C14 Why did it have to be you

Zack's POV

"Hey baby, what'd you want, a drink and a lady like me?" One of the bar girls asked, gliding her fingers over my body.

"Get your hands off me, young lady," I gruffed, tearing her palms away from my body to no avail.

"Come on, I know you want this, I mean, don't you, you don't want to have your dick inside me? All the men in here are ogling at me and you're the only one I want to..."

"I said to get the stupid fuck away from me!" I yelled, sending her steps away from me.

"Now get your stupid ass away from me, an inch closer and I'll make sure you don't get to move your limbs ever again," I warned, watching her body shudder as she trembled away.

"That's more like it," I muttered as she walked away, leaving me to order another shot of alcohol and drown in my thoughts of Sofia.

Her fucking eyes—the way her eyes rolled as I filled her insides on that night, and God knew how I planned on searching for her that night, save her from the man that she was supposed to be sold to until... She stepped into my father's Mansion alongside her father and worst, she was to be married to the one person I'd hate even the person I despised the most to get married to—my brother.

Dressed in that lazy pink gown, her eyes caught mine and for a moment, she stilled, her eyes were filled with so much fucking hurt, silently screaming for help. And the moment I dreaded the most began to happen. Alex doing his thing, abusive and egoistic.

And I'd never been proud of anyone like I was when she refused to pick the papers from the floor.

His ego was bruised, and even though she was being sold to a man like my brother—I couldn't be prouder of her as she stood up for herself, until he was strangling her for standing up for a maid.

My fist clenched at my sides, and the burning feeling of throwing my punch into his face soared inside me. But it'd be too evident, that Alex would do all in his power to find out what has ever happened between Sofia and me, and I could never let him do that.

I had to do my best to make sure she was safe, even if it meant keeping my distance when all I'd really wanted to do was pull her into my arms.

"Mr Zack," The bartender called, throwing another shot towards me.

"That man over there has been staring at you for a while now, I just thought I should tell you," He said and I nodded, turning to see who it was

I turned in my seat, subtly glancing toward the direction the bartender had indicated. A man sat in the far corner, half-hidden in the dim light of the bar. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, locked on me like a predator sizing up its prey.

He lifted his glass in a silent toast, a smirk playing on his lips. I recognized him immediately—Victor Balthazar, one of my father’s business rivals and a man whose reputation was darker than the shadows he seemed to thrive in.

What the hell was he doing here? And why was he watching me?

I turned back to the bar, pretending I hadn’t noticed him, and downed the shot the bartender had poured. The burn of the alcohol did little to quell the unease bubbling in my chest. Victor didn’t show up anywhere without a reason, and if he was here, it wasn’t by chance.

My thoughts drifted back to Sofia. Was this about her? Had Alex pissed off the wrong person again, dragging her into his mess? Or was this something else entirely?

I tapped the edge of the bar, signaling for another drink, while keeping Victor in my peripheral vision. He didn’t move, didn’t look away, and that damn smirk stayed plastered on his face.

“Everything alright, Mr. Zack?” the bartender asked, lowering his voice.

“Fine,” I replied curtly, though the tension in my shoulders told a different story.

Victor finally stood, straightening his suit jacket as he made his way toward me. I clenched my jaw, bracing myself for whatever bullshit he was about to spew.

“Zack Holmes,” he greeted smoothly, his voice oozing confidence. “Long time no see.”

“Not long enough,” I replied, turning slightly to face him.

He chuckled, unbothered by my hostility. “Always so charming. Mind if I sit?”

I gestured to the empty stool next to me. “Suit yourself.”

"What do you want?" I asked, taking another shot from the bartender.

"For a man who's asking questions, you've taken too many shots to remember what I'm going to be saying," Victor said his eyes running around like prey.

"Holmes never gets drunk Victor, tell me why you're here," I said, taking another shot.

"I heard about the part of your brother's share of assets that has been given to you and his wife," Victor said and I paused the shot I was about to take again at the mention of Sofia.

"And what am I supposed to do with that piece of information Victor?" I asked, taking a closer look at his already red face.

"I want you to give it to me in exchange for 50% of my company's share and I'm using my daughter as leverage, you get to marry..."

"Even if you were to give me 100% ownership of your company, I won't take it Victor, do you know how much that is worth? A billion times more than your company," I said, shifting my stool closer.

"And I don't want your daughter Victor, Especially when she's been pitched by fathers like you," I retorted, standing up from the stool.