we arrived at the venue a few minutes ago, we must've been late because people are already dancing to "rewrite the stars" slowed.

the venue is just like any other, fancy decorations, fancy tasteless food, rich people and fake donators.

nothing unusual.

carlos is talking with someone while I'm scanning the place for domenico since I know what he looks like.

I have been since we got in but it's hard when everyone is wearing masks.

"let's dance" carlos said out of the blue, I didn't even notice he stopped talking to whoever that man was.

I was about to say no because I don't want him touching me at all but he dragged me to the dance floor before that.

I looked around not wanting to make eye contact with him and also looking for domenico, "look at me" he whispered but before I could do so men and women rushed into us and I was held by another pair of hands.

I looked up to be met by a man that I had never seen before, I looked around to kind of understand what's going on and saw carlos dancing with another woman who seems to be in her 50s.

his eyes are on me and before I could do anything the same thing happened and a new pair of hands placed themselves on my waist just as the song hit "what if we rewrite the stars, say you were made to be mine.".

I looked at the man who's wearing a black silk detailed mask with a black suit, his eyes are brown with a light brown shade more to gold towards his pupil.

he's probably wearing contacts to add the shade of gold because the dots of detailed brown is obvious.

I realized he's staring at me too and just as I was about to look at his entire face the switch happened and someone else held me.

I looked back looking for the man but he wasn't there.

I looked up at the man dancing with me to see that he has brown eyes and seems to be in his 50s, he took off his mask and I immediately recognized him.

domenico romano....

he smiled down at me and said "you have her eyes." with an italian accent, I frowned in confusion and he twirled me then continued "your mom.".

a tightening pain shot my chest at the mention of the woman I never got to see or know.

"you know her?" I asked swallowing the lump that had formed at the back of my throat. he nodded and said "katerina was my closest friend.".

katerina....that's her name. my mother's name. the woman that gave birth to me...

then it clicked...the word was.

"was?" I asked with a frown but the switch happened and I was in someone else's arms.

domenico romano my only hope knows my mom....

is he dead? is that why he used the word was?

the switch happened again and I was back at carlos' arms who looks beyond pissed. he tightened his hold on me and said "let's go sit you must be tired.".

I nodded needing to sit and think of what just happened, now not only is domenico my way out but he also knew or know my mom....he can answer my questions.

we walked to a table and I sat down, "here drink this" he said handing me some juice.

why is he being this...gentle?

I shook my head as a no but he shoved the glass in my hand and said "drink it.".

"I don't want to" I said, what the hell?

"you know you will get punished for what just happened, don't make things worse for yourself." he gritted out.

I gave the glass back and was about to tell him to get a grip because it wasn't my fault he forced me to dance but he shoved the glass in my hand again causing some to spill on the gown I'm wearing.

I yelped in surprise as the cold liquid stained the black fabric and quickly stood up.

he groaned and said "let's go to the bathroom" in annoyed tone, I nodded not liking the stickiness of the juice on my skin and said " don't act like you're annoyed when the goddamn juice is on my skin.".

he clenched his jaw and hissed "watch what you're saying , I am trying not to snap at you!".

I turned around and started walking to the bathroom with him behind me, he grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me into him then said " don't walk away from me like that again.".

I was about to say that the stickiness is annoying but a man wearing a navy blue suit who seems to be around our age approached him and said "carlos.. mi amigo it's been so long.".

carlos chuckled and said " kai, how are you?", I looked around to see domenico walking towards the bathroom hallway.

as if sensing my gaze, he looked at me and motioned his head to the hallway. I looked at carlos who's talking to the man...kai and quickly walked towards the hallway.

from carlos' words I am already in deep shit might as well give my escape a shot.

I bumped into a hard shoulder and looked up to see the man I danced with before dancing with domenico looking back at me.

I broke the eye contact and walked to the hallway, once in I looked around till I saw domenico standing there.

to say I am nervous would be an understatement.

I walked towards him with steady steps but my steps are nothing like my heartbeat. he smiled once he saw me to which I forced a smile.

I honestly didn't expect him to be this nice and expected talking to him to be a lot harder. but him knowing my mom eased everything.

"you really do resemble your mother" he said looking at me, "is she...okay?" I asked hopefully.

he gave me a weak smile that had my heart pounding and said "yes".

I mentally thanked god that she's alive.

I cleared my head and focused on what I need. I can ask him as much questions as I want once I am out and maybe even meet my mother but none of it will happen if I ask questions before telling him what I need.

I cleared my throat and said "I have a deal for you.", he smiled amusement clear on his face then asked "what is it?".

I took a deep breath and said " I know you're rivals with the rodriguez family, and I am with their eldest son. I need your help to take him down, not just kill him but take him down. you take down their empire by what I know and I take him down when he's powerless. we will both have what we want.".

he took out a cigarette and said "sharp and dangerous, you really do resemble your mother.".

I was about to ask if that's a yes when footsteps echoed the hallway, he nodded at me and got in the men's bathroom and I hurried into the ladies'.

I splashed some water on the gown in case it's carlos and started wiping the inside.

true to my assumption it was carlos because he barged in looking like he's about to explode. he took long strides towards me and yelled "WHY THE FUCK DID YOU LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING ME?!".

I looked at him calmly and said " the juice was sticky.", he grabbed my hair probably messing the curls and yelled "WE WERE GOING TOGETHER!".

I winced and said "you were talking to your friend.", he pulled me into him then slammed me into the wall and asked "did you talk to anyone?".

my heart began pounding in fear that he listened and this is a psychological game but nonetheless I shook my head as a no.

he pressed me into the wall more making me gasp in pain and was about to yell but he suddenly let go of me and punched the wall behind me repeatedly then yelled "I FUCKING TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU NOT TO PISS ME OFF!".

he punched the wall again while I watched terrified, he usually hit me and I never had time to see how mad he was I only experienced what a monster he is.

but now that I am seeing him take his anger on the wall, the same anger he always took out on me is making me realize how much more I need to stay away from him.

he looked at me breathing heavily and said " I am warning you am, don't fucking test my patience like that again.".

I fisted my hand and said "stop calling me that.", he was gonna look down but once my words made their way to his ear, he shot his eyes up and glared at me.

"why? your little nathan is the only one allowed to call you that?" he gritted out. I took a deep breath feeling myself loose calmness.

the pain of loosing everyone hit me again but it turned into anger when he said " well, he's dead-"

but before he could say more I hissed " shut the fuck up will you? being mad about him because you're insecure about yourself is something and disrespecting him is another thing that I won't let you do! y-" a stinging pain shot my right cheek making my words stop.

I shot him a glare but before I could continue what I was saying he started dragging me out of the bathroom.

I tripped on the fabric of the gown and the next thing I know I am on the floor with a horrible pain all over my body.

he harshly grabbed my arm and pulled me up then continued dragging me back to the tables.

he dragged me to the stage and once near the stairs he wrapped his arms around my waist and slowed his pace.

we walked up the stairs and then to the stage, I scanned the crowd which is mainly couples.

I know this gala isn't just for business men which makes me wonder how many women here are forced to be with the men they're with?

"hello everyone, as you may all know...I have a very important announcement tonight." my eyes met the same brown ones, the man I danced with and just like the other times, I didn't have enough time to look at him closely because what carlos said next made my entire world crumble.

"my girlfriend, amber steel is pregnant."

I looked at him trying to figure out if this is a joke or a sick game, maybe an act to make all men know he has me.

he looked at me and placed his hand on my stomach then said "she has been for two months".

horror replaced my hope and I just looked at him blankly.

I don't want to be a mother....not to his kids nor do I want him to be the father of mine. plus I am only 19 and I can't solve my biggest problem which is him on my own let alone take care of a baby..

this has to be false...I don't want to be pregnant!

he frowned probably at my reaction and said "why aren't you happy?", he is fucking insane!

"I don't want it." I spoke my thoughts, I really don't.

keeping the baby will do both of us no good, s/he will grow up in an environment no kid should grow up in and I will have it's life responsibility which I know I will fuck up like I did with everyone else.

I can't keep it, it will be cruel of me to keep it knowing exactly what I will be bringing upon both of us.

his voice pulled me out of my trance when he said "you don't have a choice.".

how? he forced this on me! he raped me and gave me no choice, the least he could do is give me one now.

I took a deep breath in ignoring the mutters of the crowd as I felt my lungs go tight, I held my head and looked around meeting the brown eyed man.

voices echoed in my head and my eyelids became heavy, I closed my eyes not being able to keep them open anymore and felt my legs give in before emptiness surrounded me and one sentence was on my mind.

I am fucking pregnant.