Chapter 5

Lana 

If there's one lesson I must hold onto, it's ‘Life goes on.’ 

The world won't stop, despite the remaining six months I have to live. 

“Table three! Faster!” Our manager, Sandy, shouted when guests kept flooding Tune In like a motherfucking wave. 

She knew we're short-staffed, and yet the management kept on accepting customers; they didn't give a damn about the remaining staff who were gonna work all night just to accommodate all the guests!

Despite my legs throbbing, I still managed to flash a fake smile on my lips as I walked towards the vacant table to clean. Some customers who were passing by suddenly spanked my butt, making me jolt momentarily as my ballistic eyes followed their narrowed direction. 

Goddamn. 

I'm a fat-ass liar if I say I'm not annoyed. Complaining to our manager, Sandy, all the time is useless, because no matter how much she emphasizes that escorts and servers are completely different, there are still people who lack decency and respect. 

I'm not a prostitute nor a woman who sells her flesh to make a good living, but rather a waitress who earns through serving countless tables and the tips I get from my customers. My work environment might be inappropriate for some but it's where I pull the money I use to feed my family. 

“Look at that ass!” I heard a man's voice from behind. “I wanna grab those cheeks and drown myself in it.” 

Despite their unnecessary comments about my body, I continued working because I don't have much time to waste. An adult shouldn't be taught what is right and what is wrong. 

“Her skin is soft, pale as ever, and her chest… fucking heaven.” 

When I took a swift serve, I saw two fat-ass old drunk men behind. “Too bad she's not for sale. I'd rip her pussy off when I got the chance.” 

These kinds of comments were harmful, and I wasn't used to hearing one until I got used to it. People squeezing my butt, offering indecent proposals, and paying me fifty thousand just for a night has been a routine I've gotten used to. 

I may be short on money, but I still have some respect left in my body. 

Working at the Tune In club for more than a year is what saved my family from hunger. At some point, I can bring a grand to the table and buy medications for my sick mother. 

My chest began to rise and fall from walking here and there countless times until I decided to stay at the lounge, only to be disturbed the moment I sat down. 

“Someone's looking for you Lana,” my manager, Sandy, affirmed. 

“We have a VIP guest, and he wants you to personally serve him.” Sandy affirmed using her stern, authoritative voice. “I’ll be frank, did you do something stupid? I'll kick you out in an instant if you dare to drag Tune In with your mess, Lana.” 

My eyes widened, confused about what she said. “No, no. Of course not Sandy. You know I take my job seriously.” 

“Good. Separate your personal life with your work.” Sandy reprimanded. Her gentle reminder became an anchor to get my thoughts straight. “Keep in mind, we accommodate a bunch of VIP guests all the time. There’s no room for mistakes, okay? 

I bobbed my head solemnly and said, “I understand.” 

Geez. You’re still on duty, Lana. Keep your sanity straight! 

“May I know who’s the guest you’re talking about?” 

Suddenly, her lips turned into a curve, smiling widely at me. “Ah,” she paused. “Salvatore Mancini.” 

My entire world froze upon hearing his name. The small yet faint voices in my head kept shouting his name, reverberating in my mind many times until the tone began to fade. 

I didn't expect him to come for me earlier than our agreed time. 

“I will… see him,” I told Sandy whilst holding the hem of my dress. “Did he tell you why he's looking for me?” 

Sandy cocked her eyebrows. “He didn't. I don't dare to question Salvatore Mancini. Perhaps he saw you from afar while serving other guests.” 

No. I have a huge debt to pay, and I will be his wife in a few days. 

“You should get going, Lana,” Sandy dismissed. Just as I was about to leave, she held my right arm enough reason to pause momentarily. “Make no mistakes. Salvatore isn't just a nobody.” 

Being careless is the least thing I possess if Salvatore is within my reach. 

Every step I take is calculated. My body moved at its own pace until I began to slow down when I reached the VIP lounge. My chest began to rise and fall the moment I saw countless men around, quietly guarding a certain table where a man in a clean-cut, wearing a dark polo with its sleeves folded to the same level as his elbow. 

His painted right arm caught my attention the most. The ring on his middle finger made him the best bad boy I've seen in my entire life. 

Damn. 

You're being unserious Lana! 

“You were looking for me,” it wasn't a question, but a remark to get his eyes straight at me. 

No words left his mouth, but his eyes wandered over my body from head to toe. His fingers began to scratch and caress his chin solemnly while his neck was bent a little. 

I noticed Salvatore's jaw tightened. Three minutes of standing up and I can't bear to lose more time to entertain a man who won't say a single word to me.

“You're interrupting my scope of work. It's best to leave if you have nothing to tell me.” I affirmed with a low yet baritone voice. 

Salvatore spoke. “So this is your nature of work now? Letting other men feast on your body as you walk around? They can see what's beneath your dress in just a single crouch.” He sarcastically affirmed, mocking my sense of work. 

He spoke to me as if he knew me at all. 

Part of me felt disgusted by his words as if I had offended him in some way. He wasn't one of my customers; he's not even my husband yet. To indirectly claim I'm being a prostitute and I like what I'm doing are enough reasons to diss him. 

“Next time, don't claim yourself as someone high who knows everything. I thought you were a person with a great view of the environment around you? A man who claims he has a certain group of intelligence to do research about a certain individual. What happens to what you brag about now?” I mocked, challenging his baseless indirect accusations. His words are insulting. 

“I'm a waitress, not a whore who has a bunch of men in my bed every night. Your claims are weak.” 

There was a momentary pause between us. I saw his eyes darken, his features altering to an annoyed expression. 

“I don't think a server must wear that kind of dress.” 

“This is the club's basic requirement for female employees. Not adhering to the club's protocol can cost me my job, and I don’t owe anyone an explanation. I need money,” I said. 

I was about to make a dramatic exit when Salvatore stood up fast, he grabbed my arms with force, resulting in my body falling into his chest. 

His intense gaze met mine. Salvatore gripped my arms tightly, causing me to squirm. 

“We’re going home.” There was a sense of finality in his tone that if I dared to speak back, he could've just snapped at me using his hands, and my whole body would collapse. 

I gathered all the strength remaining in me as I pushed him by his chest. “My job is not yet done. Sandy won't like it if she finds out. Tune In is short-staffed, and my helping hand is much more needed here.” I claimed. 

Salvatore freed my arms. He took a deep breath whilst his annoyed eyes gaze up to mine. “You dare to defy me?” 

“I'm just basically doing my job.” 

“You will come with me Lana. Don't make me drag you out of this place by force,” Salvatore's voice was dark, intense, and he was not just stating a word, but his tone was commanding. More likely a warning, “just a few days ago, you were begging me to spare your father's life but look at you know, becoming defiant just because I showed mercy.” 

“I didn't know stating facts can be considered as an act of rebellion,” I muttered. “Tune In is currently in the process of mass hiring. Sandy will surely cut my salary if I leave and I can't risk that to happen.” 

Speaking of the devil, the manager whom we're talking to suddenly appeared out of the blue. She was holding a bright smile on her face while putting me behind her. 

“It's a pleasure to have you here, Don Salvatore.” Sandy is well-known for her charms, but they didn't penetrate Salvatore's personality. “Lana is not an escort. I can give you a different lady to please. Having you around is already an honor.” 

I thought I could free pass with Sandy's help but I feel like I'm gonna melt because his daring, dark eyes never left mine. “If you were a man, and your wife was working at a club, what would you do?” 

The question seemed to stun Sandy; however, her puzzled face showed remnants of answers circling in her mind. “Of course I'd take her home, Don.” 

He scowled. “Good thing you know. I'm taking my wife home,” Salvatore used his force to pull me towards him until my body bumped against his hard, iron-clad chest.