Chapter 4 GOT INTO AN AFFAIR

Chapter 4: Got Into An Affair

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Astrid had been employed at the Royal Club for three months.

When night fell in the prosperous and overburdened city, feasting and revelry compelled people to partake.

Astrid had just cleaned up a drunk lady’s vomit. Despite her slow movements, she acted quickly. She re-lit the incense and placed it in the corner. Her mop swept through the individual sanitary compartments. She arrived at the final rooms. This was the location for cleaning supplies and a place to relax when she was not working.

Everything seemed in order.

The waitress who had allowed her to come here had long since left, but Astrid didn’t care. After cleaning up the mop bucket, she sat in the cubicle, dazed.

‘Everything is as Mr. Smith orders, Astrid...’

‘Astrid, you are nothing anymore. The proud family history is no longer present. The lovely lady has vanished. An excellent educational background is no longer available. You are just a criminal now.’

‘Astrid, be submissive. Don’t fight us. Mr. Smith directed that we take good care of you.’

‘Why do you need two kidneys as a prisoner, Astrid? Take one out to save people, to make amends for yourself.’

‘Grace... give up. Don’t fight...’

Those voices sounded cursed. Those were distorted, terrifying, and hideous faces. They appeared in Astrid’s mind no matter how hard she tried to drive them away.

“Astrid, please come out. The VIP room 606 requires assistance.” From the outside, the compartment door was suddenly opened. A waitress frowned and told Astrid she needed to hurry up. “Come on, hurry up. The club’s top female model requires immediate assistance.”

Astrid was usually reserved. She would do whatever was asked of her. Even if she was aware that they were bullying her on purpose, she never retorted or refuted them. Everyone in the club was aware of this open secret. Anyone in a bad mood could find Astrid to ‘relieve’ their misery.

“The barmaid is in charge of the private room,” Astrid only told the truth, but when the waitress heard it, she misinterpreted it. She became enraged and clutched her chest.

“The visitor puked. Did you allow Lucy to sweep the floor?”

Astrid could sweep the floor better than Lucy. The waitress didn’t care if it harmed Astrid.

Astrid, indeed, did not refute. “Oh,” she said. Her drab appearance made the waitress next to her frown even more.

Astrid bowed her head and followed the waitress into the elevator. However, she was suddenly pushed out of the elevator, perplexing her.

The waitress gave Astrid a disgusted look. “You take the stairs up. It’s not very high. It only has six floors.” The waitress cast a scornful glance at Astrid. “To assist you in losing weight,” she added.

Astrid was ridiculously thin, not fat. She was, however, wrapped in a thick layer of clothing every day when she went to work, making her appear bulky.

The waitress was purposefully making things difficult for Astrid. They would argue with the waitress if it were someone else. But this person’s name was Astrid, and the waitress was certain that the fight would not begin.

Astrid had, indeed, obediently climbed the stairs.

The waitress curled her lips in disgust as the elevator doors closed.

Astrid was utterly useless.

Only Astrid’s footsteps could be heard in the dim stairwell.

This was a safe passageway as well as an escape staircase. People usually took the elevator instead of walking up and down the stairs. The light was blinkered and hazy.

Astrid strolled, climbing the stairs one at a time. She was exhausted by reaching the fifth and a half-floor. When she came to a halt on the stairs to rest, she heard a sound in her ears. She was taken aback. She raised her head. Sure enough, a man pushed a woman up the stairs at the corner and gave the woman a forceful kiss.

From Astrid’s vantage point, she could see the woman’s back and the man’s side-face. She simply felt unlucky. She definitely saw an affair. Just as she was about to walk away, the man’s closed eyes opened, playful staring at her.

Astrid’s heart was pounding in her chest. She fixed her gaze on the man. The man became aware of her presence. Even more horrifying, he held the back of the woman’s head and kissed her more fiercely, but his dark eyes, which shone brighter than the stars, wept at Astrid.

Astrid shook. She lowered her head, about to turn around and go downstairs.

“Stop.”

The sound came from behind Astrid. She was shaking. She didn’t want to make a scene. She had no idea what these influential people would do to her.

She turned around and bowed respectfully after some thought. “I apologize for bothering you, Sir. I’m really sorry,” she apologized, pointing to the sixth-floor safety door, “I’m the cleaner who was called to clean up room 606. Everything is just a coincidence. Please accept my apologies.”

The man appeared to have heard something interesting. “Are you a cleaner?” she asked, surprising him. “You’re so young.” From head to toe, Astrid was scrutinized by a pair of evil eyes. “Are you going to private room 606?”

Astrid was about to say ‘yes,’ but the man waved her away.

“Come on, come on. I’ll take you there.”

What?

Astrid gave the man an odd look. She eventually followed him despite her reservations. She was acquainted with the woman who was with that man. Quinn was a brand-new female model.

Quinn noticed the man enter the safety door and followed him.

The man came to a halt, turned around, and said to Quinn. I advised taking her, but not you. You are not required to follow.”

“Mr. Clayton, don’t you like me?” Quinn asked, acting like a spoiled brat.

The man arched his brow, and just as the woman was about to say something else, a paycheck appeared in front of her, and the man smiled and said, “Can you go now?”

Quinn’s eyes brightened, and the loud nasal tantrum faded. She cheerfully accepted the check and thanked the man.

Astrid took a good look at it. Mr. Clayton smiled as he handed Quinn the check, but the smile in his eyes was obviously a mockery. Mr. Clayton raised his eyebrows as if perceiving Astrid’s gaze. His incomparably evil and enchanted eyes fell on her face. “Are you in love with me now?”

“W-What?”

Mr. Clayton was muscular all over his body. He had already approached Astrid at some point. Astrid was not particularly tall. Mr. Clayton’s approach caused her to appear shorter.

Mr. Clayton’s evil but alluring eyes squinted. He looked down at her, who didn’t even reach his chest. He abruptly bowed and whispered into her ear, “Falling in? Are you enchanted by me or by my money?”

Astrid only felt a warm breath in her ears. Her ears suddenly turned red. She took a quick step back, forgetting that her leg had been injured. She retreated too quickly and hurriedly. She was about to fall, staggering and losing her balance when a large hand on her waist appeared unexpectedly and hugged her.