"You will marry me?" I asked in confusion. Did Rafael Vincenti just proposed to me? The Rafael Vincenti? The same person Eva was telling me about?

Where am I? Is this real life? Of course not. This is hell. The bad place. Me married to him? Can I refuse? Can I reject him? There's no way I will do that, my goal is to survive.

"Don't look at me like that," he said, sparks of amusement appeared in his eyes.

"Like what?" I asked and tilted my head, unaware of my movements.

"Like a confused little puppy. I have my reasons to be interested in your company and marriage. If that wasn't the case, this night would've ended very badly for you. You're very fortunate that my plans don't include your death. However, don't think you're completely safe. If you do something I don't like, who knows what will happen to you. This arrangement will work on my terms I expect you to listen to what I say otherwise you will face the consequences"

If he tried to scare me, he succeeded. What exactly did I get myself into?

"What... consequences?" I asked carefully.

"Well, that's depends on your transgression. I can get very creative"

"I will be good" I promised, determined to fulfill this declaration. I do not want to fuck with this man, I had no desire to test what he's capable of.

"I'm glad you see it my way," he said, clearly satisfied with my answer. He checked his watch, "Ms. Snow, I believe your shift hasn't ended yet. It's time for you to go back to work" Oh, wait, I'm technically still working here. "Antonio, help Ms. Snow find her way upstairs" then he paused for a moment, and we were about to leave when he added one more sentence that terrified me "And one more thing, if you ever show up here again, uninvited, I will lock you up in the room without windows for a week, understood?" It didn't sound like a joke or an empty threat.

This is when I promised to myself to never set foot in this office again.

"Yes, sir," I said automatically now on the verge of a panic attack. I think he smirked at being called sir. I made a mental note to call him that in case I need to beg him to spare my life.

I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I was upstairs, I was free. Relatively speaking. I could feel my legs going weaker as adrenaline levels started to drop. My head was spinning, and I felt like I am about to throw up. What have I done? Holy fucking shit I should've to advertise my marriage offer on eBay or whatever. Asking that mafia guy for help was clearly a big mistake. I have zero ideas how to fix it.

And there's another problem. Where the hell is Eva, is she okay?

I didn't even have a phone to call her, and I had another two hours of work ahead of me. I decided to finish my shift and then call her from Casey's phone as I get home. I felt exhausted, but so I just plastered a fake smile on my face and started working

When I was on my way to the bar, someone stopped me by grabbing my wrist tightly. As soon as I stopped to take his order, he let me go, but I felt uneasy about him touching me.

"Hey, love, get us a round of vodka"

"Sure thing, I will be right back," I said, forcing my voice to be light and polite. Why did he have to grab me? Something about this man didn't feel right. The way he was staring at me was disturbing.

For a moment I considered asking someone else to make this order, but I quickly pushed this thought aside. I was feeling uncomfortable for a whole evening, it's not like this situation is any different. The job at the nightclub just wasn't for me.

I poured vodka into six shot glasses, placed it on a tray. When I arrived at the table, I was about to just leave them a tray and leave as soon as possible, but I couldn't because that man's hand found my wrist and grabbed onto it tightly. This time he didn't let me go as I tried to pull my hand away.

"Join us, won't you?"

"I'm sorry, I can't. I work here"

"Exactly, you work here. Isn't that your job, to entertain the clients?" his hands wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled to his lap. I could feel his stinking breath on my neck.

"Please let me go," I managed to say before panic completely overwhelmed me. I couldn't move, I was actively fighting to get out of the dazed state, and I was barely doing any job. "Let me go," I repeated. It was more like a whimper. I was trapped in some sort of hug that resulted in his hand conveniently touched my breast.

"Relax, I will give you a generous tip if you just sit here and be a doll for me and my friends. Have a drink and relax"

Don't touch me I want to leave please, that's what I wanted to say, but none of my words left my mouth.

I reacted suddenly as the surge of adrenaline started affecting my brain. I tried to stand up, but he kept holding me, unbothered by my pitiful attempts to getaway. I started fighting him as hard as I could without much success, then screaming, but the music was too loud for anyone to hear.

Then I did the only thing that could come to my mind.

I grabbed the empty bottle of vodka from the table and before any of that man's friends could help him, I smashed it over his head.

This is when other people started noticing what is going on because as the bottle fell on the floor it crushed into millions of pieces, people who were dancing in near proximity to the table were forced to jump out of the way. There was a small wound on the man's forehead from which blood came out, dirtying his face. He really looked like a crazy serial killer from a slasher movie. I needed to run away.

Just as I was about to turn away and leave, the bouncers appeared. One was right behind me. The second who was checking if the man who was hit is doing okay was speaking to someone and used a radio communicator to inform someone about the situation.

In a few minutes, Lorenzo appeared with a serious look on his face.

"What is happening here?"

"That crazy bitch attacked me, are you the manager? I want to file a complaint, I want the police called right now," The man yelled loudly and clearly, and I lost my breath for a moment. What? Did he really say that?

"It's your lucky day, the club owner is here today. You can give the file your complaint directly at his office. Come with me. Eliana, you too," Lorenzo said, ignoring the remark about the police. I started moving towards the forbidden doors.

This is not happening. Shit, I don't want to go back there. If I start running now, the fastest I can... No. Who am I kidding? I am way too slow to get away. I was cursing my life right now. How did I get myself in a situation like that?

The music started blasting again, the outside world went back to normal. On the other hand, I couldn't believe it. I just left that office and survived, how I ended up being forced to enter the forbidden door again in one night?

Just. My. Luck.

———

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