Chapter 6 I'll Protect You!

After she finished putting her clothes back on, Iris sat with her head lowered without saying a word. Thrane had just finished taking a shower and saw Iris sitting on the edge of the bed in an awkward manner.

The girl attracted Thrane even more. He had never met a call woman who had such a unique character and was far from a wild description.

"How long have you been in this profession?" asked Thrane.

Iris raised her face with a disapproving look.

"Should I answer that?!" Iris asked in an irritated tone. Thrane was not bothered by the reply.

"No."

Iris turned her head back, staring out the window which was all made of glass.

"I've booked you for two nights! Try not to leave the room while I'm away. Your clothes will be prepared by my assistant later!"

Thrane looked well-groomed in a shirt and trousers. Quickly, the man also put on his shoes.

"You can order food from your room and make sure once again, don't go out! You understand all my requests, right?"

Iris squinted and looked at Thrane with a mouth ready to sneer.

"Does my fee include what you gave Juarez? Because if so, I don't have to follow all your orders! That payment is just my fare to serve you in bed!"

Thrane smiled and grabbed something from his pocket. He put a pile of fifty-dollar bills on the table.

"This is your extra payment for obeying my orders! Are you happy now?"

Iris was stunned.

"Believe me, Juarez or Marten will do bad things to avenge me, for snatching you! You don't want to be in the middle and end up being the victim, do you?"

Suddenly the thought of a prostitute's death caused by rivalry or jealousy flashed through her head.

Seeing Iris mute, Thrane strode towards the door.

"When I have chosen you, it means you are already mine! I reemphasize you, Iris Barcova!"

Iris looked at Thrane who was standing in the doorway, his hands ready to close again. Instantly her self-esteem plummeted.

"You can't have me because I'm not an object!" Iris shrieked furiously.

Thrane smiled and winked.

"Really? I will prove it to you! You'll be mine!" The man disappeared behind the slowly closing door.

***

Exhausted, Iris fell asleep and woke up late in the afternoon. She looked straight ahead and slowly opened her eyes. The blinking of her eyelids sharpened her previously blurry vision. Iris shuffled off the bed and reached for her phone.

"Huh? Four in the afternoon?" Iris shrieked in a bit of panic.

She hadn't called her father nor Jan, her brother. Anxious, she makes a call, and Jan says everything is fine. Iris then apologized for having to stay until tomorrow morning. Jan promises to take care of their father for a while.

In a voice that seemed to be holding back sadness, Iris ended the call, then burst into tears.

Her life was never easy!

For an hour Iris lamented her fate until her stomach felt twisted. She remembers Thrane's warning to stay in the room, so she decided to order food to be delivered.

As she passed the table, Iris saw a pile of clothes with price tags still hanging.

Iris looked left and right to see if it was for her, just like Thrane had said earlier. Iris looked at each one and her eyes widened.

The dresses are beautiful and elegant. Not to mention the price listed, all have over a thousand dollars tag each! Iris had never worn expensive clothes in her life. While imagining herself wearing those clothes, Iris splashed her body while singing.

It didn't matter how much she disliked Thrane, or the other customers, but getting the gift was a joy in itself.

Iris rarely buys anything special for her personally. She always put her father's needs first as well as Jan.

After looking at herself in the mirror, the doorbell rang. She quickly put on her new clothes and headed for the door.

The waiter came in and put all the food on the table.

"Thank you, Jim," said Iris who recognized the waitress with a smile, while slipping him a tip.

Jimmy smiled and refused. Iris insisted and said if she got enough money from Thrane.

"I know you are very lucky to have met Master Pascale, Iris. Hope he redeems you from Juarez to become his mistress," Jimmy hoped sincerely.

What Jimmy said was true. Juarez had lent Iris some money, which she used to pay for her father's medical expenses. For years, Iris couldn't afford to pay it back.

It didn't just happen to Iris. Most of the women in that place owed Juarez a lot. The interest that the man charged was so high that no one was able to return it.

"What? Redeem me? You mean, pay all my debt? You're not kidding, are you?" Iris laughed amusedly. "Why would he go to the trouble of redeeming a girl like me?"

"But it's possible, Iris! I heard he's still single and doesn't have a wife yet!" Jimmy said, getting excited.

"No ... No! Don't dream too high, Jim! I'm going to fall, and it hurts!" Iris replied jokingly that it seemed bitter.

Jimmy laughed awkwardly.

"I heard from some of our friends, Mr. Pascale never hires a maiden to accompany him. You are the first, Iris!"

Iris gasped. "Is that right?" she asked and now getting interested.

As they were talking at the door, Juarez's shrill voice greeted her from the end of the corridor.

Jimmy quickly said goodbye with a disgusted face.

"Good luck with the sneaky weasel," Jimmy whispered with a wry smile.

With her heart still harboring resentment, Iris was forced to turn her head. That smile similar to that of a wolf's grin made her nauseous.

"Ah! I finally found you, Iris! My favorite girl!" exclaimed Juarez with artificial friendliness.

"Yes, what's up?" Iris asked expressionlessly, flatly.

"I just wanted to ask how Mr. Pascale is doing. Was he happy last night? Was he satisfied with you?" Juarez asked, glancing from time to time into the gap in the slightly ajar door.

"Ask yourself later! He's not around!" said Iris curtly. She still remembers Juarez's treatment which was far from appropriate to her.

As soon as he knew that Thrane wasn't around, Juarez grabbed Iris's hand tightly and twisted it around.

"Ouch! It hurts, Mr. Juarez!" Iris shrieked with a grimace.

"Listen, you, Little Bitch! Don't treat me disrespectfully! I can kick you out of this hotel and you'll end up being a street slut! Got it?!" snapped Juarez now looking ruthless again with red eyes bulging as if they were about to fall off their lids.

Iris removed her other hand from the door handle and tried to free herself.

"Just fire me, Juarez! I don't care!" Iris shrieked.

Juarez twisted the tiny hand even more until Iris screamed in pain.

"You expect me to fire you? You dream! I can sell you to Marten! You forgot you still owe me?"

Suddenly the door to the room, which had been closed before, opened. Thrane appeared with a towel and half wet body!

"Hey, Iris? Are you all right, Darling?!" Thrane exclaimed, sounding worried.

Juarez nervously untwisted his hand, while Iris forgot the pain with a stunning look. Thrane wasn't in the room the whole time! How could he appear without her noticing?

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pascale! I was just saying hello to Iris and making sure you two had a nice time!" said Juarez with a face full of falsehood.

"Afternoon, Juarez! Iris, come on in, I've been waiting for you!" invite Thrane to show that Iris is very special to him.

Iris walked into the room hastily. She was very frightened not because of Juarez's intimidation, but because Thrane returned in a very mysterious way! There was no way that man could magically appear!

"Gill Juarez!" called Thrane before closing the door.

The man who didn't have the slightest charisma rushed back to him.

"I really like Iris. If you dare touch her again, I'll cut your body into pieces until there's nothing left. No one can touch Iris but me. Ok? You know what I mean?"

Thrane's hand slapped the man's cheek hard, and Juarez agreed nervously.

Thrane's words were very low and flat, but they had a tremendous effect on the old man.

The door closed again and Juarez, who had been hunched over with a pale face, immediately left the place with a half run.