Chapter 5

(Carolina's POV)

"Sir, I need to get my bag and change out of this red dress," I replied sadly. However, Mr. Karen summoned two security guards to throw me out.

"Hey, do not touch me!" I screamed as the two guards walked up to me. They took hold of my arms and carried me out of the club.

"Put me down!" I shouted, but the guards acted as if they were deaf and dropped me outside the club.

"Leave here! You are not welcome," they said before striding back inside.

Stunned, I feared I might have brought bad luck to my best friend, Lucy, but she was not fired.

Standing up, I dusted off my arms and legs. I decided to wait for Lucy to finish work so I could get my handbag, as it contained my phone and my clothes. I could not go home wearing this revealing red dress.

*What would I explain to my mother?* I paced in front of the club, waiting for Lucy.

"Hey! What are you still doing here? Leave!" the security guard at the entrance yelled at me.

I replied bluntly, "I need my bag. I am not going anywhere without it."

Just then, the club entrance burst open. Two men in black suits, who looked like business partners, walked out. I was stunned to see that one of them was the same handsome man I had spoken with earlier.

"Are you all right?" The man asked, rushing over to me. He must have seen me being thrown out. I lowered my head as he approached.

I felt terribly uncomfortable in the red dress. I saw him take off his black coat and drape it over my shoulders.

"I am sorry, sir, but you do not have to do this. Please, just help me ask them to return my bag," I said to the attractive stranger. I did not know who he was, but he seemed wealthy. I could sense an icy demeanor emanating from his sharp gaze.

"Your bag—where is it?" he asked, glancing around.

I pointed toward the entrance of the opulent clubhouse. "In there."

"Bright, who is she?" the second man asked, addressing the attractive man before me. Now I knew his name. He walked over to join us.

"I do not know her, but I saw her earlier when I arrived. I was waiting for you as well. Do you work here?" Bright asked, shifting his attention back to me. He stood close, his gaze intense, as if it were crawling over my skin.

"No… I wanted to work here, but I was thrown out," I muttered.

His gaze narrowed. "By whom? Come with me. Gabriel, we will meet later," Bright said. He firmly clasped my left hand and led me back into the club. I was stunned and confused—I did not even know him.

"Sir, you do not have to worry. I do not want my friend to lose her job because of me," I told him, but he had already taken my hand and was leading me inside.

Surprisingly, the security guards did not refuse me entry, nor did they stop the man.

*Who is he? Why is he trying to help me?* I wondered as I followed him into the club.

"Who threw you out?" he asked. Even over the loud music, I could hear him clearly. I saw Mr. Karen and pointed at him immediately.

"He is the boss. I only wanted to take my bag, and I could not do what he asked," I said, lowering my gaze.

"Karen," the man called out. My eyes widened at the casual way he addressed the manager.

The manager rushed over and looked at me in shock. "Boss, what is the matter? Do you need anything?" Mr. Karen asked, glancing worriedly from me to Bright.

"Do you know this woman?" Bright asked, still holding my wrist firmly.

Mr. Karen looked at me as I looked back at him. "Yes, Boss. I was trying to help her, but she was driving away our clients," he explained.

"How did she refuse to help a client?" Bright asked, his voice stern. I looked from him to Mr. Karen.

"Sir, she was rude and did not want to serve the guest," Mr. Karen said, avoiding the real issue.

"Is that true, miss?" Bright asked, now looking at me.

I met his eyes, which were red—something I had not noticed outside in the darkness. I was surprised; his eyes were red as if he were angry or had recently been crying.

"I could not sleep with a stranger. That is why he fired me. He said I would have to sell my body to please the clients," I said, wrapping my arms around my chest.

"I see. It is not compulsory that you must do that. Is this why you dismissed her and threw her out? Where is her bag?" Bright asked.

Mr. Karen looked at me. "I do not know, Boss. Where is your bag, miss?"

I looked at Lucy, who was watching me in surprise. "On the second floor," I said, remembering I had given my bag to Lucy to hold.

"Go and get it. I will wait for you," Bright said.

I was surprised. *Wait for me? Why should he wait?*

Nevertheless, I went back to find Lucy. She went up to the second floor and brought down my bag. Once I had it, I knew I did not have time to change. I apologized to Lucy. "I am sorry."

"It is fine, Caro. But how did you meet the boss?" she asked.

"The boss? Who is he?" I asked, but I saw the man was still watching me.

My cheeks flushed unknowingly. I smiled at him before looking back at Lucy.

"I need to hurry back and return his coat," I said.

Lucy nodded. "You can go to my house. Here is the spare key." She offered me her key, but I pushed it back toward her.

"You hold onto it. I will wait until you finish work," I told her, knowing she closed late.

"It is two keys, Caro. Take one. I might not come back on time, as I have a client to meet," she said.

I looked at her face, wondering if this was worth it.

"You should go. Do not keep the boss waiting. Later, you can tell me where you met him," Lucy said. She quickly walked away before I could explain further.

I sighed and looked back at the man, who was still waiting. I walked over to him and removed his coat to return it.

"Here is your coat, sir. Thank you for your help," I said, preparing to leave.

He asked, "Wait, what is your name?"