Chapter 30 I'm her daddy, so back off
“You'll know when we get there, but first, you need to change your look." With just a phone call, a woman in her early thirties appeared to help her transform. She also gave Karen some makeup tips.
Her long dark hair was curled, and a smokey eyeshadow made her almost unrecognizable. Despite her petite frame, her figure was now well-toned, and she looked extremely attractive, with the red lipstick making her lips stand out.
However, the dress was a bit too short for Karen's liking. "It's so short. Can I wear some shorts underneath?"
"Do you know how to swim?" If she could wear a bikini to swim, then wearing short dresses should not be a problem, but Karen shook her head. "No."
Her discomfort made Van agree, but luckily the shorts weren't visible. He made a mental note to teach her how to swim upon their return.
Arriving at the club, it felt like Karen had been thrown into a river. She could hardly breathe.
"Why do people even come here?" The music was too loud, a stark contrast to her quiet life. If this was what people considered fun, then she could understand why she was seen as weird.
Although she had attended parties before, they were usually more upscale and refined. This scene was different. Most of the couples looked like they were engaging in standing sex.
"How about we come here once a month when you meet your target?" Van suggested, but Karen was deflated.
She didn't enjoy such places and had no intention of returning. "Could we go somewhere different next time?" Van thought she simply didn't like this club, but there were similar ones to explore. "Sure, but just make sure you don't sip any of those drinks," he warned before disappearing into the crowd of dancers.
Karen realized too late that she was all alone among vultures. "Van," she spoke worriedly when she didn't hear him speak anymore. Fear slid through her in waves as she looked around anxiously for him among the sweaty dancers.
The music swallowed her voice, along with the pulsing effect of the on-and-off lights.
"Hey babe," a strong hand snaked around her waist, making her uneasy. "Hey, get your hands off me," she shrieked, lifting her head and meeting the erotic eyes of a hunk covered in tattoos.
His eyebrow was pierced, and he had a devilish smile on his face. "What's wrong? Can't dance?" His tone was a mix of mockery and desire, his breath heavy with alcohol. He smelled of sweat mixed with cheap perfume.
"Stay away from me," Karen shrieked, but his grip around her waist only tightened.
Karen pulled his thumb hard, faintly hearing the bones break before landing a kick in his groin. The man groaned, anger filling his eyes, but Karen was already making her way out of the sweaty dancers when another hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Hey, it's quite a show you put on there."
This time, the hand ventured into her dress, but she caught it midway, punching him in the throat before delivering a kick. She had learned a lot from four different trainers but was now attracting attention.
Four men surrounded her, but she could only take down two before being overpowered. A slap made her dizzy. “The bitch seems wild. What do we do with her?” one of them asked.
In a corner, Van watched, his gaze dark as his anger boiled. “What a waste,” he gritted his teeth before hastening to her side, but someone beat him to it.
The person was familiar, but he couldn’t place where or how he knew him. “Hey, all of you stay away from her. She’s with me.” The brunette man pulled Karen protectively into his arms.
The men withdrew instantly, and this man had a vibe that screamed ownership. “Hey, are you alright?” He tried to steady Karen, who stared blankly at him. “Who are you?” Her face was red from the punch.
Van took note of the three men to deal with them later, focusing on this guy who looked familiar yet foreign. “Call me Wade. Give me your address. I’ll take you home.”
“Wade,” Van murmured before confronting the three guys. “You shouldn’t have touched my daughter.”
Before they knew it, they were unconscious on the floor. By the time he traced back to where Karen was, Van's mind was crowded. Could it be him? It had been over two decades, and a lot had changed. All he had to do was look him up.
Karen had regained herself and was sitting in the VIP lodge with this hunk. Unlike the others, he looked different. “Can you tell me what you are doing here? What’s your name?”
He sounded caring and looked attractive when he smiled. I'm Mavis. I came here to have fun," she said, unable to reveal her true intentions and name as Van had cautioned her.
"I see. Then why did you turn down those guys for a dance?" It didn't make sense to him, but when she started looking around curiously, he asked, "Would you like a drink?"
He sounded sincere and not pushy, but following Van's warning, she declined. "I don't drink, and it's my first time here."
"I understand. Luckily, I own the club, so you can have anything you want. It's on me." He somehow reminded her of the wealthy kids Tonia was always drawn to, though this one appeared responsible and tidy.
She shook her head. Nothing here piqued her interest. "I don't want anything. I just came to observe."
"How about a dance?" He hoped she would agree. Having run the club for years, he had never encountered a girl like her, but Karen was sincere this time.
"I don't know how to dance."
"I can teach you." He flashed her those enchanting smiles again, and she noticed a small dimple on his cheek.
She would have declined, but facing those men had given her confidence. She had managed to handle three men and was confident that with more practice, she would improve.
"It's embarrassing," she smiled shyly, and he smirked. "It will be worth it."
Karen took the opportunity as Van observed from a distance. Although her steps were initially clumsy, she quickly picked up the rhythm and was already having the time of her life.
To Van, every woman had a wild side. What mattered was for a man to know the right switch to bring it on.
When she saw them exchanging contact, he frowned imperceptibly, stole a sunglass and face cup before ambling there and pulling her away.
The bodyguards at the VIP section were no match for him. "It's time to leave."
“Who the fuck are you? She came alone,” Wade yelled angrily, pushing through the crowd to reach them. Van safely pulled Karen into his arms and pushed Wade away. "I'm her daddy, so back off."
Wade wanted to retaliate, but there was something about the voice that caught his attention. It sounded so familiar.