CHAPTER 4 : AGAIN, ALWAYS AND FOREVER

it was about 4 a.m. when Leonardo slotted his tie through his dress shirt collar. He couldn't believe how fast time had passed. He had stayed awake all night watching Scarlet sleep, and now he faced a tough decision. He was torn between staying and leaving.

His phone buzzed again. His presence was needed. He knew he couldn't stay back. Taking a deep breath, he realized how important his departure would be.

He picked up the file on the coffee table and retrieved the pen that Scarlet had wielded at him earlier. He was expected to write down a review of his experience with her. Without hesitation, he opened the file and brought out the paper. After much thought, Leonardo scribbled something down on the paper.

He then proceeded to the sofa in the living area and picked up the single-breasted jacket of his tuxedo, taking one last glance at Scarlet.

Oh, what an angelic face she had, he thought to himself. How she slept with an air of vulnerability, her defenses down, her beauty unguarded like a delicate flower that blooms only in the quiet hours of the night.

He exhaled softly before exiting the suite.

•~•~•~•~•

When all the guests had left, Cassius paced from suite to suite, picking up the review papers.

When he arrived at the suite Leonardo and Scarlet had used, he was surprised to see Scarlet still asleep. Most of the girls had already gone down, mostly because it had been a rough night and they needed to clean up.

"Oh, what a brat. She thinks this is heaven," Cassius seethed with fury. He immediately walked towards the kitchenette, but he found the door locked. He dripped with anger as he picked out a key from his pocket. Unlocking the kitchenette, he collected a kettle, fetched some water, and proceeded towards Scarlet. Then, without hesitation, he poured the water on her face.

"Wake up!" he screamed.

Scarlet was suddenly drenched, making her jump out of bed. She swore she was about to make trouble out of this, someone had done this on purpose.

Her eyes opened to meet Cassius. Just as her rage was about to unleash, Cassius pulled out a gun and pointed it at her head.

"One silly move, and your brains will be blown out."

She was shocked. She wasn't expecting Cassius to pull out a revolver, and at that moment, her temper became calm.

Scarlet’s senses cooled when she realized Leonardo was nowhere in sight. She wondered how deeply she must have slept not to notice when he exited the suite. She wished he had stayed longer, at least then, she wouldn’t be facing such an interruption from Cassius while she slept.

This was, indeed, the first time she had slept like a baby without worrying about anything.

She looked at herself, still fully clothed in the same robe she had worn when she came in last night. The robe was still tied tightly to her body, exactly the way she had done it.

Could Leonardo have really left without taking advantage of her vulnerability? So, he did keep his word, she thought.

She thanked her stars.

With the revolver still pointed at her head, Cassius guided her into the elevator as they headed for the ground floor.

When they reached the ground floor, he pushed her out as the elevator doors opened, then dragged her into the bunker room. It was a large space where he usually assembled the girls.

Scarlet met with the rest of the girls, who were already waiting for Cassius. There were about thirty of them, plus the bodyguards positioned at each angle. The girls looked weary, some tired, some hungover.

Cassius carried a bunch of files from the shelf, still holding his gun.

"So, girls, how do you feel?" Cassius asked, giving off a crafty smile.

He knew what had probably gone down, and he knew the girls weren’t happy about being forced into this.

"You know, some of you must have enjoyed the moment, while some must have hated themselves for it. You should be drowning in disgust and resentment towards me. But I don’t care. All I care about is this bunch of reviews. If I call your name tag, you should know you did well, and you will be rewarded with work so that you can feed and rest for the next phase. As for those who don't get to hear their name will be tortured by the bodyguards."

Cassius laughed sinisterly.

After a brief silence, he continued.

"I am quite impressed by some of you. You claimed you couldn’t do it, but here it was written that you were wonderful in bed, like it was nothing new," he said, looking mostly at Scarlet.

Scarlet wondered what Leonardo had written that made Cassius dart his eyes toward her in that manner.

"I am very much surprised by what you did," Cassius said, referring to Scarlet. He pulled out one of the review papers and began to read.

"It says here: She was wonderful and awesome. From the moment we met, I found something in me that I never thought I had before. She was very much delicate and tempestuous at the same time, yet it made me happy knowing that she was comfortable too. I rate her 10/10. I look forward to having her again, always and forever."

A small murmur spread through the girls.

"Say it! Say it out loud!" Cassius barked, referring to the others. He knew they were surprised by the review.

Last night, Scarlet had acted defensive, and now the review said otherwise.

While they misunderstood the review, Scarlet had already read a different meaning into it. She was happy, knowing that last night wouldn’t be her last time with Leonardo.

On the other hand, many of the girls expressed disappointment toward Scarlet because the review made it seem like she had enjoyed herself more than she had despised being part of it, especially after refusing to engage in bidding yesterday.

Scarlet saw it in their faces, the way they looked at her. Some of the girls probably despised her by now. But they would never understand, even if she tried to explain

That she never had sex with Leonardo.

That even if she had, she would never have enjoyed it.

That Leonardo had understood her plea and allowed her to rest instead of forcing her to fulfill his sexual fantasies.

He was a good man who prioritized her emotions.

And yes, yesterday, she had fought for her right to freedom. Today, she was declared the best in bed, not because of sex, but because she had let her guard down and had a proper night’s rest in bed.

Perhaps that was what Leonardo meant when he wrote that he was happy that she was comfortable too.

If only they knew how things went down with Leonardo, they wouldn’t be so quick to judge her.

After Cassius called out the names quickly. Scarlet was among the eighteen girls sorted to work, while the rest were sent to be tortured for not complying with the guests.

"Chop, chop, girls. All hands on deck!" Cassius clapped his hands.

Just as they were about to begin work, Cassius dragged Scarlet aside.

"Look here, Red. Prepare yourself for another highest bidder," Cassius whispered.

His words sent chills down her spine.

‘Another what?’ Scarlet could feel her heart pumping again. Another bidder meant another man and that man wouldn’t be Leonardo.

What had happened with the current one? If only she could ask but Cassius would probably pull out his gun again, what about that gun would he really shoot it at her and why the hell was her mouth shut from asking, anyway?

No. This can’t happen.

It was clearly written in the review: I look forward to having her again, always and forever.

That meant Leonardo wanted her forever.

"You’re too good in bed to be paid just 30 million dollars for a week," Cassius continued.

"After this week, I am giving you personally to someone else," he concluded before pushing her back into the queue of girls.

Scarlet took a deep breath, trying to process what Cassius had just told her.

What if the next bidder wasn’t as kind as Leonardo?

What if he would devour her until there was nothing left?

No. This can’t be.

She had to do something before this week ran out.

As she rolled in with the queue, Scarlet couldn't help but wonder

What was coming next for her?