Nina's POV

★NINA★

After the run in with the little thieves earlier, I'm stuck with Colorado. I tried avoiding him, especially after what happened earlier that morning but it wasn't really successful this time. He was waiting right at the door of my apartment, as though anticipating my return.

"You think you can escape me, girl?" He glowered in my face but I only stared dead at him. I'd been robbed, almost raped, and Colorado's little antics were the last thing I needed.

"I'm not really in good shape, Colorado." I muttered, and he scoffed out loud.

"Using my name now? You're suddenly not in good shape after you spat on my face?" He then stepped impossibly closer, "I'll give you until tomorrow and the next day to pay your rent, Nina. If you don't then you won't like what comes next." He said and pushed past me, climbing down the stairs. 

Silently, I entered my apartment and locked the door.

★

The first thing I did after waking up the next morning was take a cool shower and put on one of the nicest dresses I owned. I also packed a few necessities inside my small tote bag and left the apartment as early as seven. I trekked down to the bar. It wasn’t open for customers yet, but I knew most of the staff were already present since work started at eight.

"Woah... The Filipino bitch has already started her whore business." 

That was the first thing I heard when I stepped inside.

Of course, they would settle for that, just because of my dress. They had never seen me in anything but t-shirts, jeans, and knicker shorts.

"Dare I say she looks pretty? Wearing a bodycon gown so her boob job can show off.” Mika sneered.

I didn't grace any of them with a response and only walked up the stairs to James' office. 

When I reached, I didn't bother knocking and pushed the doors open. "James."

James looked up from his desktop and at me, his eyebrows shooting up as a sly smirk curved his lips. "Dressing up for me?" He folded his arms and leaned against his desk.

"You wish," I scoffed, then walked closer to him. "I've come to resign."

He narrowed his eyes down on me then chuckled. "Resign? Why?"

"I'm tired of working for you." I didn't want to tell him that I had gotten a new job that paid more than what I could earn here in the next two years.

"Hm..." He leaned back in his chair, still watching me with that sly gaze. "Perhaps you have started a new business? Whore business?" He clicked his tongue, his eyes trailing down to my chest. "I like your dress."

"Of course you should." I rolled my eyes. He obviously liked the way my breasts were pushing out, not the dress itself. "I came to tell you I'm resigning James. Would've written a letter, but I kinda dropped out of school."

I shrugged, not caring about the way his expression darkened. He stood up and approached me. 

"Who's he, Nina? The man you're going to see?" 

He was unbelievably close to me. I had to take three steps back, but distance was a foreign concept to this man.

"I don't have any right to tell you that, neither do you have any right to ask me." I kept my voice firm, masking my fear. I'd been robbed yesterday, I didn't need another assault today.

"You don't, huh?" His fingers grazed my throat, and I slapped his hand away so fast that it enraged him.

James grabbed my throat and shoved me against the door.

"James... Stop!" My hands clawed at his, trying to make him let go, but he only pressed closer.

"I don’t want to see you with another man, Nina. Not until I fuck you first, sweetie." He bared his teeth, stained yellow from years of smoking. "There’s no resigning for you."

He finally let go of my throat and walked back to his chair.

"I don’t know why you dressed up today—maybe a family meeting? If you even have one," he laughed loudly, and my fists clenched at my sides. "Anyway, I’ll give you the day off. I want to see you at work tomorrow.”

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed me.

Swallowing hard, I walked out of his office and the bar entirely. I boarded a taxi—with the last cash I had—and gave the driver Malachi's address. Half an hour later, the taxi stopped at the gates of an estate. 

"This estate is for rich people. They don't let lowly folks like me in, unless you call who you're visiting." the driver said with an awkward chuckle.

I stared at the huge gate, guarded by two bulky men in black. I could call Malachi, but it would seem unnecessary and a little gutsy, considering he was my to-be boss. 

"It's alright, I can walk from here." I handed the driver his money and got out of his car, watching it drive off before turning and walking to the gate. 

"Who are you?"

"Nina Manalo, I'm here for Mr Malachi Kane."

★MALACHI★

"Daddy, daddy! Can I get more ketchup on my chips, please?"

"Yes, piccolina." I grabbed the ketchup and squeezed more onto Lila’s plate. I honestly didn’t know what kids saw in ketchup and fries.

"Thank you daddy!" 

I watched as she picked up a handful and stuffed them into her mouth.

We were in the dining room. I had just finished bathing her and getting her dressed for the day. It was a Saturday, my day off. A day to spend with my little girl.

My phone rang on the table. I glanced at the caller ID—it was one of my security men outside. I answered and put the phone to my ear.

"Mr. Kane." A gruff voice came from the other end.

"Jonas."

"There’s a... girl—"

"I’m a woman!" a voice interrupted him.

There was a pause, followed by a sigh. "There’s a woman outside asking for you. She says her name is Nina Manalo. Are you familiar with her?”

"Yes please, let her in." I said.

After a brief confirmation, the call ended.

I turned to Lila, who was still stuffing her face full with fries. 

"Picollina, someone's coming over. Be good."

Lila rolled her eyes and I twitched my lips. Where had she learned that from? She was only four. 

"I'm always on my good behaviour, daddy! Is it uncle Juliana?"

I chuckled, "Nope. It's not Uncle Julian, Lila. It's a lady. Your new caretaker."

Her eyes widened, and a bright smile spread across her face. "I'm going to have a new caretaker?! Oh my God, yes! Is she like Aunty Karen?!"

"Hm..." That was a question I wasn't sure how to answer. 

Karen had been her previous caretaker before she fell ill and quit. Later, she passed away. I never told Lila—I didn't want her to be sad. Karen, as old as she was, had been like a mother figure to her. 

"Maybe? She's a young woman so she'll like you and you'll like her."

"Yay! Okay! Daddy daddy, is there ketchup on my mouth?! I need to look presentable for my new caretaker!"

I couldn't help but laugh. I grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth just as the doorbell rang. I watched as Mario led Nina Manalo inside the dining room, and for a split second, my eyes widened.

She looked different from yesterday. Still undeniably beautiful, with long brown hair and caramel skin dotted with a few dark moles. She had put effort into looking presentable. But as I looked closer, I noticed the wound on her temple, the swelling on her forehead.

But all those were mild compared to the glaring red mark on her throat. As though someone had choked her. 

She probably didn’t even realize it was there. Or maybe it had happened just before she arrived, because it looked recent.

I didn’t know why, but the thought of someone putting their hands on this woman—this woman I barely knew—made me want to shred them into pieces.

.