Chapter 1: A strange dream.

Nadia’s POV

A sharp, agonizing pain pierce my skull as I try to move, but my limbs wouldn’t respond. Slowly, I force my eyes open, only to meet pitch darkness.

Then realization hit — I was blindfolded, my hands and legs are bound tight, and my mouth is gagged with a piece of clothing.

“Mmmmmmm!” My screams comes out as muffled sounds. Suddenly, heavy footsteps echo in the darkness, coming to a stop right in front of me. Large fingers roughly grabs my chin, lifting my head up.

I can feel his hot breath on my neck, but because of the blindfold, I couldn’t see his face.

“Tu sei il prezzo, pagherai per tutto,” a deep masculine voice whispers in my ear, his hot breath fanning my ear lobe. I have no idea what the words mean, but they didn’t sound comforting.

I start struggling, trying to break free, but then a hand presses down on my nostrils. I inhale something, a mix of flavors and chemicals that blur my senses.

“Shhhhhhh… sleep now,” he whispers, and then, I black out.

* * * *

“Nadia!”

“Nadia, wake the fuck up!”

My eyes snap open as I recognize the voice calling my name, I look around and I am at the bar, I had fallen asleep on the counter.

“How can you be sleeping on duty? Do you want to fucking lose your job?” my supervisor, Maddie scolds me.

“I… I am sorry, ma’am. I’ll get back to work.” I bolt from the seat and walk into the bathroom, splashing water on my face. What kind of a creepy dream was that?

I slowly lift my bangs in the mirror, revealing the scar on my forehead. A wave of emotion washes over me as I recall the events of the past.

I sigh and wash my hands, positioning my golden bracelet properly. I arrange my hair and walk out into the bar. I have been working in the bar for a year now, and so far it’s been great.

“My goodness Nadia! What are you still doing there? The guests in the VIP have been waiting for their drinks, go on.” Maddie scolds again.

“I’m sorry, I’ll go now.” I quickly grab the drinks and head upstairs to the VIP section. The loud music, the smell of alcohol and the dim lighting made my insides feel alive.

“Hello. I’m sorry for the delay.” I smile warmly and drop the drinks on the table alongside clean sparkling glasses.

“Please, enjoy. And, press the bell if you need anything, ill be right up.” I smile at them. They offer their thanks and i walk away.

I have been taking extra shifts just so I could save up for my tuition f*e. I desperately want to go to college, but my uncle and aunt refuses to train me in school, they say I’d be more useful to them at home.

“Hey, gorgeous,” my colleague, Jaxon throws his hand over my shoulder in a friendly gesture. I shudder at the impact and fixes him a startled stare, he immediately retracts his hand.

“How’s it going?, he asks.

“Pretty well. I still have four hours before I’m free to go.” I respond and he sighs.

“It breaks my heart to see you working this hard everyday. Extraordinarily beautiful women like you should be basking in wealth, not suffering like this.”

I look at him and smile. “Unfortunately, I have no wealth to bask in. So I have to work hard for myself.”

“What about your guardians? They are filthy rich, yet they allow you to work so hard.” He mutters.

“Jaxon, please. I don’t take a dime of their money.” I say, a heavy lump settling in my chest.

I head to the storage room to grab more drinks, filled up my basket and step out but stop dead in my tracks when I heard noises, like someone was sobbing and begging.

I quickly walk to the scene but was pulled by Jaxon, who hid by a corner.

“What’s happening?” I ask, my eyes narrowing in the direction of the scene.

“Keep it low, Nadia! Don’t let them hear you.” He whispers.

“What exactly happened?” I ask.

“She offended him, mistakenly served him scotch, instead of whiskey.” He responds, I was confused.

“Who’s he?” I ask.

“Lorenzo Romano.”

My eyes widens in utter shock. “Lorenzo Romano? The ruthless man? Oh no. We have to help her, he is going to kill her!” I try coming out but he pulls me back. From what I know, Lorenzo usually comes here, but there’s a private space for him.

No one goes in there unless you are chosen to serve him. It’s such a good thing I have never been chosen.

“Just stay here, Nadia. The manager and Maddie are already there. Don’t get involved. He whispers.

I return my gaze to the scene. The man —Lorenzo, was heading toward the door, his guards follows closely behind him, i thought it was all over until one of the guards grabs the girl and drags her along.

“No. No, he’s going to kill her, we have to do something.” I say and dash out of the corner. But the manager stops me.

“She no longer works here, so mind your business.” The manager’s cold words struck me like a physical blow.

“I don’t understand sir, they just dragged her away and we are to do nothing?”

“Do you want to lose your job?” He asks and I shake my head in decline.

“Then shut the fuck up and get back to work.” He snaps, staring daggers at me before walking away.

I stand rooted to the spot still trying to understand what just happened. I am deeply worried for the girl but my hands are tied, there’s nothing I can do.

Ding! Ding!

The bell in the VIP section rings twice, I quickly rush upstairs to attend to whoever rung the bell.

It was past seven when I closed from work, I chang into different clothes, sign out and head to the bus station.

My mind was still heavy from the event earlier today. I scroll through my phone while waiting for the bus to go back to the Bennetts’ mansion.

The bus finally arrives a few minutes later and I enter, found a space close to the window and sit down, buried in my thoughts.

I was consumed by the day’s horrors that I did not even notice the man sliding into the seat across from me.

“What could someone as beautiful as you be thinking about?” I turn my face to the direction of the voice, and my eyes met his, he has this look on his face, one I know too well. I shake my head and ignore him.

“Come on, it’s not nice to ignore someone like that,” he says, his fingers brushing against my legs.

My body shudders with panic as a scene flashes across my mind, one I have spent years trying to forget.

“Don’t touch me! Are you crazy?” I yell.

My voice attracts stares from others on the bus. As they look at him, he had no choice but to immediately recoil and take another seat.

I sigh in relief. The bus finally comes to a stop after an hour drive, I step out and walk the remaining distance, looking back at intervals to be sure the pervert from earlier isnt following me.

The mansion looms closer and closer as I approach. Max, the gatekeeper sights me from afar and rushes to open the gate.

“Thank you.” I smile at him and step inside the compound.

The moment I open the door, a wine bottle crash down, smashing into pieces right in front of me.