Nothing We Could Do

Chapter 11

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———— I V A N N A ————

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Chloe was waiting for me when I entered the dorm.

"You going to tell me where you were?"

Well no, of course not. What could I say? "I woke up in your crush's bed (who I kissed and has also agreed to be my fake boyfriend) and told his little sister he was my actual boyfriend and then had to endure faking it whilst she bombarded me with millions of questions."

I wasn't about to say that.

Instead I smiled, "I had to go early, sorry about leaving you like that I didn't mean to-"

She interrupted me with a giddy sequel as she threw herself at me for a hug, "You were with a guy weren't you?"

"No I-"

"Tell me everything!" She pulled me over to her bed and sat me down, "Is that his shirt?"

I winced slightly. I'd forgotten to give Kioshi his shirt back as I left in a hurry. Instead I nodded, "Yeah, it is."

Her mouth hung open in awe, "Woah, he's tall, it's practically a dress on you."

I nodded mindlessly, prying her away from me as she tried to study the shirt. If she looked too close, I was scared she may somehow realize who the shirt belonged to, "Look, I have to get ready and go to work."

She sighed, "I don't see why you still do that stupid job. Working at a café surely isn't desirable."

Chloe didn't know what I actually did for work. If she knew... well, maybe then she'd realize how better off she was.

"Because Chloe," I tried to keep the frustration at having to explain myself again out of my voice, "I need money ok? Not everyone gets everything they want handed to them on a plate like you."

Her face dropped, saddening as if pointing out her wealth was an insult. I felt the urge to desperately apologize but held my tongue. There was no need for me to say sorry because of her own ignorance.

She frowned, "If you need money I can-"

"No." I snapped, "I'm not taking your money Chloe."

I walked past her, dumping my bag of clothes from Kioshi's on my bed and fetching my towel. I gave her a firm look before shutting the bathroom door behind me.

Sometimes, it enraged me how naive Chloe could be. I didn't need her pity or her money, why couldn't she see that?

I took a deep breath in attempt to calm myself as I undressed and slipped under the hot spray of the shower. The water running through my hair and down my body was soothing and calming.

I looked down at my naked body, my eyes drawn to the faint dark marks on my wrist.

I didn't want to think about how I had gotten them but I couldn't think of anything else as I stared at them under the water.

I'd only smiled politely at the guy when he had waved at me. Simply a smile. But the smile had looked suggestive in Adam's eyes.

I dropped my hand to my sides, pushing the memory to the back of my mind with the rest of them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was an hour into my shift at the club when Shaya called me over to the bar.

She looked puzzled as she slid a drink onto my tray, "You have a personal request in Private room 6."

I blinked, balancing the tray in my palm, "Why? Who?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Drew just  passed a note from a customer. They put down your work name, and paid handsomely to do so."

Personal service requests weren't common. Waiters almost never got personal requests as customers had to pay a hefty sum. Of course, it was up to me if I wanted to go, but I had no reason not to seeing as the person might have paid double my wages.

Still, it struck as weird that they would name me specifically, how did they even know my work name? But I needed the money.

I shrugged, "PR.6? This is the order?"

Shaya nodded, "Just make it quick Vanna, deliver the drink and come back, we need as many hands at the bar as we can today."

"Sure."

I turned and dodged through the throngs of customers staring in awe up at the dancers on the stage and to the back were the private rooms were situated. PR.6 was far down the corridor and I knocked on the door, my heart beating in my throat.

I prepared myself to deliver the drink and dash before they could try anything. The customers always tried something, why else would they spend so much money for a personal request?

A voice from inside called, "Come in."

I pushed open the door and made a beeline for the table in the centre so I could place down the drink. As I did so, I looked up, meeting the eye of my mysterious requester.

Adam regarded me calmly "Ivanna."

I stumbled back, my heart dropping to the ground.

How? I'd never told him where I worked. Never. How did he find me? How did he know?  Why was he here? What did he want? My head spun with the unanswered questions. My lips tried and failed to form words as I stumbled back another step.

"Ivanna," He repeated calmly. It was weird how him simply saying my name could install so much fear. "We need to-"

I darted towards the open door, reaching for the handle. All of a sudden, he was standing before me, blocking me from the door. I drew back to avoid touching him so fast that I almost fell on my ass.

"Ivanna." He repeated, stepping forward.

I backed away, shaking my head, "Leave me alone Adam."

"Let me talk-"

"No." I snapped, "I'm not listening to a word you have to say. Did you ever listen to me?"

He flinched, "I-"

Angry tears stung my eyes, "Did you listen to me when I begged you to stop? Did you listen to me when I tried to explain?"

He stepped forward, his eyes ablaze, "There was nothing to explain Ivanna. You were just trying to make excuses."

"Fuck you Adam," I spat, "You don't get to blame me."

"It was all your fault," he hissed, "You made me."

"I didn't make you do anything."

He laughed scornfully, "So you expected me to just let you get away with it? I love you Ivanna! I love you and that's why-"

I stared him down with as much venom as I could muster. All the years of fear and humiliation spilling out, "Your fucking delusional. You don't love me, you never did. The only thing you ever loved was having control over me."

He shook his head, "That's not true and you know it, we had something special. We still do. If only you-"

It was my turn to laugh, "And there you go again. Blaming me. Your not some feral fucking creature who can't control yourself. I'm not responsible for your actions only you are."

He opened his mouth to speak but I didn't want to listen as I headed for the door. He made to step in my way but I shoved him away with as much strength as I could, "Don't you fucking dare."

I almost cried with relief as I felt the cold metal of the door knob beneath my hand. I slammed the door shut hard behind me, walking away as fast as I could and back into the crowds.

I only just managed to hold it together until I got outside before I crumpled to the ground as tears streamed down my face.