Chapter 1: How it Happened

[KIMBERLY]

It's day two hundred and sixty seven if I counted correctly, I sat on the nearby bench devouring the cold spoilt bread. If I don't eat this I will never have anything to eat for the night.

The weather was freezing cold as I got up from the bench walking down the quiet street, I wrapped my body with my arms while my leg(s) got all wobbling. My eyes landed at a sign post beside a nightclub, the club was buzzing with life although it's past midnight.

"Waitress needed $150 wages and free accommodation." I read the information on the board with a shaking voice.

I had nowhere to go for the night. Neither will I risk such an opportunity. Besides, I'm an orphan whom no one cares whether I'm alive or not, nor about my whereabouts.

"You are here, come in" I obviously turned to ignore this temptation, not until someone inside the club dragged me in.

They didn't even check who they wanted to recruit, I was looking completely unkempt and dirty. I have been living on the street so with one look, an individual will be displeased.

"You look dirty but beautiful at the same time" the manager sneered, using her finger to turn my face around, not hesitating to check every side.

"Ma..." I struggled to speak with my sad eyes piercing into her careless eyes.

"Take her to the room to freshen up" she turned to me again, with her nose squeezed a bit.

I was obviously smelling at that moment.

"Start work immediately and don't slack" she pointed a straight finger at me, I nodded sheepishly.

Working in the club isn't a bad choice atlas, I found peace and another sight of hope. Some customers were happy with me while some were scum, I gained favors from my friends and the manager wasn't as nice as she seemed.

I have been working here for almost three months now and successfully overcame a lot of mishaps. I was able to get a good apartment for myself.

"I'm here now, Kim" Riya, my colleague, smiled happily.

For some reason, she enjoys working here. Not for the pay but because she normally crosses paths with wealthy men who have sex with her and pay handsomely. At times, she would urge me to work overtime for her.

"Thank goodness you are here, I'm as tired as fuck" I sighed trying to round up the account, she walked closer to me and lean beside me.

"Did any of my usual come for me.. today?" with her mischievous brow raised, she asked in a sassy tone. I smirked.

"You don't change, will you?" I rolled my gaze in repugnant.

"Well, no" I scattered her defenses knowingly, she fumbled while crossing her arms.

"It's all good" she roughly sat on the stool while I pushed the account booklet to her.

"My heart bleeds though. I mean the way your roommates treat you poorly." her eyes became sad with her forehead folding into triple. I tried to assure her that I'm fine even when I wasn't with a warm smile.

"As long as I live, it will be over soon" I nodded affirmatively.

"You should try crying sometimes, you are a lady so stop acting so tough" she nudges my shoulder softly wearing a weird smile.

"Here it is, I'm off." I winked flirtatiously and left into the changing room. I could hear her mimicking my last word.

I laughed off.

"Childish".

It's better to sleep in a one room shared by twelve ladies than sleeping on the street bench, come rain, come sun. I better bear this mild pain.

After the night shift, I changed into my casual outfits and prepared to head home. Just as I was about to enter the next corridor close to the exit, the owner of the club who rarely visits blocked my path.

"Good evening sir", I lowered my gaze.

He smirked using his finger to raise my chin above, I tried to avoid his gaze as much as I could but it became useless.

"You look prettier, Kim" he complimented with a seductive voice.

Unable to hold myself, I slapped him.

"What?" his hands were holding his cheek while his guards reacted, shocked. I hate it when people behave awful in my presence and it has been my rule to tame any fool that messes around me. Whether my boss or a customer, I don't joke with my rules. But it was an action I later regretted.

"Take her away, now!" he yelled with his furrowed eyebrows, I looked sideways helplessly as his guards charged towards me.

They pulled me by my arms, heading to the reserved exclusive room.

"Let me go! Let me go!" I struggled out of their hold but they overpowered me.

They threw me on the soggy bed, I bounced twice before lying flat on the bed. He smiled devilishly as he approached me, I jumped out of the bed.

"Don't you dare touch me!", by this time, his guards were heading to the exit to probably lock the door so he could have a quiet time with me.

"You are one fierce one, you know", he lose his tie roughly, charging towards me.

"You won't touch me!", I kicked him in his balls and ran out, his guards later came in leaving the exit free which gave me a good chance to escape.

"Get her!", I heard his voice through the passage while I rushed down the corridor in search of a hiding place.

I was breathing heavily in fatigue. I needed rest after a hectic day at work yet this won't let me.

"Second floor", they did not stop chasing me like a wild dog being let loose. Neither did I think of giving up.

I won't lose my dignity to a scum, the city playboy. Never!

I charged further, running crazily and the worst of it all was that there was no one in the corridor. It was so isolated that I could hear the heavy thud from behind me.

But it stopped when I bumped into a huge masculine figure. I didn't see him coming.

"I..", my lips were shaking uncontrollably, and my eyes fell on the wolfish tattoo on his arm. His black polo was body fitted, and it could not contain his full big sized muscle.

The tattoo on his arm gave me sharp unusual chills.

"Are you...?", I had no chance to talk to him because of the peril I found myself in. I rushed behind him and fortunately I found a nice shady plant to hide in. I leaned to the wall like one who wants the wall to swallow him.

I could see whatever that happened in front of me but no one could possibly see me.

"Hey!", the guards stopped that strange man as soon as he began to walk. He stopped and turned to them, slightly.

"Have you seen a lady?", the guard started to describe me in an awful way that I almost spit out. He was really bad at describing a beautiful lady like me.

"Oh, yeah. I think I saw her heading that way", he pointed another direction and I stared at him in awe.

His eyes swayed to my direction before he left the passage entirely, I was astonished.

"Why did he save me?", I was so shocked and at the same time grateful.

I don't know him and yet he saved my life.

"Here you are?", I gradually turned to my side only to see my boss, and guards staring at me with disdain.

"I...I..", I trembled frantically until he pushed my head on the tree branch and back at the wall.

Slow and steady everything drifts away into blank space in minutes.

"What happened?", my thoughts became blank.