Cara McCarthy | POV.
"Look, sis. I'm sorry alright? I had to because I knew that you wouldn't just give me nor let me leave. I need to make my own family now and I promise that this one is good, he's going to treat me so well. He treats me like a queen. He's cute and has been so amazing to me. The two of us, you'll always be the one who shines. I don't want to stay in your shadow, I need to find my own way. I know I'm bad, but please understand me. Take good care of my baby and also mom. I'll put the money to good use and refund you soon enough.
Yours,
Maeve."
I read the message written on the paper over and over again as I tried so hard to contain the rage in me. Anger boiled deep in my system, as hot as lava. It churned within, hungry for destruction, and I immediately knew that it was too much for me to handle.
I needed an outlet to vent.
I bolted out of the house and into the bus... the moment it stopped at the next stop, I got off. The city was bubbling with life, music and people dressed in things so skimpy filled everywhere. It was the major place for nightlife afterall, I found the nearest bar, one that I knew wouldn't need a beautiful dress to get into. I found a seat at the bar, as music poured out, sounding like the most beautiful noise I'd ever heard. It was suddenly turned up, almost as if whoever was controlling it knew exactly what I needed, and so I shut out the world around me and I just... Let go. Of everything.
I allowed the darkness I felt swallow me whole for a little while, but the music felt like it was flowing through my veins, calming me from head to toe. Soon, I slowly emerged from the anger I possessed and I looked up at bartender, "give me anything strong. Mix it all up." I instructed.
I don't drink. I never did.
My family wouldn't allow it. But I needed alcohol, I hadn't experienced being drunk, I wanted to be chaotic, I didn't want to be sober.Life was weighing me down. I want money, the damn money.
Everything I have revolves around money.
I poured a mouthful of spirits into my mouth, and tears clouded my eyes.
My niece's words ring in my ears.
"Auntie, mommy came back today. I'm so happy. But mom only stayed for a while, and then she left. I'm suddenly felt so sad again." My eight-year-old niece, Brianna, saw me leaving work and ran over to report to me. Her expression went from giddy to lost.
I stroked her head; Brianna had been in my care, and her mother came back to see her once every few months. I was surprised.
"Don't be sad, mom will come back. You see she just came back a few days ago, and isn't she here again today."
I squatted down and looked at her, poor child. "What is she coming back for today?"
She suddenly pulled me to the room, "When mommy came back, she was looking for something in your room, I don't understand what it is, but I think she got what she wanted. She left in a hurry. But she seemed happy."
I was horrified by the chaos before me.
The room was a mess, the house looked like it had been burglarized, and yes, she was the burglar!
Immediately, I ran to the place where I had put the money and fished out the old broken metal box. It was empty!
Not a penny left!
That was the money I had saved for nearly two years for my mother's surgery!
That bastard!!!
The bartender served another drink.
I immediately took it down my throat and soon I began to feel dizzy and free. Everything seemed so close to me and so far away. It felt good to shake and shake. Let me just let go, let me just let go and forget about it all.
I smiled, but my tears were indisputable.
While he was mixing up another cup for me, I felt a consistent pair of eyes on me and I was forced to look in that direction to see who it was and what I saw was literally jawdropping.
His physical appearance had something to do with it. Even with the hoodie he had on, he was handsome, shockingly so. Unfairly so. Probably the most beautiful man I had ever seen-and that includes actors and super models. He had the type of physical perfection that makes you stop and stare. As if that was not enough, he was tall, his legs looked long even when sitting, and his shoulders were so broad that the heavy hoodie he had on still molded to his developed muscles.
A sudden flush of heat coated both my face and my thighs that I had to clench them together to chase away the sensation. I needed to focus on something else, anything but the liquid fire that I shouldn't be feeling. But then I was slammed with something worse. His face. It was a force that hits you out of nowhere. There was a hardness in it, a zing of electricity that's about to electrocute whoever is near. A volcano that's on the verge of erupting. I've never found male beauty to be so captivating. I never had the luxury and time for the opposite gender. I tried so hard to look away from him but I just couldn't, I think it must have been the alcohol that got me hooked on a strange man like that. It must be . Not until the bartender distracted me by placing my drink before me.
He was the kind of man you don't see very often, and at the moment he kept staring at me, which made me feel like a Khardasian. such a gaze made me feel like I was being caressed by his eyes. It turned me on.
I needed to get what I was feeling out of me ,I don't have to be a good girl today. So I stood up to dance out of nowhere, something I would never have done if not for the fact that the alcohol was kicking in.
When I noticed that he was still staring so much, I decided to give him a show so I started to shake my body sexily to Justin Beiber's 'Sorry' which the DJ was playing, at a point, I even turned to shake my butt so happily, I felt on top of the world as I forgot every single one of my sorrows, until iI was interrupted by a man trying to grind me without my permission or anything.
Rude much? Ugh.
"Uh... please, step out of my space." I said as I tried so hard to be polite, and when he acted like he was deaf or something, I had to snap, "Please, leave me the hell alone! What part of that don't you understand?"
"Baby, is this guy bothering you?" A deep voice interrupted as he put his hands around my waist, thus drawing me nearer to his body, the heat that surged through me from the simple touch was arousing and when I looked up to see who it was, I was more than eager to take the cue and play along. "Uh... yes? He wouldn't stop suffocating me!"
"Would you leave my girl alone or do I need to call the bouncers to throw you out of here?" He threatened.
I was amused at how much respect he commanded with just a few lines and his authoritative demeanor and voice just did something to me. Could this man be more attractive?
"Hello, may I sit with you?" He asked in such a deep alluring voice, one that sounded like it was only bestowed upon twenty percent of men, I could swear that I almost wet myself right there and then.
Artemis Vegas | POV.
"I can't believe that you really did this vasectomy of a thing? You hate kids that much?" My bestfriend asked for the umpteenth time as we walked out of my manager's office.
"Yes, Mark. Yes, I did. You were there for crying out loud and yes, I hate kids! So freaking much, my therapist calls it Pedophobia. And why do people act so shocked when they hear that somebody shares a different view compared to theirs. It's not a big deal, some people don't want kids and that's fine. I see no reason for them, ugh!" I said to him.
But then Clara, my manager crossed my path and I immediately rolled my eyes, knowing what she was about to say, "you shouldn't conclude that way, you know? It might all be an understanding. You can't just cut it off this way, come on, Art." She said to me and I hated when people comment on my life, I would never understand why they kept pairing me up with this lady in the first place. Fine, we ended up in a compromising position together and the media caught us at it and we had to act like we had something going to patronize the public and that's it.
"You know, I'm convinced that Scarlett is your cousin or something? You seem so hell bent on making sure she's with me and you know I'm not even the one with the problem here, she is! She cheats like its nothing with various men, she might be so good at covering her tracks and making sure it doesn't get to the media but her phone speaks the truth!" I snapped.
"She's not my cousin, Artemis! She's my business just like you are, I manage her too. Come on!" He said and I was just not having none of it.
"Oh please, leave me the hell alone, Clara. Don't even follow me, I don't want any entourage this evening, I'll be fine on my own!" I instructed and just like that, the people that had been following me remained where they were while I forged ahead with Mark.
As soon as we were both outside the building and in the parking lot, I turned to Mark, "Let's go celebrate both my vasectomy success and also my singleness! I'm freeeeee!" I shouted and he smiled while shaking his head.
"You should be heartbroken, man. At least, that's what the media will expect from you, should you announce the breakup." He said and I laughed, "yea right. Heartbroken my ass! More like happiness filled, don't even start. Let's go."
"Oh, about that, I won't be able to come with you. I have to be somewhere right now, it's urgent, sorry man."
"Ugh... it's fine, I'll just go do it alone." I responded and watched as he drove before I then got into my porshe. I drove off thinking of where I could just hang around alone without getting spotted by the press that always seem to lurk around looking for ways to twist simple issues and make a mountain out of an hill.
I finally found one that seemed very low maintenance which meant that no one would ever think of the Artemis Vegas being in such a place and then I placed my hoodie over my head and a face mask over my face. I got out of my car trying to avoid the crowd that seemed to swim the area.
The moment I got into the dim-litted bar, what immediately caught my attention was a spectacular redhead. Even though she didn't look like the kind of women I would normally go for, I couldn't help but be enthralled by her. Her red hair stood out in the dimness and I think everyone who came in had to be attracted to her.
Her thick, wavy, long red hair gracefully fell down to her shoulders and encircled her diamond-shaped face. A golden suntan brought out her smooth, clear complexion and high cheek bones. She also had a nose like a cartoon character, or one drawn by a lazy artist at least. The bridge was so low-profile as to be barely there at all; her nose was a bump just above her lips. And her mouth was a small mouth outlined by puffy lips that she accentuated with a glossy pink lipstick. When she smiled at the bartender, her well formed and even, white teeth brighten up her whole face. There was no two ways about it, she was very beautiful. It wasn't hard to admit that I was smitten by her.
But, yes, she was dressed plainly and conservatively. She looks out of place in this place. But, here, beauty is the best ornament. I couldn't help but move in her direction, trying to get the same kind of attention she did.
I sat down around her in order to find the best time to strike up a conversation.
I couldn't take my eyes off her when suddenly a hand grabbed her. "Hey, chick, how about being happy with me? I won't treat you badly."
She was obviously startled and began to struggle vigorously. "Let go of me, stay away from me."
The other man was tall and her resistance was more like a rejection.
I couldn't sit back and do nothing.
I took her by the hand and brought her into my arms.
"Baby, is this guy bothering you?" I said as I held her and looked at the man across the room, hoping he knew not to snoop on other people's stuff.
Usually I have no interest in heroic rescues, but, she was an exception.
Can I buy you a drink?" I asked as we sat next to each other at a reserved area.
"I would like to say yes because I really want to drink till I drop." She replied and I couldn't help but laugh. "What? That's not advisable, except you have a death wish. Why would a beautiful girl like you visit a club alone and even want to get drunk to stupor while at it, that's not safe in any way." I lectured, sincerely worried about her safety.
She laughed heartily and I couldn't help but smile widely at the sound and look of her. The more she spoke, the more I was pulled in. She had a voice that was like music under a summer breeze, almost lost against the noise of the loud music blasting through the club's speakers. Yet somehow it took hold of me, making me want to listen all the more.
"Nobody cares anyway. I doubt if anyone would even miss me if I drink myself to death, I promise you." She suddenly quieted down, poured in a glass of wine, and spoke in a whisper.
My heart stopped beating for a second and felt her voice trembled a little.
"Are you in some kind of trouble? You can tell me , maybe I can help?" I don't think anyone would refuse my invitation.
She tilted her head, "Hahahahaha, who do you think you are? I need money, lots and lots of money. Do you have any? No one can help me, it's not an easy thing to do. Would you give money to a stranger for no reason? Hahaha, that's the reality."
She doesn't seem to know who I am? Why else would she refuse a billionaire's kind offer? The last thing I have is money, right?
Although countless women have approached me for money, I don't reject this woman.
"I can..."
"That's too bad! Let's not continue this conversation, let's talk about something happy, okay, I want something else." She interrupted me.
"Request for anything, I'd give you anything you want and I mean anything at all. Tell me about it. " I said looking, being sincere and all.
"Even if I ask you to sleep with me?" She uttered in a sultry manner and I immediately choked on my drink, I had not expected her to be that straightforward.
I admit I was very, very surprised that this was different from my previous experience.
The woman who climbed into my bed was either begging for money or power.
This woman didn't ask for anything, she didn't even know who I was.
I was a little unpleasantly surprised. Could it be that any other person would be able to be so open?
My heart felt annoyed at the thought that she would commit herself to moaning and begging for pleasure beneath other men.
She took a deep breath and seemed to have the courage to wrap her hands around my neck and say in a soft voice trembled a little in my ear ...
"I'm still a virgin."
Cara McCarthy | POV.
I woke up naked and tangled in sheets and I almost screamed. But when I touched the warm hand next to me, I covered my mouth, I was afraid I had startled him.
I raised the duvet up a bit as I took a sneak peak at my own body underneath,I was afraid that my suspicions would be confirmed by myself.
When I confirmed that I was really naked and that the man next to me was too, I began to hyperventilate. Looking at the blood on the sheets, I tried with all my might to remember what had really happened.
It didn't take long for the memories to come flooding back.
At my invitation and seduction, his eyes darkened, desire was deep in his eyes, eager to be released.
We drove to the hotel, dazed by the effects of alcohol, I and enjoyed the sensation of drifting like this. I clung to him, desperate for the warmth of his body.
The elevator doors closed and I glanced at the respectfully bowing attendant.
Feeling the view elevator rising, this night view of the city jumped into my eyes.
It was so beautiful, I had never seen such a beautiful night view, I had never looked up at the stars and buried my head in money. The scenery belongs to the rich.
Not long after, we reached the high point of the hotel, I can felt his hands around my waist. The touch made me hot. I'm not sure what floor it was, but I knew it stopped at the highest level. A height that only a lot of money can buy.
I turned away, not wanting to think much about it, I needed solace.
I didn't care who he was, it was enough that he didn't give me trouble and was good-looking.
I ran my hands up his face, stood on my tiptoes and kissed his lips.
Warm lips, his lips are thinner, I do not have a lot of experience. Just a gentle non-stop peck.
But he seemed very experienced. I could feel his passion.
"Are you seducing me? A shallow taste is not my style. I like the taste of you, your cold lips, and your lack of involvement. You little siren." The hot breath of his words tickled my ears, and I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
The void in my heart needed to be filled.
"Confirm it and don't let me down." I knew I was playing with fire, but I couldn't resist pouring oil on that fire.
No one had ever kissed me like that. Oh, right. Nobody had ever even kissed me. I have always wondered what stories meant by melting in a kiss, and now I fully understood it. It was my first kiss and to be honest, it was way better than I had imagined it to be.
The moment the door closed, neither of our bodies could withstand such a temptation. His hands roamed over my body, measuring me. From my shoulders, to my breasts, all the way straight down to my waist, to my hips. Moans spilled from my mouth and I bit my lips as tightly as I could, but to no avail. He was a master.
I'm suddenly a little scared, for the first time, "Please be gentle." I demanded to before I lost my mind.
"I can, but I'm afraid you'll be too sweet and make me lose control." He said as he began to undress all at once.
I closed my eyes and waited for the moment.
I felt his hand enter from below, moving fast, our tongues entwined in a kiss, and then he was inside, causing a sharp pain that dulled into great pleasure and changing my breathing with every thrust while hearing my moans timed to his body. Then all at once he stopped and kissed from my breasts to my stomach, his hands light; then he was licking and using his fingers all at once, watching my reaction. He thursted in and out of me and I lost count of how many times I orgasmed, the last thing I remember was mumbling something incoherent before falling asleep.
I shook my head vigorously as if trying to get the explicit image of what I had just done off my head, this wasn't supposed to happen. I can't believe that I kept my virginity and chastity so much that I ended up loosing it to some stranger. This is recklessness, I was beginning to act like my sister and I was terrified. I became just like her, what's the difference between me and her?
Let's not even talk about the fact that I'm supposed to be in a relationship and I have just decimated our relationship, I have just broken that man's trust in me so have I trampled on my own honour itself. I have told this man several times that I would only do this on our wedding night and he had simply agreed to wait till whenever I'm ready yet I go ahead and ruin everything myself. I am a cheat, I am everything I've tried so hard not to be, all in one night. I couldn't help but think about what Mom and Brianna would think if they ever saw me like this.
I can't believe that my mom might die and I was here having the best time of my life under the sheets with a stranger like some freaking hooker! I'm supposed to be a role model to my niece, to be the good child of my mom, yet here I am. I was utmostly disappointed in myself.
But I knew that I couldn't remain in bed this way, beating myself all up over what had already happened. I got off the bed as silently and carefully as I could so I wouldn't wake the sleeping man up because its one thing to end up having sex with a stranger especially when it is initiated by you and it's another thing to have that stranger wake up to see you the next morning, that's another huge awkwardness and embarrassment on its own for me. Judging from how easy and carefree he was about it, it wasn't hard to know that this was no big deal to him, it was probably just another night stand.
I wrapped the sheets around myself as I began to wear my clothes one after the other while ignoring the ones that were his which were also all around the floor, I didn't know what was expected of me after what had just happened. Do I just disappear and move on?
Oh, of course, I will. But then, do I leave him some money or something? Or a note? After contemplating and going back and forth within myself for a good amount of time, I took a note out of my bag and a pen as I wrote whatever I could and then I placed both the note and a few dollars underneath a decor in a place that I was sure he would see it immediately he was up. This is the only little money I have on me.
And just as I got out of the huge hotel building, a call came in, it was a strange number, I swiped to the green part and spoke into the phone, "Hello?
"Oh, Hello, cailín álainn [Pretty girl]." A croaky voice said from the other end and it immediately creeped me out. "Uhm... yes, can I help you, please?" I managed to ask.
"Of course, you can. You can help me in a lot of ways, how about you and your family start by paying me my money?" The voice said sarcastically and I immediately had a clue.
"Remember me?" He said again and I could feel my heart in my mouth. The sharkloners? They found us, we are dead, being shocked and not knowing what to say nor how to act, I hung up immediately as I tried my hardest to breathe normally.
No, no no. This can't be happening. It shouldn't be happening! It was never supposed to happen, not now. Not when the family just suffered a monetary loss. I don't have any money to settle them, I certainly do not have that huge amount of money, I do not think I could even make it in four years. But when I got a message from the same number, my heart sank as I read through.
"I would call back immediately if I were you. Well, unless you would like us to sell her into slavery, she's very beautiful afterall and I'm sure she'll sell for good money, more interest for me." This was what the message said, I was confused but then the next message that entered was enough to almost make me run mad.
It was a video of blindfolded Brianna tied to a chair.