I looked at him, not really thinking he was talking to me.
‘No, he definitely meant it to someone else. For sure’ I looked around me, seeing no one else was behind me.
“look, I am still very much on the edge, so I would advise you to choose your words carefully.” I threatened, getting ready to give him a piece of my mind if need be.
He chuckled, quite a humourless one at that. “You really think you are high and mighty? If he was an aggressive drunk? What then? Did you think you would be able to fight against him?” He was breathing heavily from anger now,
I blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of his tone. “What was I thinking? I was thinking I wasn’t going to let some drunk idiot get away with harassing me.”
“You could’ve gotten hurt,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “Or worse. That guy wasn’t just some harmless drunk. He was looking for trouble, and you walked right into it.” He repeated like he was talking to someone who was deaf
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my temper in check. “I didn’t walk into anything. He came at me. And I handled it, didn’t I? I didn’t need you to swoop in and save me like some damsel in distress.”
His jaw tightened, and I could see the frustration building in him. “That’s not the point, Valerie. You shouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place. You know better than to go to places like this alone. Are you in need of money? Is that it? Do you...”
I laughed bitterly, unable to hold it back. “first of all, I don’t know why you are so worked up! This is none of your business.”
His eyes flashed with anger, and he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “You don’t get it, do you? You’re not just risking your own safety. You may not know it, but your mum, my fiancé would be worried sick if she found out what happened, so yes, it is my business” either each word he said, he took and an intimidating step my way, but i stood my ground
“and that is why she does not have to know” I shot back, taking my own steps closer to him, although they were no where as intimidating as i had hoped.
His expression darkened, and I could see the conflict in his eyes, he looked like he was ready to punch me and then hug me...
‘That made absolute zero sense’ I thought, shaking my head.
“oh trust me, she will know!” He looked at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world
“Really? And how do you plan to explain it? What would you tell her you were doing here? Mind your business if you know you want to really stay with my mum Mr. Moirai” I said looking at him.
He said nothing, he looked pissed, he traced the side of my neck. His glided hands burning each and every part he touched but I held my ground.
“you better not come here anymore, and you better, not be wearing such clothes like these anymore.” He walked out, not giving me a chance to talk, leaving me all alone.
I kissed my teeth,
The moment I stepped through the doors, the familiar sights and sounds greeted me—the dim lighting, the hum of conversations. I sighed, “can today end already
I moved behind the bar, slipping back into the routine of pouring drinks and wiping down counters and occasionally going to serve some.
But as I worked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. The atmosphere in the bar had shifted subtly, and though I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I looked around.
There was no sign of Hades.
The front door creaked open, and I glanced up to see a group of men walk in. There were three of them, all dressed in dark clothes that seemed a little too sharp for a place like this. They looked out of place, their eyes scanning the room with a predatory gaze that sent a chill down my spine.
I gave them a nod, wiping down the counter as they approached. They didn’t take seats like the other patrons; instead, they lingered near the bar, their presence heavy and unsettling. I kept my eyes on the task in front of me, but I could feel their eyes on me, the weight of their stares pressing down like a physical force.
One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, leaned on the bar and fixed me with a stare that was equal parts curious and calculating. “You Valerie?” he asked, his voice smooth and laced with something that sounded like amusement.
My heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t let it show. I met his gaze, keeping my expression neutral. “Who’s asking?”
He smirked, exchanging a look with the other two men. “Doesn’t matter. What matters is you’re coming with us.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice firm. “If you’ve got something to say, you can say it right here.”
His smirk widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “very well”
I glanced around the bar, hoping someone would notice the tension and intervene, but most of the patrons were too caught up in their own conversations to pay attention. The bartender was at the other end of the bar, busy with a group of rowdy customers. I was on my own.
My mind raced, trying to think of a way out, but before I could make a move, the man with the scar reached across the bar and grabbed my wrist. His grip was like iron, and I winced as his fingers dug into my skin.
“Let go of me,” I hissed, trying to pull away, but he only tightened his hold.
“Don’t make this difficult,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. “You really don’t want to see what happens if you make this difficult.”
Panic flared in my chest, but I pushed it down, refusing to give in to the fear. I was about to shout for help when another one of the men moved closer, his hand slipping into his coat. The glint of metal caught my eye, and I realized he was carrying a gun.
I stopped struggling for a moment. “You would rather pull that trigger before I follow you” that seemed to annoy him further as he released his trigger, getting ready to shoot.
“what are you doing!! Boss said to leave her unscathed!” the other one said, looking at the other in panic.