NINE - Marcus Myers

Back at the lower section, Aurora was at the verge of a panic attack.

“Relax,” The fat man said. His round face split into a grin, cheeks wobbling as he laughed. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost”

Aurora tried to step back. His thick fingers tightened instead.

“Let go of me,” she said, forcing the words out.

The man chuckled, hel oosened his grip on her arm a little but it was enough to remind aurora he could grab her again whenever he wanted.

He leaned in, his breath was sour with alcohol and his eyes kept roaming her body without shame.

“You ran off that night, like a little tease” he said, shaking his head like a disappointed child. “Left me all worked up and confused. I had to find someone else. That wasn’t very nice of you”

Aurora took a deep breath hard. Her head felt light. The chandelier lights above blurred together. She became painfully aware of eyes turning toward them. Whispers spread. People recognized him. Recognized her,all from the photos leaked.

If she didn't leave right now, there would be another headline tomorrow..

“That was a mistake,” she said. “Whoever sold me to you– whoever helped you drug me–”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he interrupted, grinning ith his woodchuck veneers against his flushed face. “You have a lot to learn about the real world”

“What do you want?” Aurora asked quietly.

He leaned closer, invading her space again. His obese belly kept pressing forward as if he didn’t even notice. “Just a little chat,” he said. “Somewhere quieter. Too many ears here.”

“No,” Aurora said immediately. “I’m not leaving with you anywhere”

The fat man’s laugh erupted drawing a few more glances from nearby guests. “Not interested?” he sneered jiggling his thick belly. “Oh, sweetheart… you don’t get to decide that anymore.”

Aurora’s stomach churned. She felt fear in the pit of her stomach. She shook her head, trying to step back, but her legs suddenly felt weak, heavy as if they weren’t hers.

Then, in an instant, the fever she had fought through yesterday returned, harder than before. Her body shivered violently,she felt both hot and cold at the same time.

The lights above seemed sharper stabbing at her eyes. Her vision blurred.

She barely managed to stay on her feet as people around them started whispering and staring, their attention drawn to her and the man holding her.

“She’s not feeling well,” the fat man announced loudly, smiling as if he were doing everyone a favor. “Poor thing. Must be overwhelmed.”

People around them whispered and stared, their eyes drawn to the spectacle. Aurora tried to pull away, but her arms felt like lead. Her body wouldn’t respond, as if every muscle had been drained of strength.

The fat man’s grin widened. “Relax, sweetheart,” he said, “We’re just going for a little walk. Nothing to worry about.”

Before she could protest, his wide, meaty hands gripped her elbows and steered her through the crowd. Aurora’s legs trembled, and she stumbled several times, but he caught her each time with an awful, patronizing laugh.

Outside, the gala noise faded, replaced by the cold wall of an alley behind the building. Aurora pressed herself against the wall gasping.

“Who… who are you?” she asked weakly, her voice was trembling.

“Marcus Myers,” he said with a stupid gleam in his eyes. “And you? You’re mine now.”

She could only stare at him, nausea rolling through her as dizziness made the alley sway. Her skin crawled under his stare, like insects moving over her body.

“I’ve got money in the company you’re still signed to,” he said with a low chuckle, rubbing his thick stomach as his eyes dragged slowly from her face down her body, lingering where they shouldn’t. “Which means I own a piece of you, sweetheart.”

He leaned closer “I can wipe your little scandal clean,” he murmured. “Make the photos vanish. Open doors that slammed in your face. Get you roles again.” His eyes gleamed with lust “All you gotta do is behave. Be good. Let me enjoy what I paid for.”

Aurora’s stomach dropped. Her head swam. “You… you can’t…” she whispered, but her voice was weak,

“Oh, I can, sweetie,” he said with a smirk. “Rumors, rejections, closed doors… all gone. All you have to do is say yes. Be mine. Do what I want.” He leaned in, his hot, heavy breath making her shiver. “Anyway,You don’t have a choice.”

She tried to push him off, her fingers trembling against his thick arm, but her body refused to cooperate.

Joseph’s hands began to move dangerously close to her chest,“Relax, relax… it’s just us, little slut. No one sees.”

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the alley. Joseph’s eyes widened, and before he could react, a powerful hand slammed into him. Suddenly there was a grunt, a thud, and a sharp cry of pain.

Aurora saw marcus being shoved backward, his fat body colliding with the brick wall. She tried to stand , but her legs gave out completely. Dizziness, nausea, and exhaustion hit her all at once.

The last thing she heard was the fat man screaming in pain. Then it was as if the alley flipped upside down in darkness and finally Aurora’s consciousness slipped away.

She only felt herself falling, helpless, into strong arms but she didn’t know whose