Chapter 4( You pervert!)

Somewhere above the main floor, behind dark glass doors, the VVIP lounge sat in quiet luxury. Soft golden lights glowed against black marble floors. A long leather couch faced a private glass wall that looked down over the crowded club. A small bar with expensive bottles stood in the corner, and the heavy doors kept most of the noise outside.

Two men sat across from each other at a low table. Papers and a contract lay between them.

The man in the black shirt leaned back against the couch, three buttons undone, a glass of dark wine in his hand. His expression was cold and unreadable. The business discussion had been going on for a while.

The other man smiled a little too widely. “We’ve covered the main terms. If you’d like… I can arrange some company for the rest of the night. Beautiful girls. Discreet.”

The man in the black shirt didn’t even look up from the contract. “No.”

“Just a suggestion. To celebrate the deal.”

“Bringing women in here is like letting bees into a quiet room,” he said flatly. “They only contaminate the peace. Don’t suggest it again.”

The other man cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. “Of course. Then shall we sign?”

He pushed the contract closer.

The man in the black shirt finally picked it up. His eyes moved slowly over the pages. After a moment, his fingers stopped on one section. The air in the lounge seemed to grow heavier.

“This clause,” he said quietly. “If I sign this, half of the profit is redirected to your side through a secondary account.”

The other man’s smile faltered, his face devoid of any colors. He hadn't expected to be caught so quickly, he shifted uncomfortably on his seat. “That’s just standard structuring. It’s....”

“It’s fraud.”

The word landed hard. The other man opened his mouth to defend himself, but the man across from him looked up. His eyes were freezing.

“You came into my lounge,” he said, voice low and controlled, “sat across from me, and tried to pass this as a clean deal. Do you think I’m blind, or just stupid?”

“I—I can explain—”

“Get out.”

The other man hesitated.

The man in the black shirt set the contract down slowly. “If I have to repeat myself, you won’t walk out of here on your own.”

That was enough. The other man gathered his things with shaking hands and left quickly, the heavy door closing behind him.

A moment later, a man in a black suit and glasses stepped into the lounge. His posture was straight, waiting for instruction.

“Trash the documents,” the man said without looking at him. “They’re of no use.”

The bodyguard collected the papers immediately and left to dispose of them.

Alone again, the man took a cigarette from the table, lit it, and drew in a deep pull. Smoke left his mouth slowly as he stared through the glass wall at the floor below.

Then he stopped.

A girl in a black dress and a mask was on the floor with her friend. A drunk man pushed through the crowd and grabbed her waist.

His fingers tightened slightly around the cigarette. He put it out, stood up, and walked out of the lounge without another word.

Shayla’s body went stiff the second the man’s hand touched her waist. Her eyes widened in shock, and she spun around fast, slapping his hand away hard.

Disgust shot through her so strongly that her skin crawled. The thought of his fingers on her made her want to run home and scrub herself until her skin felt clean again. Her breathing turned sharp.

Tessa stopped dancing the moment she saw what happened. Her jaw tightened, and the playful look on her face disappeared.

“You pervert!” Tessa snapped, stepping forward. “How dare you touch her like that? Have you lost your mind?”

The drunk only grinned, eyes half lidded from alcohol. “I didn’t come for you,” he said, pointing lazily at Shayla. “I came for the one in the mask.”

His smile widened.

“The ugly one. So scared of her own face she has to hide it.”

Laughter burst out from his friends standing a few steps away. The sound made Shayla’s chest tighten with humiliation and anger at the same time. She clenched her fists but said nothing. Years of being mocked had taught her how to stay silent even when it burned.

Everyone who had been dancing a while ago stopped and stared at the drama unfolding, all attention was now focused on them.

Tessa’s hand gripped Shayla’s arm tightly, holding herself back from beating the man to a pulp.

“That’s enough,” the bodyguard said coldly. “Walk away.”

The drunk turned his head, still smiling, and tried to wave him off. “Mind your business. This doesn’t concern you.”

He reached toward Shayla again as if the bodyguard hadn’t spoken.

The bodyguard moved faster than he looked. One hand clamped down hard on the drunk’s wrist, twisting it just enough to make him hiss in pain. The grin disappeared from his face.

“I won’t repeat myself,” the bodyguard said, voice low and flat.

The drunk tried to yank his hand free, but the grip only tightened. His friends who had been laughing earlier suddenly went quiet. Gasps and murmurs filled the hall.

“Alright alright!” the drunk muttered, wincing. “I was just playing.”

The bodyguard didn’t let go immediately. He leaned in slightly and said something only the drunk could hear. Whatever it was drained the remaining color from the man’s face. When he was finally released, he stumbled back, clutching his wrist, and quickly disappeared into the crowd with his friends following behind him.

The space around Shayla and Tessa felt strangely clear for a moment. She wondered what the man had said to the drunken guy to make him flee immediately but that wasn't her problem. she was free at least for the mean time. she imagined the man not coming to her rescue, she clearly couldn't shake the drunken guy harassments off on her own. Relief flooded her system, she faced Tessa who still looked ready to fight someone.

"c'mon Tessa he has gone, we can't keep standing here, let's go thank the good Samaritan." Shayla said and Tessa gave a curt nod in response.

Shayla grabbed Tessa's hand walking towards where the bodyguard stood but before they could reach him and pour out their gratitude, the bodyguard began escorting a different man out, tall well dressed, moving without protest, like leaving has been his own idea.