Chapter 3: The Man Before Me

Clouds of smoke.

That’s what I’ve seen when I entered the Business class VIP room, and once it reached my Hazel brown eyes…Tears started to form when it caused pain, redness and discomfort in my orbs.

Gently I wiped them off not wanting to ruin my make-up at all, I dried those unwanted tears in my eyes with a facial tissue before I walked myself to the velvety couch, and my floor manager Dara introduced me to one of the highly respectable business man in the room.

“Mr. Huggins” Dara called the man in his mid-50's, who was busy smooching a young lady's neck while holding a glass of wine. And when Dara’s voice came to his senses and recognized her beauty at once, he immediately stopped what he was doing and turned his head to our way and faced us with a mischievous smile.

“Sir, we’re here.” Dara said, and she stepped back a bit and gently pushed me forward to be seen since I was hiding behind her the moment we stood before the man.

And without a word, his sharp eyes scanned my whole being from head to toe. And those lustful glances made me feel uncomfortable deep down inside, however I had to ignore it by looking afar to overcome the shame that was crawling down my frame.

“Remove those mask.”

“Huh?” I said out of shock when I heard his dominant voice.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he asked, and Dara quickly untie the ribbon of my glittered mask and reveal my whole face. I tried narrowing down my head, but the old man forbade me before I could even do so.

“It’s okay, he’s our boss” I heard my friend uttered from my back.

So I slightly lifted my face and stood straight in front of this powerful man, and for another minute his eyes scanned my body thoroughly before saying his final words to surprise me.

“Make sure you will treat my comrade very well and you’ll make him very happy tonight, I heard you need money that’s why you’re in that position, so don’t waste the opportunity you stole from a hustler. Got it?”

When those words came to me like a bombshell, my lips parted out of shocked. But I couldn’t be happier when I realized what he said, that I have been given an opportunity that I must not waste. It was like, I just won a beauty pageant and I should be grateful because I have won the prize against the pro.

“So what do you say?”

“I’ll do my best sir, I promise.” And I replied with my shy voice.

Then he started sending us away through his hand gesture, and Dara immediately grabbed my wrist and dragged me in the corner to give me some sort of heads up, while i tie my mask back.

“Listen carefully, you will be someone’s escort for the entire night. This man is a very important guest of Mr. Huggins and he just arrived in Bangkok a couple of hours ago. All you have to do is take good care of this man. Drink and eat with him, stay by his side, sit with him on the table and keep him company for the rest of his stay here in the casino. Make sure that you will not displease him, so…can you do that Alicia?”

“Is that it?” I asked with a high tone. I couldn’t believe that I will be paid 1,000 U.S dollars for that kind of job. It wasn’t that bad as I thought it was. I told myself.

“Easy money right? But yes, that’s all you need to do darling to earn lots of money. This man is ain’t easy to please, I’m telling you. He has a bad temper and not very fond of women, so that’s going to be a challenge, if he push you away and refuse to spend the night with you…then that’s the end of your 1,000 dollar.”

“I get it! So that’s the twist”

Dara nodded her head quietly and before she could even say another word, the wide door of the VIP entrance swung open.

And a man in a gray suit appeared in the crowd suddenly, and before I could even have a glance on his face, he was surrounded by his own kind. A group of business men came to him and welcomed him with a glass of whisky.

“He must really be a very important person” I mumbled and Dara agreed on me.

“Surely he is. So get yourself ready darling. Because he is your mission.” And without another word, she tugged my wrist and dragged me in front of my assignment.

“Excuse me gentlemen! May we pass?” Dara exclaimed behind the men in suit, and when they stepped back to give way, Dara called someone’s attention.

“Mr. Lee”

And a tall handsome man turned his head to face our direction when he heard his family name, and the moment he faced us…My skin turned pale out of shocked.

“Mr. Lee, welcome to our VIP club. My name is Dara Chansuk and I am the floor manager here.” She extended her hand to welcome our guest, but his face held a serious demeanor and didn’t even stretch his lips to smile.

“Mr. Huggins wants to make sure that you won’t get bored during your stay here, so…” and she then grabbed my wrist and pulled me to his front and introduce me personally.

“This is Miss Alicia Park, and she will be your escort for the night.” Then she looked at me from head to toe with his dead eyes. My knees were shaking over the random thoughts that I had in my head.

“What brings you here in Thailand, Marcus? How have you been doing lately?” I asked myself while standing in front of the man I have loved so much in my whole life.

Then I heard his manly voice talked to me. “What’s with the eye mask? Shy to show your full face?” he asked in a sarcastic tone, and I was speechless.

My tongue was hesitating to talk.

Then his eyebrows furrowed out of annoyance, so Dara immediately replied on my behalf.

“Well that’s the number one rule here Sir, to protect their identity.” She explained and it didn’t delight him I must say, when he said…

“Nonsense! Why would you even work here if you have something to protect. You should have stayed home.” He hissed under his breath. “Not interested anyways!”

“I’m sorry to disappoint you sir, she is a nice lady so I hope you two can get along” and his icy blue eyes landed on me once again, and as he looked at me, I felt ashamed of myself.

I tried pulling my skirt down to cover my bare legs, and kept touching my chest to hide my deep neckline before him, as his eyes trailed down on my medium frame.

It is not because Marcus has a lustful eyes over me, but I knew what he was thinking while his orbs were pinned on me.

Disgust!

He was disgusted by the way I look, the way I have my make-ups on, the way I dress and the way I exposed my body in front of these people. ‘Cause this what he hates the most. He is displease with women who use their bodies to attract men. And that’s what I love about him so much.

“I don’t need an escort!” and his rough voice came to me like an iced cold water and startled me right away. Then he turned his back and started to walk away from us.

“Oh no! This is not good Alicia, you have to keep him all night for you to have your money or else…” and before Dara could even say another word to warm me, I have already dragged my heels to follow and stop him from rejecting me as his escort lady.

“Mr. Lee! Sir! Excuse me…” I called, but he continued to ignore me yet it didn’t stop me from running and chasing him.

“Please sir!” I begged, but still he doesn’t show any interest on me and it really bothered me, so mustered up my courage and called his name.

“Marcus, stop!”

And he did. But as soon as he stopped in the middle of the crowd, his face turned gloomy and he held a straight, terrifying face before me.

Slowly, he took steps towards where I was standing while his icy blue eyes were pinned on my orbs.

It scared me to death.

I’ve never seen those kind of eyes before, or should I say…He never looked at me that way before no matter how mad or how disappointed he was, Marcus never looked at me with those murderous eyes.

And I felt my arm has been forcefully grabbed in a split second. And when I came back to my senses, I realized that it was his hand that was holding me tight.

It scared me even more, so I looked away to hide my fear. Then I heard his scornful voice.

“Did you just call me by my first name?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I tried to look farther while trying to think deeply. My heart was stuck in my throat, I could hardly swallow.

And those crazy butterflies in my stomach were rebelling against me at the moment. I felt so nervous over the fact that he might recognize me because of my stupid act, or I would make him mad if I won’t be able to give him a reasonable explanation.

“So, aren’t you gonna answer me?” he asked and my heart continued to throbbed like a drum as I felt those sweat beads behind my neck.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“How did you know my name? Do you know me Ms. Park?” still his hand was holding me tight and it pained my wrist and I felt a burning feeling on my skin.

“Ouch!” I mumbled under my breath, but he seemed to hear my small voice, so he gently released my arm and placed his hands inside his pocket.

Then he continued interrogating me. “So, will you answer me now?”

“I’m sorry to call you by your first name sir, my manager mentioned your name during our briefing. I know it was not right, but I was just out of my mind when you said you don’t need an escort so I…”

“That’s true! I don’t need you Ms. Park. I don’t want anybody to be around me. You can go and leave me alone”

And he was about to turn his back again on me when I grabbed his elbow and he froze in shock.

“Please let me stay sir, I just need this job for my friend so don’t push me to go” I tried begging but my words came to him as an alibi.

“So there’s a friend in need, then next time…a sick mother or brother, maybe? Then the next day, your sister’s tuition fee? Am I correct?”

You bastard! If only you know who I am, you will never say those insulting remarks, I bet. Because you know I won’t stoop this low if my reason is not worth it.

At the back of my head I wanted to curse him for humiliating me. But I tried keeping my composure, so I inhaled deeply before defending my ego.

“I understand if you really don’t want anyone to be around you, or perhaps you just don’t like me personally so you would rather be alone. I get it! But I don’t think it is right for you to judge me, or to question my honesty sir, because you don’t know anything about the truth. I should be going now, I will leave you be. Goodnight.”

And tears started to form in my eyes, and behind the mask I was wearing…My tears were so excited to rebel before this man.

But I didn’t let that happen, before it even fell on my cheek…I quickly turned my back at him, without giving him the chance to rebut.

I walked away with a heavy heart.