Desperate Measures
752 Words
Shammah's POV
I remembered the hotel was hiring waitresses. Ivy worked there; the pay was good.
Maybe I could earn the money myself.
"You look great in that uniform!" Ivy said, smiling at me.
I looked down at the short skirt and tight top. I felt almost naked. "I feel weird."
"Don't worry. Rich guys come here and tip really well. You'll make good money," Ivy promised.
I was about to respond when I heard loud voices. A group of guys walked in.
My heart stopped.
Solomon was with them.
"Look who it is," one of his friends said, laughing. "Solomon, you were right. She does work here."
I grabbed menus with shaking hands. "Please sit down."
As I leaned over to put drinks on the table, one of them grabbed my bottom. I froze.
"I like this uniform," he said. "How about you take it off?"
I jumped back. "Don't touch me."
"Oh, come on, Shammah," another friend said. "Aren't you here to make men happy? Come sit on my lap."
"I'm a waitress," I said loudly. "Not a… not what you think."
"The manager hired you because you're pretty," one laughed. "Not because you can carry plates. So come here and sit with me. I'll pay you good money."
I looked at Solomon. He just watched me, waiting.
Once, he would have punched anyone who talked to me like this. Now he didn't care.
"I'll give you ten thousand dollars if you drink this whole beer," one of them said.
I stared. "What?"
"You heard me. Drink it all, get ten thousand dollars."
"We'll all give you ten thousand each if you drink all our beers," another added.
I looked at all the beer bottles. Then at Solomon. He raised his eyebrows, challenging me.
I needed the money. My father needed me.
I grabbed the first bottle and drank it fast. It tasted awful, but I didn't stop. They cheered and laughed.
I was halfway through the third bottle when someone grabbed my wrist hard and pulled me away.
Solomon dragged me outside. His friends booed behind us.
"Stop this," Solomon said angrily. "Accept my offer."
"No," I said. My head felt fuzzy from the beer. "I won't be your mistress."
"You'd rather act like this?" he yelled. "Like a cheap girl who does anything for money?"
"Why do you care? You have Esther!"
"You're still mine, Shammah. You'll always be mine," he growled.
I laughed, but I also wanted to cry. "I'm not yours anymore."
"Fine. Be what you want," he said meanly. "Spread your legs for money. That's all you're good for."
My hand moved before I could think. I slapped him across the face.
He grabbed my throat. Then he froze, staring at my neck.
"What is that?" he hissed. "Is that a hickey?"
I'd forgotten about the mark David left. It was fading but still there.
"So what if it is?" I said.
He squeezed tighter. "Who were you with?"
"None of your business."
He shook me. "Tell me!"
"David!" I shouted. "Your future father-in-law. Happy now?"
He let go and laughed. "You're lying, making up stories."
His friends had followed us outside. They laughed too.
"David Khai? He would never want someone like Shammah."
"Yeah, she's nobody. He's a Lycan chairman. No way."
Solomon grabbed my throat again, harder. "Stop lying. Tell me the truth. David would never want you. You are nothing; you don't belong in his world."
I couldn't breathe. Black spots danced in front of my eyes.
"Once I'm married, you'll move into the house I bought and spread your legs for me whenever I want—"
A loud car horn made him let go.
I coughed and rubbed my neck. We all turned to look.
A shiny black car sat at the curb. The back door opened.
David sat inside, looking right at me.
"Get in," he ordered.
I couldn't move. Was this real?
"I won't ask again, Shammah," he said, his voice hard.
I looked at Solomon's shocked face. Then I ran to the car and got in.
"Drive," David told his driver.
The car started moving. Through the window, I saw Solomon standing there with his mouth open. His friends looked just as surprised.
David looked at me. "Using me to make your ex jealous?"
I didn't know what to say. My neck hurt, my head hurt, and everything hurt.
But somehow, sitting next to David in his fancy car, I felt safer than I had in days.
- Writer
