Chapter 2

In the darkness, the manager, Chloe, didn't say a word. She simply lifted her high-heeled foot and kicked me hard in the stomach.

The pain was so intense that I curled up on the floor, my stomach churning.

"Spending my man's money, huh? Trying to seduce him?" she screamed, her voice thick with jealousy and rage.

Standing over me, she snapped at the two guards. "Beat her. Don't hold back."

The security guards were clearly on her payroll. Without hesitation, they started punching and kicking me. I clenched my teeth, swallowing every cry and groan. It felt like my bones were breaking and my insides were being torn apart.

Chloe kept screaming, "Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a leech!"

"I told you, I'm his sister! If you don't believe me, ask Julian yourself. Call him right now, and I'll speak to him," I tried to explain. She didn't care. She only raised her hand to halt the assault when my vision blurred and the room started spinning.

She pressed her heel into my shoulder, smiling down at me. "You're going to pay for your meal today, and you're going to cough up another fifty thousand dollars. This is what you get for going after my man and spending his money. I'm not afraid of the fallout. Julian will handle it for me."

Curled up and barely able to breathe, I managed a weak protest. "That's my own money. I told you. If you don't believe me, ask him."

Her face darkened, and she kicked me again. The two guards took the cue and resumed their beating. By then, I knew my words were useless. If this kept up, I really might die here.

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to feel around for my phone.

"Stop... I'll pay."

Satisfied with my submission, she motioned for the guards to back off. She crouched down and patted my swollen cheek. "See? Isn't that easier? You made things so hard for yourself when you could have just done it my way. One hundred thousand dollars, and not a cent less."

Lying on the cold floor, my lungs burned as I gasped for air.

I ignored her and dialed my best friend, Eleanor Croft. She picked up immediately. "Eleanor, bring two hundred thousand dollars to Julian's restaurant. I need it right now."

Eleanor went quiet for a second, instantly sensing something was wrong. "Victoria? What happened? Why does your voice sound like that?"

"Don't ask, just hurry," I cut her off and hung up.

When Chloe Vance heard the words "two hundred thousand," her eyes lit up. A glint of raw greed flashed across her face.

She likely assumed I had been beaten into submission and was offering double just to buy her mercy.

She couldn't hide her smugness anymore.

"Smart choice."