Chapter 6

CALLIE

“You didn’t do that, Callie.” A visible tremor in Scarlett’s voice makes my knees lock, my breaths bursting in and out like I’ve lost control of my lungs.

She grabs my shoulder, and her nails sink into my flesh. “Tell me you didn’t tell Mr. Voss your fucking name.”

My teeth clatter together. “I…I did.”

“The fuck is wrong with you, Callie?” She pants, her face pale. “You could have walked out of there without giving him your details, but you spilled every fucking thing?”

“Scar—”

“Don’t,” she pulls away from me, raising a single finger up. “I don’t want to hear any of your lame excuses, Callie.”

I swallow.

“Do you even know who you’re dealing with?” she shouts, her voice rising over the loud music, slamming into me with so much force, it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs.

“Sebastian fucking Voss. He controls parts of the city people don’t even know exist, and he’s involved in underground shady things that’d definitely make your skin crawl. You know it’s scary enough that you were bold enough to say “No” to his face, and now, this?”

“Scarlett, breathe” I place two shaky fingers on her shoulder, hiding the fact that my knees can’t hold me up anymore. Every tingling in my chest reminds me of the grave mistake I made minutes ago, but I can’t erase it.

Beads of sweat start to form on my forehead. I suck in deep breaths, eyes locked on Scarlett who seems to be finding it hard to breathe. I’ve never seen Scarlett this scared.

“You need to breathe, okay?”

“I can’t. I fucking can’t.” She eyes me, “you need to fix this by going back in there. I can’t have someone like Sebastian on my tail, what if he mistakes me for you?”

“He won’t,” I gulp, my head racing with thoughts on how to fix this. I can’t rush back there without a plan. Hell, I can’t even go back there.

What if he drags me away to get back at me? I shiver at the thought. “I’m sure he’s smart enough to differentiate us from each other.”

Scarlett looks a bit convinced, but I can still see the fear in her blue orbs, the tiny uncertainty that screams Sebastian’s brutality even without experiencing it.

“Fine,” Scarlett finally says, getting a hold of herself. “It’s your problem anyway.” She turns around dramatically, leaving me in the tight corner with my own thoughts, and I hurry outside the bar before Sebastian finds me.

~~~

I can’t tell if life’s been treating me well or just fucking me over, but one thing keeps me going—hope. That tiny silver thread that maybe, someday, everything will be fine.

Two weeks have passed since the whole chaos with Sebastian Voss, and I still can’t believe he allowed me to live.

Even Scarlett is stunned he isn’t hunting me down.

I come to a sharp halt in front of Velvet Bean, my third cafe on the list today. After being told the same old thing—no vacancy—at the last two, I’m hoping I can get a job here.

Taking deep breaths to relax, I stride in, taking in the sparkling floors and elegant setting that instantly transform me into a world I don’t fit in.

All the guests are clad in designers—obviously, and they all eye my faded baggy jeans and plain top the second I walk in.

“Hello,” I smile at a lady who seems to be a worker here. “Can I see your manager, please? I just want to know if there’s…uh, any vacancy.”

“Didn’t you see the sign outside?” She frowns. “Velvet Bean isn’t in need of workers for now.”

I nod, maintaining the smile on my face despite the slight humiliation sinking in. “Thank you, but may I still speak with your manager?”

“Apologies,” her voice comes out harsh, “but he’s not in, and he left me in charge. You’re making a scene here with your presence. If you won’t be ordering something, please leave.”

My cheeks burn. “But..but—”

Her eyes turn cold. “Don’t make me call the security, ma’am.”

Clutching my bag, I nod shakily, then turn around to leave. My stomach grumbles loudly, making a few customers eye me, and I rush out quickly, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill.

A third rejection plus some freaking embarrassment, it seems like I’m having a bad—

“Are you blind?” A thunderous voice booms as I bump into a wall. I wince in pain at the harsh impact.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bump—”

Wait a sec.

That voice.

The dripping arrogance.

The familiar scent that’s not so familiar anymore.

Trent.

Our eyes clash, his grey orbs pinning me in place, and a loud laugh vibrates from his throat.

“You look even more miserable than I remember, Callie,” he checks me out, pressing his hands against his stomach like I’m some fascinating clown and that makes my insides burn. “We broke up two weeks ago. Just two weeks, and you already miss me?”

“You’re not that important,” I say quickly, heading for the door. He grabs me so tight, I wince.

“Then why are you eager to get out of here? Does my new look remind you of what you’ve missed?”

“Just because of some cheap suit and shoes?” A laugh escapes me as I slap his hands off me. “Nothing about you amazes me.”

His smile falters for a few seconds, “acting all arrogant even after losing everything? You know, I heard Landon kicked you out in the most humiliating ways, it’s a surprise you can still walk along this familiar street with your head up high.”

My eyes widen. How did he—

“Surprised?” He laughs, “Thanks to the new job Britany’s dad got for me, every information I need is on the tip of my fingers.”

“And you think that’s going to impress me?”

“As long as it impresses you enough to give me a chance to fuck your little cunt one last time. Can’t deny the fact that I miss that warm thing around my cock.”

Anger flares through me. Before I can think, my hands are on his cheeks, the loud smack echoing through the cafe, drawing the attention of everyone. Including the security.

Trent grabs his cheek, his face all red. For a split second, the cafe falls silent. Then he smirks, grabbing my wrist as he takes another step forward. “You think that slap will stop me? No, sweetheart. It only makes me want to pin you to my bed and—”

“Is there a problem here?” A deep, commanding voice cuts through the tension, freezing both of us in place.

I look up and I suddenly want to flee as the impending sense of doom overwhelms me. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

Standing in the doorway is Sebastian Voss himself, dressed in black, every inch of him a predator.

My lungs seize, my legs want to crumble, but I can’t even move. Time slows as he locks eyes on me.

This is it.

He finally found me… and I know, somehow, there’s no escaping him now.