His Forbidden Mistress

Chapter 7

Serena’s POV

I slammed the door shut behind me, as the sound echoed loud in the quiet night.

My chest heaved,as I leaned against the wall, my hands trembling with anger.

Daniel’s words clawed at my mind, like a fresh wound: “Be my mistress. For a year.”

The audacity, the sheer arrogance of him thinking he could buy me, own me, like I was some commodity to be traded for his desire.

My skin burned with the memory of his touch, his lips, the way my body had betrayed me with that kiss.

I hated him. I hated myself more for letting him get under my skin.

“f**k you, Daniel,” I muttered under my breath, my voice shaking with rage as I kicked off my heels, wincing as my aching feet hit the cold floor.

The living room was dimly lit, the flickering glow of the TV casting shadows across the walls. Mia, my little sister, was sprawled on the couch, her eyes glued to the screen, the latest blockbuster blaring.

Popcorn spilled into a bowl in her lap, and she didn’t even notice me until I dropped my bag with a thud.

“Mia!” I snapped, my anger spilling over, though it wasn’t aimed at her. “You couldn’t wait for me to watch this together?”

Her head whipped around, her wide brown eyes meeting mine, as a sheepish grin spread across her face.

“Sorry, Sena! It was just getting good!” She patted the couch beside her gently, her voice soft.

“Come on, go change and watch with me. You’re late anyway.”

I sighed, the fight draining out of me at the sight of her.

Mia was the reason I kept going, the reason I danced at Club Hollow, the reason I hadn’t crumbled under the weight of our debts from mom's medical bills.

Her college bills also were a noose around my neck, but her smile made it bearable. “Fine,” I muttered, managing a small smile. “Give me five minutes.”

In my room, I stripped out of the tight dress, the fabric clinging to my skin like a reminder of Daniel’s hands.

I scrubbed my face, washing away the makeup and the memory of his smirk, then slipped into sweats and a tank top.

The mirror caught my reflection - eyes tired, lips still swollen from that damn kiss.

I shook my head, shoving the thought away, as I joined Mia on the couch.

She tossed me a blanket, and for a while, the movie drowned out the chaos in my head as I tried to enjoy the quiet moment.

~

The next night, the club’s pulsing music greeted me like an old friend, the bass vibrating through my bones as I pushed through the back entrance.

My shift was almost in an hour and I was already dreading it.

I stepped into the dressing room, the air was thick with perfume and cigarette smoke.

Then I froze.

Lila, one of the other dancers and my supposed best friend was pressed against the wall, her legs wrapped around a security guard’s waist.

His hands gripped her thighs, her red lace lingerie barely covering her as she moaned into his mouth.

The guard’s pants were halfway down, his movements rough, urgent, as he thrust his c**k against her, the sound of their bodies colliding loud and unapologetic.

Lila’s nails dug into his shoulders, her head tilted back,her lips parted in ecstasy.

I rolled my eyes, my stomach twisting with a mix of annoyance and exhaustion.

I slipped past them to my locker, ignoring the heat in the air, the way Lila’s moans filled the room.

Dropping my bag, I headed out back to the alley for a moment of peace.

A few minutes later, the guard came out, zipping his pants, his face flushed with shyness. “Hey, Serena,” he mumbled, attempting a greeting as he walked away fast.

I didn’t even glance at him, my jaw tight as I brushed past and reentered the dressing room.

Lila was still there, naked except for a silk robe loosely tied around her waist, her dark hair rough and lips smudged with lipstick.

She was pouring whiskey into two glasses, her behavior normal, like she hadn’t just been f****d against a wall.

“Want one?” she asked, holding out a glass.

I shook my head, dropping onto a chair. “You really like that guy?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended it to.

Lila laughed, a throaty, carefree sound that grated on my nerves.

“Like him? Nah, I’m just having fun, girl. He’s got a nice d**k and knows how to use it. Why settle for one when I can play the field?”

She took a sip of whiskey, her eyes glinting with mischief. Then she tilted her head, studying me. “What’s with you, though? You look like someone pissed you off.”

I hesitated, the weight of last night pressing down on me. Lila was no saint, but she was the closest thing I had to a friend here.

“Last night,” I started, my voice low, “Victor and his goons chased me. I got away, but then… Daniel Hawthorne happened.”

Lila’s brows shot up immediately. “Hawthorne? The rich asshole who’s always in the VIP? What did he do?”

I clenched my fists, the memory igniting my anger afresh.

“He offered to ‘settle’ my debts with Victor. Said he would make them disappear if I agreed to be his mistress for a year.”

The word burned on my tongue. “Like I’m some w***e he can buy.”

Lila whistled, leaning back against the counter, her robe slipping to reveal more of her thigh. “Damn, girl. That’s a bold move, even for him.” She sipped her whiskey, her eyes narrowing. “You should take it.”

I stared at her, stunned. “What?”

“Take the deal,” she said, shrugging like it was obvious.

“Victor’s bad news. You know he’s not gonna stop coming for you. Hawthorne’s got money, power. He can make Victor go away. You’ll be safe, Serena. Isn’t that worth it?”

My blood boiled as my voice rose. “Worth it? To sell myself? To let him own me? No, Lila, I’m not that desperate. I’d rather die than be his mistress.”

She sighed, setting her glass down, her expression softening but firm.

“You’re not thinking straight. You’ve got Mia to worry about, those bills are piling up. Victor’s not playing games. He'll hurt you, or worse.

Hawthorne’s a prick, sure, but he’s a rich prick. You don’t have to love him. Just play your part, get Victor off your back, and walk away when it’s done. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.”

I shook my head, my throat tight, anger and fear raging inside me. “I can’t, Lila. I won’t. There’s gotta be another way.”

She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto mine, her voice low and serious. “There isn’t, Serena. You’re out of options, and you know it.”

I stood, my hands shaking, her words were more true than I wanted to admit. “I’d rather fight than surrender,” I said stubbornly.

Lila smirked, raising her glass. “Then you better be ready to bleed.”