Chapter 7: The offer
600 Words
Under the dark night sky, the car park stretched out. Naked men and women clung to the corners, pressed against cars, on bonnets, and in hidden nooks. The glow of the streetlights revealed scenes of lust, chaos and drug use. Freaks, Nat thought, nothing more.
Julio, Nat’s bodyguard and driver, stood silently by the door as Nat opened it for them.
They slid into the back seat, the world outside momentarily forgotten. Nat handed her a tissue, his movements calm, precise.
Zara dabbed at her tears, maintaining composure, holding onto the steeze that defined her.
Nat’s eyes never left her.
He didn’t speak. He just watched.
The silence in the car was long but comfortable, until it no longer was—awkward.
“You asked to see me,” Zara finally said.
“It’s about time we come to terms.”
“Terms?”
Nat drew in a sharp breath. “What do you want… for yourself?”
Zara exhaled, staring out of the window at the glowing red Sin City sign above the building.
“Honestly… freedom. From Antonio. From this place. I want to kickstart my career in fashion. I want… out.”
He nodded slowly. “I see. And you know what I want?”
She tilted her head. “What?”
He leaned closer. “A woman as sexy as you to always keep me company.” His fingers brushed her lips teasingly. “Someone to ease out a bit with.”
“And I’m that person?” Zara laughed.
“You are funny.” Her tone was sarcastic.
He smiled. She didn’t yet understand how much he wanted her.
“I’ll take care of you. Whatever you need. How much do you owe him?”
“About one-fifty thousand.”
“That’s it? I’ll pay him. You’ll be free.”
Her chest tightened. Free…The word sounded like a century of chains snapping, breaking away. Like music. Like something unbelievable.
She blinked.
“Wait—you’re joking, right?”
His smile grew more confident.
“I mean every word,” he assured her.
She placed her hands over her mouth. Tears pricked her eyes. “Thank you, Nat.” Her voice was small and genuine.
Nat held her hands tightly, a soft, lingering gaze in his eyes.
“Why… why are you doing this?”
He shrugged. “I grew fond of you. Life’s too short to waste on places like this.”
Silence hovered.
“I’ll repay you, Nat, somehow.”
“You don’t have to,” he said.
“No, I will. Do you want it here? In the club? Or your house?”
Nat chuckled. She laughed with him, their tension dissolving.
“Look… I’m not doing this for your body. I want to see you win. I want you by my side.”
Zara hugged him.
“Aww, baby girl!” he said, running a hand through her hair and commanding Siri to play music. A sultry, thrilling song filled the car, and for a moment, the world outside ceased to exist.
Sex was inevitable, yes—but this was more. She had a soul. She was honest. She wasn’t after his money. She was… real.
Her earlier question hung in the air. “Do you want it here or in the back?”
A slow, dark thought crossed his mind: We could even have it in the woods…
Zara smiled blissfully in his safe embrace, inhaling his expensive perfume.
But deep down, she couldn’t ignore the question creeping into her mind—was Nat her savior… or just another cage?
- Writer
