Sold?

•Nora

These past few days I'm getting this weird feeling, like someone is following me. Everytime I go out for an errand I feel like someone is constantly staring at me.

At first I thought that it might just be me being paranoid but it didn't stop.

I often go out for small dealings with Ben or Lee too sometimes and I've felt this odd feeling many times.

Still, everytime I looked for the source I got nothing.

Now i'm worried about it because of two things. It could be someone looking for revenge since I'm now part of the mafia and even though I didn't do anything wrong, to an outsider I might seem like an easy target.

Second, what I fear more than getting attacked or someone trying to take their revenge through me is that it might be a stalker. Someone from my past.

I've had people stalk me when I used to be a bar dancer. It's not a very likeable memory to be very honest. At that time I didn't have the skills to defend myself this well.

Well, thankfully I wasn't a doll either. I did manage to get myself out of situations but that isn't the worst of my worries either.

"Nora?" Caesar called my name while I was lost in thought as I stood in the kitchen.

I snapped back to reality and looked at him as he looked at me in concern, "Caesar? What's wrong?"

"The water is overflowing." He said and I finally looked at the water jug I was filling to take with me back in my room.

"Oh!" I turned the tap up to stop the water and mentally cursed at myself.

"Is something bothering you?" He walked towards me, "There were many times I noticed you were distracted."

"Oh no. I'm fine." He stood by my side and grabbed a towel to absorb the water on the floor that spilled out of my jug.

Now what my worst fear is?

Having Caesar look at me differently.

I can not change my past and I believe that I will not be able to hide it either. But I want to delay it as much as I can.

I like the time I spend with him.

I fear that if the stalker is a customer from the past it will expose all of me. In the past I already told him how 'that' stuff wasn't new to me. He'll catch on about everything.

Caesar cleaned up the floor as I watched him absentmindedly. He stood up and looked at me but didn't say anything.

This is why I was against liking someone. You become so vulnerable…

It was fine when it was just a crush but now, I feel like everyday I like him more.

***

I walked to the warehouse alone this time. I guess after all this time everyone decided I can do this stuff on my own. All I had to do was go and check the 'sweets' in the boxes before they were shipped out.

I decided to take a cab for a while and then stepped out about 3-5 km away from the warehouse.

I took a cab for the sole reason of avoiding the stalker but what do you know?

As soon as I started walking I got the chills. I didn't look back.

I ran. Straight ahead towards the warehouse.

As I reached the open area I stopped to catch my breath. There was no area to hide so whoever it was, who had been following me for days had to come out in the open.

"What possible reason could you have to be here at a warehouse?" I heard someone's voice and looked back.

Wow…

It wasn't one person. It was four of them. All I knew pretty nicely.

They had been my private customers.

"What possible reason could you all have to follow me around?"

"We? Following you around?" Kamina, the guy who got only one private dance from me said.

"Then what are you doing here? Clearly this place doesn't belong to you." I asked unamused.

"What makes you think it doesn't belong to any of us?" Gali, the guy I've known the longest said.

"Because I work here you dumbass! Stop stalking me okay?! Whatever we had in the past stays in the past." I said in an angrier tone.

"Why? You seem scared about something." Gali spoke again, "Did you perhaps get a boyfriend?"

"Oh yes. I did. Jealous?"

"What?" Kamina furrowed his brows, "You? Someone like you with a boyfriend? Like anyone would take in a dirty slut like you. Stop lying. You've been dancing for all of us like a little bitch. No one who knows that will accept you."

"Think whatever you like. I know you came back to get me. Maybe you all were hoping I'd spend the day fucking you all but that's not gonna happen. I never fucked any of you and I never will."

It seems like I hit the bullseye. They all got flustered and angry.

"We can make you do it you bitch." Chura spoke up and I sighed.

"Try me assholes."

Maybe they all thought they could have their way with a girl like me who had no one to help her. Seeing me alone, they decided to challenge me.

***

Four men.

I nodded to myself proudly.

I beat up four men pretty nicely and got just one bruise in return.

I complimented myself as I sat on top of Chura's body that was on the ground almost unconscious.

"You should have come at me all at once. You might, MIGHT, have won."

I glanced at the other on the ground groaning in pain, "If I see any of you again I will break you. Very badly." I stood up and stepped away, "Take this piece of shit on the floor and scram." Just to make sure none of them try anything funny I took out my pocket blade, "Now."

It worked. I don't know if they were scared of getting a beating again or of the blade but they left running with their tails between their legs.

I took a breath of relief.

Finally.

I don't have to worry about them anymore.

"Were these the men keeping you distracted all the time?" The voice made my heart skip a beat in fear. I froze in my place as the owner of the voice walked up to me.

Of course I'd miss his presence. He's a pro at it.

Caesar came and stood beside me. His expressions remained neutral and I mentally cursed.

"How long have you been here?"

"From the start."

"..."

"Is something wrong?"

"No." I didn't look at him and started walking towards the warehouse.

He grabbed my wrist and stopped me, "You didn't answer my question." I didn't look at him, I was ashamed of myself, "Why aren't you looking at me."

"I got dust in my eyes…"

"...Okay? Let me check."

"No need. It's gone."

"..."

I cleared my throat and jerked my wrist to escape his grip and run away but it didn't work. It only made him more suspicious.

"Nora. I know you want to hide things from me." He let me go but I stood in my place, "I heard everything and if you're ashamed of that, don't be." He took a step back and I noticed that, "I believe what you did was out of pressure and were compelled to do it. I have been in worse situations, I can understand."

What? Worse situation?

I looked at him in surprise.

"I will not ask for your reasons because nothing will change the relationship between us. At least not from my side. I'm glad you took care of what was bothering you." He turned to leave when I grabbed his hand in both of mine.

"You really mean it? What you just said?" I asked him.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Then there is something I want to tell you."