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Gabriella's POV

"You have no idea how irritated I am by her presence. She's just sexy visually. A fucking prude." Davis, my fiancee, groaned.

I stood by the door, visibly frozen in place. The little basket of hand made snacks felt heavy.

Was he talking about me? It couldn't be.

"No way dude," Kevin, one of his close friends said. "To think we were tweaking on your behalf when the news about the marriage contract came out."

"Yeah we thought you could easily get that pussy you had been planning on for over a year now." Tony chimed in.

"Well it's no use. Thought she would be a baddie but she's just a nun with a hot body. Can't believe I have to spend the rest of my life with a prude." Davis sighed.

"Thank God Maddy's still in the picture eh?" Kevin laughed. "Gabriella doesn't need to know."

"Forget about Maddy and Gabby. We are in Vegas so let's get some strippers and have fun!!"

Their boisterous laughter filled the room, each chuckle sending a sinking feeling down my stomach.

I backed away from the door in disbelief and backed up against the wall on a corridor.

What in the world did I just hear? My fiancee only thinks of me like I'm a sex toy he couldn't lay with?

And Maddy? His supposed crazy ex-girlfriend that couldn't let him go. Was that all a lie?

Was that the reason he was so excited when the marriage proposal came?

I remember that day like it was yesterday.

Two years ago on the morning after my twentieth birthday, the Castillo family showed up unannounced with a red faced Davis in tow.

My father explained it simply — our families had a marriage contract and it was time to finalize everything. I had barely processed turning twenty and suddenly my entire future was being decided over refreshments in our sitting room.

I tried to object but my father shut me down without a thought.

Davis and I were sent to the garden afterward to talk like two strangers being told to get acquainted before a business merger. Especially, that was what we were.

He shrugged off my anxiety about the whole thing like it was nothing and then grabbed my hand, stared into my eyes and promised he would always be by me. That he wouldn't let me go.

I believed him.

Two years of trying to build something real with a man who had apparently been plotting to sleep with me since before the ink was dry on that contract. Two years of his patience wearing thin every time I wasn't ready, every time I held that last piece of myself back.

Now I knew why he was so eager that morning with his flushed cheeks and his pretty promises.

I smiled then, my heart feeling relieved.

But I didn't know it was all part of his plan.

Operation fuck Gabriella Hale.

"Fucking bastard," I cursed. To think I flew all the way here to apologize for not giving in to his numerous advances.

My parents encouraged me to come but it was all for nothing.

I left the club with fire in my veins. Walking past the room they were in that was now swarming with strippers entering didn't do anything to calm me down.

…

"What do you mean I should turn a blind eye." I screamed. "Are you even hearing yourself mom?! I've told you everything he's done and you STILL want me to marry him?”

"Oh Gab you need to relax," My mother's nonchalant voice came. "He is a man and all men are sexual creatures. He has his needs. If you aren't giving it to him, he's going to get it somewhere else.

"I can't believe this." I said in disbelief. "I am not going to get married to him. I'd rather die."

"That is not a choice you get to make." My father's voice suddenly appeared. "Either you get married or look for the nearest building to jump from."

"Dad—"

"Enough Gabriella. I heard everything you told your mother. I didn't say anything because I believed you were just throwing a tantrum but don't think you can get yourself out of this engagement." He said in his stern no nonsense tone.

"So this is my life now? To be forever bound to a sex crazed fool? Are you both serious?!!!"

My hands were shaking from anger at this point. It wasn't fair.

"No matter how he is, he will be your husband and that's final. Do as you will but never forget that." My mother said before she cut the call.

I stood in the middle of the hotel room frozen to the bone.

The severity of the situation now dawned on me. My family didn't care enough. This engagement was directly tied to the business and it seemed I was expendable.

My stomach began to contract so I ran into the bathroom feeling the urge to throw up. After I was done, I went over to the sink, tossing water on my face and staring at myself in the mirror.

My face shape was slightly chubby with caramel skin, a gene I got from my Latina side. The same side that was the reason for my curvy figure. The same figure that Davis was coveted.

"Just because of my body huh? "

The pain went down and rage took its place.

I was stuck in this situation and I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. The only thing I had in mind was revenge of some sorts. A way to get back at Davis at least to sate my anger for a while.

My phone rang, and for a moment hope sprang up. Was it my parents? Had they changed their mind?

I rushed to check my phone only for my heart to sink.

It wasn't them. Just a message from my best friend telling me to enjoy Vegas to the fullest and go to a male strip club. A crazy fantasy we both have had for some years.

"A strip club?” I mused the idea and the perfect form of revenge came to me.

Davis wanted my virginity as a trophy but he was going to be so disappointed.

I picked up my phone and went into the hotel's personal app. They have a clothing store and I took over twenty minutes scrolling through the options before I chose a dress and some snacks.

About ten minutes later the dress and food were delivered and I took about half an hour to get ready.

I looked absolutely amazing when I was done. The wine colored dress clung to every curve and the color complimented my skin in the best way possible.

My nerves were all over the place. This was the first time I was attempting to go out without Davis or my friends. It hit me then how much space Davis had quietly taken up in my life, even while using me.

With that understanding I steeled my nerves and went down to the hotel club.

…

The place was packed but not overwhelming. Dim lights, fog from the machines covering the floor, the scent of alcohol and other spices filling the air. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I quickly found a seat at a quiet spot after I got a drink. The place looked like a cubicle and it was on an elevated spot making me look down and the rest of the club.

I got bored for a while not feeling the mood to dance when my eyes caught a man coming into the club. He was flanked by some other men who were either friends or bodyguards.

Everything about him was sensually pleasing but the most striking features were his eyes. Two different colors. Grey and black. Like yin and yang.

I was so engrossed in drooling at him, I didn't notice when he climbed the stairs and stood right in front of the booth.