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Chapter Three

Berlin

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“What did he say toyou?”

“Nothing.” My voice was soft, but Virgo could hear me just fine.

“What did you say to him?”

“Nothing, I didn't tell him anything.”

“So you're telling me this man just gave you five hundred dollars and requested nothing else in return? You did nothing for him at all?” His eyes turned into tight slits, head angling in towards his shoulder. “Why would he do that?”

“I don't know why.”

“You're telling me he said nothing to you at all? He didn't ask you any questions?”

“No, he didn't. He just told me to dance.”

Virgo sat back in his mahogany brown leather chair and pressed the tips of his fingers together. His hair was slicked back, glistening with a thick sheen of gel. Sucking in his cheeks, his eyes flickered with distrust.

“Did he tell you his name?”

“No.”

“Have you seen this man before? Here or any where else?”

Holding my eyes steady on his, I shook my head. “No.”

Letting out an audible breath, he pointed his finger in my direction. “You're lying to me.”

Looking him straight in the eye, I forced myself to stand taller. “I'm not lying, that's exactly what happened.”

“Berlin, there have been very few times where you've impressed me. And each time I think to myself—good girl, you finally understand. I start to feel a sliver of trust, like you know your place here.” His eyes slowly traced my face as his mouth curled into a heavy frown. “And then you go and fuck it all up again.” Glancing over my shoulder, he nodded his head to the security guard standing near the door. “Take her away.”

“Wait, no, Virgo, please,” I pleaded, holding out my hands and taking a step to the side. “I'm telling you the truth, everything I told you was exactly what happened. He told me to dance, so I danced. He didn't ask for anything else, I don't know why he left me so much money.”

The guard attempted to grab my arms, but I yanked them out of reach. Taking long strides away from him, I flailed my arms so he couldn't get a good hold on me.

“I'm not lying, that's what happened.” Doing my best to stay out of his grasp, I kept moving.

I knew what was happening. And I did nothing to deserve it.

For once I was being honest and Virgo didn't believe me. It made me think of the story about the boy who cried wolf. I had been that boy once, and it was coming back to bite me in the ass now.

“You must have done something—said something—told him something to get him to give you so much money. No man just drops that kind of cash for a dance. Especially on you, you're not that special.” Virgo shot up from his seat, slamming his palms onto the top of his desk. “Now tell me the truth, sweet girl, about what he asked you and what you told him—or shut up and deal with the consequences.”

Holding my eyes firmly on his, I tipped my chin in protest to his threat. “Fuck you, I am telling you the truth. I didn't tell him a goddamn thing.”

His mouth turned razor thin as his pointy chin crooked to the side. Folding his hands into fists, his knuckles blazed white, pupils turning to pinpricks as his nostrils flared wide.

Hit me. Go on, hit me!

I wanted to tell him to do it. I wanted to call him a pathetic excuse for a man, a man who was so weak he had no other way to make himself feel good except by hurting women.

But I didn't. Those words wouldn't do shit. He wouldn't hear me. He didn't have the ability to feel compassion or step outside himself to listen to the truth.