Chapter 4
On Saturday night, I was at Nightfall.
It was the most upscale entertainment club in the city, with a lavish golden hall that radiated a decadent vibe.
I booked the largest room, the Emperor's Suite, for a whopping 17 thousand dollars.
Gerald walked in with his rowdy crew, Olivia trailing behind with a bandage on her nose. They swarmed in like a bunch of locusts.
"Wow, Gerald, Nina really went all out this time!"
"This wine, these fruit platters, they're all imported!"
Their compliments pumped up Gerald's ego to the max.
He settled right in the center of the leather sofa, one leg crossed over the other, swirling a glass of red wine as he scanned the room with a look of disdain.
Olivia snuggled up to him, her injured nose turning into a perfect excuse to play the victim.
"Gerald, Nina really went all out this time. She must really love you."
But as she spoke, her eyes were sharp and venomous, locked on the doorway.
I sat quietly in the corner, watching everything unfold.
But I wasn't waiting for them.
I was waiting for Jimmy.
Gerald had made it crystal clear if I didn't bring Jimmy along, the party was off, and I could forget about ever seeing him again.
To get Jimmy here, I lied and told him they were hiring part-time waiters with a high hourly rate.
I knew he was strapped for cash. He needed it to pay for his grandmother's medical bills.
The door swung open.
Jimmy stepped in, wearing a waiter's uniform that was way too big for him.
He held a tray, head down, clearly nervous and out of place.
The air in the room froze for a second, then exploded with a chorus of mocking laughter.
"Well, isn't it our top student? Did you fall so low you're serving drinks now?"
"Man, that uniform on him makes him look like a monkey!"
Gerald set his wine down, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Come here."
He beckoned Jimmy over with a curl of his finger.
Jimmy stood frozen, the glasses on his tray trembling in his hands.
His eyes found me.
And in that moment, the spark in his eyes vanished.
He thought this was just another round of humiliation I'd orchestrated for him.
"Didn't you hear? Gerald told you to come over and pour the drinks!"
One of Gerald's buddies gave Jimmy a rough shove.
Jimmy stumbled forward to the coffee table.
"Get on your knees and pour."
Gerald spoke with such casual indifference, as if this was just the way things were supposed to be.
"That's the rule here. Waiters serve on their knees. What, you didn't know?"
Jimmy bit down hard on his lip, his face pale as a sheet.
"I quit."
He set the tray down and turned to leave.
"Stop."
Gerald pulled an envelope from inside his jacket and tapped it in his hand.
Inside were Jimmy's scholarship application papers, and his grandmother's medical records.
"Go ahead and leave if you want. But who knows where these might end up."
He waved the envelope over the trash can, making sure Jimmy saw every move.
"I heard your grandmother needs that money for surgery. If you lose the scholarship, she might not survive the winter."
Jimmy stopped dead in his tracks.
His back trembled violently, like a dried-up tree about to snap.
He slowly turned around, his knees bending inch by inch.
With a dull thud, he dropped to his knees.
He knelt on the icy marble floor.
Whistles and applause erupted from the room.
My nails dug so deep into my palm that I could feel the blood running down my hand.
But I had to hold it in.
Just a bit longer.
Just a little more.
"That's what I want to see."
Gerald shoved his foot onto the coffee table, the dirty sole right up in Jimmy's face.
"Lick my shoe clean, and you can have the envelope."
This wasn't just humiliation anymore.
This was straight-up treating him like a dog.
Jimmy didn't move.
He stared at those pricey sneakers, and the hatred in his eyes was so fierce that if looks could kill, Gerald would be slashed a thousand times over.
"What? You don't want to?"
Gerald let out a cold laugh, then suddenly snatched a bottle of red wine from the table and popped the cork.
With a loud splash, the dark red liquid poured all over Jimmy's head, soaking him completely.
It streamed down his hair, seeping into his eyes and mouth, turning his pale face and cheap uniform crimson.
It was like blood.
Gerald suddenly called out, "Nina."
He threw the envelope into the dirty bowl of water on the coffee table.
The envelope was instantly drenched, and the writing began to smear and fade.
"Didn't you say you loved me? Weren't you the one begging to make things right with Olivia?"
He jabbed a finger at the filthy bowl of water, then at Jimmy, who looked like a drowned rat.
"Well, here's your chance to prove it."
"Either you chug this disgusting water, and I'll hand him the envelope. Or, have him drink it, and I'll forgive your earlier unreasonable behavior and keep you as my girlfriend."
The whole place went dead silent.
Everyone watched me, waiting for the big moment, their faces lit up with anticipation.
Olivia covered her mouth, her eyes glinting with delight at my misery.
Gerald towered over me, his gaze brimming with smug confidence, certain he was in charge.
He was convinced I'd choose the second option.
After all, what did it matter to throw away some broke nobody for him?
Jimmy lifted his head, staring at me through the blood-red wine dripping down his face, his gaze locked and unyielding.
There was no begging in his eyes, just a desperate, lifeless resolve.
It felt like, if I made that choice, he'd just disappear from this world for good.
With heavy steps, I made my way to the coffee table.
I stared at the bowl of water swirling with cigarette ash and spit, then shot Gerald a look of pure disgust.
My hands trembled as I slowly lifted the bowl.
Gerald grinned.
"That's what I want to see, Nina. I knew you'd..."
"Whoosh!"