ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POV
This means that I can no longer go anywhere that I want to, considering that money is the first thing that I should have when I’m thinking of traveling to some place. I let my own feet wander around; I don't even know where I should first head off to. Mostly now that I don't have anyone to provide me with financial support. The sun was already burning my skin; it is currently afternoon, and there are even more people outside now compared to when I first arrived in this place. As I was letting my subconscious bring me anywhere, I bumped into someone. I almost stumbled to the ground, but the person was quick enough to grab me by my waist. “Sorry. Are you alright?” he asked, and when I turned to look at him, I opened my mouth. “Y-you…” “G-Greyson?!” I mentioned his name in shock before I fixed my posture and thanked him afterwards. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you still studying in another country?” I asked out of curiosity. “Turns out I wanted to spend my time here rather than going somewhere else that I’m not even familiar with,” Greyson answered as he scratched the back of his neck. It’s been such a long time since the last time that we’ve seen each other. We had been friends since the first year of our high school years; we even had mutual feelings with one another that didn’t further develop due to our personal reasons. My parents didn’t want me to have any men around, while Greyson wasn’t permitted by his father to have me as his girlfriend, not unless we both have something to feed each other with already. When we confessed about it later on, we just laughed it off. Luckily, our friendship didn’t end at that point. “What brings you here anyway, Angelique?” he questioned me. However, I suddenly felt a sting in my heart when I heard how he pronounced my name. It’s not like how he used to say it before when we were still studying together. I don’t know if this is just because we’ve been apart for too long or if maybe my guts are correct this time. “Come again?” I asked him to repeat the same query. “I said, why are you here, Angelique?” I continuously blinked as my foot started moving backwards, away from where Greyson was standing. “What’s the matter?” he inquired, but during that time, I noticed how a smirk escaped his lips. “You can’t be...” I mumbled to myself as I tried to remember the person who was on the phone earlier. Even though he didn’t mention his name, the similarity was more than enough to prove that they were the same man. “G-Greyson Giovanni, you’re the one who filmed the entire scene that happened yesterday night?” I asked, hoping that he would somehow reject it and say that he has no idea about it. But instead of hearing it, he didn’t refuse at all. “What if I am? Do you recall now what it is that I’ll be wishing for?” I immediately gulped when I remembered what kind of person he was. Despite the fact that I loved him at some point before, I knew that he was some sort of bullshit right from the start. I just didn’t give much attention to it since if I really were in love with him, I’d be more than willing to accept him as is. In an attempt to run away from him, I glanced from side to side and checked for every possible spot where I could make my escape route. I moved in haste after a few seconds and moved in with the crowd, but he was undeniably quick to catch up to where I was. Maybe it was due to the fact that he’s a man while I’m just a woman. “There’s no use in running away, Angelique. You know me well; if I blurt something out, you know that I won’t hesitate in doing whatever it is.” I heard him clearly, as if he were just beside me. When I gazed sideways, I saw him casually following me around, like it was no big deal for him to match my speed. Before I was even able to sprint to the corner, he took hold of my arm, which made me stop running. He was too powerful, and no matter how hard I tried to pull my arm away from his grip, it just wouldn’t budge. “You’re just hurting yourself, Angelique.” “Where are you planning to take me?” I asked when he suddenly led the way to a spot where there was no one around. Greyson decided to let go of my arm. “I’ll ask you seriously just once, Angelique. Your decision would greatly affect the exposure of your video, so think wisely before you open your mouth to speak,” he said with such a straight face. He had no expression, to be precise. I just nodded my head in accordance with what he wanted. “Actually, I changed my mind. I’ll leave you with no choice but to come with me tonight. I’ll be waiting for you at my club; I’m sure that you still know its whereabouts, so I won’t be sending you the address anymore.” He winked at me before he turned his back around. But he didn’t move forward since he still had something left to say to me. “By the way, when you come tonight, make sure to bring your most outrageous dress.” “E-eh?” I immediately reacted to what he said so that he would not go. “I was robbed just now.” I looked downward as I played with my own fingers. It’s kind of embarrassing to say something like that, as if I am asking for money. Greyson faced me once again. “Nevermind, then. Just don’t forget to show up tonight. If I don’t see you before midnight, I’ll upload the video everywhere. You’re well aware of how fast people are when they’re spreading news like that,” he uttered before completely moving away and leaving me behind in the dark.ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVAfter several hours had passed, the night sky appeared. It was filled with lots of shining stars, though there was no presence of the moon. It doesn’t seem like it would rain anytime soon, but just to be sure, I still hurried up to walk towards Greyson’s club. It wasn’t that far from where he left me, so I really didn’t have to be troubled with riding any vehicle. I haven’t even arrived at the exact location yet, but I can already hear the deafening noise that came from the ladies and gentlemen who were inside.I breathed in heavily at the same time that I gulped. There should be nothing that I should be nervous about. If Greyson plans to do something indecent to me, then I guess I should just let him be. I mean, why would I even try to resist when I’ve experienced something far worse from my own father? Even my mom just kept on tolerating whatever he did to me instead of trying to stop it from happening again.When I opened the doors, the scents of alcohol an
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVEven though I was told to kneel down, I didn’t do it until Greyson was forced to dress himself back up, and that was also the exact same moment that I did the same. There was clearly no reason for me to do what he wanted me to do, not until there was some kind of benefit for me to do so. I firmly stood up, as I was facing him. Memories from our school years flashed back through my mind, and I swear, I can still sense at least a little bit of my feelings for him, and it actually bothers me. I mean, it has been years since we’ve last seen one another, and I believed that he would not be coming back to our country. Even though we had mutual feelings before, I never told him about whatever was going on in my family, which is why he wasn’t able to do anything about it. I’m at least half a hundred percent certain that he would be doing everything that he can under any circumstance just for him to be able to do something to save me, just to keep me away from my so-ca
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe surroundings were more peaceful than before. Greyson has left me alone in the room upstairs, making it possible for me to clearly hear the disco music that was playing downstairs.It was quite a dilemma, and I still can’t believe how things turned out this way. I never knew that the day would come when I would still be able to meet him again. Moreover, I’m asking him for a favor. Years ago, it was the other way around; I was always the one who assisted him with his academics. And now that he has obviously improved, maybe he’s just trying to pay the favor.The beating of my heart seemed to be normal, despite the unusual scenario between us. Seeing the naked body of a man, or be it someone else seeing me without any clothes on, is a typical occurrence in my life that my parents made me grow up into. I never got traumatized since I believed that it was for the best and that if I made someone pleased with my performance, I’d be praised.“Angelique.”My thoughts
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVAlong with the fact that I had no accessories, money, or even a phone to contact Greyson or anyone else that I knew, I also didn’t have a home to return to. It would definitely be risky for me to go back to where I used to live with my parents. The police might have already arrived at the forest where I left the both of them, and they are most probably hunting me since I was their only child.The streets that were filled with distant light posts were the ones that served as illumination in this dim place. It was already past midnight, and I still hadn’t eaten. Despite the current time, there was still a huge crowd inside and outside of Greyson’s bar since this is a nightclub.“Uhm, excuse me? Don’t you want to get in?” asked by a woman’s voice from behind. I didn’t need to turn around to see who it was since she stood right beside me, holding onto a piece of cigarette that she was lighting up.I shook my head. “I’ve been inside for hours. Thanks for the concer
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe low temperature of my body seemed to make me freeze from where I was standing after Greyson and I turned around to face Joy. He held one of my hands, and that was the only one that was warm, and even though I wasn’t comfortable with it, I still let him grip my hand tighter.“I’m a year older than Angelique, and there’s something that I would like to confirm first before allowing a stranger to conduct an investigation on her,” Greyson said, stepping forward to place me behind him. His broad back was covering the view of that woman, who was making me nervous.I can’t believe how he’s trying to protect me.I heard the loud sigh of Joy, as if she had already given up before putting up a battle. “Considering how I am still a mere trainee, I’d let this disrespect of yours slide.” The rustling sounds of the leaves that were on the ground kept vibrating in my ears as she successfully walked right beside me. “I believe that the both of you are no longer minors, am I
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVRubbing my eyes upon the disturbance of the sunlight that shone through the glass window beside the cabinet of the room, I realized that I had spent the night together with Greyson in a room that was neither mine nor his. “W-where are we?” I loudly asked, pulling the bedsheet near my chest even though I wasn’t even naked.“Can you tone down a bit?” Greyson sounded pissed, making it seem like he didn’t care who it was that asked him. “I didn’t touch your damn body, Angelique. Calm down. I just didn’t know what to do with you after you passed out hours ago,” he continued.I remained seated in the same position as I stared at him, slowly blinking his eyes to remove the feeling of being sleepy. “What do you mean?”Greyson sat on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t want to leave you alone in my bar, so I figured out that bringing you to a hotel would be the best solution. Mostly for now, I still haven’t processed anything regarding your mansion,” he answered, which cleare
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe magnificent sensation of bearing jewelry filled with diamonds on my ring finger still seems surreal. Truth be told, this is the first time that someone has ever surprised me this way. During the days when I was still a student, I used to be courted but was always mistreated.No man bothered to give me flowers or even the bare minimum of giving me the assurance that they’re in love with me as a person, and not just because of my body.“Are you still not over how I gave you the ring?” Greyson asked as we were heading over to the building of his friend’s company.I shrugged both of my shoulders. “I can’t believe how you didn’t even think of proposing in a proper way,” I jokingly said. When I turned to look at his expression, there was something missing. It doesn’t seem like he was in the mood for jokes, and his mind was kind of occupied. “Now that we’re disguised as couples who weren’t even married officially, should we still set boundaries?” I asked to ensur
ANGELIQUE SLOAN’S POVThe rapid state of my heartbeat just can’t seem to calm down. There’s no way that I would be able to handle this kind of work. I’ve gone through the worst experience there because of my parents, who used to regularly touch my body as they pleased. I wouldn’t be able to ignore and live my life at peace if I witnessed Greyson f*cking women as he desires.“Don’t you have a sense of guilt with all of the things you’ve done so far, Greyson?” I made sure to roll my eyes as I uttered my question. “Didn’t you used to care so much for us women? Wasn’t it the same reason why you chose to own me back then, since you didn’t want to see me getting clingy with anyone else other than you?” I added, remembering how much passion he had stored for the sake of gaining my trust.Greyson avoided making eye contact with me as he glanced at his wristwatch, as if he were waiting for someone impatiently. “Ah, hey, over here!” Greyson raised one of his hands to grab someone’s attention.