<b>hapter </b><b>5 </b>
Nivera ran, her breath ragged and legs barely holding her up, but the didn’t dare nce back at the r
The drugs effect in her body was getting more and more lethal, but she pushed harder, her instincts possible between her, the club, and everyone in it
The dogs coursing through her system made the world spin violently, blurring the edges of her vision.
Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the pulsing music that faded as she moved further
She had to get out!
Her fingers trailed along the walls for bnce as her legs wobbled beneath her.
Nathaniel would be waiting in the main club, watching for her return like the predator he was
What kind of club was this? She gritted her teeth, frustration mixed with fear.
she had just injected.
ming at her to put as much distance at
She froze when someone suddenly appeared in front of her. From the clothes, she realized the woman was an employee
“Please, I’ve been drugged; I need another exit, one that doesn’t lead back <b>to </b>the clubi.”
“Oh my,e with me the employee said as she held Nivera and helped her walk.
They then began to make their way to the exit, with Nivera praying that the employee wouldn’t take her back to the men she was running from,
Finally, a heavy door marked with an “Exit” sign appeared at the end of a narrow hallway.
Relief washed over her as the employee pushed it open, and she stumbled into the cool <b>night </b><b>air</b>,
“Come, let’s get you in a <b>taxi </b>away from this, the employee said, and Nivea couldn’t be more grateful <b>to </b>her.
The alley behind the club was quiet except for the distant hum of traffic.
The sharp contrast to the chaos <b>inside </b>the club made her pause, her chest rising and falling as she fought to steady her breathing
“Thank you,” she said to the employee when they got to the street
“You’re wee. This club is a dangerous one, as predatorse here. A word of advice, don’te back here,” the employee advised, and Nivera <b>nodded</b>, not even needing to be told as she <b>had </b>made that resolution hersell
“I won’t Go back inside; I’ll be fine,” she said, and the employee nodded before leaving
Nivera didn’t <b>have </b>time to linger, as her eyes scanned the street just the same time a taxi rolled into view.
She stepped into the light, waving frantically.
The cab screeched to a halt, and she yanked the door open, copsing into the back seat, “Drive,” she gasped, her voice trembling. “Just drive!”
The driver turned in his <b>seat</b>, his brow furrowed in concern. “Miss, are you…
“Go, please!” she interrupted, her tone sharp despite her fear.
The driver shrugged and pulled away from the curb, ncing at her through the rearview mirror.
Nivera sank into the seat, her body trembling as the events of the night reyed in her mind. Nathaniel’s leering grin. The stranger’s dark, piercing eyes, <b>The </b><b>gunshot </b>
Her stomach churned as the image of the
thumping to the fone yed on a long in her mind.
It was the first time she was witing someone being murdered, and she prisond a hand to her mouth,
ed that man in cold blood, his movements alm and deliberate, and it was us from his demeanour that it w
The stranger had killed that
he was doing to
The conclusion made her shudder as she asked herself the question if their confrontation in the club hadn’t been so public, would ha
tool
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She nced over her shoulder, half expecting to to his face ring back at her through the rear window.
Nivera shook her head to stop herself hom hyperventting.
She couldn’t go back to her apartment. Nathaniel’s men would already be looking for her, and there was no telling if the stranger
The drug she injected him with was supposed tost hours, but she didn’t want to take the risk.
Her voice wavered as she leaned forward, addressing the driver. “Take me to the nearest motel”
“Sure thing, but it’s going to cost you.” The man nodded, changingnes.
A few minutester, the cab pulled up to <b>a </b>small, dingy motel on the edge of the city. The neon sign flickered, casting eerie shadows across the cracked
pavement.
Nivera paid the <b>fare </b>with shaking hands, muttering a quick “thank you” before stepping out.
It took her several minutes to drag herself inside the motel, as she was beginning to lose sensation in her body.
Nathaniel was a bastard!
If the drugs had knocked her out and were instead slowly incapacitating her, it meant he wanted her to be aware of what he was doing to her but not be able to fight back.
The clerk barely nced at her as she checked in, handing her a key to one of the upstairs rooms. She climbed the stairs, her legs heavy with exhaustion.
Once inside, she locked the door and slid the chain into ce, <b>her </b>hands <b>trembling </b>as she secured the deadbolt
The room smelled faintly of mildew, and the furniture was worn and mismatched. But it was safe,
She immediately copsed onto the <b>bed</b>, her body sinking into it.
Her thoughts spiralled as she reyed the events of the night once again. This had been herst chance, her one shot at salvaging her career and proving her worth
Now, it was over!
Tears welled in her eyes, and she let them fall, her body trembling
Her name <b>was </b>Nivera Elton<b>, </b>and she was the youngest daughter of the Elton family. The Eltons were one of the richest and most powerful families in the
world
They had ruled the finance and investment world for years. That sounded nice to everyone, but not her. It was a tradition in their family for every child to be groomed to join the family business.
This was what was a <b>huge </b>problem for her<b>, </b>as unlike her siblings, who were polished and obedient, she had always been the ck sheep.
Where they excelled in boardrooms and followed her father’s orders without question, she had always craved freedom. She wanted a life of creativity and passion, qualities her father dismissed as <b>frivolous </b>
When she finally mustered the courage to tell him the wanted to pursue modelling, he had been more than furious.
However, he had given her two years to prove herself, to rise to the top without using the Elton name. If she seeded, he would leave her alone and allow her to continue her career.
But if she <b>failed</b>, not only would she lose her inheritance, but he would marry her off to someone of his choice, and knowing her father, she knew she
wouldn’t like his choice.
The moment she <b>made </b>a debut in the industry, her career took off with variouspanies approaching her, and she had done it without the help of her
family’s name.
People only knew her as Nivera, and it was easy to keep her family name a secret as the Elton family were one who took their privacy seriously, and so she didn’t grow up in the spotlight
Everything was going well until Nathaniel struck.
There were still months before the deadline was up, but it was over,
She had no choice now. She would have to go back home, face her father’s disapproval, and marry whatever man <b>he </b>deemed suitable
The weight of her failure <b>pressed </b>down on her chest unt she cried herself to sleep, which wasn’t hard considering the fact that the drug finally knocked
her out.
Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, and it hit Nivera’s face, which forced her eyes to flutter open.
For a moment, shey there, disoriented but calm, the events of the previous night a hazy blur.
Letting out a yawn, she sat up and stretched, closing her eyes as she tried to shake off the lingering exhaustion.
“Good afternoon,
a low, chilling voice drawled, and she felt her heart <b>stop</b>.
flow open, and she froze, her breath caught in her throat as she turned to the direction where the voice hade from. Her eyes
The devil sat in the chair by the window, his dark eyes fixed on her with a predatory glint.
His posture was rxed, one arm draped over the back of the chairs though he owned the room.
AD
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