Across the city, in a dimly lit upscale bar, the atmosphere grew tense as Gabriel’s drunken voice cut through the low hum of music and conversation.
"I said fill my glass," he barked, slapping his palm hard against the counter, causing a few patrons nearby to glance over. His eyes were bloodshot, his face flushed, and his words slurred. Despite clearly having had more than enough, he wasn’t finished.
The bartender, calm but visibly irritated, stood his ground. "Sir, you’ve had enough. It’s late. You should call it a night."
Gabriel’s glare sharpened. "Who the hell are you to tell when to leave?" he growled. "Do you even know who I am? I could buy this whole damn bar if I wanted to. You are ssing with the wrong man."
Unimpressed, the bartender remained cool. "This place is full of people with money and nas. You are not the first, and you are not special," he replied flatly. "Let call soone from your house to co get you." He stretched his hand toward . "Give your phone."
That only lit Gabriel’s fuse further. "Uh..." He waved dismissively, his mouth twisting in annoyance. He leaned across the counter, sneering. "Don’t you mock . I can get ho just fine without your pity. You have no idea who you are ssing with. I can make you disappear from here in a blink."
He continued rumbling.
With a shake of the head, the bartender turned his attention elsewhere, serving another custor as if Gabriel didn’t exist.
Gabriel’s voice rose again. "Hey... Are you ignoring now? I’m paying you. Why won’t you serve ?" His tone grew desperate with each word he uttered.
But the bartender didn’t respond. He wiped the counter and continued his work, completely dismissing the outburst.
Fuming, Gabriel stood, nearly knocking over his barstool, and jabbed a finger in the bartender’s direction. "You stupid moron... You have no idea who you are dealing with. You are done. You’ll never work here again. I’ll erase you from this place. Soon, soone will replace you."
He waved his hands aimlessly, his body swaying left and right. "You will regret it. Even if you beg , I won’t let you go.
The bartender shot Gabriel a cold, contemptuous look but didn’t bother replying. He had seen n like this before—loud, drunk, powerful, and entitled. Best to let them burn out on their own.
Just then, a woman approached the counter. Her entrance turned heads—elegant makeup, sleek hair, and a designer dress that clung to her like confidence. She moved with the poise of soone who belonged in places like this... or at least knew how to own them.
The bartender paused, eyeing her curiously.
"You know him?" he asked, nodding toward Gabriel, who was still fuming and unsteady on his feet.
"Yes, I know him," she said coolly, barely glancing at the bartender. She slipped her arm around Gabriel’s waist, steadying him. "Co on, Gabriel. Let take you ho." Her voice was low and smooth.
Gabriel blinked at her, squinting, struggling to focus.
"Who... who are you?" he mumbled, confusion clouding his eyes. He couldn’t see her face clearly.
She gave him a sweet, practiced smile.
"You are so drunk, you don’t even rember ," she said with a sarcastic tone. "Let’s get out of here first. I’ll explain everything later."
With that, she guided him toward the exit, her grip firm enough to keep him steady.
As they stepped out into the night, her expression shifted. The smile vanished from her face. A cruel satisfaction crept into her eyes.
’You are finally in my grip, Gabriel,’ she thought coldly. ’I’m back. And this ti, I’m going to bring down the entire Beaumont family.
Gabriel stumbled slightly as they moved toward the car, his steps clumsy and uncertain. His brows furrowed, confusion deepening in his bleary eyes.
"Where are you taking ?" he muttered, pulling back slightly. "I don’t even know who you are."
He tried to shake her off, but her arm stayed locked around his waist, unyielding.
"You are drunk," she said with calm persuasion. "You don’t recognize now, but we know each other. You’ll rember soon enough."
Gabriel looked at her again, still trying to make sense of her face, but everything was a blur.
"Trust ," she added. "I’ll take care of you tonight."
Before he could protest further, she opened the passenger-side door and guided him into the seat. He collapsed against the leather, too dazed to resist.
She circled the car, slid into the driver’s seat with a quiet smirk, and started the engine. As the car glided away from the curb, the woman’s expression shifted again, her eyes cold, calculating.
’Soon, you’ll know exactly who I am,’ she thought, glancing briefly at Gabriel slumped beside her. ’And by then, it’ll be too late.’
The next morning...
Gabriel woke up with a pounding head. He groaned, rubbing his temples, the dull throb behind his eyes growing heavier with each second. His body ached like he had been hit by a truck.
He forced his eyes open. What he saw jolted him upright.
He wasn’t ho. The small, unfamiliar room around him was bare and grey, with drawn curtains, a modest sofa and coffee table, a wall-mounted TV, and a landline on the side table. In the corner, a small wooden cupboard stood closed.
It was clearly a budget hotel room.
’How did I end up here?’ he thought, panic starting to crawl up his chest.
He grabbed his head in both hands, trying to force clarity into his foggy mory. Bits and pieces ca back to him—the bar, the drinks, the argunt with the bartender... and then, a woman.
His eyes widened as the mory sharpened.
"That woman," he muttered. "She pulled out of the bar..."
He looked around the room urgently, searching for any sign of her. Then he noticed his clothes, crumpled and tossed carelessly across the floor.
A cold, sick feeling washed over him. He looked down at himself and saw nothing but bare skin. His stomach dropped.
’What the hell happened last night?’
Just then, the bathroom door creaked open.
Gabriel turned and froze.
A young woman stepped out, her hair damp, a white towel wrapped around her body.
Gabriel’s face drained of color. "Tania..." he whispered, stunned, as a new wave of horror rolled over him.
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