He's not ugly, is he?

Danny’s POV

The first thing that hit me was a throbbing headache. I groaned, rubbing my forehead as I forced my eyes open, but everywhere was too dark.

I felt a cold, wet sensation soaking through my shirt and pinned my palms against the ground to push myself up. Grass. I was lying in a patch of wild grass, right underneath a dying street light that buzzed and flickered every few seconds.

How the hell did I end up here?

I struggled to get up, my head swimming as the memories came flooding back all at once. The Camry. The driver and my....

"Oh my god! My bag?!"

I turned around fast, spinning in circles and scanning the grass around me, but there was nothing. I shoved my hands into my shorts pocket, praying to feel my phone, but pockets were empty.

Everything was gone. My suitcase, my clothes, my bank card, my phone...literally everything I owned in this world had been stolen in less than an hour.

I blinked at the empty street, I just couldn't believe it. You talk about being unlucky? Well I practically invented the term.

I heaved a deep bitter sigh, wiping dirt and leaves off my knees. Well, if I needed proof that life could get worse, this was definitely it. I shook off the damp soil clinging to my arms and started trudging out of the bushes toward the narrow paved road.

I wasn't crying, which actually surprised me. Usually, I am a total crier at any slight inconvenience. If someone yells at me or if I drop my food, I tear up immediately. But right now? I didn't have a single tear left to shed. My chest just felt hollow and exhausted.

I stood on the crumbling edge of the road, looking left and right. No street signs, no buildings, and no cars coming or going. I had no idea what time it was or how long I’d been knocked out in those bushes. It was just a dark, creepy stretch of road completely boxed in by trees and grass.

Suddenly, I heard the faint hum of an engine, followed by tires screeching on the road in the distance. Headlights cut through the thick darkness, blinding me for a second. I didn't care who it was, I immediately started waving my arms over my head like a madman, praying they would stop.

As the vehicle pulled up and slowed down, my jaw practically hit the pavement.

It wasn't a normal cab or a regular sedan. It was a fancy, jet black Rolls Royce, the kind of insanely expensive car that costs millions I couldn't even dream of seeing in a hundred lifetimes.

It screeched to a complete halt right in front of me, idling with a low, heavy purr. The windows were heavily tinted black, so I couldn't see a single thing inside.

A sudden wave of caution hit me, and I slowly took a step back. Yeah, no. On second thought, I was probably better off walking on my own than getting into a car that practically reeked of unclean money.

Before I could turn around and hike down the dark road, the heavy car door swung open.

A guy in a crisp, tailored tuxedo stepped out onto the road. He had black, wavy hair slicked back, a sharp jawline, and broad shoulders that filled out the suit like he was built for security. He looked to be maybe in his late thirties, and his entire vibe screamed danger.

"Are you lost?" he asked. His voice was completely flat, deadpan, like he was talking to a wall.

"No," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Sir, I got robbed by a cab driver and dumped right there." I pointed back toward the muddy path I had just crawled out of.

He didn't even glance at the direction. Instead, he stood there staring at me intently, scanning me slowly from head to toe as if he was assessing me. His eyes lingered on my pale skin, my blonde hair, and the way I was shivering in my shorts.

"You're an omega?" he asked.

The question threw me completely off guard. My brows furrowed as I wrapped my arms around myself. Was my scent really leaking that badly, or was it just that obvious?

"Yes... why are you asking?"

"My boss needs the service of an omega tonight," he said plainly, as if he was casually ordering something.

"Nope." I raised both hands in the air, taking two quick steps backward into the dark. "I am definitely not what your boss needs. I don't want any trouble, Sir." I turned my shoulders, preparing to walk away fast.

"One night. A thousand dollars," the man stated, not moving an inch.

I froze mid step, one foot hovering above the dirt.

"A what?" I barked. The sheer size of that number completely short-circuited my brain. A thousand dollars? Just to...?

"To sleep with him," he answered sternly, without breaking eye contact.

"I am not interested," I blurted out, my defensive pride instantly kicking back in. "I am not a hoe, and you are being ridiculously creepy."

"I am not creepy," he replied, his face completely unbothered by my insult. "My boss loves fem omegas, and you are exactly his type."

"No. I refuse." I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, standing my ground.

The man didn't argue or try to convince me. He simply turned around on his heel, stepped back inside the luxurious leather interior of the car, and pulled the heavy door shut with a quiet, solid thud.

Wait, what?!

The engine revved, and the reverse lights flashed. I panicked and ran back to the car.

"Hey! Hey!" I lunged forward, slamming my open palm against the smooth hood of the car. I looked around wildly at the pitch black woods, the dark bushes rustling in the wind, and the endless creepy highway. "Are you seriously going to leave me out here?!"

The driver’s side window rolled down a few inches, revealing his calm face. "Yes, I will," his voice came through the crack.

"No, you can't! This place is dangerous!" I yelled, my heart drumming loudly.

"I don't see how that affects me at all."

"Please help me!" I begged, every drop of my fake bravery crumbling into dust instantly.

The window rolled down a little further. "I will only help you, if you agree to spend a night with my boss."

I turned around, staring back into the dark woods behind me, listening to the eerie sounds of the night air. I mean... for a whole thousand dollars, I could pay off my debts, stop stripping for good, get a decent apartment, and maybe even start a small business of my own. I wouldn't have to rely on anyone ever again.

I scratched my messy blonde hair softly, my mind racing as the guard sat there in silence, waiting for a final answer.

I swallowed hard, looking back at him through the tinted glass. "He's... he's not ugly, is he?"