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The parlour was packed this time and the sex workers no longer bothered to keep their activities private. Evelina shuddered at the sight of desperate men grabbing - and taking - all they could from these hormone-driven women. Her jaw dropped in disgust and shock. Who was to say that the stranger from earlier was not one of those men who were now pounding a blonde woman as the velvety maroon sofa soaked up the rigours of their pleasure? She could not dismiss the thought, considering how his eyes had filled with such passion before, but denial was a safe place to be. Evelina shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself like a blanket to protect her from the cold. She was visibly trembling with fear.
Past the parlour, she spotted the bar corner. This side was much less crowded than the other, as the men she could see were either drinking alone or talking to a friend. Her chest heaved as she caught sight of the familiar broad shoulders of her attacker, sitting far in front of her with another man to his left. She also spotted a bag of ice lying on the table in front of them, easily confirming her suspicions.
Evelina began to feel like she should stop and take a break to prepare for the confrontation, but her limbs would not obey her, instead pushing her forward hastily.
She hoped the stranger would turn around and notice her first to put her at ease, but he didn't, instead his partner did and quickly leaned over to whisper in his friend's ear. Evelina felt a crease creep across her forehead as she worried about what they were saying.
She was barely a few feet away when the other man suddenly moved with a swiftness that startled her. He'd got up from his stool and she was afraid he was going to confront her, only he wasn't. She couldn't even catch a glimpse of his face as he sauntered off in an unknown direction, leaving only her and the image of her attacker's powerful back.
"Excuse me, hello, I think you have my handbag." Evelina tapped the man's back with her finger and asked. She was grateful that her voice had not given her away, for she was trembling inside.
The man deliberately ignored her. She knew he was because he had turned slightly to the side, as if he was about to turn altogether, but he hadn't. He just glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and turned back forward as if she wasn't there. He leaned forward and began to take a slow sip from his drink.
This behaviour jolted her out of her reverie, shaking off all her apprehension and replacing it with undaunted courage.
"Hey! I'm talking to you. Will you at least answer me?" Evelina chewed her lips, trying not to punch him in the back. Did he know how desperate her situation was right now?
Alexander sniffed first. He made a sound that made it sound like he was trying to hold back a chuckle. But that only made Evelina angrier.
"Hey, you, sir, I demand that you hand over my handbag right now or I really would make a scene in here?"
"A scene?" Alexander tilted his head a little to the right, as if considering, before turning fully to face her with his intimidating black eyes.
Evelina took a few steps back as she met his eyes again. It reminded her of the situation they had been in before.
"I wondered before if you were just playing hard to get, now I see you are completely naive. How do you hope to attract anyone's attention in this place at this time of night? I could strip you right here and nobody would dare say a word, because it is widely believed that no sane virgin would come to the red light district unless she was ready to give up her chastity for good". Alexander's tone seemed amused at her current state.
But Evelina was panicking about something else. He didn't make a move to undress her there, but his eyes were already doing the job of fucking her where she stood.
Alexander leaned back against the table and crossed his arms, watching her. He could see clearly now what Colin was saying. The innocence of her clear blue eyes told him that she was a far cry from the other women in the brothel.
He decided to put her out of her misery.
"You don't know whether I have your purse or not. Instead of coming at me like you're so sure I have it, you could have just asked me politely if I'd care to answer to the woman who gave me a scar across my face."
"I was just protecting myself!" Evelina screamed hysterically.
Alexander tsked. "Then why are you in a place like this tonight?"
"It is because..." Evelina's eyes softened as her voice trailed off. She could not answer by telling him the whole truth. Who knew if the monster in front of her was only working to ridicule her.
"You know what? I don't care, and I personally don't care that you lost your purse. It's satisfying enough to know that the news will be different tomorrow".
Evelina's eyes opened immediately. "What news?" she asked, looking at him intently.
"You'll see. But for tonight I am prepared to be more generous than usual for your sake. Ask me nicely to lend you some money to get you home and let us see if I am in the mood to do such a thing."
"What you're saying makes no sense. Why should I ask for a loan when you're not even sure you want to give it to me? I would rather go back and look for my purse." She eyed him maliciously before turning away.
"You'd be making the wrong decision if you did, love." Alexander grinned.
"How wrong would my choice be? And I am not your love." Evelina said.
"Right. I almost forgot that you prefer to be called the devil. My cute little devil." A grin spread across Alexander's face.
Evelina scowled. "It's good you're enjoying my situation enough."
"Why not? You're suddenly at my mercy, don't you think I have every reason to be happy about it?"
Evelina made no move to speak.
Alexander decided to go for it. "Good. It seems you have a quick mind after all. Because no other man in this place would be willing to sympathise with you without demanding something more from you."
"Thanks for the pep talk, but I don't want your help. You are far too arrogant for me. I would rather freeze to death out there than accept a single penny from you."
"Is there a reason you would refuse my offer of help?"
Evelina ignored him.
"Well, if you are so afraid of being indebted to me, you should know by now that you will not walk out of here a freeloader either way. You already owe me enough. The only thing you need to worry about is when I find you to claim all my debts."
Evelina shuddered at that.
"So what do you say, my little devil, will you take my help or what?"
Evelina noticed that his eyes grew a shade darker the moment he said that.
~~~~~~~
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