Chapter 4

Saying those dangerous words, Fredrick pounced on Aliza like a hungry lion. 

“Please, leave,” Aliza tried to push Fredrick, but he was too strong for Aliza, even in his drunken state. Suddenly something struck inside her head, and she raised her knee. Aliza kicked Fredrick into a place where the sun doesn’t shine.

Fredrick roared in pain, holding his crotch, and fell to the ground cursing her. Aliza realized that it was the only moment of her escape. She ran for her life, ran to save her virginity from the philanderer. Aliza was a woman with strong moral values. She did not believe in sex before marriage and hated involvement with a sex pervert. She wanted to save her virginity to the man she married.

But would such a day arise in her life is a million dollars question.

After running up to a safe distance, when Aliza made a note that Fredrick wasn’t following her, she breathed an air of relief. It was then she realized how cold it was. Dread passed through her system. She was dressed in feeble clothes that hardly could protect her from the severe winter. She was penniless with not even a phone to contact somebody for help. Aliza looked around the place she was standing. She was not acquainted with the area.

The road was completely dark, with not even a ray of light except the light of the moon shining bright in the night sky. She closed her eyes tight in trembling because of the severity of the cold. Gathering her arms around her chest, she looked forward and found a small light gleaming at a distance. She sprinted towards the light clutching her arms tight around her breasts. It was a small garage that was closed.

A grey-haired man walked towards her and asked kindly, “How may I help you miss?” Before she could answer, he looked at the trembling form of Aliza and offered her a blanket from the cot he was sleeping hitherto. “Thank you very much,” Aliza told him, grateful. 

“Do you mind if I make a phone call from here?” She asked him, beholden. “Of course, young miss...” The old man spoke with generosity and handed her his mobile.

Aliza took the phone from the old man. Maybe it was God’s grace on her; just today morning, she had added Charla’s phone number to her contacts list. Though she did not have her phone with her, she remembered her number very well because it was a fancy one. Within ten minutes, a car stopped in front of her and out walked Charla in her nightwear. 

“What happened, dear? How could you get stuck in this garage when you do not have a car?” She asked her in a surprise filled with concern.

Aliza thanked the grey-haired garage owner and returned his blanket. She stepped into Charla’s car and recited to her the complete incident that had happened an hour ago. Charla pitied Aliza for her helpless state. She gave her warm chocolate milk and offered her shelter for the night. Aliza could spend the night with Charla, but the thought of returning back to her uncle’s home haunted her every second. 

How severe would be Stella’s outburst on her when she hears the news about her running away from Fredrick?

Aliza knew her uncle could not protect her in the matter and her aunt was a witch. Blood ran cold in her nerves as she thought about the jeopardizing situation she was in. The next morning, Aliza got up at Charla’s home with swollen red eyes as she could not sleep the night. The hickey Fredrick awarded her on the neck turned purplish and was too dark to be hidden by concealer. His finger marks rested on her cheeks, throat, and everywhere on her hands.

Unless she told that someone had abused her, she looked beautifully fucked, just as Fredrick wanted people to think about her. With the disdainful thought, Aliza hated her own skin. She scrubbed herself repeatedly in disgust till her skin turned red. With the cold night and the abuse she had suffered from the man, her body was burning with temperature. But could she afford a leave? She was only a probation employee at Richmond Industries.

***

Aliza made a steaming cup of coffee with a smiley design on the top. She learned to make several designs on chocolate milk and coffee for Andrew. When he was small, Andrew was a cribbing kid and drank milk only when the delightful shapes were made. Aliza wished to make her boss happy like Andrew every day with a novel design. The only happy thing in her life was the fact that she secured a job in Richmond Industries, and she will try her best to retain it for several more years, even after her probation.

Making a knock at the door, Aliza waited for the deep ‘come in’ to be heard. As soon as she heard the permission, she stepped into the CEO’s office with the coffee mug. 

She placed the mug on the desk with its lid and waited for her boss’s instruction. Charles didn’t even spare a glance at Aliza, and she was glad that he did not see her designer face. 

“There is a green file in the bottom drawer of the bookshelf.” He pointed to the shelf, typing on his laptop. “Write a notice letter to Shaw & Co after taking the details from the file. They haven’t paid us for our supplies to date,” he stated and suddenly looked up.

His eyes went wide, and his gaze was pointed at her for a minuscule second. Aliza’s heart missed a beat, fearing the reaction from her boss. Charles stopped the work he was doing and guarded Aliza with his fingers knotted to each other. Aliza felt agitated under her boss’s influencing aura. Everything he did held a poise, a grandeur that marked his power. He leaned back on his chair with his right leg resting on the knee of the other.

“Ms. Stelwart...” he spoke sophisticatedly but in command, “Once you are outside the office premises, what you do is none of my concern, but since you are an employee of my company and my personal secretary, I do not want my business counterparts to see you as a ‘ready to be fucked' doll.” Charles switched off the air-conditioning and opened the window of his room with a remote. “I know I am too blatant, but I want this to be my last warning.” He lighted a cigarette and puffed out smoke. “Your look shouldn’t affect the reputation of my company.” He pointed to her rudely with his eyes, “I do not want my business colleagues to think that I hired a whore.” 

The sight of Aliza’s red face with marks settled an unfathomable anger inside Charles.

All the candidates who came for the interview were more qualified and experienced than Aliza, but she was the only woman who was covered in clothes from top to toe. Charles held an unknown respect for her, and that was the exact reason he hired her; though she was underaged with zero experience, looks could often be deceptive. And Charles realized it too late. 

“Next time you sleep with someone, let those marks be concealed or let them be in places only your boyfriend or husband could see. Otherwise, it gives a cheap look,” he stressed the word ‘cheap’ with disgust.

Aliza couldn’t control her tears anymore. 

“I’m sorry, sir. I will be more careful further,” she replied and raced away from the CEO’s room with water flowing from her eyes in rivulets, but Charles cared two hoots with what he said.

Returning home, Aliza had to face the worst action from her aunt. Stella rebuked her and beat her black and blue for denying her brother. Her uncle, who was standing beside and watching the show, had no words to say except the cut of a sorry look. Andrew, who tried to oppose, was pushed away by her aunt as she landed beatings one after another on Aliza.

***

“Thank you, Mr Charles Rodriguez. My team and I had a warm welcome at the airport from your staff, and this is the best deal we have ever done,” Mr Vangchew shook hands with Charles at Sarte, the club where the c****** deal was made.

Suddenly there heard a yelp followed by a disturbance. Charles looked doubtful at the people around when his sight fell on a man trying to force on one of the bar dancers. Charles immediately walked to the spot. 

“If the girl is willing, there is nothing wrong in having an enjoyable time, but if she doesn’t want to go to bed with you, remember, there is a protection stapled behind all the girls that are working here, and that shield is me,” Charles declared. “You have to cross me before you reach the girl.” Charles pointed to himself.

The Chinese delegate was about to hit Charles, but he stopped them in the mid-way with the obstruction of his arm. He then punched him in the belly and landed a blow on his face. The Chinese man vomited blood and fell down unconscious. 

“Respect a woman and never dare to touch her against her will. Otherwise, she can be your peril,” he declared aloud to every man in the bar and walked out.

Charles reached his office and lighted a cigarette. The bikini-clad and glitter-covered bar dancer fell on her knees near the feet of her boss. 

“Sir, I’m indebted to you. Just because of me, an ordinary bar dancer, you have lost one hundred fifty million worth deal. I do not know how I can return your favor.” 

Charles helped the woman to stand on her feet. “What is your name?” he asked her gently.

“Sir, I am Julia. I have been working in your bar as a bar dancer for the last three years.” 

Charles nodded and signaled one of the dancers assembled to bring Julia a glass of water. 

“I do not tolerate discourteous towards a woman. That scoundrel misbehaved with you and he got the fruit of his actions.” 

Julia spoke while her eyes were directed to the floor, “Sir, you lost your deal because of me.” 

Charles patted her shoulder with a smile. “Money is not more important to me than dignity of a woman.” 

Julia looked at Charles with an admiration filled with surprise.

“Sir, I’m very fortunate to have been able to work in your club.” All the other women assembled supported her, and there was unanimous applause.