Chapter 13

TW: Attempted Assault

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Reluctantly, I drag my feet to the car.

"Hurry up Tin! We're going to be late." Panda shouts from beside the car. If I had been a normal personal assistant, I would have left work by now but instead because the contract states I should be on alert 24/7, Pan is using it as an excuse to drag me along to meet a client with him.

Sighing heavily, I open the driver's door and get in. My eyes flicker to the time displayed on the dashboard. It's already 8pm.

"Stop looking at the time. You won't be able to escape." Panda says arrogantly.

I glare at him through the rear view mirror. He has a smug look on his face. Is this supposed to be his way of revenge for the chilli coffee?

"Childish." I mutter under my breath as I drive.

Twenty minutes later, I park up outside Midnight Bar. The bar is loud as I hear the music from inside blasting out. Is this really where we are meeting a client? Or has Pan lied to me and simply come here to have some fun?

I cross my arms as I wait for him to get out of the car. Does he think I am a fool? When he doesn't step out, I bend down and knock on his window.

He glares at me through the glass and gestures for me to open the door for him. What? He really wants me to treat him as if he is a mighty being?

Sighing, I open the door and grin when he bumps his head onto the roof of the car as he steps out. "Don't you know simple rules of a driver?" He whines.

I roll my eyes. This guy loves to nag. "Sorry, I'm not a professional driver." I say sarcastically as I follow him into the bar.

It is really noisy inside. I'm not a virgin to bars and nightclubs but I haven't been to this one. It looks like rich people come here. As we walk through the crowds, I feel eyes staring at us. Is Panda King really this popular? There could be danger here too.

Surveying the area, I put my guard up in case of any unexpected visitors. Pan walks to a small corner. There's a sofa and a table with drinks. He glances at his watch as he sits down and takes a glass.

"Why aren't you sitting?" He stares up at me with his eyebrows raised.

"I thought you wanted me to stand." I mutter under my breath and don't hesitate to sit down next to him. I reach out for a glass but pull my hand back. I can't drink when I am on duty.

We sit there for ten minutes, Pan drinking whilst I sit quietly watching our surroundings for any suspicious activity.

"Hey handsome." My vision is suddenly covered by a shiny sequinned dress. I glance up in confusion and find myself meeting eyes with a sexy girl. Her dress clings to her perfect figure and her hair cascades down her back.

She smiles seductively and touches my arm lightly. Her nails are perfectly painted red. My eyes follow her fingers attentively and I gulp anxiously. How do I respond to her seduction? I can feel another pair of eyes burning a hole in me from my other side.

If I refuse such a beautiful woman, Pan might become suspicious of me. I have to keep up my facade. Smiling at her, I grab her hand in mine and slowly press my lips on the back of her hand.

She grins and slides down to sit next to me. "You're a quiet one."

"Not really." I say stiffly. "I'm pretty loud once you get to know me." I wink flirtatiously.

"I'll get to know you then." She leans over and whispers into my ear.

Suddenly, the cough from beside us, attracts our attention. Panda King seems to be glaring at me for some reason. I shrug at him. What does he want? Is he jealous that I am getting more attention than him?

"Get lost! We are here for business not for you." Pan says angrily to the woman.

I gasp at his outburst. No wonder this man has enemies. The poor woman didn't even do anything to him.

"Why are you shouting at her? She didn't do anything to you." I retort. I should fix his bad attitude and temper first.

The woman seems frightened and clings onto my arm as I glare back at Pan.

"We're here for a business meeting. I can't have my client think we are here for other things." He says, glancing at the woman pointedly.

I roll my eyes before turning to the woman with a gentle smile, "You can go now. Maybe next time we can talk again. I'm sorry, please excuse my friend's behaviour."

She smiles, "Sure. I'll be looking forward to seeing you again." She kisses my cheek and leaves us.

I feel bad for lying to her but I can't have Pan making more potential enemies over nothing. My reaction is late as I just realise that the woman kissed my cheek. I touch it in awe and blush when I think about my first kiss being stolen by Pan.

"Are you done?" Pan asks. Why does he sound annoyed?

I blink and quickly nod, "Yes." Glancing around, I don't see anyone coming to us. "So we are really here for a client?"

"What? You thought I was lying?" He says.

"Of course not!" I say quickly. Of course I did. What kind of client would meet someone for business in a bar?

"Just sit still. He should be here soon." He says, glancing at his watch again.

Five minutes later, a balding middle aged man approaches us. He smiles at Panda King and places a briefcase down on the table.

"Hello Mr King, it's nice to finally meet you." He says, holding out his hand.

Panda nods and shakes his hand, "Likewise Mr Tipp."

As they discuss about their business deal, I zone out in boredom. Why did I come here again? I haven't spotted any threats at all.

Almost dozing off, Mr Tipp's voice startles me, "This young man is?"

"This is my friend Tin Gold." Pan introduces.

Mr Tipp's beady eyes scrutinise me up and down and an uncomfortable feeling crawls up my body. This man is strange.

"Come, drink with us." He says as he holds out a glass of wine towards me. I stare at Pan and sure enough, he has an empty glass in his hand. So they were drinking together whilst I was almost falling asleep.

I shake my head, "No thank you Sir. I'll be driving later so I can't." I explain politely.

He stares at me, his eyes not moving away. "Just one glass." He prompts.

This man is stubborn. He places the glass down and pats the seat next to him.

"Fine, I won't force you to drink but why don't you come and sit here and we can talk." He grins.

I can feel goosebumps on my arms. This man is a complete creep.

"Go on Tin." Pan says.

Surprised, I stare at him. What is he saying?

"Go and talk with Mr Tipp." He says. Then he leans closer to me and whispers under his breath, "Do as he says so we can have this business deal sealed."

My hands clench and unclench in nervousness as I move my eyes to Mr Tipp. Pan might void the contract if I don't obey him right now.

Yesterday's memory flashes in my mind.

"Oh Tin, I forgot to add one more term onto the contract." Pan says as he sits at the end of my bed.

"What is it?"

"If I decide to void the contract at any time for any reason, you have to give me back £10,000."

"What?" I scream loudly. "£10,000 if you cancel the contract?! That's unfair!"

"I don't care. It's up to me anyway since I am Party A."

"Why £10,000?!"

"I pay you £3000 a month so you should be able to pay me back for all the time I have wasted." He says arrogantly.

I throw my pillow at him as he leaves, "You scammer! Fraudster!"

Staring at the middle aged man uncomfortably, I stand up and move to sit beside him. As I try to sit as far from him as I can, my eyes widen as I feel his hand on my back. Closing my eyes to control my temper, I feel his hand move to my waist.

This is disgusting. If I wasn't in a bar for Pan's business, I would have knocked him out by now. I can't believe this shit-head is treating me like a woman of the night when he can see that I am a "man".

I don't think Pan is aware of what is going on since he seems relaxed and is on his fifth glass already. Uncomfortably, I shuffle away, but the man holds onto my waist.

"Come on Tin, have a drink." He slurs as he continues drinking with his other hand.

Scrunching up my nose in disgust at the stench of alcohol on him, I try not to punch his disgusting face. How can he be capable of making business deals with rich people like the Kings?

"No." I say, "I'm not drinking."

"Then let's do something else." He says drunkenly and pulls me against him.

I try to get away but the man has shockingly great strength. He pushes me down on the sofa and I struggle to push him off. I can usually toss people like him away but my injury on my upper arm still hasn't healed.

"L-let me go!" I shout as I push him but the sleaze-bag forces his body onto me. Terrified, I kick at him but he dodges. Turning my head, I can see that Pan is still sat there. Is he really not going to come and help me?

I laugh bitterly to myself at the irony. I am the one who is supposed to protect Panda King but here I am, wishing he would at least help me in this situation instead of caring about his business deals.

Mr Tipp leans his face closer to me and I scream in fright as I feel his lips skim the skin at my neck. I close my eyes. Pan won't help me, I can't do anything right now.

"That's it. Be good little kitten." The creep whispers.

Am I really going to get assaulted for the sake of £3000?

A tear leaks down my cheek as his lips press against my neck. I feel disgusted and want to vomit.