CHAPTER 3

VALESKA

This has got to be a joke!

They're assigning me to Area 4, Dante Cross's cell?!

That's the only cell on that floor, designed to fit his freaking taste!

That's his kingdom up there!

"Wh... Why me?!" I asked, my voice clearly showing signs of disapproval.

But Scarlet, acting caring, said to me in front of the commander, "Because you're the only best person for the job, Cathaway. We've tried assigning different officers to his cell but they all return with complaints and fear of being attacked by that man. You've seen the way everyone trembles when they see him."

"But..."

"Commander, you need to see how other cops praised Miss Cathaway's bravery today. Thanks to her, the other prisoners could breathe fresh air again. She even scolded that man and took his meal away, and he couldn't do anything!"

"I heard. Very courageous," Commander sided with Scarlet, smiling at me.

Scarlet gave me no chance to refuse and told me to start my work fully tomorrow.

"You already punished him. If you go and see him now, he'll expect you to lift off the punishment and feed him. No, let him learn his lesson. Isn't that right, Commander?"

"Right. Good job, Miss Cathaway. This just increased your points for this week. I'm proud of you."

"Sir, I... Yes, commander," I accepted helplessly, saluting.

He gave me the permission to leave and I accepted, turning and walking out of the room, feeling heavy inside.

"What have you done to yourself, Valeska? Why him?" I groaned, covering my face.

"Great job, Cathaway. Everyone is talking about you," Scarlet's voice came from behind, making my insides boil.

I turned around and met her grinning wide.

"You wanted to get assigned to a task, didn't you? Well congratulations. You got the most important job ever," She laughed mockingly, stepping closer.

Her smile slowly shifted into anger and detest, as she said to me, playing with my collar, "I don't know what you were expecting when you bravely stood up to Cross, scolding him for just having fun with his fellow inmates. Since you decided to show everyone that they are dumb and don't know how to handle their work, I decided it'll be best if you handle Cross yourself. That way if he messes up, you'll face a lot of trouble."

"Unless this was your plan all along to get him for yourself alone."

"What nonsense are you saying?" I groaned, tightening my fist.

Scarlet scoffed and accused, "The truth, of course. The other day you were acting like a saint, pretending you don't want a piece of that handsome body. Now that I think about it..."

She smiled, making me understand what's in her mind.

So disgusting.

"I don't care how you pull it, Valeska. As long as you pave the way for your fellow female cops... I don't mind," She smirked, walking away.

She thinks I did this to have Dante to myself. Such a dirty mind.

"I hate her so much," I vented, storming off, ignoring other officers who called out to me, clearly wanting to praise me for shunning Dante.

I don't want to hear it.

In fact, I regret my action... Again.

.

That night, I was all alone, thinking about my new life as a cop in these few days and how stressful it was.

It looked nothing like my picture perfect job in my head. Everyone I've met is either corrupted, nasty, fearful, a bit kind... "Steve," I uttered his name, thinking about him.

We haven't hung out all this while and I'm beginning to miss his warm hugs and lovely pecks.

I placed a call through, hoping he'd pick so we can spend the night today. But Steve declined my call and sent a text, saying he's at his parents' place and can't talk.

I sighed with so much boredom, until the heavens gave me a solution.

"Uncle Phill," I smiled, reaching my phone again to call my sweet uncle.

"He'll cheer me up," I said joyfully, calling.

Uncle Phill never misses my calls. He doesn't allow the call to get to the second ring before he answers.

Just as I predicted, "Greetings, Chief Officer Valeska."

"Greetings, citizen," I played along, as we laughed.

My uncle had missed me so much and wanted to know how my new work was going.

"Where do I start from?" I groaned in frustration, telling him about my day and how messy it has been.

"My crazy Captain assigned me to this weirdo that calls himself the prison boss. She's doing this to punish me for refusing her dirty order!"

"Calm down, V. You know I told you from the start that you'll surely cross paths with corrupt officers. You just need to put in your best and stay out of trouble."

"Yes," I sighed, remembering all his words.

"And yes, you were brave in stopping that mad man from killing another inmate, but next time you got to be careful. What if he had stabbed you? Please my girl, be careful."

"I will, I promise," I said, laying down in bed, pulling my blanket up to my chest.

Feeling much better, I thanked my Uncle for answering my calls and wished him a goodnight.

"Goodnight, Valeska. And Happy New Year," My uncle wished, clicking a memory cord in my brain!

"Wait, tomorrow is New Year?!" I gasped, looking over to my calendar to see the date clearly.

Indeed it's New Year tomorrow and that witch of a captain wants me to start watching Dante on New Year?!

"AHHH!" I screamed while my uncle laughed like he already knew the cause of my rage.

"I swear I'll make Scarlet pay."

"Remember she's your captain, child. Goodnight," He kept on laughing, ending the call.

But I wasn't happy one bit.

I've made plans to spend the holiday with Steve's family. If I'm all tied up at work, that means... "NO!" I cried, falling back in bed.

This is bad.

Damn you, Scarlet!

.

At the station the next day, I tried to see the commander to take permission from him to leave early today. But I found out that he didn't come to the office because he's busy spending the holidays with his family.

Even that witch of a captain didn't show up. But she had the time to decline my request over the phone, saying I'm being lazy on my first assignment.

Screw that witch!

"Happy New Year, Valeska."

"Happy New Year, John," I wished with a smile, giving him a hug.

John told me he'll be closing early to spend New Year with his girlfriend slash fiancée.

He proposed to her midnight on New Year's Eve, and he has been happy since then.

"Aww, that's sweet," I admired, feeling a little bit envious of him.

I couldn't even spend time with my own boyfriend because of my work. And today, I'm going to miss dinner with his family.

When I told Steve about my task, he sounded upset over the phone but acted fine, ending the call on me.

I was heartbroken but promised to make it up to him soon.

"I can't keep him waiting. I need to surprise him soon," I promised within, knowing the best gift in mind.

Steve's birthday is around the corner. I want to give him what he deserves because I love him.

And when he receives it, he'll be over the moon.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when John asked if I was heading to Area 4 to check up on Dante Cross.

How did he know that I'm... Forget it. Gossip flies around this station like the wind, so I shouldn't be bothered.

"It's going to be rough. I hope you can bear it. Good luck," He said, patting me on the shoulder, walking away.

Hearing what he said, I swallowed my anger for Scarlet and made my way to Area 4 to begin my work.

As I went into the building, heading for the stairs, prisoners began whistling at me, calling me the Boss Lady, the Fighter.

I wasn't expecting such name calling from these men. Seems they heard the news that's why they're chanting out like this.

I didn't want to feel good about their chanting, but my pride got to me and I couldn't help raise my shoulder, matching up the stairs to see the prison boss.

On getting to his floor —the ghost floor in the building with one cell— I made my way over to Dante's cell and found him sitting on his bed, like he's been waiting for my arrival.

When he saw me, he suddenly gave me a creepy smirk and said, "Officer Cathaway. Or should I call you Valeska? No, Val... My Valentine."

What the hell is wrong with this man?

Why's he smiling at me like that?

"I think I'll call you, My Valentine. Sounds... Sweet on the lips," He spoke, licking his lips!

Seeing this, I felt creeped out and disgusted.

"Don't call me that. It's Officer Cathaway to you," I spoke bossily, opening his cell to get him out.

Dante got to his feet when I opened up his cell and obediently placed his hand out, waiting for the cuffs before I could even reach for it.

"Yeah, your hands," I spoke awkwardly, pulling my cuffs and locking in on his wrists.

Before I could tell him to move, Dante suddenly came closer to me, making me stagger back out of surprise.

"Hey!" I snapped, provoked by his action.

"You move when I tell you to. Is that clear?" I shouted, but that made him smirk like it's a game.

"Yes, Officer Valentine," He chuckled, staying in place.

What has gotten into his head this morning? He's acting way too excited. Am I reading this right?

"Move," I ordered, standing aside so he'll move out first.

Dante obeyed with that grin, stepping out of the cell while I followed from behind.

"It was just a step forward. But why did it feel like he was trying to push me into the corner?" I wondered within, feeling my heart beating.

A part of me wasn't comfortable with this task, but what can I do?

I have no choice.

I led Dante to the shower room. Not the search room Scarlet used in exploring his body. This one is the main shower room with five toilet stalls inside and a wide space to bathe.

I led him there and wanted to leave when Dante said, showing me his cuffs, "You know I can't bathe like this."

I sighed, approaching him to take off the cuffs.

Once it came off, Dante made that same move again, stepping closer, almost closing the gap between us!

"Are you crazy?!" I snapped again, angrily placing the cuffs back on him.

"I don't care how you do. You'll bathe like that!" I said, about leaving again.

"Okay, that's fine. But don't be surprised if you come back and find me gone. Escaping this place is as easy as killing an inmate," He spoke boldly, stunning me with his words.

He is notorious after all. If I leave him alone, he'll escape this place.

Oh crap! That means I have to watch him?

"Now I'm beginning to hate my job," I groaned in a low voice, standing there.

When he saw this, he smiled.

That's when he pointed at his uniform and said, "You know I can't do this with my hands cuffed. So either you let me go or you..."

"You must be crazy to think I'll take that off," I said angrily, storming over to shower hose, turning the water on, making his uniform soak.

"There, you can bathe like that."

He laughed at me right under the running water, staring into my eyes.

I looked away and back to my corner, only for him to speak up, making me turn to face him. "Someone wants me sick. Well it's okay. I'm sure your commander will get an ear load of report from me. He'll love to hear how Officer Cathaway handled her job."

"Are you threatening me?" I questioned, seeing his lips curl slyly.

He's threatening me by using the commander against me.

"I'm sure you know your commander is afraid to stand near me. If I tell him that you're trying to make me sick... Don't be surprised when he fires you on the spot."

"You're bluffing," I scoffed, refusing to believe his lies.

But Dante didn't look like one who was joking. He looked me dead in the eyes, showing his seriousness.

"I refuse to believe this. What power does he have on the commander? He's just a criminal and..." My mind clicked, as Scarlett's words from day one rang in my head.

She mentioned something about Dante being wealthy. Does he have some kind of connection?

Is that why the commander is uncomfortable with his transfer down to our cell?

All this made sense. Dante isn't just a criminal. Now I understand why John said there's a reason he's called the prison boss.

"So? Are you going to take this wet clothing off me or do you want the other option?" He smiled, leaning against the tiled wall.

I couldn't speak up but frowned, accepting defeat.

I'm still new to this job and I don't want to lose it.

I came close, turned off the shower and began unbuttoning his uniform.

He just watched me with satisfaction, as my hands went up to his shoulder, pulling the wet uniform off his chest and down to his waist.

"Oh shit," I shivered when my eyes fell on his abs.

This man is loaded everywhere. I can't do this anymore.

"Why did you stop?" He whispered, his eyes settling on my lips.

"You have to take everything off completely. If you do your job well, I could put in a few good words with your commander. Maybe you can get that promotion and take Scarlet's place " He spoke, stunning me even more.

This man knows all the drama and gossip happening in this cell.

Can he really remove Scarlet from her position as captain?

Wanting to end this quick, I closed my eyes and began pulling his uniform off from his waist, past the forbidden spot, and down to his legs.

All he had to do now was take his legs out so I can toss his uniform aside, but this man refused to move.

Did he stiffen his legs to the ground?!

"You can take your legs out!" I spoke out loud, still keeping my eyes shut.

But he didn't answer. He was silent, like he's testing my patience.

I knew I couldn't stay like that for long and I understood what he was trying to do.

Having no other choice, I opened my eyes and found Dante staring at me with that same gaze, as his cock stood up above my face, making my body tremble.

"Why's it standing like that? Is... Is he hard?!"