VOWS OF DECEPTION: THE CEO I HATE

Selena's POV

It was almost midnight and my feet were killing me.

It was a friday and Blue Lounge bar was packed, as usual. It was the same old crowd, city guys in suits, too drunk to stand but somehow still cocky enough to make my skin crawl.

"Selena!" my manager yelled from behind the bar. "Table nine's drunk and rich. Go charm 'em."

I rolled my eyes as I picked up the tray of drinks and summoned my best fake smile. "Yeah, because that always ends well." I muttered to myself. Most of the men in the bar were sleaze bags that thought they were entitled to getting in my pants.

As I walked over, I could already hear them. The loud, annoying laughter, the clink of glasses and a comment about my ass I pretended not to hear. I dropped their drinks on the table.

"Three bourbons, one gin and a martini. Anything else?"

One of them with a red tie and greasy hair grinned at me, licking his lips like I was dessert. "You, sweetheart."

I froze first, stopping myself from giving him a dirty look. Then I turned away.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist.

I jerked back. "Don't touch me."

"Aww, don't be like that, sweetheart," he slurred, standing up. "We're just having a good time. No need to be rude."

"I said don't touch me."

The other guys laughed like it was a show. I was just about to smack him in the head with my tray when a voice came from behind me.

"Let her go."

The guy blinked, looking up. "What?"

"I said let. Her. Go."

I turned and someone in a black hoodie with his face mostly covered. But his stance was firm and I got a very unsettling vibe from him.

Red tie scoffed. "Mind your own business, bro."

The man stepped closer. Just one step, but it was enough.

"I'm not your bro. And you've got three seconds before I make you regret touching her."

Everything went still. For a second, I thought Red tie might take a swing. But he didn't. Clearly intimidated, he backed off with a laugh that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Whatever, man. She's not worth it anyway."

I clenched my fists. I wanted to scream at him or punch him or maybe both. But I just turned back to the stranger.

"Thanks," I said, heart still racing.

He nodded once. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just another night."

He looked at me a second longer. I expected him to say something more. But he just turned, disappearing into the crowd.

I sighed, walking back to the bar when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I looked at the screen.

Dad

I answered immediately. "Dad?"

"Selena-" His voice was frantic and his breaths were coming out heavy and shaky. "I need you to come home. Now. Please. Something's happened."

My stomach dropped. "Dad, what's going on?"

"I-I don't know. They're saying things... just come quickly."