Chapter two: Two hundred thousand dollars

Camilla POV 

“Babe? Baby?” I called as I twisted the doorknob, and it clicked open.

Warmth floods my heart, even though he lost the captainship to the new student, he kept his promise of letting me come over.

Today is my twenty-first birthday, and Danny didn't know it yet, but I planned a big surprise for us tonight.

A thank-you gift for not leaving or giving up on us.

The living room was always scattered with beer bottles, but today is worse than the rest of the days.

He was nowhere in sight, so I headed to his bedroom.

“Babe. Are you in there?” I pushed the door open, and everything stopped.

Time stopped. My breathing stopped. My eyes froze just like the rest of my body as I took in the scene playing out before me.

Danny and Marissa, also known as my biggest bully, right from high school to college, in bed together. Naked. Moaning, groaning, and grunting as he repeatedly drove his dick inside her.

The man who promised me heaven and earth. The man who has been with me through thick and thin. The man who promised never to look at any other woman the way he looked at me.

I watched the man I fell in love with since High School tell my bully he loved her repeatedly. 

“DANNY?” I screamed with my remaining strength.

They sprang apart, and Marissa rushed to cover her body. He rushed to my side, struggling to wear his boxers as his balls dangled between his legs.

“Hey, baby. It's not what it looks like.” He panted. “Just helping Marissa with her wound, right, Marissa?” 

“Ohh, Dan, baby, just tell her the truth already. She was going to find out soon anyway.” She scoffed, giving me an icy smile.

I was literally shaking at this point. My heart felt like it was being shredded into tiny pieces.

“You see.” She walked towards me. “We have been in a relationship for two years now, and Dan, baby, was going to dump you anyway.” 

My hearing. My sight. My heart. Everything blurred. Like a trumpet exploded in my skull.

All I saw was red.

I lunged at her full force, taking her down with me.

I had only one thought in my mind... Send her to the hospital.

Anywhere my hand reached. I landed a blow. The room was a screaming mess. 

But I was far too gone to care. Until something strong gripped me from behind and yanked me off her.

I turned, and my fist connected with whoever it was. All I heard was a groan and curse words flying.

I started my usual breathing exercises, and the fog on my eye subsided.

That's when I took in the damage. And I was darn proud of myself.

“You bitch.” Danny was fuming. “How dare you lay your hands on her? Do you know I could get you expelled for this?” 

“Yeah, go ahead.” I let out a bitter laugh. “You gave me wings to fly, Danny. You told me I could go as high as I want. You said you'd always be with me.” The tears I was holding rushed down like a broken faucet.

“How dare I try to dream? You broke my wings little by little until you shattered everything today. How come I never saw this side of you? Six years, Danny. I had loved you. Why?” 

My tears were racing now. My whole body was shaking.

He gave me a sad look, but it was gone as soon, replaced with pure disdain.

“I am sorry, Camilla, but you were always my backup if Marissa didn't accept me. You are innocent. Naive. Too trusting.” The mask came off his face.

“What?” My tear-filled eyes widened. 

“You are too kind, Camilla. You were an easy target, and you helped me and Marissa pass our classes. I never loved you.” 

“You…” I took a deep breath. “Never…” 

Everything clicked, and it started to make sense. The bulky research papers. Thesis proposal. Lab report.

The one he always said belongs to his teammates in other departments.

My anger came back blazing, and my fist connected with his jaw again. “You bastard son of a bitch. You used me. All this while?” 

“You could say that, but don't forget I helped you too.” He looked at Marissa, and they laughed.

“So we used each other. My father gave you a scholarship, and I helped offset your slut of a mother's debt.”

He never fails to remind me of that.

“Baby, don't forget you got her a job as a janitor.” Marissa cackled.

Danny kissed her forehead. “How can I forget that? So Camilla, you used me more. What did I ever get in return? Huh?” He shrugged, “You didn't give me sex. You kept claiming, Jane the Virgin.”

“Who knew if she took her mother's footsteps and lied about being a virgin?” Marissa said

I stepped up to her, but he blocked me. “Don't ever take my mother's name in your stupid mouth.” 

“You can have my leftovers, Marissa.” I said coldly.

 “And Danny?” I looked him dead in the eyes. 

“Good luck gluing back what's left—after half of the team had her.” 

I walked out with my head held high. He can never break me.

Nobody can. If I can survive to this extent. I'll survive anything. I threw the birthday cake in the trashcan and headed to my dorm room.

My brain was filled up with every possible way why Danny could have changed, but none—all of it made sense now.

My phone's ringing tone interrupted my thoughts. 

Doctor Tina's name dancing on the screen made my heart drop in the pit of my stomach.

My hands shook as I picked up the call. “Hello, Doc.” 

“Hi, Camilla. There's a problem.” 

She was out of breath, and the noises in the background sounded like she was running.

“What? What's going on, Tina? Is Alina okay?” I asked in panic and made a U-turn to the gate.

“No. She coded five times today. I thought there was no cause for alarm until she stopped breathing, Camilla.” Her voice became shaky. “She almost died, Camilla. Her condition has taken a new turn.”

“We need to perform the surgery within the next five hours, or we risk losing her.” 

I waved frantically at the upcoming cab. “No, Tina. I am not losing her too. I will get the money before the end of today. Please. I beg you.”

She sighed heavily. “I am trying my best, Camilla. You need to hurry.” She hung up.

“Ma'am. Are you going or not?” The cab driver's sharp voice snapped me out of my haze.

I swiftly climbed in. “Take me to the Velvet Trap.” 

He gave me a skeptical look. “Alrighty, Ma'am. That will be twenty bucks.” 

Alina, you need to live. I can't lose you too. Mama has never looked back since she left. I need you. 

My tears dropped like fountains; everything was caving in. I feel like a trapped lion in the hunters' den.

“We are here.” 

I handed the money to him and rushed out. 

“Olivia! Olivia! Olivia!” 

“Jesus Christ, Camilla. Why in God's green earth are you yelling my name?” She scowled at me.

“I need your help, Olivia. Alina coded. They need to perform her surgery within the next few hours. I need more shifts.” 

Olivia is the only person that knows about my family situation.

“Wait. Aren't you supposed to be with your man? Is today not supposed to be your birthday?” 

“He cheated, Olivia.” I whispered, tears burning again, “with Marissa.”

“What? Jesus, girl. Why would he do that?” She walked into the changing room and said, “Change into this.” She handed me the VIP dress code.

“Why am I changing into this? You know I don't do private dances. Have you forgotten what happened that day?” I cringe at the mere thought of it.

“Girl. It's just for today. You can't get that insane amount of money with more shifts. We are talking three hundred thousand bucks here.” 

“Olivia?”

“Shh. It's just for today and for Alina. I will increase the security. Okay?” she said in a motherly soft voice.

“Okay.”

We entered the arena, and those perverted old men were already seated. They whistled the minute they saw me.

Music started playing, and I danced a little before Olivia took the mic. “Hello, everyone. Happy to see our beautiful siren today?” 

“Yes. Please, siren. Marry me. I love you, siren. I want to be your pet siren.” Different voices echoed happily.

Until my eyes mistakenly landed on Danny's teammate in the crowd. My heartbeat picked up. 

What the fuck are they doing here? 

“We all know Siren doesn't do private dances, but she's ready to make an exception today for one lucky person.”

I tuned Olivia out, taking them in one after the other till my eyes landed on them—the only new faces among the familiar ones. 

Two of them. I am guessing one of them took the captain title.

The most handsome one among the two stared at me with an intensity in his eyes that looked like anger, hunger, and love.

I looked away immediately.

“We will start the bidding at ten thousand.” I listened back to what Olivia was saying.

Praying hard as they started bidding—that the team doesn't win.

“Eighty thousand.” One old man said.

“We have eighty thousand. Anyone? Anyone dare to beat Mr. Krinvestic?” Olivia asked, and the crowd grew quiet. “Eighty going, once. Eighty going twice. Eighty going…” 

“Two hundred thousand.” A dark velvet growl cut through the noise. Low. Calm.