The bar is hundreds of conversations told in loud voices, all of them competing with the rock music that dominates the atmosphere. The crowd is young, students from the university for the most part. Scott winds his way through the warm bodies to stagger toward the VIP section. He enters the alley and gets inside a room, where the walls are covered in velvet satin, giving off a strong sultry vibe Shortly after, a group of women enters, and Scott feasts on their half-naked bodies. One of them pours him a drink, the others throw their bodies upon him, and he reciprocates their every move with no hesitation.
As he swims in pleasure, a call interrupts his leisure. He knits his brows, uninterested in answering the call, but he figure that it might be his friend. So, he pulls away from the hot brunette he's making out with and looks at his phone on the table. Seeing the caller ID, he's taken aback. He props over and picks it up, not taking a second to answer it.
He presses the green button but doesn't speak.
"S—Scott?" Marzia's sweet voice but bashful tone meets the man's ear. Judging by her reluctance, he knows damn well that she needs him for something. So, he didn't miss the chance to make fun of her for it.
"You got a lot of nerve to call me after that stunt you pulled," he says with contempt. Marzia purses her lips, but she shakes off the embarrassment and keeps in mind that she needs to do this to save her mother. One last time of humiliating herself in front of this man wouldn't be that bad, would it?
"I just returned the favor!" Marzia replies, adding, "I need your help. My mother… She's in—"
"Debt?" Scott finishes her sentence and chuckles mockingly. "You're calling me for money. I see…" He looks at the distance with a grin. After the shit of a day he experienced, Marzia never fails to stroke his ego. "Alright, come see me in person. I'll text you the address."
Marzia's eyes widen on the other side of the line. "R—Really?"
"Hurry before I change my mind," Scott spouts and drops the call. Though he said that he'll be of help, none of it is true. He just wants to get back on her. And so, he threw his phone back on the table and gets back on the ladies sitting beside him. "Where were we?"
…
About an hour later, a yellow cab scores the road of Luca district. The driver stops in front of an establishment, announcing, "Here we are, Miss. Palazzo Manfredi is this building in front of us."
"Are you sure?" Marzia squints her eyes and looks out the window. "Isn't this a hotel? My fiance—My friend—The person I'm meeting with says he's at a bar, though."
"It is a hotel, but there's a bar at the top floor. I heard it's a luxurious one, so be careful out there."
Marzia nods and pays her fare. Shortly after, the cab drives away as she looks upfront. She didn't know why, but she felt small once again. She has never been in a place like this. It just heightens the fact that her difference with Scott is immensely immeasurable. She sighs in self-pity and even found herself looking at the dress she just borrowed from Deniece and felt like she was severely underdressed compared to the couple who just walked in in their designer coats.
Nonetheless, her determination overthrew her insecurities. Marzia laughs at herself. "What am I saying? I'm not here to fit in!" Then, she put on an eager face and got in, her poise unbothered. It didn't take her long to reach the top floor. There, she saw a glass door and came inside. After pulling the curtains open, she's greeted by a cloud of smoke, a rowdy crowd, streaks of blinding lights, and booming electronic music. She can't help but frown. Most of the people there are obviously underage alcoholics spending their parent's money, who might be thinking they're attending their night class or something.
After taking in the suffocating view, she squeezes herself amidst the crowd and got to the alley, leading her to the VIP section. "Room B15… Room B15… Oh, here it is." She stops by in front of a wooden door and heaves. Before opening it, she told herself a million times to not be such a weakling. "Even if he begs for you to come back, don't. Okay? Never come back… Never."
With one last inhale, she toughened up and pushed the door wide open. Along with her eyes dilating, her jaw dropped beneath her conjecture. Nothing else but Scott with a bunch of courtesans surrounding him while making out rimmed her gaze. Marzia felt like throwing up, she couldn't believe her eyes.
For years, she has thought that he was the kind of man who won't do such a thing. Right, maybe she sensed it sometimes, but she never really dwelled on the thought and deemed it improbable. But the way Scott expertly dominates this room… It could only mean one thing. Marzia felt degraded. It was a sight for sore eyes how pleased he looked eating one of the girl's face off. This is not the Scott she knew, or maybe, she never really knew him.
For a good minute, she couldn't speak until one of the prostitutes noticed her. "Scott, it seems like you have a visitor. With that, the man threw her a sharp glare. It was followed by a smirk. He sat properly, but he kept his hand on the sofa's edge, seemingly keeping his girls at bay.
"What do you need?" he just said. Not even a hi or hello. Marzia recovered upon hearing his voice. She pursed her lips and walked forward. It disgusts her to see him like this.
"I want to talk to you privately," she denounces the stranger's presence.
Laughing, Scott shakes his head. "They're no stranger to me, Marzia. We've been playing around for a while." In the heat of the moment, Scott straight-up confessed. Maybe it's his bruised pride or the itsy bit of strong alcohol that has messed with his system, but those words just flew out of his mouth like they didn't weigh anything.
Once again, Marzia found herself meek and turning weak. Her mouth stopped working properly. She felt a lump in her throat growing. Though she didn't want to cry in front of this egotistical maniac, she knew that her impending tears would arrive in no time. "H—How long?"
"That's not important. Just tell me how much money your bitch of a mother owed somebody."
"Scott, what is happening to you? Since when have you become this rude?"
"Since when? Ever since I was forced to be with you, Marzia."
She stepped behind, eyes shaking. "W—What?" By then, Scott's confident stance turned livid. He slowly stood up and looked down at her.
"You took away my youth. I was supposed to enjoy my life until that old man died, but you arrived in my life and became obsessed. Actually, my mom was right. You never deserved me. But I have an ass for a father. I never got the chance to openly agree. I don't know how you fucking manipulated that asshole into thinking how petty you are, but I'm here for it! Good job, Marzia!" He huffs and looks to the side. "You're so fucking blind! I fucking despise you and every day I wish for your death!" His eyes turned red, and the muscles in his jaw protruded. Scott was no longer a man. He just turned evil before Marzia's eyes.
"I—I…" Fear crept up the woman's eyes. She wanted to defend herself, but she couldn't and didn't want to escalate the man's heat. She just kept backing up into the wall.
"You what? You're sorry? Don't say that word because it means nothing to me! Sergio just beat the crap out of me. Do you know that? Huh?! Do you know?!"
That was Marzia's breaking point. Her tears fell from her glimmering eyes as they look at each other. Others might get captivated, but Scott is way above his head. He wanted squeeze the life out of her. "Scott, please, you're scaring me…" Marzia begs. She felt helpless and wanted to flee, but her mother's old and sickly face kept appearing in her mind.
"I don't care if you're scared, Marzia. You should be scared! Now, tell me. How much do you fucking need, you pig!"
"S—Seventy… Thousand…"
"That's it? Huh? Alright…" Scott laughs like an evil gremlin, but he had one more request before giving her that. "I'll give you that and all the money, but come back to the house and keep being my supplemental fiancee. You also have to tell the old man that you don't want to get married. You understand?"
Silence ensued. The hooligans watching by the sidelines had amused expressions, thinking that this family drama is way too entertaining. They don't know the whole context, but who needs that with all this shouting?
On the other hand, Marzia was short of breath. Scott's condition snapped something within her. She wanted to slap the man into oblivion, but she obviously wouldn't do such a thing after seeing him go all psycho on her. Nonetheless, she has made a decision.
She shifts her steps and walks towards the door, opening it and shutting it off without looking back. She realized that coming here and asking for that ruthless man's help would do her no good. Before reaching the bar area, she pauses for a while to let out more of her tears, but this time, a smile accompanied them.
She wants to save her mother, but stooping low like that again wouldn't be the best solution. Marzia swore to herself that she'd find another way. Then, she wiped the drippings on her face and put a smile on her lips. She walked forward leisurely and entered the bar area. She looks around and sees the joyous faces of everyone there. They all seem like they have no problems whatsoever. These are the faces of people who decided to let things loose for a night… It gave her some ideas. "Well, I can try new things…"
About an hour later, in the lobby of Palazzo Manfredi, Rome stands beside Ian as he swipes his card to check in. "Sir Ian, while you go on your little friendly reunion, can I spend some time on the bar? It's only a couple of steps away from the VIP rooms, right?"
"No, if he passes out, you'll have to drive him," Ian says and looks at the receptionist, saying, "Thank you." Then, the lady gave him the key to his suite and they strode towards the elevator.