CHAPTER 1

"Hey," Natalie beamed at him, placing the tray on the table. "Was asked to serve you. Ten shots, you got one free for being my first customer tonight."

Isaac ran his eyes over her, hot, he thought, her figure-8 shape clad in a two-piece mini skirt and crop top. But he wasn't impressed. There are at least a million girls he knew who were just as perfect.

He pushed one glass towards her as she's about to leave. "Take it."

Literally, he meant her taking it back cos his ethics don't allow him to accept free gifts. But she mistook him and raised a brow teasingly, chugged down the drink in one go.

Don't get her mistaken, she rarely drinks if she wasn't entertaining customers but this brown-eyed guy seemed to want to test her waters.

"Wow, it's stronger than I thought. Who takes such strong combos these days?"

Impressive, Isaac thought. Not a single person he'd ever offered a drink for a first was able to take a single gulp without spitting it out or giving up. Both men and women alike.

He pushed another glass towards her and she smirked, sat beside him on the sofa.

"I normally don't drink for men if money isn't involved, so what do I get for this?"

He gave her a careful look. "What do you want?"

She beamed at him and he guessed what she'd ask in his head.

A date? Money? Sex? Those were the three things every woman he'd come across wanted from him. One, two or all three.

She slipped her pinky beneath his bracelet. "It's cute, can I have it?"

He stared at his wrist, surprised at what she wanted and deep down, knowing she won't be getting it.

"What? It doesn't look as expensive as your other jewellery."

Yeah it doesn't, but it sure cost more than it looked. But that wasn't why he couldn't give it to her, it contained one of his tracking devices.

"Why don't I give you something else? Something more expensive." He stretched out his fingers, showcasing two jewel rings.

"What an expensive way to say no." She teased. "Let's have the shot together, you must be bored of drinking alone." She raised her glass and so did he. They clung the glasses and she gobbled hers down.

"Ahh! I'm never drinking this again." She dropped the cup with a dull clunk. "I gotta get to work. I took too much time."

He held her hand as she stood up and she faced him with a questioning look. "I always try to pay back favours, for drinking with me tonight." He pulled the more expensive ring from his finger and planted it in her palm.

She chuckled, pulled her hand away from him. "No you don't have_" She almost lost balance, making him pull her unto him impulsively but she wedged her hands on the backrest so she wouldn't collapse on him.

There's a moment of silence as they tried to get over the incident.

"Oh my," She smiled nervously, pulling herself back on her feet. "I must've had too much, I'm tipsy. I'm so sorry." She bowed her head apologetically and walked away, leaving him with a racing mind and his jadeite ring on the couch.

He slipped it into his finger and looked in her direction, but she's already out of the parlour.

He grabbed a cup and gulped down its content, reclined on the high back chair with a heavy sigh.

He looked around and, through the glass barriers, could see men, young and elderly, enjoying their lives to the fullest.

He's a club regular, but he always wondered why no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't clear his mind of his worries. He'd party hard but just couldn't seem to be as carefree as the others.

He took another glass as he walked towards the rails and from up there, he could see youngsters dancing to the DJ's mixtape with clouds of smoke of all flavours filling up the vicinity.

He searched around for his 'shadow' but couldn't spot him. He must be getting better at his job; Isaac thought. Always noticing someone follow him around when he wanted to be alone was very annoying.

That night, he wasn't in the mood for partying. He just wanted to get so drunk and sleep quietly without his thoughts disturbing his slumber.

After his nine glasses of booze with an extra five, he decided to call it a night and head back home. He's disappointed though that he's still not drunk to stupor, just extremely tipsy.

Taking extra care not to hit a wall or person or miss a step, he headed for the stairs and could already notice the 'shadow' creeping up on him.

Nuisance! He hissed. If it were still Dan, he'd be heading to get the car ready and not following his tail like a baby.

His eyes fell on the "bracelet" lady from earlier as he took the last step and he stopped to give the situation a better look.

She's with a group of elderly men and younger ladies, and one of them was obviously trying to undress her amidst her disapproval. The others there didn't seem to be on her side and Isaac didn't believe he should meddle.

As he walked away, he heard a rumble of laughter from their direction and he looked back only to see her crop-top in the man's hand which he flung aside and the lady stood there, face downcast and hands over her bare bosom.

Isaac looked away, reminding himself that it's none of his business. She's nobody to him, he doesn't even know her name.

But then he heard a slap, followed by a chorus of exclamations and sinister giggles.

He looked back and the topless lady was on the floor, her palm on her cheek. The man grabbed a glass of wine and rained it on her.

It's none of your business. Isaac said to himself.

But_

It's none of your business! He cut his subconscious mind out. Leave this place, Isaac.

Doing the exact opposite, his legs walked towards the scene and he stepped in front of the man who should be at least in his mid fifties.

I'll just repay her for sharing a drink with me.

"And who are you?" The man slurred.

"I'd love to have her for the night."

"Get lost!" He tossed him, making him almost lose balance. Almost.

His shadow appeared from nowhere and grabbed the man's hands, pushed him down to his knees. "Apologize, and this won't get bad."

"Do you know who I am?!" The man struggled to free himself.

"Do you know who he is?!"

"Let him go." Isaac ordered, having pulled himself together.

The bodyguard hesitated but did as his master ordered.

"How much did you pay for her? I'd pay double." Isaac offered.

"I refuse to_"

"Ten hundred pounds."

The man gaped in shock. "I paid for her to entertain me. Would you do that?"

"Three thousand pounds, Jonas write him a cheque."

The bodyguard acquiesced, and Isaac turned to give the lady who's back on her feet a look.

She looked up to his eyes and her face flashed in recognition. "You?"

Isaac concluded she must be drunk and took off his coat, hung it over her shoulders. "Let's go."

"Where?"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her along, heading for the exit. "Where do you live?"

"Huh?"

"Where do you live?" He stopped and faced her.

"I can't leave yet."

"Why?"

"I am to be with him tonight."

"I've settled with him, now tell me your address."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I don't have one."

"Then where do you sleep?"

She gave him a silly smile. "Anywhere. Wanna dance?" And she's already heading to the crowded dancefloor.

Isaac considered leaving her there and heading home, but something in him kept insisting that he saw to it that she got out of there safely.

As if she's some special somebody.