CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

Juliana.

“Come on, Juliana, it'll be fun!” Rachel exclaimed, hugging me with excitement. “We've been working on this project for over a month and now it is done we definitely deserve a night out.”

I hesitated, unsure if I was up for a night at the club. But Rachel's enthusiasm was infectious, and soon I found myself agreeing.

We just finished designing a villa for one of our top clients that was huge and since our team had been one of the designing team for six months straight we were awarded the project with no questioning.

A new project meant more monthly bonuses and also additional work on our hands alongside the other two projects we were working on.

The owner of the villa was an entitled prick, who thinks he owns everything including me which I made me quick to snap. Although, the prick owned everything life has to offer.

I had started interning at JOLADS as an interior designer before I finished college and I enjoyed working so it was not hard for me to quickly accept their full time job offer immediately I finished college and it has been 3 years since I started working full time there.

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Once I got home, I took a quick shower, making sure my hair didn’t touch water despite it been so long since I washed the unruly red locks.

Once I was out, I raided my closet, picking up two dresses that I got myself as a birthday gift the year before; one, a short backless black dress with beast pads that could hold my double Ds without any problem and a small slit that would probably show more of my thighs.

The dress brought out my full hips and my overly tiny waist that was too small for my chest.

The other dress, a short red dress that marched with my locks. It has flimsy sleeves and showed my cleavage; and had ropes at the back to show off my figure more.

After contemplating for about five minutes with no result, I decided to call one of my colleagues from work, Jamie for advise since he gives the best fashion advise.

Jamie, despite not being gay, had impeccable fashion sense, and he gave me some valuable tips on how to look sexy and confident. I took his advice to heart, slipping into the black dress and black plumps with red bottoms.

Feeling like a million bucks, I picked up my small double checking if I had everything I need; my phone, my ID, some cash, some lip balm and lastly and most important my pepper spray.

After taking some snaps, I climbed into the ride that headed to the club.

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Once I dropped, I noticed Racheal and two of my other colleagues, Jamie, Mike and Emily outside and called out to her. “I thought you won’t make it” she said laughing leading me inside the club and I laughed alongside with her already regretting saying ‘yes’, everywhere was already stuffed up.

“You look beautiful Juliana.” That was Jamie and I blushed, giving him a silent thank you before heading inside with the others.

Jamie was top notch in several departments; several women at work find him attractive but he was not my type, so when he asked me out last Christmas, I turned him down immediately and we agreed to keep on being just friends.

Despite this agreement, he still tries his luck to see if I’ve changed my mind and I haven’t and won’t change my mind because that will destroy our friendship and jeopardize my job.

Immediately we entered, we found a table and Mike collected everyone’s order and went to get it at the bartender’s space.

“Let’s go dance” Racheal suddenly said after just sitting there for thirty minutes and nothing was said. Emily nodded her head in excitement before turning to me pleading with her eyes probably already knowing that I was going to decline.

“Okay! Okay, let’s just go but just three songs” I said smiling and the other girls shouted.

The night was a blur of music, laughter, and drinks. I forgot all about my reservations, lost in the excitement of the moment.

“I want to go get water Juliana” Emily shouted, her voice just a little above the music for me to hear and I nodded my head as Racheal had long gone with some guy like that.

Few minutes into me dancing alone, things took a turn when a gross man started hitting on me. “Hey, beautiful” he said, his voice dripping with sleaze. “Want to dance?”.

“No!!” I answered but he wouldn't take no for an answer. He grabbed my arm, pulling me close, and I could feel his hot breath on my skin.

“No” I said again firmer this time, trying to pry his fingers off my arm. “I'm not interested”.

But he just laughed, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, come on” he said. “I know you want it.”.

“I am not drunk enough to not know what I want asshole” I replied losing my temper.

Furiously I scratched his face, kicked him in the groin, and pushed him away. “Leave me the fuck alone!” I shouted.

The man stumbled back, clutching his crotch, and I turned to walk away.

The rest of the night was a blur. I danced and laughed with Emily and our colleagues, forgetting all about the incident.

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As the night drew to a close, Rachel, Mike, Jamie, Emily, and I said our goodbyes outside the club. They lived in the same apartment complex, so they ordered a single Uber to take them home.

I, on the other hand, lived farther away. They offered to wait with me for another Uber, but I insisted on flagging down a taxi instead since they were all too drunk.

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As I walked to the main road, my phone died. I was left with no choice but to hail a taxi the old-fashioned way.

That's when I saw him again, the gross man from the club. He was standing on the corner, leering at me with a mixture of anger and lust.

My heart sank, and I realized that this night was far from over. He approached me, his eyes gleaming with malice.

“Get in the car” he growled, grabbing my arm.

I tried to shake him off, but he held tight. I kicked him in the shin, but he didn't flinch.

With a surge of adrenaline, I scratched his face, digging my nails deep into his skin. He yelped in pain, releasing his grip on my arm.

But he quickly recovered, his eyes blazing with fury. He pulled out a handkerchief, and I caught a whiff of something sweet and intoxicating.

Before I could react, he shoved the handkerchief under my nose. I tried to hold my breath, but it was too late. The world began to spin, and I felt myself getting dizzy.

As I stumbled, the gross man caught me, holding me upright. I tried to struggle, but my limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.

Just as I thought all was lost, I heard a voice, deep, commanding, and authoritative.

“Let her go” the voice growled.

The gross man's grip on me relaxed, and I slumped forward, gasping for air.

As I gazed up at the stranger, I was struck by the piercing blue of his eyes, like the sea on a clear summer day. The edges of his irises seemed to shimmer with a hint of green, like the first leaves of spring. It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

I felt my eyelids growing heavy, and my vision began to blur. The last thing I remembered was the sound of his voice, low and soothing, as he caught me in his arms.

And then, everything went black…