Chapter 11

Mira’s POV

Sexual assault. I was used to that by now, especially growing up with a stepfather like Mark.

I should have been bawling my eyes out after last night’s events, but after I took a long-ass shower, I felt completely empty. This morning, though, my body burned with anger for Alejandro. I already had a short span of life on this earth, and with this job of mine, it might be even shorter.

I hated him with everything in me.

“Are you even listening to me, Mira?!” Zara yelled, the phone speaker blasting in my ears.

“Geez, Zara, I can hear you. Stop screaming.”

She laughed. “So you’re agreeing to introduce me to one of his hot friends from yesterday?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not a chance, silly head.”

“Come on, Mira.”

“I’ve got to go. Bye, love you,” I said, ending the call that had already taken up two hours of my morning.

Running a hand through my messy morning hair, I stepped out of my bedroom and into the kitchen in some shorts and an oversized T-shirt, ready for some breakfast that could make me forget everything.

Miss Patricia had called me earlier for breakfast, but I wasn’t in the mood to dine at the same table with Alejandro fucking Montenegro.

Scanning the kitchen, my eyes lit up when they landed on some cereal and milk — just what I needed.

I picked them up, took a seat at the counter, and poured some into my bowl.

“Amazing!” I squealed at the first taste but was soon interrupted.

A guy strolled in — not just any guy, a freaking hot guy. Slicked-back hair, tattoos on his right arm, and eyes that pierced through my skin like they were trying to tempt me. Must be one of Alejandro’s noisy friends, except this one looked calmer.

“What?” I raised a brow. “Never seen a person enjoy some cereal before?”

He blinked. “Uhhh, I’m sorry if I stared. Just didn’t expect you’d be downstairs by now.”

What was that even supposed to mean?

He walked in, dragging open the fridge. “I’m just here to get some drinks and I’ll be out.”

“Perfect,” I murmured, returning to my meal.

Zara would’ve liked this one. He had a sexy ass — one to grab onto while he thrust deep inside you. And with that voice of his, I bet he talked the ladies through the entire thing.

“I’m Ace, by the way,” he blurted. “One of your boss’s closest friends.”

“Okay?” I said, clearly uninterested. I just wanted some peace and quiet, and now I had fucking Massimo from 365 Days talking to me.

He closed the fridge, a couple of beers in his hands, then turned to me. “And you are?”

I rolled my eyes, dropping my spoon. “I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but why are we introducing ourselves?”

Sky placed the drinks on the counter, his eyes fixated on me. “If my gut tells me to ask for the pretty girl’s name, then I ask for the pretty girl’s name. I only ask why later.” He smiled.

At first, when I was crazy Mira, his charm might have worked on me. But now that I worked for Alejandro — who had sucked the sanity out of me — I couldn’t listen to this guy anymore.

I smiled awkwardly. “I came here for some peace and quiet. Since you won’t leave, then I will.”

As he chuckled at my words, I stepped down from the stool. But just as I was about to grab the bowl, a splash from outside caught my attention. The bowl slipped from my hands, shattering into pieces.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed, trying to back away, but a sharp pain sliced through my foot, and soon enough I was bleeding like a cow.

“My goodness, are you okay?” Ace rushed to my side.

“No, I’m not, for fuck’s sake! Now get away from me!” I lashed out, but he didn’t care.

Without warning, he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground, carrying me out of the kitchen as I clung to his neck.

“Where’s your room? We need to treat the wound before it gets infected. And it’s not a debate,” he said, his tone firmer than before.

I pointed up the stairs, and he just followed. I didn’t argue, because my foot stung so badly.

He quickly placed me on a stool, grabbed the first aid kit that hung on the wall, and began a job he wasn’t going to be paid for.

“The pieces got deep into your foot,” he murmured, using what looked like tweezers to gently pull them out.

I winced in pain.

Staring at him up close now, I noticed the little heartbreak tattoo on his neck.

“Interesting tattoo you’ve got there,” I noted.

He lifted his head for a while, stared at me, then focused back on my foot.

“Yeah, shit happens and pushes you to get tattoos,” he said.

“Might as well tell you my name,” I sighed. “I’m Mira. Mira Martinez.”

He looked up again with a wide grin. “Nice to meet you, Mira.”

I found myself smiling back, even though I’d tried my best to avoid his charm. We stared at each other so much that the world seemed to stop and fade away for a moment but that was soon interrupted.

“What are you doing up here?”

I turned toward the door. Alejandro stood there, looking like he was about to explode.

“Ace, you were supposed to get us some drinks. We’ve been waiting, but instead, you decide to come fuck my employee?” he barked.

What the hell was he on about this time?

“I’m not fucking Mira. Stop being a clown,” Ace shot back, his tone stern. “She got injured and I’m helping her.”

Alejandro blinked, stepping closer until he stood inches away from Ace. I’d never seen that much fire in his eyes — except maybe during the meeting yesterday with his dad.

“Thank you for helping, but she’s my responsibility. You can join the others downstairs now, and I’ll take care of this,” he said, his eyes fixated on me.

“Sure, man. Whatever.” Ace dropped everything he’d been holding and stormed out of my room.

Alejandro took his place without offering a word. He continued pulling the broken pieces from my leg, and soon enough, he was done with everything.

“What was that about?” I asked, and he paused.

“My friends are not your friends,” he muttered, packing up the first aid kit.

“He was only helping me,” I explained.

Suddenly, I felt the need to clear the air but for what reason?

Alejandro laughed. “I’m not a kid, Mira. I saw the way he looked at you, and you enjoyed it. Something tells me your dildos aren’t enough for you anymore, so now you need Ace.”

My face went pale instantly. “You’re such a jerk, Alejandro. It’s no doubt I can’t stand you  but I can clearly stand your friend, because you could never be as gentle as he is.”

I watched Alejandro grit his teeth. My words got to him and it hit him right in the chest.

“You don’t know what you’re saying, Mira,” he murmured.

“I bet he’s a better fuck than you could ever dream of being. Even his pants couldn’t hide how big he was down there,” I provoked him even more.

Alejandro smirked. Crouching down, he spread my legs open without warning, lifted me from the stool, and placed me on the bed.

My heart raced. I wanted to push him away, but at the same time, I couldn’t mutter the words anymore when his fingers began to trail my thighs and around my entrance.