A Seven-year Vacancy

"Barmaid, who do you think you are?"

Four, five men surrounded Sophia Miller. Leading them was a man with a gloomy face. "What, you wouldn't have fun with me for one night?" He looked down at her.

In the magnificent hall, people were either noble or rich, and sexy barmaids were around them. At that moment, the commotion at the center of the hall had attracted the most attention.

However, when they saw those sturdy men, they silently looked away.

Sophia exerted strength to her tray-carrying hand, "Sorry sir, I think I've made it clear. I'm a barmaid and not a prostitute."

"Don't overrate yourself!" The leader looked sullener and gripped Sophia's wrist forcefully.

Under a jerk, Sophia staggered and fell to the ground. The wine on the tray was knocked over, staining the man's shoes and trousers.

"Lick them clean." The man took a gloomy look at his shoes, stretched out his foot, and demanded slowly.

"You're going too far!" Sophia gritted her teeth, raised her head, and glared at the man.

"Too far?" The man narrowed his eyes, "Really?"

Following his voice, Sophia felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, grunted, and sank to the floor.

"What's going on?" A man asked from above with a tinge of impatience in his deep voice.

The voice...

As soon as the pain subsided, she found the voice familiar. Her heart gave a physical lurch, and she paused abruptly from getting up.

Was it... him?

"Mr. Brown?" The man drew back his foot, "Excuse my poor manners, I'm teaching this ignorant girl a lesson."

Sophia raised her head slightly and saw through her disheveled hair a familiar face.

Compared with seven years ago, his face now looked mature. His features became more sculpted and dashing.

Jim Brown, was it really you?

Sophia looked blankly at the face that frequently appeared in her dreams. An innocent and gentle smile was always on his face.

She hadn't expected to see him again after seven years, but... her current condition was such a mess.

"Sophia?" Jim lowered his head for a glance at the woman at his feet. A flash of amazement crossed his face, but a scornful smile followed.

He hadn't seen her face for seven years. On heavy makeup, she looked sexy and mature. A common barmaid uniform packed up her body.

A silver tube top and a Sheath dress short to the base of her thighs...

Her outfit somehow irritated him.

At such a place, she dressed up like this. Didn't she know her attraction to men? Or, she enjoyed it?

Startled, Sophia hastily lowered her head, involuntarily clenched her fists, and wished she could vanish into thin air.

"Mr. Brown, you know this b... woman?" The man asked nervously.

Jim sized up the girl on the floor and tittered, "No."

Sophia trembled at his indifferent voice.

No? In his eyes, she was just a stranger? Sophia gave a wry smile. It made sense since that incident happened...

"Well... Mr. Brown, I'm going to take this bitch away." The man said flatteringly, bent down, grabbed Sophia by the hair, and tried to take her away.

A painful grunt came out of her mouth and her heart sank. She couldn't let them do that!

Those men were notoriously tough. Once spotting their prey, they would spare no effort to get them. As for their fate, it was obvious to everyone.

She gritted her teeth, reached out, grabbed Jim by the end of his trousers, and looked up at him. Her dark pupils were imploring, and she begged softly, "Help me."

Under her pull, Jim halted his steps, lowered his head, got complicated expressions in his eyes, but soon disguised them.

From the commanding position, he looked down at her for quite a while and then chuckled, "Sophia, you haven't changed a bit."

Her long eyelashes drooped and shut out Jim's cold gaze, but his icy voice came into her ears, "Still... so bitchy."

Sophia clutched her hands till they paled, and a dull pain came from her chest.

"Can't so many people satisfy you?"

"Or, you want me to join in?"

Sophia bit her lower lip forcefully until the taste of blood spread in her mouth and her face turned pale.

Jim bent down slightly, attached his slender hand to her cheek, and exhaled warm breath to her ear, "Need my help?"

Sophia trembled slightly, saw a glimmer of hope, and spoke gently again, "Jim, help me."

The corner of his mouth curved up in a scornful smile. With a little strength, he forced open her fingers one by one and stressed his tone, "Not... gonna... happen."

He fiercely shook off her hand, got up, nodded to the stunned man, and continued his way forward.

Looked like Jim didn't plan to step in, and the man's anxious mind finally relaxed. Turning back, he stared at Sophia coldly and suddenly raised his hand to slap her, "Damn, bitch! Trying to scare us?"

Her head was slapped sideways and her ear drummed. In no time, the man grabbed her by the hair again and dragged her to his side.

"In the end, you're in our hands." The man teased and patted her swollen cheek.

She pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and looked in the direction where Jim just left. Compared with seven years ago, his back looked broader as he walked unhurriedly.

He showed no intention of stopping...

She tittered to herself. Sophia, what were you expecting?

"I'd like to see what kind of fair lady you are."

With a chee-ah, the clothes on her upper body were torn open, and her white underwear was exposed. Those men all around watched with wide eyes.

"Everyone, check out the figure, surprisingly nice." The man whistled frivolously and laughed lasciviously.

Sophia hugged herself tightly and covered her broken clothes helplessly.

"What are you hiding for? Couldn't the barmaids provide a little service?" The man smiled contemptuously, pushing her into another man's arms, "Come on, feel her body."

With a disgusting smile, the man drew close, grabbed her hand on her chest, and pulled it backward.

Sophia pursed her lips tightly and struggled desperately. Unable to resist his strength, she closed her eyes in despair.

After quite a while, she didn't feel the man's next move but heard the sounds of flesh hitting the wall and men's painful cries.

Then she fell into a hot embrace and smelt a faint fragrance of men's perfume.

Jim's deep voice came into her ears. "Get lost!" He sounded like the dark lord from hell.

Sophia widened her eyes in disbelief while his robust arm wrapped around her waist. Her uninjured cheek pressed against his chest so closely that she could even hear his strong heartbeat.

Did he... still care about her?

A glimmer of hope rose from the bottom of her heart.

"Follow me!" Jim gnashed his teeth and threw a warm coat to her.

Sophia scrambled to pull it on. Her hand was clasped, and she staggered to follow him into a booth.

"Jim, you're late."

"The birthday boy is gonna ask you to drink a forfeit!"

As soon as he entered the booth, people stood up and teased. Some with sharp-eyes found Sophia behind him and joked.

"Turns out Jim was held up by romance."

"Shut up!" Jim frowned, berated in an icy voice, pulled a long face, and then tossed Sophia to the sofa.

Everyone could feel his depression and dared not say another word. Instead, they darted curious and inquiring glances at Sophia.

Sophia struggled to sit up, took a look at the straight face of Jim, and spoke in a low voice, "Thanks... for your help."

Jim laid his icy eyes on her and smirked sarcastically, "Sophia, are you so horny?"

"W... what?" She couldn't believe her ears and stared blankly at her rescuer.

At that moment, his eyes were blazing with mockery and sarcasm.

"What, you squandered the money so soon?" He sneered.

"Or, you can't do without men."

Sophia felt like sinking into cold water. The biting coldness shot a shiver through her and rendered her speechless.

"It's not like that..." Sophia explained in a hoarse voice after quite a while.

"I was wrong."

Sophia stiffened, anxious to explain what happened back then, but Jim beat her to speak again.

"I was wrong. You can't do without money rather than men." His mouth was once full of sweet words but now spat acid.

"But it doesn't make much of a difference. After all, you earn money through seducing men, don't you?"

Her heart kept sinking as she endured his remark as blunt as a blade.

"Yeah, Jim, I'm just like that... it's not like you just know me today." She smiled attractively at him.

"Seven years ago, didn't I tell you not to believe me?"

With his dark eyes, Jim stared at her and stressed his tone, "Sophia, you really make me sick."

"In that case, I won't be an eyesore here." Sophia clenched her fists secretly and got up with a forced smile.

"Did I let you go?" Jim snapped.

"Mr. Brown, what else can I help?" She paused and turned around still with a smile.

"I just saved you, and you want to burn your bridge? Sophia, like seven years ago, you're selfish and stupid."

Sophia could barely maintain her smile and closed her eyes silently.

"I saved you, you think verbal gratitude will do?" Jim sneered, "You think I'm as stupid as before?"

"Well, Mr. Brown... what do you want from me?" With a smile, she sat down right next to Jim and stroked him frivolously with her delicate hand.

"You know what to do." Jim grabbed her hand and snapped.

The smile on her face froze, and she felt an empty heart.