Chapter 2 Blooming Heart, Love? Or What?

Danika's Pov.

“Why did Jared bring me here?” I wondered out loud, my voice trembling.

The driver’s voice cut through my trembling thoughts, “Someone’s waiting for you inside.” He said gruffly, stepping out to open the door for me.

I hesitated. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to just bolt into the night and never look back. But then I remembered Jared’s words, the dark promise behind his smile: Don’t embarrass me again, Danika.

My fingers gripped the handle so tightly my knuckles turned white, “O… Okay.” I whispered, more to myself than to him, and stepped out.

The music inside was deafening, the heavy bass thudding like a heartbeat in my skull. The stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke filled my lungs, choking me. My heels clicked softly against the sticky floor as I made my way past groups of men laughing too loudly, women draped over them like ornaments. Every stare felt like a violation.

I wrapped my arms around myself and approached the counter, my voice barely a breath when I spoke, “Um… excuse me. I… I was told someone’s waiting for me.”

The bartender didn’t even look at me. But a waitress, tall, blonde, with a practiced smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, came forward.

“You’re Mrs. Fox, right?”

I blinked, startled that she knew my name, “Y.. Yes.”

She nodded, her tone businesslike but cold “Mr. Fox already paid for a private room upstairs. Please, follow me.”

My heart dropped. Paid? A room? Why? Still, I forced myself to nod and follow her through a narrow hallway. The further we went, the quieter it got, until the loud music was just a muffled hum behind the walls.

The waitress stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. Inside was a dimly lit room, soft amber lights, a small table with an unopened bottle of champagne, a bed, and a few items I didn’t recognize sitting on the dresser.

There was also a bed. Along with a few items laying innocently on the bed.

My pulse quickened, “I… I think there’s been a mistake. My husband said…”

“He paid in advance.” The waitress interrupted, still avoiding my eyes, “You can wait here. He’ll be with you shortly.”

Before I could protest, she was gone. The door shut behind me with a soft click. I stood there, frozen. The silence was suffocating. Seconds turned into minutes. Every creak of the floor, every whisper of air made me jump.

Then, the door opened once more.

“Jared?” I breathed, rushing forward before my fear could stop me, “Jared, what’s going on? Why did you…”

But the moment my hands touched the man’s arm, every part of me went cold. This wasn’t Jared. He was older, heavier, his shirt half unbuttoned, eyes gleaming with something dark and greedy.

“Who are you?” I whispered, backing away.

“Oh don't run away, little wife.” The man’s grin widened, “Your husband said I could have you for the night.”

My body froze, words dying in my throat, “W… What? What are you saying? Jared said I was accompanying him for a business meeting, he didn't say anything about this. I think you've got this whole thing mistaken. It's merely a misunderstanding, I have to leave now. Sorry for intruding.”

However, the man didn't let me go. Instead, he wrapped his sweaty hands around my arms, pulling me back. Then he smiled, and the stench of alcohol came directly into my nose. I gagged.

Then he chuckled, pulling out his phone, “You don’t believe me? I have proof.” He pressed a few buttons on his phone and Jared’s voice, calm and familiar, filled the room.

“Danika is yours for tonight just as I promised. Do whatever you want with her. Just remember our deal and make sure that it's finalised within two days.”

My knees buckled, “No…”

The man tucked the phone away, his smirk widening, “He’s a good businessman. Knows how to trade what’s his.”

I stumbled backward, hitting the wall, “You’re lying! He wouldn’t… He wouldn't do this! It's fake!”

He lunged before I could finish, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward him. I screamed, twisting, trying to free myself, “Let me go! Please, I don’t know what’s happening…!”

“Don't be so shy. Do you know? Right now, your husband is tumbling around on the bed with another woman. What did he call her? Ah… His first love. The one who ran abroad with another man. She came back and got him wrapped around her little finger.”

“W… What? What are you talking about! You… No, let me go! Leave me alone!”

He didn’t listen. His other hand grabbed at the neckline of my dress, tearing it open with a single jerk. The fabric split with a sickening sound. I gasped, clutching at the scraps to cover myself.

“Stop! Please, stop!”

He pushed me back onto the bed, his weight pressing down on me, his breath hot and foul against my skin, “Your husband said I can do anything I want.”

“No!” I screamed, struggling beneath him, nails clawing at his arm, “You’re lying! Let me go! Let me go!”

“Hahahaha! You little cutie, you're mine for the night! Prepare to serve me. If you do, I'll make sure that you lack nothing for the rest of your life. Your husband hates you anyway, so just stay with me obediently.”

I sobbed, my tears making the surroundings around me blurry. As he leaned closer, his lips hovering just above mine, his breath stinking and his hands reaching into my panties, my eyes flashed and with one strong movement, I smashed one of the items on the bed, on the man's head. I think it was a glass of oil. It shattered on his head, making him get off me immediately and howl in pain.

I stood up slowly, cleaning my hands on the bed sheets, “Ah fuck. You made me lose my character. Why the hell is your breath so smelly?”