Guilt.

Shame.

Excitement.

Pride.

Surprise.

I felt a surge of confusing emotions swirling through my mind. I felt guilty to deflower an innocent woman, excited for knowing her impression about my performance and proud when I saw her wobbling. 'If you know what I mean.'

I chuckled, thinking about all those things. However, I was surprised when I watched her leaving my place without even glancing back at me. Heck, she didn't even react about it by maybe slapping me or something.

I just stood there staring at her retreating figure when suddenly she slammed my front door really hard in the process. I flinched because of that loud bang and looked at the breakfast I made for certain someone who also happened to ditch me at my own house.

It's always the other way around. I was the one to abandon girls after finishing off with them. But today, it seemed like I was getting the taste of my own medicine. I was left by that young woman while her scent still lingered in the confines of my place, torturing my senses.

I ran my hands on my face in clear frustration. I was feeling disturbed and cursed myself for acting like a lost puppy. I could sense my guilt heightening every passing second after watching her cry. I was sober and aware of the fact that she was tipsy. I should have handled and kept myself together. But being a jerk that I was for sleeping with countless wonderful women in the past, I'd never come across someone who's so elegant and glorious.

She was just like a fairy. I memorized her beautiful face, ocean blue eyes, plump lips and body. Her body was heavenly and I wanted nothing more than to worship her if ever she allowed me to. That lavender smell she carried with her and the way her body fit perfectly with mine along with her sweet voice was enough to cloud my mind.

I was certain that this particular woman has dumped me already and I could never get to see or touch her again. She was a complete stranger because I knew nothing about her. Not even her name.

“God, I feel like a stalker now.” I groaned, facepalming and knowing exactly where my stupid brain was taking me. “Zearo, get back to your usual routine. This is not new to you, damn it!” I said, cursing myself and flopped on my bed. I absent-mindedly shoved a piece of bacon in my mouth.

I just couldn't get her sad face out of my head. All I wanted was to hold and give her some comfort. I wanted to assure her that I didn't take advantage of her drunk state and I was more than ready if ever she wished for me to support her, her entire life. But she would have killed me if I uttered even a single word at that moment. I was literally sweating in front of her. I could feel my heart beating really fast as I was imagining my future with her even after knowing that my past would kill her. I just couldn't help myself.

“Can anyone believe this? An underworld don sweating in front of a delicate girl who I guess couldn't even harm a mosquito.” I snickered to myself. I was lying down on the right side of the bed where she'd slept earlier and engulfed myself in her lavender scent as sleep overtook me.

***

Loud voices pulled me out of my sleep where I had been dreaming about an angel with ocean blue eyes and long legs.

'Wait! Long legs? Ugh. I thought that I'd seen better.' I patted my shoulder, trying to reassure myself that I was good, which apparently I wasn't.

"Give me back my money you, unfaithful old man!" I heard someone yell. Dragging my hazy state near the window sill, I lifted the curtain a bit to look at the ongoing commotion.

I noticed that the sky was getting dark and it was evening already. Glancing down, I saw a guy around my age who'd worn a hoodie to cover most of his face and grabbing an old man's throat. Their bodies were almost touching each other.

The old man looked frightened as he was folding his hands and pleaded to the guy, "Give me some more time. I promise to return back your money as soon as possible."

I narrowed my eyes when I looked at the old man more clearly and recognized him instantly because I remembered having dinner with him many times. 'Mr. Stone!' His name is Mister Oliver Stone. He owns a small hotel nearby where I used to have dinner with him along with a garments factory across the river bank at the end of the street. "Poor old man."

I sighed sympathetically and was about to leave, ignoring the fight when I heard the hoodie man yell, "Money or the girl in fifteen days, I don't care. Got it?"

My eyebrows shot up realizing what he just said. He was intending to take Oliver's daughter if he was unable to pay the debt. The hoodie guy sounded like a complete asshole.

'What the fuck? I used to take pleasure by harming others while making such nasty agreements. Now, why the hell am I feeling so guilty over nothing?' I thought out loud, infuriated because of the switch in my behaviour.

I glanced at the retreating figures of the hoodie guy and his minions. Slowly trailing my eyes toward the old man, I saw him crouching down and sobbing. The onlookers just looked at the man with pity as they didn't wish to engage themselves in this mess. I just rolled my eyes at their fake concern.

I had the sudden urge to go and check up on Mister Oldie. As I was putting on a hoodie, my hands froze in the middle as my favourite lavender scent hit my nostrils once again. I remember draping it over her shoulders when I found her shivering on the way.

Inhaling it one last time, I marched toward his house that's about five minutes away from my apartment. I used to drop him off at his place late at night.

***

As I entered his passageway, I saw him standing outside his house and talking to someone.

"Hey, Mr Oldie, Howz ye doing?" I asked and walked up to him. I hugged him as soon as I reached him.

"Great! Just when my age is taking a toll on me," he mumbled in my ears, hugging me back and patting my shoulders. "You young man, this is a really great surprise! What brought you here? Or are you missing my food, huh?" He queried, wrinkles forming at the corner of his eyes as he smiled at me.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I mentally facepalmed because I had clearly ignored them.

"Oh well, shoot me, someone!" Oldie huffed and laughed. I don't even have any idea why he was behaving this way. When he saw my confused look, he cleared his throat. "Zearo, meet my daughter, my angel, Diana," he introduced his daughter while gesturing toward a petite girl who took a step forward and raised her hand for me to shake.

"Uh, hi," Diana mumbled, blushing. The street light let me see her propelling figure and I could feel her getting uncomfortable under my stare. She has long, blonde hair with streaks of different highlights. She gazed at me with her wide eyes while her plump, pink lips pouted in confusion. She seemed in her early 20s, wearing a crop top which showed her toned stomach paired up with skinny jeans. My eyes fell on her face again and I could see the pinkish tint on her cheeks, making her look adorable.

"Well, hello there, pretty lady," I shook her hand and was about to kiss the back of her hand but Oldie grabbed his daughter roughly and led her inside their house.

"Zearo, she is my 'daughter'. She's very innocent and has returned home after 10 years. She knows no one here and it's my job to protect her from the bad guys. My son is too young to protect her so do not make my already difficult task even more difficult. I know that look on your face when you see a beautiful woman in my hotel. I'm telling you that she's not one of them!" He explained, threatening me with his angry glower.

If this would have been two years ago, I wouldn't have thought twice before killing him and taking his daughter all for myself. However, I have changed now and I gasped, pretending to seem hurt like his words had wounded my heart. "You've hurt me, old man! I would never do anything bad to your daughter," I assured him, trying to sound confident with my words but failing from the inside.

"I don't want her to suffer as her sister did," he said, almost whispering to himself.

"Who was that dude who had threatened to take away your daughter?" I asked him without any preamble and changed my voice into that of business. I knew nothing about what happened to his eldest daughter nor did I intend to scratch that wound.

"I owe him some money but couldn't return it to him as per the agreement. Although I have a big consignment that's gonna be sanctioned. If it's done successfully then I would have sufficient money to return him his balance amount," he announced, showing his uneven teeth with wrinkles forming around his cheeks.

I nodded, understanding his situation when all of a sudden, I felt a vibration in my nether region. I quickly removed the cellphone from my pocket.

I glanced at the caller ID and looked up at Mr Oldie apologetically. "I'm happy to hear that! Hope you really do have enough money. Anyway, I gotta go back to work so see ya later buddy." I patted his shoulder and with that left him.

When I was a few feet away from him, I decided to pick up the call. "Hello?" I answered unsurely.

"Hey, Zearo! I'm Julie. That girl you'd saved yesterday. Remember me?" Julie, the owner of "The Shimmers Night" chimed in her melodious voice.

"Of course. I remember you, gorgeous. So… what is it?" I asked her, clearly not expecting her call at this moment.

"Uh… well..." She stuttered from the other end.

"Yeah? Well? I'm listening, beautiful," I encouraged her to speak up. "Is everything alright?" I questioned her, wondering if someone was trying to harm her again.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I've called you to ask about what you've thought regarding my offer? Look, I'm really in need of a DJ and my current DJ is on her maternity leave already. Just give me a yes or a no!" She exclaimed with urgency and I pulled the phone away from my ears because of her sudden squealing voice.

"Geez, stop shouting, woman. Just lemme know when I am supposed to start working at your place, alright," I said, rolling my eyes at her childishness. "I still have to think of a reason to inform Mr Cameron of Brazins club about my resignation. Ugh, why can't I just say no to the ladies?" I murmured the last part under my breath, not wanting Julie to hear it.

I then realized that she didn't say anything as soon as I accepted her offer. "Are you there, honeybun?" I questioned, using the nickname I'd given her.

"I want you to join from today onwards, sharp at 9 pm. And don't you dare come late." I heard her muffled laughter after she was done ordering me.

"Wa-" She didn't even wait for my reply and hung up on me. "Girls nowadays. I wonder how she manages to handle such a big club." I sighed, thinking about the hardships a woman has to go through just to maintain their strong footing in the market.

After that, I decided to walk straight to my apartment, grabbing my favourite sushi and Kimbap on the way from Mr Oldie's hotel. I plopped on my bed, throwing away my shoes and hoodie before stuffing my mouth with the delicious meal. Due to my low salary, I couldn't afford the lavish dishes so I satiated myself with whatever I could buy. But I just hoped that Julie would soon help me out with these problems.

I set an alarm for 8.45 pm so that I could get ready and leave for work at a new place. I chuckled thinking about her face but then it changed to ocean blue eyes and beautiful face. With that thought, I eventually drifted back to sleep.

**†***†***†***†***†**

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