Ariana Moreno

"What?!"

I was far beyond shocked. Strip naked? I had never even worn something like this before in all my twenty-one years. Now... completely naked?

From the moment my eyes landed on him, I knew he was dangerous. The kind of man I should run away from immediately. But how?

Stupidly, I found myself strangely attracted to him. His face was sharp and well defined, every feature fitting together in perfect balance. His chest was wide and strong, tattoos staining his porcelain skin.

I knew right then that I was doomed-because who the fuck feels attraction toward someone they're supposed to be afraid of?

I was still standing there in shock, trying to figure out what to do or say, when my gaze drifted downward.

That was when I realized something terrifying.

I had been standing in a top room the entire time.

And what the fuck was happening underground?

Was that... live sex?

Women walked around completely naked. A threesome. A foursome. Girls fucking themselves openly. Men watching, touching, taking turns.

This was hell.

I had never seen anything like this before-not even in movies.

He walked closer to me again, and I couldn't move anymore. My back hit the wall.

"Little thing is distracted by the underground club," he murmured dangerously close to my ear. "Would you like to join them too? Or maybe try those acts yourself?"

"No..." I muttered immediately.

"You're not taking off your clothes and dancing?" he reminded, his fingers already reaching for the tiny piece of fabric holding my breasts.

One thing I had noticed about him-he was impatient.

"I'll do it... myself," I said quickly, grabbing his hand.

But it was too late.

My breasts bounced free, fully exposed.

I gasped and covered myself immediately.

"You should stop this!" I yelled.

"You do not raise your voice at me!" he yelled back, pinning my hands against the wall.

My breasts were completely naked to his gaze now, with no way to hide them.

"You can't hide anything from me, little thing," he said slowly. "I own it now."

He lowered his head and kissed my nipples softly.

As much as I hated to admit it, I enjoyed every touch. A spark shot through my body, my skin reacting to him against my will.

He fondled my breasts, his hands roaming freely, setting my body on fire.

This was wrong.

It had to stop.

But how?

He suddenly lifted me into his arms in a bridal style and laid me flat on the table.

"It needs to stop when your body reacts like this?" he asked, taking one of my breasts into his mouth.

I moaned despite myself.

"Oh... Elijah," I whispered, my fingers sliding into his hair.

He continued touching me everywhere until his hand reached my panties. He teased me slowly, deliberately, before finally touching me.

My body flinched and I grabbed his wrist.

"Oh..." I moaned again.

"This is the first time someone is doing this to you?" he asked, amusement lacing his voice.

I nodded.

"Wait..." He paused and pulled back slightly. "You're a virgin?"

He moved away from me completely.

Strangely, disappointment settled in my chest.

He stood there watching me for a moment before helping me off the table. He picked up a jacket from the chair and slipped it over my body. It was long enough to reach my knees.

"Listen, little thing," he said calmly. "I'm not a good man. Fuck that-I'm not even close to being one."

He met my eyes.

"So I'm letting you go now. My guards will escort you home safely. And listen to me carefully-do not come here again."

His tone hardened.

"Bad people fill this place. People who would do things to you you've never experienced before. Including me. And if our paths cross again... I won't resist."

He bent down and kissed me gently.

I couldn't say a word. I just stared at him, my eyes wide and innocent.

To be honest... it wasn't just him.

I wanted it too.

He summoned his guards.

"She must not get hurt," he ordered coldly.

They bowed.

I waved at him slightly, and he smirked.

I followed the bodyguards out of the room.

I should have been relieved. I should have been happy he let me go.

So why did I feel empty?

Why did I feel... lost?

I entered the car they had prepared and glanced back at the club one last time.

So much had happened in one night.

And now...

The plan had changed.

Ariana Moreno

I opened my purse and brought out the cash the manager had paid me before I went on stage. The plan was to balance everything after I performed.

Four hundred thousand dollars.

It would at least renew some of my mother's medicines. Now that everything had been cleared, I knew I couldn't go back to the club again. I had to find another means.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up and wipe off my makeup. His teeth marks were still evident on my breasts, his cologne filling my lungs as memories of everything he had done to my body flooded my mind.

I spent hours touching myself, unable to get the scenes and sensations out of my head.

After a while, I finally cleaned up, changed into a proper gown, and lay down on the bed. It had been a long night.

I woke up very early the next morning, dressed up, and headed to the hospital. I shoved the cash deep inside my purse.

On getting there, I went straight to the room where my mother was admitted.

"Mommy..." I whispered softly, pecking her forehead.

"She's slowly gaining consciousness," John said as he entered, a food flask in his hand. He had been taking care of her while I was at the club, moaning beneath a dangerous man.

A sharp pang of guilt hit my chest.

"Thank you so much, John," I said softly, hugging him one-sidedly. "I don't know how things would turn out without you."

"It's okay," he replied. "Where have you been since yesterday, Rina?" he asked, his gaze questioning.

I brought out the purse containing the money.

"I was able to gather this much," I said, handing him the cash.

He collected it and counted carefully.

"This isn't even half of my wages," he said slowly. "How were you able to get this much money?"

I knew John wouldn't stop questioning. I could see suspicion-and hurt-in his eyes.

It wasn't a secret that he had feelings for me since we were young. I had ignored it all these years because I wasn't ready for a romantic relationship. Jealousy and suspicion were inevitable.

"Calm down, John," I said gently. "I didn't get it through the means you're thinking."

I paused before continuing. "You know I've always been good with computers since school. I worked as a cyber hacker for a billionaire yesterday."

I had to lie.

"Really?" he asked. "You know we can still find other ways to get the money. I applied for a loan yesterday, but it was declined because the collateral wasn't enough. But there are still other sources."

He grabbed my shoulders firmly.

"Yes, I know," I said, holding his hands. "Don't worry about the money, John. I'll handle that part. I just need you to stand by me and take care of my mother."

He sighed. "Alright, Rina. I'll do my part too. We can do this... we have each other's backs."

He hugged me tightly.

I went to the doctor's office and made a deposit. He updated me on my mother's condition.

Time was no longer on my side.

I stayed with her for a while, changed her clothes, and trimmed her hair. After some time, I left the hospital.

I needed space to think. I needed a better plan.

As soon as I got home, I lay down on the bed, munching on snacks. I picked up my phone again, scrolling through different business opportunities.

Then I saw a vacancy.

I clicked on it immediately.

A house helper needed.

At first, I almost ignored it. A house helper job couldn't get me fifteen million dollars even in a year.

Then I saw the payment terms.

"Five hundred thousand dollars in a week?!"

Was that even possible?

I applied immediately, filling out the registration form with my details, not caring about the location or other information I should have paid attention to.

In less than an hour, over fifteen thousand people had applied.

I hoped desperately that this would work.

After submitting the application, I lay back down. That was when I finally read the policies and details properly.

Marjorie Estate.

It was very far from my location-almost like moving to another town. The house helper would live there full-time, except on special occasions.

All day?

I had worked as a servant before, but not every single day.

The rules were strict, but I didn't care anymore.

I planned to cook a simple meal to take to the hospital when my phone suddenly buzzed.

I opened the email.

"Congratulations! You have been selected. Physical interview tomorrow at 8 a.m."

I screamed in joy.

"Oh... really?"

God was truly on my side.

Elijah Fiorensco

I found it so hard to forget about her. Since that day, I had been trailing her. She didn't appear like an ordinary girl. Something had definitely chased her into that club - virgins don't just wander into places like that. Her timidness and naivety said it all.

Initially, it was none of my business, but I couldn't control my curiosity about her.

I did my research and found out every detail regarding her.

"Boss, she has applied for the vacancy as predicted."

I dropped the call and smirked. I had anticipated she would do anything to save her mother. Obviously, that was one of the reasons she ended up in the club that night.

I stared at the file on my table.

Ariana Moreno.

Twenty-one years of age.

Graduate. Studied cyber security.

Mother diagnosed with late-stage pneumonia.

Fatherless. No siblings.

The little thing had surely lived a shitty life.

I was the one who dropped the vacancy online - a house help position. I knew she would rush it, and she did exactly that.

I had Kelly visit the hospital and settle her mother's medical bills, with a very strict warning. On no account should the doctors or the director let her know. I bought a very large share of the hospital immediately, indirectly making it mine... just to make sure everyone behaved themselves.

She wouldn't have a reason to work in my villa if her mother was healed.

Maybe fate wanted it this way... or maybe I controlled fate myself.

I thought I could completely let her go, but it felt like a part of me was missing the moment she left. I had never felt this way - not even for Kaida.

I barely slept in the villa anymore, always in the office or caught up with company affairs. Now it was time to return to the villa... it wasn't that bad after all.

It was late at night when I finally packed up.

"You can send the file containing the list of weapons out tonight. I'm heading back to the villa," I said, already grabbing my car keys.

"You mean the villa?" Maxwell asked in disbelief. "Oh... the new club girl from that night?" He burst into laughter. "Can't believe brother's finally settling down. This is going to drive Kaida crazy," he added, laughing like the moron he was.

I threw him a cold glare and walked out of the building.

"Kelly... drive."

He grabbed the keys instantly while I settled into the limousine.

The drive back home was rough and dangerous as usual.

"Welcome back," the servants chorused.

"Where is Mrs. Smith?" I asked immediately. After my mother, she had always been the next person I acknowledged.

"She left for her grandson's coronation. She will be back early tomorrow morning," one of the security men replied.

I walked inside.

I freshened up, lit a cigarette, and sipped bourbon alongside it until I finally dozed off on the couch.

The Next Morning

I was woken up by faint noises outside. I stood up and connected to the large screen, only to find her arguing with the security.

She was dressed more covered and calmer compared to the last time I saw her.

I grabbed my phone.

"Let her in," I said softly, then walked into the bathroom to freshen up.

I could hear her footsteps echoing through the villa - even from the bathroom.

"Hi... good morning," her voice echoed.

She must be crazy, because who the fuck talks to an empty living room?

Deliberately, I came out with only a towel wrapped around my waist.

"Hi, little thing," I said softly before fully stepping into her view.

"What the fuck!!!" she almost screamed.

"You!!!"