Awakened Behind Bars: The Golden Finger

Chapter 2: A big misunderstanding

Cherry Vixen stormed out of the hotel room, her heart racing with rage. She felt so furious she could barely breathe. Suddenly, her phone beeped. She pulled it out of her bag and saw the caller ID. Tracy.

She answered immediately. “Hello?”

“Cherry? Cherry!” Tracy’s voice came fast and panicked. “Where the fuck are you?”

Cherry’s brows furrowed. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Haven’t you seen the internet?” Tracy blurted out. “Just go on any social media platform and check what’s trending.”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean?” Cherry snapped, stopping near the elevator.

“It’s you,” Tracy said. “You were seen going into some hotel room with some man. There’s a video, someone filmed everything. You knocked, the man came out and then the two of you went in. It’s everywhere.”

“What?” Cherry’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. Check it out, it's—”

Before Tracy could say anything else, Cherry hung up. Her fingers trembled as she opened I*******m. As if fate itself was mocking her, the very first post on her feed began to play automatically.

There she was, knocking on a door. That disgusting man opened it and they went back in together. Cherry’s breath hitched.

She stared at the screen, frozen. She really walked all the way there. On her own.

Her gaze darkened as she saw how viral the video had gone. 100,000 views. 3,000 comments. 62,000 shares.

This was bad.

Cherry made her way back home, her heart racing violently as the towering gates of the Vixen mansion opened before her. During the drive, she had checked every social media platform she knew: I*******m, X, blogs, gossip pages.

The headlines read: DAUGHTER OF FAMOUS MULTI-BILLIONAIRE, CHERRY VIXEN SPOTTED IN HOTEL ROOM WITH A NOBODY.

Others read: RICH HEIRESS CAUGHT IN SCANDAL WITH POOR STRANGER.

“Gosh…” Cherry groaned under her breath as she stepped into the massive living room.

Just as she expected, everyone was there.

Her father and mother. Her cousin, Sophia. And her grandfather. None of them looked pleased.

Her father’s expression was the worst. He looked furious. “Dad…” Cherry called softly as she rushed toward him.

Victor Vixen was already standing on his feet. “Cherry,” he said sharply. “What is this rubbish all over the news? How would you stoop so low?”

Cherry’s eyes instantly filled with tears. “Dad, it wasn’t my fault,” she cried. “He’s the one who did it. He took my virginity.”

Her mother, Natalie, rushed to her side immediately. “Oh, my dear…” Natalie pulled Cherry into a tight hug, stroking her hair. She looked up at Victor, her eyes soft. “This young man cannot just go scot-free with this. He touched our princess.”

Victor clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening dangerously. “I know that, Natalie,” he said through gritted teeth. “I know that too well.”

Sophia who had been quietly scrolling on her phone, looked up. “Uncle, the internet is already tearing her apart. People are questioning everything.”

Grandfather Vixen slammed his cane lightly against the floor. “This is a disgrace,” he said coldly. “Our family name is being dragged through mud.”

“Tell me everything,” he demanded. “Every detail. From the moment you stepped into that hotel.” Her father demanded.

Cherry sniffed, clinging to her mother. “I… I don’t remember everything clearly,” she said shakily. “I just woke up and he was there. Dad, I swear, I would never willingly be with someone like him.”

Victor’s eyes darkened. “Good,” he said slowly. “Because whether you remember or not, the world will believe our version.”

He straightened his shoulders. “That man,” Victor continued, “will take responsibility. One way or another.”

***

Meanwhile, Desmond had freshened up and changed into another pair of clothes. He only owned three outfits in total, and he chose the cleanest one he had. There was barely any perfume left in the small bottle he owned, so he dabbed a little on his wrist and hoped it would be enough.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, he stepped out of the hotel. He was heading to his new apartment to check it out properly. It wasn’t anything special, just a one-room space. The kitchen and bathroom were outside. Still, it was a roof over his head, and that was all he needed right now.

As he walked down the street, his foot landed in a puddle of water. “Damn it…”

Water seeped straight into his socks. His shoes had holes at the sides as it was worn thin from years of use. By the time he stepped away, his feet were completely soaked.

Suppressing a sigh, Desmond hailed down a taxi.

When he arrived at the location which was a narrow compound tucked between taller buildings, he spotted the landlord waiting outside. The man was petite, much smaller compared to Desmond’s 6ft height, yet his sharp eyes and stiff posture gave him an authority that didn’t match his size.

Desmond stepped forward. “Good morning Sir, I'm Desmond Knight and I'd like to take the keys to the house.”

The landlord looked him over slowly, his gaze lingering on Desmond’s worn clothes and damp shoes. “The keys for what?” the man asked flatly.

“The apartment,” Desmond replied. “We already spoke. I made the booking. I’m here to move in officially.”

The landlord’s expression hardened instantly. “Well, I’m sorry,” he said coldly. “You cannot move in here.”

Desmond’s brows furrowed. “What? Why not? I made the full payment.”

“What stupid full payment are you talking about?” the man snapped.

Desmond stared at him in confusion. “I paid for the place. You told me it was $5 per month. I already made the payment.”

“Rubbish,” the landlord scoffed. “I’ll refund you your money. But you can’t stay here.”

“What?” Desmond’s voice rose slightly. “But why, sir? Everything is already sorted out. I’m just here to move in.”

“Are you daft, young man?” the landlord said harshly. “I’m the landlord. I own this place. I decide who stays here and who doesn’t. And I’m telling you, you can’t stay.”

He pulled out his phone. “Send me your number. I’ll send you your stupid $5 back.”

Desmond’s heart began to race in panic. “Please,” he said, lowering his voice. “I don’t understand. I have nowhere else to go. This was the cheapest place I could find. I can’t afford anywhere else, and I can’t start looking for another place on such short notice. Please… what’s going on?”

The landlord hesitated, then sighed heavily, rubbing his face. “Look,” he said, his tone dropping. “I don’t want trouble. I’m just an ordinary man trying to feed my family by renting out houses. I can’t let someone like you stay in one of my properties.”

“I don’t understand,” Desmond said slowly. “What do you mean by trouble?”

The landlord shot him a look, as if he couldn’t believe the question. “Are you daft or what? Aren’t you the man who took the virginity of the multi-billionaire’s daughter?”

Desmond froze. “What?”

“Cherry Vixen,” the man said bluntly. “Daughter of Victor Vixen.”

Desmond’s mind felt like it was spinning as he remembered the girl from earlier.

“How did you even—” Desmond began. But before he could say another word, the landlord shook his head. “I don’t want problems with people like that. Take your refund and go.”

Desmond stood there, stunned, the dampness in his shoes spreading cold through his feet, as he realized his nightmare hadn’t even truly begun yet. “No, please,” he said desperately, shaking his head. “Please, okay? There’s a big misunderstanding. I didn’t do anything to her forcefully.”

The landlord scoffed. “Misunderstanding?” He looked at Desmond with disdain. “Are you not ashamed of yourself? Your life is ruined.”

Desmond’s throat went dry.

“If I were you,” the man continued coldly, “I’d leave this city. Or better still, leave the country. You messed with a very big fish, young man. There’s no way you’re getting out of this unscarred.”

Desmond opened his mouth to speak again, but then footsteps echoed behind him. He froze then slowly turned around. Two huge men dressed in black stood a few steps away. They didn’t look like ordinary people. Their sharp gazes scanned him.

One of them stepped forward, holding a sheet of paper. “Mr. Desmond Knight?” the man asked, glancing down at the paper, then back up at him.

Desmond’s brows furrowed. His heart raced violently in his chest. “…Yes,” he answered cautiously. “That’s me.”

The men exchanged brief looks. “Alright,” the man said flatly. “Our boss requests your presence at his mansion. Right this instant.”