CHAPTER 10 #2
“I’ll see you at eight, Nirah,” he once again said before leaving, and I dropped my shoulders.
My shoulders tensed up again when I remembered that I had to tell Silvia about the most questionable decision I had just made. Hopefully, she doesn’t kill me.
As I replayed different ways to tell my best friend about this, she walked past my table, but I grabbed her arm, stopping her. “I said yes,” I softly said, and she fully turned to me with two drinks in her hands.
“Yes to what?” she asked—clueless.
“To his proposal. I said yes to his proposal,” I clarified, and her eyes grew wide.
“You did what!”
* * *
“I can’t believe you said yes,” Silvia mumbled, slamming my shorts into my suitcase.
“I thought you said I needed to get my head checked out when I told him I needed time?” I chuckled, and she groaned, throwing her head back.
“Well, I changed my mind. Your safety comes before really hot guys,” she nonchalantly said. “I mean, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No? I don’t know,” I sighed, falling back onto my bed and staring at the ceiling. “He’s the only option I have right now.”
“You can stay with me.”
“No,” I sternly said, bolting upright. “I am not bringing my problems to your doorstep.”
“Okay, what about Jordan? He seems really determined to protect you.”
“The same goes for him. I know that he can keep me safe, but I can’t let him. It’s not fair that he takes care of me like a little kid.”
She nodded, and we continued packing.
“I get it. But why so soon? And what if he’s worse than Sylvester?”
“Well, if he’s worse, then he’s worse, and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” I shrugged my shoulders, feeling my stomach churn.
I’ve been through so much already that this was the least of my concern.
“And after the package I got, I can’t stay here anymore. Sylvester or his men can show up at any time, and he’s made it perfectly clear that the next time we see each other, it won’t be pretty.”
She chugged down her glass of wine and went for seconds. “Okay,” she nodded. “Where’s he picking you up?”
“The club since I’m performing tonight.”
We loaded all my belongings into her car, and she drove us to the club. Even though Silvia didn’t like my decision, she was still very supportive about it. I could tell she had a million questions, and so did I, to say the least.
We left my bags in her car until Antonio got here.
Silvia and I changed into our performing outfits and left the dressing room.
We lingered around our regulars as they introduced us to their friends.
“Sugar,” one of the older gentlemen grinned, slipping his hand around my waist, and I smiled down at him.
“C’mere,” he pulled me onto his lap with a firm hold on me, and I cast Silvia a quick what-the-fuck glance.
She only shrugged, then seductively ran her hands over her customers’ broad shoulders, trailing her bored eyes around the room.
My customer whispered sweet nothings into my ear, and Silvia’s head snapped towards me in fear. “Get up,” she forced through gritted teeth, and my brows drew together.
“What–”
“Nirah, just go,” she hurriedly said, and I hesitantly got up, politely excusing myself.
I turned to leave and immediately halted. In this moment, I felt like a deer in headlights, so naturally, I flashed my best, most innocent smile.
“Did I not make myself clear?” Antonio asked, approaching me with both hands behind his back. I opened my mouth to protest but opted against it. “And why aren’t you dressed yet?”
“One. Do you see a big, shiny rock on my hand?” I asked, extending the back of my hand toward him. “Didn’t think so,” I quipped. “And, two, I was kind of hoping you’d let me perform one last time.”
“But it won’t be your last time. You made that abundantly clear.”
“Technically, no, it won’t. But in a weird way, it will be, so please let me perform while I’m still single and free. I promise we’ll leave right after,” I said, too eagerly for my liking. “Please?” I showed him my biggest smile as I grabbed his hand, stepping closer to him.
“I need a drink anyway,” he flatly said and turned around, pulling his hand from mine. He walked toward the bar, and I smiled, excitedly clapping my hands together.
After my performance, I grabbed my coat and got off stage as soon as possible.
He was already waiting for me with his cell phone glued to his ear. When our gazes met, he ended the call with one word. “My bags are in Silvia’s car,” I said as I stopped in front of him, and he looked up. He gave me a slight nod and slipped his cell phone into the pocket of his slacks.
After I got changed, we headed out, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re not going soft on me, are you?”
“Excuse me?” he raised a brow at me, and I put my hands on my hips.
“You didn’t insult or order me around once tonight,” I said, scanning his face. “I’m starting to get worried,” I admitted, pressing my four fingers against his forehead.
“You want me to insult you?” he asked with amusement, and I shook my head with a little chuckle—continuing ahead of him. “You were amazing out there, you know,” he said over my shoulder, and I smiled, reaching up to throw my arm around his shoulder.
I grinned, turning my head to him. “I know.”
“Remind me never to compliment you again,” he lowered his tone, and I rolled my eyes.
“That’s impossible. You live for complimenting me,” I said, and he dropped his eyes to my lips for a split second. He seemed to want to protest but decided otherwise.
Now, my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. We got my bags from Silvia’s car and headed to his house.
During the drive to his house, I couldn’t stop looking out the window. This part of the city was so different from where I lived. Last time I couldn’t admire it, because well, I had no idea I’d even be coming here.
“You remember where your bedroom is, don’t you?” he asked as we stepped out of the car, and I nodded. I wasn’t entirely sure, but I didn’t want to burden him with that as well.
He ordered Cesar and some other guys in suits to carry my suitcases up to my room.
After they were done, I could finally go up. He had ordered Rosalia to find out what I liked so that she could cook it up for me. And that was about it. I hadn’t seen him the entire night.
Everything was going to work out.