Chapter 9
Andrew stood not far from Nora, his chin slightly raised, eyes gleaming with disdain as he scrutinized her.
Nora felt his gaze before she saw him. Their eyes met briefly, and though he quickly turned away, she was sure the mocking laughter she’d heard earlier had been his.
Glancing down, Nora noticed two hands gripping her arms. She then realized he must have witnessed the commotion and thought the two men were fighting over her.
‘Does he think I’m just another woman caught in a club cliché? Two men fighting over one woman, leading to some wild drama, Nora thought, shaking her head in frustration.
Though she recognized his misunderstanding of her situation, it didn’t bother her as much as the annoyance boiling inside her. With a surge of determination, she shook off both men’s grasp.
“You two, get lost!” Nora snapped.
Knowing Nora well, Nathan immediately stepped back. He’d seen that frustrated look before and wasn’t about to tempt fate. Instead of worrying about whether someone else would try to take advantage of her, he worried more for his own safety.
Gabriel approached her again, but Nora had lost all patience. She elbowed him in the stomach, causing him to gasp in pain and stumble into the arms of his friends. To the onlookers, it might have looked like playful teasing between a couple, but only Gabriel understood the intensity of the impact.
Her strength was formidable, even exceeding that of most men. Doubling over, Gabriel remembered that this woman could carry and fix a car door with her bare hands.
Irritated, Nora left the booth and retreated to the edge of the room, seeking a moment of peace.
Hidden in the shadows, Wendy had witnessed the entire scene unfold.
“What a shameless woman, thinking she can climb the social ladder by flirting with men,” Wendy sneered. “Since you enjoy seducing men so much, let me help you out.”
With that, Wendy pulled out her phone and made a call.
Meanwhile, Andrew had come to the bar purely to support a friend’s business. The club owner, Ryan Watson, greeted him with a broad smile.
“You always come through for me, man. What’d you like to have tonight? I’ll make the drink myself for you,” Ryan offered.
Andrew momentarily lost focus, his mind drifting to the image of that woman with sharp yet innocent eyes. The simplicity of her outfit only made her stand out more.
Snapping back to reality, Andrew turned to Ryan and asked, “Is your business legitimate?”
“What?” Ryan looked taken aback.
Andrew continued, “I don’t want your bar making headlines for the wrong reasons. You’re not so desperate for cash that you’d engage in shady dealings, right?”
“What the hell, Andrew! Do you think I’m that kind of person?” Ryan exclaimed, gesturing to himself. “This is a legitimate business! It is a place for people to enjoy music and drinks, nothing more.”
“Good. Then, make sure you vet your customers properly. Don’t let anyone ruin the atmosphere here,” Andrew advised, his
1/3
Chapter 9
frown deepening as he recalled his carlier encounter with Nora.
Based on her comments about his condition, he had assumed she was a doctor but felt uneasy about her involvement in any dubious activities, regardless of her profession.
Andrew rarely misjudged people, but this woman seemed to have fooled him. Thinking back to when she asked and talked about his condition, he suspected it might have been nothing more than luck that led her to the correct diagnosis.
Ryan shook his head, taking a sip of his drink. “Something’s off. It’s not like you to get involved in someone else’s business. What happened? Did something trigger you?”
Andrew remained silent, his frustration mounting as he couldn’t shake Nora’s image from his mind.
After Ryan left with his business partners, a group of women gathered around Andrew, attracted by his striking good looks and expensive, well–tailored attire.
Many viewed him as an eligible bachelor and saw this as their chance. Yet Andrew turned them all away with a cold. demeanor.
Meanwhile, Nora observed him from a distance, her expression icy. She couldn’t help but scoff inwardly, ‘What a poser. He thinks he’s above this place, pretending to be indifferent while women throw themselves at him. It’s disgusting!‘
Just then, a bartender approached Andrew and handed him a drink. Under the bar’s dazzling, flashing lights, Nora noticed something was in the drink.
Nora doesn’t see herself as a saint, nor does she feel any obligation to save him. After all, this man had constantly misunderstood her, from accusing her of faking an accident to thinking she was involved in sleazy businesses.
‘When you act recklessly, you face the consequences,‘ she thought, feeling no compulsion to warn him.
Nora set down her drink with a smirk and prepared to leave the bar, convinced her trip had been a waste.
When she was in the restroom to wash her hands, she suddenly felt as if she had inhaled a strange, smoky vapor. Only when the disorientation set in did she realize something was amiss.
No matter how cautious someone was, avoiding everything in a place like this was impossible. Nora quickly covered her nose and mouth, but not before half a breath entered her lungs.
As she stumbled out of the restroom, her legs buckled, and a strange, unbearable heat began to rise from deep within her abdomen.
“That smoke was an aphrodisiac!‘ Nora realized, her thoughts racing. ‘And clearly, this was aimed at me instead of a random attack.‘
Her strength was draining fast, and Nora knew she had to get out before the drug took full effect. Just as she was about to escape, three large men blocked her path. One casually placed a yellow “Under Maintenance” sign at the restroom entrance.
“Hey, little missy, so sweet and innocent. You’re not going to cry later, are you?” one taunted.
“Man, we really hit the jackpot. Look at what our client lined up for us!” another grinned.
“Stop talking and just grab her,” the third growled,
‘Client?‘ Nora caught that crucial word from their conversation, her mind sharpening with the realization. ‘So, someone really did hire these thugs to target me.‘
The drug was potent, and Nora didn’t have anything on hand to neutralize it. Her only option was to fight through the haze
2/3
Chapter 9
of her fading consciousness and quickly escape.
Summoning her willpower, she pulled a silver hairpin from her hair and pricked a pressure point on her elbow, momentarily clearing her mind.
In a burst of energy, she launched herself at the three men. With one swift kick, she sent the first man sprawling The second, she had his arm dislocated in an instant. As the third man froze, Nora pressed the sharp tip of her hairpin to his throat, her voice cold and unforgiving.
“Do you want to live or die?” Nora’s voice was low and dangerous as she pressed the hairpin against the man’s throat
His knees buckled immediately, his face draining of color. The unmistakable stench of ammonia filled the cramped space, confirming that fear had overwhelmed him. He had lost all control of his bladder, and the look in his eyes begged for mercy,
But Nora’s burst of strength only lasted two minutes. She stumbled out of the restroom, forcing herself to walk calmly despite the growing weakness in her legs. She couldn’t let them realize the drug was still affecting her.
“How did the drug fail? It’s imported!” one of the men shouted in disbelief.
“Damn it! Don’t let her fool you. Go after her!” another yelled.
Nora quickened her pace upon hearing them.
The bar was packed, but whoever had set her up was likely waiting outside. If she fled into the streets, they’d easily drag her into a car, and onlookers would think it was just a drunk woman being troublesome.
Upstairs, the club’s private suites were reserved for the owner, Ryan, and his top–tier VIPs.
Desperation kicking in, Nora darted up the stairs and pushed open one of the suite doors, slipping inside and locking it behind her, cutting off her pursuers.
3/3
AD
Comment
