Betrothed to the Bíllonaire Beast

Chapter 3

Mrs Parker stood behind me, while adjusting and fixing the robe, “ you've been here long enough to know how this works. You've watched the strippers do their thing, don't mess this up”. Her voice softened almost northerly. Romano Black is not a man to be toyed with, for such a man the name is impeccably befitting, I thought.

I know my boss, she'll do anything for the cash,and whatever the pay, i Know too well, she gets the lion's share.

Before I could respond, she led me to the door of the room, gave all the instructions, and left me standing there, alone. My heart pounded as doubt crept in,What am I doing? My mom's warning about men echoed in my mind, but the reality of our financial struggles. With a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of warm lights casting shadows, he sat on the bed, his posture relaxed and commanding.

“You know what to do” he said, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade.

With trembling hands, I climbed onto the bed and placed them on his shoulders, beginning to knead his tense muscles, beneath his tailored shirt. The scent of his cologne surrounded me, intoxicating and overwhelming. The scent of family. I couldn’t quite place it, but I knew I had encountered it before. The familiarity gnawed at me, teasing my mind as I tried to recall where I had smelled it. My heart raced as my slender fingers danced on his broad shoulders.

“That's enough”, he said, and I climbed down from the bed.

“Strip”, he said, his deep voice slicing through the silence like a blade.

I froze, his words ringing in my ears. Slowly, I untied the silk robe, letting it fall to the ground. The lingerie felt more revealing now than ever, and I wanted nothing more than to dissapear. His dark eyes roamed me, his gaze consuming but unreadable.

I felt like a prey under the eyes of the predator, vulnerable and exposed. My waist, my curves, the slight swell of my breast, nothing escaped his scrutiny. Then he smiled, a slow, wicked curve of his lips that made my stomach flip.

"I said strip," he repeated, his voice colder, cutting through the air like a blade. Panic surged through me as I shook my head, my lips trembling. "Wait... I hope he isn't asking me to go completely naked," I thought, my heartbeat thundering in my chest. Gathering courage, I met his gaze.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that," I said sternly, though my voice wavered slightly. His eyes narrowed, dark and menacing, and I instantly regretted my words. He stared daggers at me, the air between us thick with tension.

"The audacity," I imagined him thinking, as he stood abruptly, towering over me like a giant. I stumbled back instinctively, fear creeping into my every step as he closed the gap between us with deliberate strides.

Grabbing my face firmly yet not harshly, he tilted my chin, forcing me to look directly into his icy, unyielding eyes. His grip was commanding, his touch cold, and the authority in his gaze sent shivers down my spine.

“You dare refuse me? " He growled, his voice low and menacing“ I can end your life right where you stand.

Fear crawled across my chest as the door creaked open. His bodyguard from earlier stopped in.

I flinched, my body jerking as I feared the situation had just gone out of control, and at the same time embarrassed. Mission accomplished boss”, the guard said calmly, as though nothing unusual was happening.

Romano finally released his grip on me, his cold gaze lingering on mine for a moment, putting on his jacket, soothing it with precision that made it look more menacing.

The guard walked over to a corner of the room and returned with a briefcase. He opened it to reveal a neat stack of dollars that were gleaned under the low light. My eyes widened in bewilderment.

“ For the w***e" he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. As though it was worth nothing more than the stacks of cash.

“w***e I fired back anger boiling in my veins, my shock gave way to unrestricted fury, And I forgot, for a moment, that I was standing before two dangerous men.

“ Who the hell do you think you are?"

Who am I, he asked with a smirk? Are you sure you want to know that sweetheart?

In my anger, I shoved the briefcase away, and it crashed on the floor. The stacks of money scattered around us like fallen leaves.

‘’ You think you can just trample on anyone”, you're nothing but a pervert.

The guard made a move towards me, but Romano stopped him.

Picking up my robe, I stormed out, but before I could, his hand gripped my arm, pulling me back.

Turning to me, he said," Watch your tongue young lady, or I'll cut it off", he leaned in, his voice low and venomous. Only a w***e will sell herself for money. You agreed to my request because you desperately needed the money.You have no dignity.

“Leave us”, he commanded his guard, his tone leaving no room for argument. The guard bowed his head, left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Romano released my hand and moved closer, before I could react, his hands wrapped around my throat, not tight enough to hurt, but firm enough to send shivers down my spine. Then I realized how hopelessly outmatched I was.

"Let me go," I said, my voice trembling as I clutched his arm with both hands, desperate to loosen his grip.

"Beg for mercy," he demanded, his cold voice devoid of empathy.

I shook my head defiantly, but his grip on my throat tightened, making it harder to breathe. Panic surged through me, and I finally whispered, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

A sinister smile played on his lips. "Good girl," he said, releasing me abruptly as if I were nothing.

I stumbled back, gasping for air, my hands rubbing my sore neck. I felt crushed beneath the weight of his cruel dominance, but I refused to let him see me cry. Without another word, I stormed out of the room, holding back the tears threatening to spill.

As I made my way down the dimly lit corridors of the club, my vision blurred with emotion. The muffled bass of the music vibrated through the walls, but it felt distant, irrelevant.

In the lounge, I spotted Mrs. Parker was surrounded by a group of men, laughing loudly and downing drinks. Her laughter sounded hollow, almost mocking, as she clinked glasses with them. It was clear she had indulged far too much, her drunken state embarrassing even from a distance.

I turned away, not wanting to confront her or anyone else. I pushed open the bathroom door, and let the tears flow freely. Silent sobs wracked my body as I leaned over the sink, staring at my reflection. My makeup, which had been carefully applied earlier, was smeared with streaks of mascara trailing down my cheeks.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the shame, anger, and disgust I felt.

When I finally calmed myself, I wiped my face clean, got dressed in my regular clothes, and stormed out of the building. I didn't care about Mrs. Parker, my job, or the consequences of walking out like this. I just needed to get away.

For the first time in a long while, I felt both powerless and free. As I got into the cab heading home, my mind spun in chaotic circles, replaying the day's events. The disappointment of missing my train, the earth-shattering revelation from Mom, and the unsettling encounter with Romano, it was all too much.

It felt as though the universe had chosen to give me a birthday curse rather than a gift.I couldn’t think straight. What more could this day hold? Little did I know,, my story wasn’t done, and unknowingly, to me, I was being followed.

When the cab pulled up to my home, I spotted Mom sitting outside on the porch, her expression a mix of worry and relief. The moment I stepped out, I ran to her without hesitation, throwing my arms around her and sobbing on her shoulder. She was my safe haven.

“It’s okay, dear,” she whispered softly, stroking my hair. “I’m so sorry I never told you all these years. I’m sorry I turned your special day into this. Thank you for coming back to me. I thought… I thought I’d lost you again.”

Her words broke me even further. Pulling back slightly, I looked into her tear-filled eyes. “I love you, Mom. You’re everything to me. The world out there is harsh, but I’ll always come back to you.”

I hugged her tighter, as if letting go meant losing the only piece of stability I had left.

Mom wanted to take me inside, but I held her hand, stopping her. “No more hiding, Mom. It’s time. Tell me everything I need to know now,” I said, my voice firm and unwavering.

She hesitated, her eyes searching mine as though weighing whether I was ready to handle the truth. “Can your heart take it?” she finally asked.

“Yes,” I replied, nodding resolutely.

We both sat down outside, in the quiet of the evening. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began.

"Years ago," Mom began, her voice heavy with sorrow, "I was r***d twice. The first time… it was by my uncle." Her words hit me like a punch to the chest, and I could feel my heart break for her. "And the second," she continued, pausing as if the memory burned her, "was by the man I loved.

He was my high school sweetheart, the person I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with."

Her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together. "We were so in love," she said, her eyes distant as if replaying a scene from a life that now felt like a dream. "We talked about getting married, building a future together. But he betrayed me… he broke my heart. One night, he did the unthinkable. He r***d me."

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words sinking deep into my chest.

"I got pregnant," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "and I decided to keep the baby. I thought maybe, just maybe, that child would give me hope. But I lost the baby." She looked at me then, her eyes filled with pain.

"That loss shattered me," she admitted. "I told myself I’d never fall in love again. I couldn’t bear to trust another man, I was scared, scared of love. And I believed, because of my brokenness, that I could never be a good mother. I thought I’d fail any child I brought into the world."

She paused, “Then, one night, the doorbell rang. When I opened it, there you were. So small, so innocent, and so pitiful. You looked like a little angel.

Worked at a hotel,” she said softly. “I tried to keep us afloat, but the manager made advances towards me. I refused, and when he didn’t get his way, he framed me, and I was fired. I was shattered beyond words.”

Mom slowly opened a tiny box and brought out a diamond pendant. "This came with you," she said, her voice quiet and filled with emotion. I hesitated, feeling the weight of her words. "Mom, why should I wear something given by the ones who abandoned me at birth?" I asked, my voice thick with resentment.