but knew he was relieved. It was clear in his eyes and the way his shoulders relaxed.
I reached the kitchen and found sandwiches wrapped and placed on the counter, and I smiled again.
"He called this making dinner…." I muttered but still took a bite out of a few despite having already eaten.
Today turned out fine even though I expected it to be the worst day. Maybe what they say is true, always expect the worst, that way, you'll never be surprised when anything happens and even when the worst comes, you'll be less hurt.
Once I finished the sandwiches, I entered my room and closed the door. Then I took out the poster I had snatched off the wall of the restaurant.
Sweet Savor was looking to hire waiters and waitresses.
I have not tried something like this before but I want to give it a shot. If it works out, that was fine. And if it doesn't, it was fine too. Having a stable day job I could be proud of and one I found myself would be a great achievement on my end. Liam will be less worried too.
Or maybe more worried since I'll be juggling two jobs.
I sighed, scratching my head, when I heard my phone ring inside the bag.
I didn't need to see who the caller was because the knot that suddenly formed inside me told me already. It was a feeling that I got only when the bastard called.
And as I had thought, Ace's name stared back at me from the screen of my phone.
My mind went blank as I stared at the phone. Why was he calling me? I've done as he asked me to. I agreed to his ridiculous request and plan just because of the little glimmer I hope I saw at the end of it all.
So why was this…
Cursing at him won't change anything.
Taking a deep, long breath, my thumb slid across the screen and answered the call, and raised the phone to my ear.
I didn't speak, and neither did he for a whole minute as if it were a contest to see who speaks first.
"Where were you, Eva?" His voice came, old and commanding as if I'd done the unforgivable.
"Where do you think?" I asked, rolling my eyes as if he could see them.
"Not at Sensual Nights Where you should be," he replied, and for a good moment, I paused, my brows knitting. "Now, answer me, Eva. Where were you?"
"Sensual Nights," I replied without explaining.
"Do I look like a fool, Eva?" I could hear the growing irritation in his voice and that I shouldn't poke him any further.
But…
"It deepened on who's looking?"
Sometimes, I even wonder what gets into me that makes me ignore the danger and harm this man could cause and talk the way I do.
There was a long silence after what I said, and I could imagine him glaring at the phone as if it were me.
"I don't need to remind you of your debt, do I?" He finally spoke. "The terms of the contract and what can be taken from you if I decide you are no longer useful?"
I didn't know when I stopped breathing, but everything around started spinning, and I gasped for air.
"Now listen, Eva," he continued. "Even the most patient man alive has a limit, and mine is very limited. Don't test me further."