Lucy’s POV
"No! I'm not going with you. I'm here because this is where I work!”
“Really?” Arman scoffed.
“I refuse to follow your orders unless we get into a legally binding agreement that binds us to one another. I’ll wait for your lawyer to give me the f*cking copy of our agreement." I said with a firm voice.
He stepped forward with a dark expression, “You are really testing my patience, Lucy.”
I didn’t budge when he leaned in to meet my eyes. “And now you give me the idea of owning you legally….”
We heard a loud click on the door, and a man with blonde hair stood there, staring at me from head to toe. "Are you the new girl?"
Annie was behind him and answered, "Boss Leo, she's the one I was talking about. She's my friend..."
The blonde man frowned at me as he asked, "So what are you doing here with our VIP customer?"
I bit my lower lip in shame, “Uh—”
Arman interrupted me and turned around to face the owner, "I want to buy this club."
Annie and the man called Leo were taken aback by Arman's statement. They were so shocked that they stood motionless, blinking with shock.
"This club is not for sale, Mr. Romano." Leo replied.
"Name your price." Arman challenged him.
“I’ve already told you—”
“I said, name your price.”
Seeing Leo appear swayed by Arman's persuasiveness made my heart race. It looked like he was really giving Arman this club. Then Annie stared at me with eyes that were full of confusion.
"Mr. Romano, let's talk about that in my office," Leo said. His eyes shifted to mine, and he spoke, "Get back to your work."
Then Annie pulled me to the counter and looked at me wide-eyed. She sighed and asked, "Who was that? Do you know him?"
"His name is Arman Romano," I said, biting my lower lip. The properties, failed businesses, and hospitals my dad owned now belong to him. Also... the place where I live."
Annie was so shocked that her eyes got huge, her mouth dropped, and she quickly asked, "What?" He took everything from you; what an evil guy!"
"The last thing my father stated in his last will was to find the man he owed several billion dollars and pay him whatever he had left."
I could feel Annie's palms become chilly as she gripped my hand tightly, and she said, "So, you're going to do what your father asked, aren't you? You paid him already, so you're no longer tied to him?"
"He told me that my dad's payment wasn't enough," I ranted and shook my head. "That means I have to pay for it."
"What? How are you going to pay for it? How are you supposed to pay him when you're working at this ridiculous club and have bills to pay?"
“By marrying him.”
"What? It is impossible to tie the knot with someone you do not love. What does getting married have to do with all the debt?" Annie let out a sigh and dried the table with the dry towel.
I sighed and said, "Well, you know that men are crazy these days. They only want the bodies and lust of women. That could be what he wants in the end. I'll work for him for a year and then I'm free."
"And you agreed to do it?"
"I'm sorry, Annie, but I don't have a choice," I said as I sat down on the chair. "No matter how much I try, I will never be able to secure a good job—not even as an interior designer for a major New York City firm—because everyone seems to want at least a year of experience. I don't have anyone, though. They're all gone and won't help me!"
The bartender said. "Hey, stop talking to each other. A new customer is over there. You, new girl, work your ass off."
I rolled my eyes, “I have a name. I’m not just a new girl.”
“Come on, let’s get to work.” Annie smiled at me.
I grabbed a pen and a little note, then when I arrived at table six. The group of friends stopped talking to each other and their eyes all landed on me.
“Lucy Hansley?” Angela said.
I stared at them blankly because I knew they would bully me for what happened to me. Then, now that I'm working here, they'll bully me more. So I chinned up and asked, "Can I take your order, please?"
"Oh my god, do you work here? Where is the party-loving, rich girl we used to know? What happened to it?" Cristelle asked funnily, and her man laughed at me.
"How much for the night, Lucy?" asked Thomas, my ex-suitor.
While everyone was looking, Jane stood up and said, "Oh, too bad Peter isn't here to see how his ex-fiancee turned into a rat."
"Well, well, well, you are such a loser, Lucy," Vianne said softly. Then, she clicked her tongue and added, "I used to wish I had your life, but now I'm glad that I didn't."
I pursed my lips into thin lines and smiled at them sweetly, “Can I take your order?”
Jane rolled her eyes at me, then got a pitcher of ice water and poured it all over my head. I took a deep breath as I froze, then stepped back and stared fiercely at my cousin. I walked up to her and hit her in the face twice. At first, she was shocked, but then she yelled at me and grabbed my hair roughly.
After that, everyone pushed me off the floor. My hateful eyes glared up at them, and then I felt a crushing sense of humiliation as I looked at myself.
"Dating a rich person doesn't mean you can act like you're rich. "No, Lucy! This is your place. This is where you belong, f*ck it! But what the f*ck is going on? If he's really into you, where is he now? Why isn't he inviting you to his massive home?" A nasty smirk spread across Jane's face.
Angela agreed, "Maybe you are too good at one night stands. That's why no man would want you anymore. I mean, no rich man would want someone so lowly as you!"
Annie came to my rescue and helped me get up, “Are you alright?”
“I–I’m fine.”
Thomas grabbed my waist and pulled me so close to him, “So, how much for one night?”
"Please don't touch me!" I tried to push him away, but everyone else seemed to enjoy what they saw.
Then Annie asked the guard for help because Thomas was really stubborn.
Then, out of nowhere, a rough, deep voice yelled, "How much for your life, Mr. Thomas Davis?! If you don't take your hands off of my woman, I'll kill you right now!"
Lucy’s POV Arman Romano has become the center of attention. The whole group jumped back in fear when they saw Arman with a gun. Everybody screamed in shock when Arman pulled the trigger and shot the floor twice. It scared me, too, when his burning eyes met mine. Thomas slowly released my arm. His hand was shaking with fear as he stepped back and left with his friends in panic. Jane stood there with stunned eyes and said, "Lucy—" Arman cut her off, “You have one second to get out of my club.” Jane’s lips trembled, she lowered her head as she was escorted by the guards outside. In the moment when Arman approached me, his unblinking gaze remained fixed on me, leaving me bewildered. After that, he grasped my arm, his icy fingers brushing against mine. He declared, "I'm done with this game with you, Lucy." Annie really wanted to help me, but I could tell from the look in her eyes that she couldn't do anything for me. She is scared and not sure what to do at the same time. She on
Lucy’s POV"And your dad is here too?" I whispered the question. He covered my mouth with his hand and said, "Let's go..." "What in the bloody hell are you doing?" I can't believe the man I saw earlier wants to use the window to leave with me. He took my hand and pushed me up the window, telling me, "We're not staying here." “Well, tell me one reason why I should jump the window?” “Because you look like a hooker right now. I don’t want them to see you wearing a club uniform.” he said and pushed me outside. And I let out a gasp of pain when I felt my back on the ground floor. I cursed Arman under my breath and glared at him as he jumped out of his window. He reached out to grab my hand, but I pushed it away and glared at him, "My back hurts—Whoaaa!" I felt like a bag of flour in his arms. As his powerful arms encircled me, he scowled at me, but I averted my gaze and pursed my lips in response. “Hey, put me down!” He whispered calmly, “I can’t just put you down, woman!” Upon ope
Lucy’s POVArman fixed his intense focus on me and abruptly drew me near him.I gasped as I looked up at him, confused. Arman fixed his intense focus on me and abruptly drew me near him.I gasped as I looked up at him, confused. He asked his friend with a smirk, "What's wrong with getting married to her? I wanted to marry her more than anyone else.”Ray smirked, “So you’re not marrying Camila?” And who’s Camila?Arman’s expression darkened, “No, not her. You know how much I loathe that woman.” “And one more question—” Arman shut the door in front of Ray’s face and locked it with a deep sigh. He closed his eyes tightly and let go of my waist. “Don’t you ever touch me like what you did earlier.” I grimaced and silently went to the bathroom. “Hey, I’m still talking to you–” I closed the door, then sighed softly. I noticed myself when I looked in the mirror. My round, dark circles under my eyes are the result from not getting enough sleep recently, I still look pretty, though. "L
Lucy’s POVThe sound of gunshots engulfed the entire area, and then my nightmare began. There were also bullet holes everywhere, and I had no idea what the f*ck was going on. I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life, and the thought of it made my entire body qualm. Arman dragged my feet and he took me with me to the window. I glared at him and said, “No, not the f*cking window again!” He said, “We have to jump, or else, we die together!” "N–No… Don't make me jump! This is not a f*Cking movie where you can jump and yet come out alive!" I kicked him out of the way and shambled frightenedly to the door. He couldn't help but follow me down the hall after I ran away from him. "Lucy!" he yelled out. But I'm stubborn; I'm not going to jump. I would rather run than jump the window again. I took a deep breath and tried to open the door to the exit because I needed to run down some long stairs. He kept calling my name, "Lucy!" Until the sound of another gunshot pierc
Lucy’s POVI held my breath as he grabbed my hand and slowly put the diamond ring on my finger. When he was done, he looked at me and said, "It fits perfectly." As I sigh, I look at the ring and think about what happened a year ago. Everyone seemed so happy when Peter asked me to marry him. It was like a scene from a fairy tale. It was a big surprise when Peter asked me to marry him on my birthday. My stepmother, father, and both of his parents were there. It was like a magical night for me, but it was not until Peter got really into Jane, my cousin. They kept seeing each other behind my back until they got the chance to be together because my father died, and Peter had an opportunity to call off our upcoming wedding.I sighed and smiled gloomily. It's funny how fate works sometimes because now I'm engaged again, but to the man I hate.“I’m engaged again.”“Uh, I remembered that you threw the ring on your ex-fiance’s face—” I glared at him, “Don’t mention him anymore.” "I underst
Lucy’s POV “Yes, I’m marrying him. What’s the problem?” Aunt Cecille mocked me, “You are just like your mom.” "Yes, she is just like her mom," Jane said with a snout. She put her hand on my collar, trying to fix it with a fake smile on her face, "Because you're poor now, you have to marry someone wealthy so you can get back on top?" “Don’t drag my mother’s name here.” I warned them and I pushed Jane away, glared at her and said, “Take your filthy hands away from me, Jane.” Jane scoffed and glanced at the manager, “I want that f*cking gown, if I have to pay double or thrice, I can give it to you!” I smiled at Jane and said, “You sound so desperate, Jane. No wonder you have my ex-fiance.” Aunt Cecille snapped back, “He chose my daughter because she’s better than you!” "I understand. Well, you know what? I don't need to waste time here fighting with just one bridal dress. Take it if you want it." At that point, I grabbed my black bag from the chair and got ready to leave, bu
Lucy’s POV“You’re lying.” he said. "What's the point? You like to hurt people and I saw what you did today. My slap mark isn't much different from the guy you murdered today, is it?"He walked up to me and towered over me with his height. I stepped back, put my arms around my chest, and tried to block his stare. He dipped his head to meet mine and grinned, saying, "I hate it when someone tries to mess with my pet."“Then try to work hard, Arman.” “Yeah. So speaking of our agreement…” he closed the door behind his back. He locked it with a sigh and he looked at me, “Kneel down and pleasure with your sweet little mouth.” We looked at each other, and I held my breath. I had no idea this day would come when I had to do what he wanted. I hung my head low and bit my bottom lip in disgust. "Lucy, get down on your knees," he demanded one last time. Then he unzipped his trousers and said, "I don't like to repeat myself…" "I never agreed on our contract that I wanted to sleep with you!
Lucy’s POV"Hey, watch your mouth. What makes me want to spy on you?" I asked with my eyes darted. I even took a step back because the way Enrique looked at me made me think he would attack me. He grabbed my arm and asked, "Do you think you can get away, girl? Whatever you heard a minute ago, don't ever tell Arman about it or I'll kill you!" He grabbed my arm so tightly that I could feel his nails going through my skin. "Let go of me, Enrique! You're hurting me!" But before Enrique could let go of me, someone pulled him away from me from behind, and Arman punched him multiple times. Arman snatched Enrique’s shirt’s collar and glared at his brother angrily, “What do you think you’re doing?” Enrique lowered his head and pushed his brother away with a heavy sigh, “Nothing…” “Nothing?!” Arman turned his gaze at me and ordered in an authority voice, “Get inside…” “Arman….” “You heard me?” he asked with warning in his voice. I gave him a nod and went inside. Camila was crying her