She kept taking sips from her juice slowly slowly and was focused on remembering the lyrics of the songs. She had written it on the paper and kept glancing on it from time to time.
There was a tap on her shoulder, she turned around and saw Giovanna. She was wearing a silver colored sequin long dress, shining all over with a bright smile plastered on her face.
“Lisa, right?” Giovanna asked.
“Yes, Miss Giovanna.” Lisa answered politely.
“Have you prepared the songs.?” Giovanna asked looking at the paper in her hand.
“Yes almost.” She said.
“Don’t disappoint me in front of My friends.” Giovanna said sharply.
“Don’t worry.” She reassured her.
Giovanna nodded and turned away from her just then Augustus held her waist and grabbed her close to him. “What are you doing here?” He asked, his eyes were fixed on Lisa.
Giovanna blushed and said in a low voice, “I was just asking Lisa about her preparation. After all, I don’t want to lose my face in front of my friends.”
“Hmmm… Miss Lisa Mathew if you perform well I’ll compensate you nicely.” He said arrogantly to Lisa.
Lisa just nodded. She didn’t even greet him, he felt very much pissed.
“What if she don’t?” Giovanna asked trying to capture the opportunity to fire her. She had not forget her insult yet.
“Hmm..” Augustus was thinking.
“Fired her from her job.!” Giovanna immediately suggested.
Lisa choked on her words and tried to protest just then Augustus nodded. “Okay, as you say.” He glanced at Lisa’s angry face and than took Giovanna to dance floor completely showing off in front of her. Giovanna held her chin high with pride and turned to give Lisa a provoking look.
Lisa couldn’t help but clenched her fist tightly and turned away from their sight.
The purpose of taking Giovanna to the dance floor in front of Lisa was to make her jealous like she did with Cristian. But out of his expectation, Lisa wasn’t even looking at them. Her head was turned away from him.
Augustus’s eyes turned cold. Before she went to the hospital, she was still trying to talk to him but now it looks like he doesn’t exist at all for her. He was now in bad mood, he left the dance floor suddenly making Giovanna surprised. He then went to the bar and started drinking wine.
Giovanna went to the stage and introduced Lisa to everyone, then she asked her to sing the songs she had prepared. Lisa was quite nervous but still she managed to sing gracefully.
At first, Giovanna was stunned and than felt disappointed, she really can sing well now how she will make her lose her job? She started thinking worriedly.
Augustus who was drinking uncontrollably felt at ease hearing her voice. He slowed down his drinking and looked at her, she really is an antidote for him but she doesn’t want him near her. Why? Am I not more handsome than that Cristian? He thought.
“Wow.. she’s pretty.”
“I would love her to sing while I fuck her in bed”
“I’ll take her mouth first”
“Damn… she’s sexy too..”
Behind Augustus, a group of boys were discussing about Lisa and making his blood boiling from anger. He clenched his fist tightly to control himself. Just then Giovanna’s voice came from the stage. “Everyone please listen up.”
“Clap.. Clap”
Everyone looked at the stage curiously. “I would like to play a game before it’s time for new year.”
“Yay… Let’s play a game..!” Everyone clapped and cheered.
“Well, As you can see here my friend sings so well. I would like to give a chance to one man who who would bid the highest price to sing and dance with this lovely young lady.” She said pointing at Lisa. “That money would be gone to the Smiley Face’s Charity organization.” She said smilingly showing her fake sincerity so that no one could doubt her real purpose of insulting Lisa.
Lisa was sitting on a chair. She instantly got up angrily and said to Giovanna in a low voice, “I am not playing it.”
Giovanna looked at her and crooked an evil smile. “You don’t have a choice.”
Lisa felt helpless, she knew she was doing it on purpose so she would create a fuss to make her lose her job. In addition, she had made this thing as a charity stunt so if now Lisa backed up in front of everyone they would say ill things about her and Giovanna will get all the praises which she will never let happen.
She looked around the people and all men’s gaze made her feel disgusted, they all were eyeing her up and down. She then met Augustus’s deep blue gaze, she had a hope in him that he would help her.
“10, 000 lira.” Augustus shouted aloud looking firmly at Lisa. His eyes showed displeasure towards her. Her nose felt sore and her eyes turned red. She turned around and went to the washroom.
Behind her, all male voices were coming as they were increasing the money one by one. Lisa felt humiliated and tears were falling down from her eyes.
Suddenly someone held her wrist from behind. She frowned and turned around. The two men were staring at her lustfully. “It smells so good.” The man who held her wrist, placed it in front of his nose, sucking hard.
Lisa felt very ridiculous at the man’s behavior towards her. She clenched her teeth “Let go” and tried to struggle.
“Your figure looks good. Why bothering to sing when you can easily earn money huh? Give me a price.” The other man stepped forward and asked.
Lisa kept struggling. “Rascals.”
“Hey… hey.. we just want to love you. Consider us as your lover Baby.” The man who was holding her wrist said it and touched her hair.
“Done having fun?” A sharp voice came from behind. Both men turned around and shocked by looking at Augustus. The man who was holding her released her and pushed her aside.
Lisa’s back was pushed against the wall and then she saw Augustus standing in front of two men. The two men dejectedly lowered their head and greeted Augustus politely. “Mr. Carlos, we were just having a chat.”
“Get out.” Only two words came out from his mouth and both men hurriedly ran out of the washroom.
Augustus coldly looked at Lisa and sneered, “Your lover would feel disappointed if he’ll see you like this. At least to him stay loyal.” He then walked passed through her.
“Augustus.!” Lisa grabbed his arm tightly and forced him to look at her. Augustus frowned and looked into her red eyes. “I don’t have any lover, you have been misunderstood.! You told me you had feelings for me, I am not anyone to you so then, why you don’t give me a chance to explain myself.” She asked him with pain in her eyes.
Augustus tried to pull his arm but Lisa held it stubbornly not letting go. Augustus felt disgusted and then said. “Fine speak.!”
“At the party, I told Grace that I was going to the bar. She was the one who informed Cristian not me. I thought it was a coincidence and that kiss…” she hesitated and then said, “I was drunk I didn’t know what was happening. By the time I got my senses back he had already let me go and I immediately walked away from him as I didn’t want to create any scene there and then those goons caught us outside.”
Augustus didn’t see her leaving. But he remembered clearly when he saw her outside, she wasn’t with Cristian in fact she was far walking away from him.
“What about your visit at the hospital? Care to explain that too?” He asked in an insulting tone.
Lisa loosened his arm and took two steps. She then turned and smiled, there was a hint of sadness in her smile. “Still don’t believe me?”
She took a deep breath and said, “Grace called me there. I went there to meet her. I knew you would get angry if I ask Lester to drop me at Hospital that’s why I went there secretly because I didn’t want you to misunderstand me again. You were the one who approached me and now when I finally had started developing feelings for you, you’re backing up. This is the last time, I am saying I have no relation with any man except you. But you disappointed me Augustus.” She pointed at his chest, her voice nearly choked by her words.
Looking at her little crying face, Augustus felt a strong pain in his heart. His all hatred vanished instantly, she told him she had developed feelings for him. That’s why, she was treating him differently at the Christmas party. He misjudged her, also humiliated her, but still she kept trying to explain to him no matter how rude he was. Fool, such a fool he was!
“Lisa.!” He called her with love and hope. But Lisa stepped back, wiped her tears and said coldly, “It’s over” she then turned and walked outside.
Augustus’s body froze and he felt empty in his heart. How could he let her go away from him. No no she can’t go away from him. He touched his forehead in panic and suddenly thought of something.
He calmed himself and then walked towards the stage. Ready to accomplish his plan.