I stood up a bit shakily. My movements caused the penholder to slide and drop down on the floor, scattering everything around. Wincing inwardly, I quickly put everything back together, and just as I placed it on the table, my eyes noticed something unusual.
A contract in the middle of the table.
Between my father and Uncle David, who was the head of a company that specialized in cosmetics. He was an old friend of Dad’s; in fact, he never missed any of my birthdays. A weird vibe about him made me scream in fear every time he came near me when I was a kid. No one understood it, let alone me, but it was enough for him to stop trying to grab me or touch me every chance he got. Honestly, most of my dad’s close friends made me uneasy, and I preferred to avoid them.
Curiosity got the better of me. I picked it up and started reading.
With each word, my stomach sank lower and my eyes widened.
No. It must be some mistake.
My father couldn't be a part of such an organization, let alone run it. However, the proof was in my hands. Thinking about it, everything in my life clicked.
Hiding the papers inside my dress, I left the study and quickly made my way to my room, and thankfully, no one saw me.
I changed my clothes, picked up the car keys and my phone along with the papers, and decided to visit the one person who was like a true father to me. Someone I trusted, someone who would either help me or put all the doubt to rest.
Sophie’s dad.
Sapphire
Exhausted.
My feet burned like I’d walked miles today, and I wanted to sleep badly, but I still had two more hours to go. It was almost midnight, and I just got a break to grab a bite and refresh myself. I fixed my eyeliner and enhanced it a little, even though I hated it.
The tips were good when my eyes stood out, and after a while, I learned I could push my pride aside and smile to get better tips, which provided me with good food at the end of the day and more money to save. Once I was done with my makeup, I soaked a paper towel in water and tapped it all over my neck to cool down. It was hot as hell inside the bar. Hank, the bar’s owner, who was a good guy, told me to take all the time I wanted. Although it was sweet and I knew he would never give me shit for taking a long break, I never took advantage. Don’t do anything to jeopardize the job. That was the motto I lived by these days.
With one last glance in the mirror and faking a smile, I left the washroom and instantly bumped into Jack. My body instantly tensed up.
Jack was sort of a bouncer in this place, and sometimes behaved as if he was the owner and not Hank. He would give orders. He would stare at the waitresses and me with lust-filled eyes. The worst part was he would proposition us. So far, I think I was the only one who refused to sleep with him, and he took it as a personal challenge. He tried to be nice about it, but lately he was losing his patience. He would harass me, and even threaten me sometimes. So I started to think that maybe I should have said something about it to Hank. I was already out of my mind with the whole Sociopath thing. I couldn't afford going crazy at my workplace as well.
“Look at you, all ready to make those fuckers out there sweat. Yet you act too good for me.” His voice was sarcastic and he repulsed me. His breath smelled of beer. Suddenly, he grabbed me hard, surely leaving bruises, and he pinned me against the door. I couldn’t get away from him.
“Jack, let me go.”
“Why? I think it’s the perfect place for a quickie, don’t you?” He moved his mouth lower to mine and the bile started to rise in my throat. I had to think fast. I relaxed my body to distract him, and the minute his grip on me was looser, I aggressively rammed him in the nuts with my knee, which earned a pain-filled moan from him.
His hands let go of me, and I was free to run toward the bar door, but not before I heard his angry and spiteful words.
“You’ll pay for that, little bitch.”
His words scared me; my legs moved faster, and finally, I reached the door and rushed inside the bar, where Hank stood arguing with one of the waitresses.
His eyes shifted to me, and he frowned. “What happened?”
Sociopath
The guy was still groaning in pain from Sapphire’s kick, and it gave me satisfaction that my girl could take care of herself when she needed to, not that I appreciated her being in danger. Only I could put fear inside her; no one else would touch her without facing my wrath.
I slowly made my way toward my next victim as he looked at me and snarled, “What do you want, man? Get the fuck outta here.”
“I don’t really think so,” I said calmly. I grabbed his shirt, and with all my strength, I punched his face so hard that his head jerked backwards and his nose started to bleed.
Then, before he could say anything, I held his filthy hand, which probably bruised my girl, and crushed it until it broke. I didn’t have a single regret. He cried out it pain and tried to escape, but I gave him one last kick in the knee that made his leg crack and he fell.