Chapter 1: Mia

“Come here you little weasel.” his deep voice roars in anger. 

Tears run down my eyes as I wrap my arms around my knees, rocking myself back and forth in the tiny closet. 

His foot step gets louder, the thud tells me he is climbing the stairs. I squeeze myself further into the closet, hoping to disappear. 

“You little cunt, where are you?” he thunders, flinging my room door open. 

My palm flies to my mouth in order to stifle my cries, my hands are trembling, the clothes in the closet are very little to cover me. 

“Gotcha!!” he laughs, drawing the closet open, dragging me out. 

“Let go of me!!!” I scream, throwing my little feet in the air. 

He pulls my hair hard, and swings me to the other side of the room. My back crashes into the wall. Pain sears through me. 

A scream tears out of my as I sob into my palms. His hand goes to his jeans to undo the belt. 

“No, no, no please.” I scream, jumping off my pillow. I clutch my blankie in my fingers, squeezing it tightly as I try to breathe. 

My eyelids flutter open as I repeat to myself that it is all gone. I am safe now. no one can hurt me any more. 

The sound of my alarm snaps me out of my pity state. My legs automatically goes over the edge of the bed as I push myself to the bathroom. 

My face looks pale, my blue eyes staring right back at me emotionless. I feel numb. 

Gathering my long, thick red hair into a messy bun as I rush to take a shower. I am almost late for work. 

Working at a cafe isn't the best job for a graduate like me, but getting a corporate job isn't a walk in the park either. 

And because I have bills to pay working at a cafe, Pretty’s, will have to do until I get a better job. 

Breezing past my small bedroom to the closet, I fish out simple jeans paired with a cotton top. Taking five steps to my table, I spray my cheap perfume. 

I am low on cash so every single penny must be spent wisely. 

My little home is nothing too much, just a small mattress on the floor, a bedside table, and a tiny closet. Even though it's small, it's still mine, and it makes me happy. 

I speed out of my apartment, clumsily locking the door behind me. 

“GOOD MORNING MRS FREDA!!!!” I scream as I run past her door on the ground floor. 

On getting outside I am panting like a dog, because I live on the third floor. I swear to God I need to exercise more, but then it's not my fault our landlord refuses to fix the darn elevator. 

Pretty’s is about five blocks away so I refuse to spend a penny on transport. 

I run faster once I am outside, yelling greetings to different neighbours as I pass. The wind sweeps my hair behind me as my short legs try to run faster than they can. 

I fling the door to the cafe open, the bell above the door gingling. 

“Welcome Mia. Just in time again.” Theresa, my co-worker slash friend, shakes her head at me, a small smile playing on her lips. 

“Oh well, you know me.” I shrug, smiling back as I make my way to the staff room. 

When I am done changing, and cleaning I head back to the counter, perching my little ass on a stool as I watch Theresa take orders. 

“Have you found a job yet?” she asks, glancing briefly at me. 

“Nopee. All the interviews I went for, the stupid bosses wanted to have sex with me first.” I frown, thinking back to my last interview. 

The old disgusting pig tried to touch me. I gave him a hot slap, and scattered all his files leading me to be thrown out by security. 

Sigh. 

What kind of world do we live in? Can't get a decent job if you don't spread your legs huh? 

“Maybe you should really consider them huh?” she giggles, wiggling her eyebrows at me. 

I laugh hard, almost rolling on the floor. 

“I am not about to let those old hags have sex with me.” I shake my head, literally gagging at the thought. 

“Hmm, maybe you can let me have sex with your fine ass.” a deep voice growls. 

I snap my head to see a guy, I don't even bother to stare at him. 

“Don't bother.” I grit out, clenching my fist. 

“Don't be stingy, that pussy was given to you for free eh.” he laughs at his own words. 

My veins are almost popping out of my neck at how angry I am right now. Taking deep breaths, I walk over to Theresa. 

He smiles when he sees me making his order. I make sure it's extra hot. 

When his coffee is brewed, placing it on a tray I head towards him. 

I purposely stumble on my foot, pouring the whole content on his body. 

“Ahhhh!!!” his screams are like music to my ears, but I can't let him know that. 

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry, I tripped.” I plead, faking a sincere face. 

He glares at me, and storms out. My lips stretch into a small smile. 

“That was really brave of you.” another voice says. 

I stare up to look at him. His deep brown eyes are the first thing that catches my attention, his hair gelled to the back, he should be over six feet or more with how tall he towers over me. 

“Umm thanks.” I stutter, tearing my gaze away from his. 

“Sorry. I couldn't help, but overhear that you needed a job.” he says, hands placed firmly under his chest. 

I could only nod. This man left me speechless, he oozes authority. 

His left hand goes into the suit pocket, pulling out a card he hands it to me, and says, “We are hiring at G&A Tech. The interview takes place on Monday.”

“And rest assured no one will ask for your body.” he adds, taking his coffee from Theresa then walks out. 

He is gone before I can fully register what the hell just happened. I squeal in excitement as I jump up and down. 

“I need my order please.” a customer snaps, shaking me out of my squabble.

After work I headed to a store, and got some work outfit for the interview. Quickly exiting the store with my hands full, I start my journey home.

It's already late, and everywhere is dark considering the amount of hours I spent in that store. 

I turn to a lone alley that leads faster to my house. Humming to myself as I move, my shopping bags clutched in both my palms.  

I hear a scream, pausing my footsteps. I carefully tuck my bags away behind a trash can. 

Someone is in danger. 

Quietly walking to the side, I place my bags down. Using the tip of my toes to walk further. 

Lord if I die today, it's because of the good heart you gave me. I pick up a heavy wood I see laying down on the floor. 

Getting to the end of the wall I peep. I clasp my hand over my mouth as a gasp tears out. 

A man is lying weakly on the floor as another man towers over him with a gun. 

Gripping the wood tighter, I don't think as I walk up to the gunner, and bash the wood into his head. 

“How” hit “could” hit “You” hit “try” hit “and kill” hit “a person” final hit. 

I am panting like a dog after hitting him six times. My eyes widened in realisation at what I had just done. 

I scream, scrabbling to the man I just hit. “Sir, sir please don't die. I am so sorry.” I beg, shaking his body repeatedly. 

He groans. 

HE IS ALIVE!!! 

I jump happily, rushing to help the other man who is unconscious. 

Pulling him up, I place him over my back as I drag my feet towards my house.

Getting to my room, I throw him on the mattress collapsing on top of him. 

Dang it!! He is heavy. My bones ache from climbing those stairs with a man that weighs about a million pounds. 

I quickly get to work stripping off his clothes, leaving him in just his boxer brief. 

His abs are strong, and firm. My stomach flutters as I trace my fingers down his toned chest. His legs are firm, thighs hard. 

His hair is tousled, eyebrows knit together in what I assume is pain, his lips are full, and pink, his nose pointed. 

This man is so hot, the hottest I have seen in my life. I wonder what colour his eyes would be, how his touch would feel. 

His body is covered in marks, bruises forming on his ribs, jaw and left eyes. His face is covered in blood. 

I shake away stupid thoughts of an unconscious man, and continue to tend to his wounds. 

My eyes flutter open, but a bright light makes me shut them back. 

Placing my hand over my eyes to block sunlight. My body is covered in the blanket I used to cover the injured man yesterday.

The man. 

I look at the mattress, but it's empty. 

He is gone.