Chapter 8: We may lose her
1591 Words
“Who took you to Room 801 that night?”
Luca stared at Aria.
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, she looked at the screen.
Her mother's hospital.
Aria's heart dropped.
She answered immediately.
“Hello?”
A nurse's voice came through.
“Miss Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“I'm calling about your mother.”
Aria's face changed.
“Is she okay?”
There was a pause.
“Her condition has gotten worse.”
Aria gripped the phone.
“What do you mean?”
“The doctors have reviewed her latest results. She needs surgery as soon as possible.”
“How soon?”
“Within five days.”
Aria stopped breathing.
“Five days?”
“Yes.”
“And if we don't get it done?”
The nurse hesitated.
“We may lose her.”
Aria's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm coming.”
“You need to arrange the payment before the surgery.”
“I'll get it.”
She ended the call.
Luca had been watching her.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Aria.”
“My mother is sick.”
His expression changed slightly.
“How serious?”
“She needs surgery.”
“When?”
“In Five days.”
“Do you have the money?”
Aria looked away.
“I'll handle it.”
Luca studied her.
“You don't look like someone who can handle it.”
She swallowed.
“I said I'll handle it.”
He didn't argue.
Instead, he picked up his phone.
“You're taking tomorrow off.”
Aria looked at him.
“Really?”
“You heard me.”
“But I have work.”
“You have something more important.”
She frowned.
“I can't afford to miss a day.”
“I’m not asking for your permission.”
He turned toward his desk.
“Go home.”
Aria stood there.
“Thank you.”
Luca didn't respond.
She walked away.
But she wasn't going home.
Not yet.
She needed money.
A lot of it.
And by midnight, she knew exactly where she could earn some.
---
The music shook the walls of Eclipse Club.
Aria stood backstage, staring at herself in the mirror.
She barely recognized the woman looking back.
She had borrowed the outfit from another night performer and tied her hair differently.
Tonight was her first night.
She had no idea what she was doing.
But the manager had promised good money.
Enough to make a difference.
Enough to get her mother closer to surgery.
“Aria!”
She turned.
The manager stood behind her.
“You're on in five minutes.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“You're new. Don't let the crowd scare you.”
Aria forced a smile.
“I won't.”
The music changed.
Her name was announced.
She stepped onto the stage.
---
Across the club, Luca Moretti sat in a private booth with three of his closest friends.
He had come because they had insisted.
For once, he wasn't thinking about business.
At least, that's what he told himself.
“Luca, relax.”
Marco laughed.
“You've been staring at your phone for twenty minutes.”
“I have work.”
“It's midnight already.”
“I always have work.”
His friends laughed.
Then the lights dimmed.
The music changed.
Luca barely looked toward the stage.
Until he heard the name.
“Tonight, please welcome our newest performer…”
He looked up.
And froze.
Aria.
His eyes widened.
For several seconds, he simply stared.
The woman who was working in his office that morning was standing on that stage.
His jaw tightened.
“What the hell?”
Marco followed his gaze.
“Wait.”
He leaned forward.
“Isn't that your assistant?”
Luca didn't answer.
Another friend looked at her.
“That's the girl?”
“What girl?” Marco asked.
“The one Moretti has been talking about.”
Luca's eyes narrowed.
“Enough.”
His friend ignored him.
“She's new, right?”
The manager passed their table.
Marco stopped him.
“Hey.”
“Yes, sir?”
“How much does it cost to book her for a private performance?”
The manager glanced toward the stage.
“Her?”
“Yes.”
“She just started tonight.”
“How much?”
The manager hesitated.
“She's new, so—”
“I'll pay double.”
Another friend laughed.
“Double? I'll pay triple.”
Luca's hand tightened around his glass.
“Enough.”
Everyone became quiet.
Marco looked at him.
“Relax.”
Luca's expression was cold.
“Did I stutter?”
Nobody answered.
The manager looked nervous.
Luca stood.
“I want that girl assigned to my private room.”
The manager blinked.
“Sir, she's new. Tonight is actually her first—”
“I heard you.”
“She hasn't done private performances before.”
Luca's eyes hardened.
“I'll pay ten times her usual rate.”
The manager stared at him.
Ten times.
That was more than he could have imagined earning from one booking.
“Sir, I—”
But Luca was already walking away.
“Wait!”
The manager hurried after him.
“Mr. Moretti, there's something you should know.”
Luca stopped.
“What?”
“She doesn't usually—”
“I said I want her brought to my room.”
The manager swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
Luca disappeared down the hallway.
---
Aria stepped backstage after her performance.
Her legs were trembling.
Not from the dancing.
From exhaustion.
She had done everything she could.
Now she only needed to collect her payment.
The manager rushed toward her.
“Aria.”
“Yes?”
“There's a private room upstairs.”
She frowned.
“I don't understand.”
“Mr. Moretti requested you.”
Her blood ran cold.
“Luca?”
The manager nodded.
“He wants you in his private room.”
Aria stared at him.
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“He offered ten times your usual rate.”
Aria shook her head.
“I don't care.”
“Aria—”
“I said no.”
The manager lowered his voice.
“Do you know who he is?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should understand why I can't exactly refuse him.”
Aria's stomach tightened.
She looked toward the staircase.
She couldn't go near Luca.
Not tonight.
Not after everything that had happened.
The manager handed her a small envelope.
“He also said this was for you.”
Aria opened it.
Her eyes widened.
Money.
More than she'd expected to earn tonight.
She stared at it.
Her mother's surgery.
Five days.
The thought made her chest ache.
She closed the envelope.
“I'll go.”
The manager looked surprised.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She walked toward the stairs.
Each step felt heavier.
---
Luca stood inside the private room, staring through the glass wall overlooking the club.
He couldn't understand his own anger.
She had every right to work wherever she wanted.
But seeing her there had affected him more than it should have.
The door opened.
He turned.
Aria walked inside.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Luca's expression hardened.
“You work here?”
Aria crossed her arms.
“Apparently.”
“Since when?”
“Tonight.”
“Why?”
“I need money.”
“For your mother?”
Aria's eyes widened.
“How did you—”
“You told me she needed surgery.”
Silence.
Luca walked closer.
“You could have asked me.”
“I don't need your charity.”
“That's not charity.”
“What is it then?”
He stopped in front of her.
“I don't know.”
Aria looked away.
“Then let me leave.”
Luca stared at her.
“No.”
She looked back.
“If I may ask Why?”
His jaw tightened.
Because he didn't know how to explain the anger burning inside him.
Because he had walked into a nightclub expecting to forget his problems.
Instead, he had found her.
Because the thought of other men watching her had made him furious.
And because he hated that he cared.
“You're coming with me.”
Aria shook her head.
“No.”
Luca's eyes darkened.
“Aria.”
“I came here to earn money for my mother's surgery.”
“I know.”
“Then let me work.”
Luca looked at her for a long moment.
Finally, he stepped aside.
“Fine.”
Aria blinked.
“Fine?”
“Yes fine.”
He picked up his jacket.
“But we're not staying here tonight.”
Luca looked directly at her.
“tomorrow is your day off.”
He walked toward the door.
“And you're spending it with me.”
Aria stared after him.
“Where?”
Luca stopped without turning.
“Somewhere you'll finally perform for me.”
Before he walked out.
Aria froze in the room.
She had wanted money.
She had wanted to protect her mother.
She had wanted to keep her pregnancy secret.
He turned to her, “we’re going Somewhere we can talk without anyone interrupting us.”
Now, she had somehow ended up trapped in another situation with Luca Moretti.
And tomorrow, she was going to be alone with him.
TO BE CONTINUED
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