Paid To Love

Episode 12

Paid To Love EPISODE 12

I watched in shock as Zack shoved Victoria behind him, her stumbling and landing with a pained groan.

“Don’t listen to her!” I charged forward, my anger fueled by his actions.

Zack held his ground, his eyes darting between me and Victoria. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“I’m her boyfriend,” I replied curtly, “and I suggest you let her go.”

His face hardened. “She doesn’t seem to think you know her,” he retorted, squaring his shoulders.

Victoria smirked from behind him, her eyes twinkling with mischief. For a split second, I considered walking away, but knew I couldn’t abandon her in this situation. She was drunk and upset with me, and apparently that made her impulsive and reckless— a dangerous combination.

“You be on your way,” Zack said in a sugary sweet voice that grated on my nerves. “We’ll take care of this young lady.”

“Can I see your name tag?” I asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

“What?”

I stepped closer, peering at his uniform. “Ah, you work at this restaurant? What’s your position? Manager? Certainly nothing higher, judging by your attire.”

Zack’s expression darkened, and the four men who had been watching silently all became tense. “What are you getting at?” he demanded.

“Just needed to double check your position and name for when I go to your boss,” I said casually, tucking my hands into my pockets. What I couldn’t do with my hands, I could do with my words.

Zack scoffed. “Who do you think you are?”

“A good friend of his,” I replied, a smirk playing on my lips. “I think your bosses name is Daniel, right? He’s not a very patient person either.”

His face paled, his defensive stance crumbling. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”

“If you aren’t, why are you getting so nervous?” I pressed, my voice firm. “I’ll ask you once more. Hand her over and leave.”

Zack hesitated, his eyes darting between me and Victoria. Finally, he reached behind him and grabbed Victoria, forcefully shoving her towards me. She gasped and tripped, but I managed to catch her before she fell.

“Let me go,” Victoria muttered, her eyes clouded with intoxication.

“Did they hurt you?” I asked, my anger flaring at the sight of her discomfort.

“No, I tripped and twisted my ankle,” she complained, shifting her weight onto her right side. Then, without a word, she started hobbling away from me.

“Where are you going?”

“Away from you,” she snapped, her voice laced with annoyance. “Leave me alone. I’m still mad.”

“How did that work for you last time?” I reminded her, my voice laced with frustration. “You got caught by a bunch of perverts.”

“They weren’t perverts,” she retorted, her voice slurred. “I tripped in front of them and they helped me up and you took things the wrong way.”

I stopped, my mind struggling to process her words. “What?”

“You were pretty intimidating though, I’ll give you that,” she conceded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

A muscle twitched in my jaw. So I’d just made a fool of myself? “I found your cell phone on the ground though,” I said, changing the subject to avoid further embarrassment.

“I dropped it when I fell,” she replied nonchalantly.

I grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and pulled her back to me. “Stop walking away from me when I’m talking to you.”

She gave me a snotty look and shook her arm back and forth until I let go. “I don’t feel like talking to you right now,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Stop ordering me to do stuff. I’m not yours.”

“I know,” I replied, my voice softer, “but James and I have been looking for you.”

“I’ll refund your money, don’t worry,” she said, her voice laced with bitterness. “I know you’re very concerned about that.”

“You’re coming with me,” I told her, my patience wearing thin. I reached for her again, but she stepped back, her eyes flashing with defiance. “Victoria, I won’t let you walk around alone while you’re inebriated.”

“Have James come find me then. I’ll go with him,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.