Danger

 

★★★★

 

Edith stared at him.

 

Every Instinct inside her screamed to run, to leave this place to escape from this stranger.

 

But she knew the moment she stepped outside, her misery would wrap around her again.

 

“Hey,” the man said again, mistaking her silence for distraction. He offered a faint, careful smile. “May I join you?”

 

Edith blinked slowly, her gaze still unfocused, as if she was struggling to decide whether she even cared enough to answer.

 

“You can sit,” Edith said at last though every nerve inside her resisted the decision.

 

The man took the seat across from her with an easy smile. “I am Henry.”

 

Then he gently slid a glass toward her. “This is for you. I noticed you were alone. Is it your first time here?”

 

Edith gave a small nod, her gaze drifting down to the drink.

 

“Hmmm,” she murmured, barely audible.

 

“It’s just wine,” Henry added lightly. “If you would prefer something else, I can order it for you.” His tone was polished.

 

Edith continued staring at the glass, gazing for more than a few seconds before adding, “No, I am fine.” And she reached for the glass. Bringing it to her lips she took a careful sip.

 

Bitterness struck first, sharp and unfamiliar, sending a faint shiver through her as the liquid slid down her throat. But a moment later, a softer sweetness followed blooming slowly across her tongue.

 

“So,” the man leaned closer, lowering his voice, “May I know if you would like to spend the night with me since you accepted my company?”

 

He arched forward, his hand reaching toward hers just as she placed the glass down.

 

“What?” Edith’s brows drew together sharply. The haze in her eyes vanished in an instant.

 

“Don’t touch me,” she said, her voice cold. It was no longer lost, no longer fragile.

 

“You are kidding!” The man scoffed, a mocking laugh slipping from his lips.” You did not mean that, did you?”

 

He reached for her again.

 

This time, Edith’s reaction was swift. Her palm struck his hand hard. “I meant every word,” she said, rising from her seat. Her voice was low and steady, colder than before. “Touch me again, and you will lose that hand.”

 

Her eyes blazed in anger then she turned to leave, but suddenly some rough fingers closed around her wrist, Edith’s heart jumped in horror. When she turned around she saw the man push himself up from his chair with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

 

“You are fiesty, I like that. But darling, shouldn’t you do that in bed!” The man smirked.

 

“Let me go!” Edith cried, struggling against his grip. She swung her face toward his face but her strength faltered midway.

 

The room tilted, and her head started to feel heavy.

 

Before her hand could reach him, he caught her wrist effortlessly, his fingers tightening.

 

“Enough of this drama,” he growled. “Don’t act difficult now.”

 

He jerked her closer, forcing her off balance. Edith’s knees felt weak, her body heavier than it should have been. Panic surged through her, sharper than the dizziness creeping into her head.

 

“You will be paid well,” he muttered coldly. “Now come with me.”

 

And with that, he began dragging her away from the bustling crowd.

 

The music continued to pound, swiping Edith’s plea away. And the worst was that no one seemed to notice.

 

Edith fought with everything she had left but her strength was fading and her body was no longer answering her desperation.

 

By the time, he dragged her into a dim hallway, the noise of the bar had dulled behind them.

 

“Help me!” She screamed, her voice cracking. “Someone, please help!”

 

The walls seemed to sway.

 

Her vision blurred with each passing second. She tried to focus but the darkness was creeping in, slow, and dangerously.

 

“If you open your mouth again,” he hissed near her ear, his grip tightening, “ I will make sure you disappear. I have done it before. Don’t think I won’t do it again.”

 

He yanked her closer, one arm locking around her waist. To anyone glancing their way, it might have looked almost ordinary.

 

Edith’s body sagged against him. Her plea became a tiring breath, crashing against his shoulder. She was almost on the verge of losing consciousness.

 

Suddenly a calm, woody scent wafted to her nose. It was familiar like steady and grounding. For a fleeting second, it felt like safety. Like someone had come.

 

But her lips would not move. Her limbs refuse to obey. Darkness pressed heavier against her vision, swallowing her strength before she could signal for help.

 

A shadow fell across them. Henry stiffened slightly before forcing a crooked smile.

 

“I don’t know if it is my bad luck or you deliberately look for a way to approach me and ruin my mood literally,” he sniggered, tightening his hold on Edith.

 

The hallway had gone very still.

 

“Women must truly despise your face and your personality,” the man replied nonchalantly. “ Even flashing your money doesn’t seem to help. No wonder you resort to underhanded methods to drag them into your bed.”

 

He slipped his hands into his pockets, posture relaxed, almost bored. Yet his eyes were calculating as he watched the thin sheen of sweat gathering on Henry’s forehead.

 

Henry’s jaw tightened.

 

“This is none of your business,” he snapped impatience cracking through his composure. “Now move out of my way.”

 

“There is ample space to pass. By all means,” the man drawled, a lazy smirk curving his lips. He made no effort to step aside as the narrow stretch of path was his by right.

 

Henry’s jaw tightened. The muscles there flexed once sharply. At any other time, he would have stopped, would have offered a reply sharp enough to cut. But right now his hands were tied.

 

So, maintaining the silence he dragged Edith along.

 

Edith hovered at the fragile edge of consciousness, the world tilting in and out of focus. But when she felt she was passing the stranger something in her head stirred, a flickering of desperation.

 

Her hand lifted as it trembled midair. She meant to grasp but the drained energy made it impossible. As a result, her feeble fingers burst against the fabric of the man’s sleeve of fleeting touch, and fell away

 

★★★★

 

Meanwhile, the man pulled out his hands from the pockets prepared to continue on his way, when a faint click drew his attention, a small sharp sound striking marble.

 

He paused. His gaze dropped lazily at first. Then it stilled.

 

A ring lay on the polished floor. A large diamond caught the overhead light.

 

He bent without haste. For a moment, he simply studied it in his palm before closing his fist with it.

 

Then he turned around with a blazing anger in his eyes, almost at the edge of eruption.

 

On the other hand, Henry had nearly reached the elevator when a violent force seized him from behind. Fingers twisted into the back of his collar and yanked backwards with a strength that felt less human. Henry staggered, nearly losing his footing.

 

“You are courting death,” the man said, his voice low but vibrating with dangerous control. “So be it. I will grant your wish today.”

 

He lunged forward. But he had to stop. His eyes flashed with darkness when he saw Edith’s body sway as she was about to hit the floor.