The next day, after school, Evelyn didn't see Caden Lockwood at the gate, and her heart relaxed a little.
However, he hadn't come to collect the money yet today!
She was about to go home; there was no way she could deliver it to him tonight, right?
Shaking her head, she hated herself for resigning to fate like this, yet she had no other choice.
Finding a job wasn't going well either. There seemed to be a lot of poor people recently, and all the easy part-time jobs were full, leaving only a job selling drinks at a KTV. Thankfully, although it was tiring, the pay was quite considerable.
As night fell, the night scene was only just beginning its spectacular show.
Evelyn weaved through the crowd, earning a commission for each drink she sold. Selling one more bottle meant earning fifty more cents; selling four bottles would cover two days of repayment!
Thinking about the repayment, Evelyn blushed, surprised at why she was so embarrassed when she should have been furious.
"Little beauty, that's not how you sell drinks!" A drunken man stopped Evelyn, smirking, "You need to drink one first and tell me it's good. Only then will I buy!"
"I'm sorry, I don't drink," Evelyn politely declined and prepared to leave with her basket of drinks.
"A drink seller who doesn't drink? Who are you kidding?" The man blocked Evelyn's path, "Look, there's ten thousand here. You drink a bottle, and I'll give you a thousand!"
As he spoke, he pulled out a wad of cash from his bag and threw it on the table, flaunting his wealth.
Evelyn frowned, not wanting to stir up trouble. She thought for a moment and said, "Sorry, I really can't drink. If you want to taste it, I'll give you a bottle for free. I hope you enjoy."
As soon as she placed a bottle on the table, it was knocked to the floor.
"Who wants your free drink! You're gonna drink it if I say so!" The man pointed at Evelyn, "If you don't drink today, don't think about leaving this room!"
The singing in the KTV stopped, and the few friends who came with the man looked at Evelyn with suggestive smiles, as if they were used to such scenes. No one intended to step in.
"Sir, please have some respect," Evelyn maintained her composure, "This is a respectable KTV. Also, there's a police station not far away. Waking up to find yourself in a police station doesn't seem like a pleasant thing."
"Using the police to scare me?" The man advanced on Evelyn step by step, "I want to see what the police will do to me if I don't let you go today!"
Evelyn glanced at the man, then pressed the button on her walkie-talkie, signaling to her colleague selling drinks in the next room that there might be trouble here, and started towards the door.
Though scared, she wasn't too frightened.
After all, there were security guards in the KTV, and the boss who hired her part-time was a friend of Cecilia Lynch, who promised to look after her.
"Hey, you stop right there!" The man grabbed Evelyn's wrist, "Today, whether you drink or not, you're going to drink!"
Evelyn didn't have time to react before a force yanked her onto the sofa, and the man prepared to press down on her.
Ignoring the pain, she immediately got up and ran towards the door, but it was too late.
"I like crafty ones!" The man pushed Evelyn into a corner, holding a bottle of beer, his voice menacing, "Be a good girl, drink it, then let me love you!"
This time Evelyn was truly scared; the man was blocking her view, and she couldn't see what was happening at the door.
Hadn't her colleague next door received her distress signal?
Otherwise, why haven't they come?
She struggled desperately, shaking her head continuously, her chin gripped so tightly it was nearly dislocated.
Watching the bottle approach her mouth, the strong smell of alcohol began to flood her nostrils. She could almost see the liquid inside shaking, ready to be forcibly poured into her mouth and stomach.