Chapter 22

‘Piper, you can do this.’

I took a step forward, listening to my inner voice again. I told myself it wasn’t going to be so hard when you have your mind set on something. I focused on one word in my mind: REVENGE. Only by doing that, would I be free. Eternally.

It had just rained. I turned back to see Griselda and Kaiser disappear, from a distance. Then I strutted my hips seductively and walked deeper into the dark alley. This was a place where gambling and crimes happened. Some women in scantily clad clothing accompanied men as they made bets in the sleazy establishments. 

I felt a hand on my bottom. “Hey, Miss, here for some fun?”

I adjusted my uniform, taking a deep breath. He smelled of cigarettes and alcohol, like the other men hanging around there. “I’m from Kaiser Klef Solutions,” I said confidently. The man’s hand wouldn’t budge. I calmed myself and began to promote KK Sols’ products, despite the man’s disinterest.

“Hands off her.” I heard a voice in the distance, and a man’s face came into view. As he got closer, I was aware he didn’t stink like the man who had groped my butt, but he didn’t seem like someone I could trust either. 

He was the correct definition of those villains in movies, badass and with a devilish stare. The bad boy that you wanted to lose your innocence to so badly, but ended up doing the entire girls in your class while you lusted naively for. Dark eyes, a toned body and strong arms, yet, a handsome face that told you he was dangerous.

A kick suddenly landed in the man’s side. “Goka, if I catch you one more time on my turf, bothering others, you’re going to have it from me. This is the last warning I’m giving you.”

Goka scurried off in fear. 

The man cast his eyes in my direction. I hurriedly adjusted my clothes and faced him warmly. “Thank you, Handsome.”

“A young woman like you shouldn’t be here.” He eyed me with a devious look. “What are you doing here, anyway? What are you selling?”

Remembering what Griselda had told me. I pulled myself together. While the man appeared powerful, I wanted to take my chances with him. I didn’t get any commission for ‘sales’ that I clinched deals with, but KK Sols bragged of a particular membership that involved partaking in sexual pleasures. If I could draw in fifty members in a month, he promised me leads on Lenard Lee. And if I brought in more, I would get more benefits in return.

I licked my lips mischievously. “Trust me, you won’t regret what I have to sell to you. Do you want to know more? I can show you.”

I’m sure what magic I did on him worked, because he immediately latched on me, clasping my waist. 

“I won’t be able to pass on such a juicy offer.” 

“Shall we discuss it somewhere private?” I mused, teasing him with a few deft moves of my tongue. His eyes followed the cleavage of my uniform, wandering downwards. I felt exposed, like a product on display. He dragged me towards the end of the alley, where it appeared deserted.

There was a garage, where some expensive cars were parked. My intuition told me these vehicles were likely stolen. I didn’t know why Kaiser needed me to seduce clients from these kinds of places, but it was likely the network he wanted me to build up, through connections with people from dark backgrounds.

I played around. He released me as soon as we were inside the garage and locked it with a remote he had with him.

“Is this place private enough, Miss? Now, you can start selling your products.”

I felt strange that he had taken me here, but I had to do what I was here for. I started explaining to him about the membership KK Sols provided, but he seemed absorbed in something else. His eyes kept wandering over my body and my cleavage.

“Handsome, am I boring to you?” I stopped the talk and put down my brochure. Then I moved closer to where he was standing and placed his hands on my hips, staring into his eyes.

“No, not at all,” he whispered. His hands explored my sides, moving up to my bust. I seized the chance to stare amorously into his eyes.

“There’s a lot more you can get from this membership,” I whispered seductively. His breathing got harder as I tempted him by swaying my hips. He pulled me closer to him so I could feel the violent beats of his heart.

“Like you?” he said in a hoarse voice. This was not an answer I would tell him straight away, but beat about the bush. I answered him in a long riddle. He stroked his fingers over my nipples, making them erect under the thin material of my uniform.

“Oh,” I purred. “Do you like this?” I lifted my skirt slightly, exposing more of the whiteness of my thighs. I could feel his hardness as he pushed harder against me.

“I like this.” He lifted my chin closer to him and plunged his tongue inside my mouth, tasting it violently while his fingers ripped off my uniform. I jerked my thighs, faking a deep moan.

He stopped kissing me, and started undressing himself. I inhaled and watched the surroundings around me dizzily. Something with a strange scent was burning in the back of the garage, and it was increasing my sexual desire. While I felt the thrill of it, it triggered a sense of unease in me. Something was not what it seemed.

He took off what was left of his clothes and faced me. I wasn’t uncomfortable in my bra and panties, but the way he looked at me seemed to penetrate right through me, reminding me of Lenard Lee’s torment. I knew I had to get past my fear.

“Handsome, don’t make me wait.” I tried to stand up, but the scent burning in the garage was just too overwhelming. I saw the man go through his jeans pocket and retrieve a square. While he was doing that, I didn’t have any strength to resist.

“No worries, I’ll be inside you soon enough.” My vision blurred and my hands numbed. I couldn’t think properly. My needs overcame me, and he conquered me in a few moves. While that happened, my mind was in turmoil. I wasn’t sure what I was seeing. 

When I finally gathered myself and walked myself out of that place, my entire body was throbbing. I buttoned my uniform and sauntered about the area in a daze. 

The man’s voice echoed in my ears, reminding me of the membership I had seduced him into. At that juncture, I still felt light-headed and was unable to focus fully on the surroundings, causing me to crash painfully into someone as I walked out of the dark alley.

“Piper? Is it really you?” A voice penetrated the silence around me, making me regain my senses slowly. I crossed my hands defensively over my torn uniform and blinked my eyes.

I saw Syl’s face clearly in front of me. Three years had passed. He was still as charming as before, and my heart yearned for him. But after everything, I wasn’t the old Piper, not the same girl he had fallen for three years ago. I was a rape victim, a prisoner and a culprit who did treacherous things to hurt my best friend. And now, I was an escort.

“You’ve got the wrong person. I don’t know you at all,” I spoke firmly as I distanced myself from him. 

“Piper, why are you here? Where have you been all these years?” He questioned me with doubt written all over his eyes.

“I don’t know you! Get away from me!” I yelled, dashing as fast as I could. I didn’t stop running until I was out of that scary place. I found my way to Kaiser’s vehicle and hastily climbed inside, wiping beads of sweat off my face and hands.

“Piper? Are you okay?” Griselda’s worried voice queried me.

“I’m fine.” I covered my face with my hands. “I managed to secure a member, with much difficulty.”

Kaiser remained as cold as he was as Griselda drove the vehicle out of the red-light district. It was over, I told myself. But Syl’s face continued to plague my mind, confusing me about the future. I had thought that after three years, he would have forgotten about me and my existence, but to run into him in such a place was unsettling to me.

When I regained control of myself again, I looked down at my phone and entered the app. In my network there was indeed a new joiner, and I had earned about 100 points in commission. His name was Jasper Lang, that man who had been my first client.

I remembered the conditions he had stated to me prior to joining as a member and shuddered. This man was wild, and to some point, dangerous.

It was not the last I would see of him.