6. Sally

“Good morning,” Brenda greets, an obvious note of surprise in her tone, her eyebrows arching in mild consternation. “You’re here early.”

I force a smile, mustering up every ounce of composure to mask the swirling vortex of anxiety that churns in my stomach. Every fiber of my being screams with unease.

“Oh, you know,” I reply, my voice calm despite the storm raging within me. “Just making up for the last two days.”

The last two days have been a strategic avoidance of the club altogether, all thanks to Aurelius. The mention of his name sends a shiver down my spine, a bitter taste of his unwelcome advances lingering in the air like a foul scent. The arrogant bastard hasn”t relented since the moment he laid eyes on me, his persistence a force to be reckoned with. No amount of rejection seems to dissuade him. The only escape from his persistent harassment is to not bother coming to work at all.

But I can’t keep doing that. My father needs me. My family needs this money and if I have to stomach the dread of being around Aurelius to get it, then, well… shit. A cloud of gloomy resignation settles over me as I accept the inevitable.

”I see,” Brenda says, apparently satisfied with my answer.

I make my way towards the clubhouse, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of Aurelius”s unwanted advances. The scent of freshly cut grass and the distant sound of golf balls being struck provide a small measure of comfort, and I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the day ahead.

As I enter the clubhouse, I can feel his presence lurking nearby. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my heart races in my chest. I try to ignore him, going about my duties with an air of professionalism, but it”s no use. He”s relentless, following me from room to room, his gaze burning into my back. I can feel the weight of his stare, and it makes my skin crawl.

In a moment of all the confusion and growing agitation, I suddenly lock eyes with an orc on the course. It’s only for a moment, but in that moment I feel like I’ve found a buoy in a storm. Something about his calm, strong presence makes me think just for that little while that everything will be alright.

In the next instant, I realize how ridiculous I’m being and look away quickly. And as I do, all my anxiety and turmoil come crashing back and it’s nearly overwhelming.

Finally, I can”t take it anymore. I need to get away from him, even for just a few moments. I make my way toward the back of the clubhouse towards a secluded spot behind the maintenance shed. It”s a place I often go to escape the hustle and bustle of the club, a quiet oasis amidst the chaos.

As I turn the corner, I come face to face with Aurelius. He”s blocking my path, his eyes filled with a fierce determination that sends a chill down my spine. His usually perfectly styled hair is disheveled, and his breath reeks of alcohol. I can see the sweat beading on his forehead, and his pupils are dilated.

I try to push past him, my heart racing in my chest, but he grabs my arm, his grip like iron. ”Where do you think you”re going?” he snarls, his voice low and menacing.

I try to pull away, my heart racing in my chest. ”Let go of me,” I say, my voice shaking. ”I need to get back to work.”

But Aurelius doesn”t budge. Instead, he pulls me closer, his breath hot on my face. ”You think you can just ignore me?” he hisses. ”I won”t be ignored.”

I try to push him away, but he”s too strong.

”You know you want this,” he whispers, his voice low and menacing.

As I struggle against his grip, I feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My heart races, my breath comes in quick, shallow gasps, and my mind goes blank with fear. I try to push him away, but he”s too strong, his fingers digging into my arms as he holds me in place.

I can see the hunger in his eyes, the desperation that has driven him to this point. He”s not going to let me go without a fight. And I can”t afford to lose this one.

Just as I”m starting to feel hopeless, I suddenly notice a large shadow looming over us. My heart skips a beat as I turn my head and see a large orc standing there. His green skin is unmistakable, even in my peripheral vision.

I recognize him. He’s the orc I locked eyes with earlier. I’ve seen him here around a lot too. He’s a quiet, reserved orc who keeps to himself and doesn”t like to socialize with the others at the golf club. He”s always been polite and respectful to me, though he keeps his distance. In fact, I”ve always found him to be quite attractive, with his muscular build and chiseled features.

As the orc approaches us, I can see the concern in his eyes. He takes in the scene quickly, his gaze flicking between Aurelius and me. He doesn”t say anything, but I can see the anger building in his expression. His muscles ripple beneath his green skin as he moves quickly, without hesitation. He reaches out and grabs Aurelius by the shoulder, effortlessly lifting him off his feet.

Aurelius lets out a cry of surprise as he”s hoisted into the air. His grip on me loosens, and I stumble backward, my heart racing as I watch the orc hurl Aurelius aside like he weighs nothing. Aurelius lands with a heavy thud on the ground, his eyes wide with shock and fear. He looks up at the orc who towers over him and quickly scrambles to his feet, backing away.

”What the hell do you think you”re doing?” Aurelius snarls, trying to regain his composure. But his voice wavers and his eyes dart nervously between us.

But the orc doesn”t back down. Instead, he takes a step forward, his eyes blazing with anger. ”You don”t touch her,” he growls, his voice low and menacing. His fists clench at his sides, and I can see the veins bulging in his arms.

As Aurelius storms off, I let out a sigh of relief, my body sagging with the weight of what just happened. I feel drained, both physically and emotionally. But at the same time, I”m grateful that the orc was there to intervene. I don”t know what would have happened if he hadn”t shown up.

I turn to face him, and I can see the concern in his eyes. He takes a step towards me, his hand reaching out as if to steady me. ”Are you okay?” he asks, his voice gentle and soothing.

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. ”Yeah, I think so. Thanks to you.” I look up at him, my green savior, unable to find the right words to express my gratitude. My heart is still racing from the adrenaline of the encounter, and my mind is reeling from the sudden turn of events.

He watches me curiously, his eyes filled with concern. ”Are you sure you”re okay?” he asks, his voice gentle. “I’m Drakar.”

I nod, still trying to catch my breath. ”Sally. I... I don”t know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Tears prick at my eyes, but I blink them back, not wanting to show weakness in front of this stranger.

He simply nods and turns to leave, his footsteps echoing in the distance. As I watch him go, I can”t help but feel a surge of admiration for his bravery and selflessness. His muscles ripple beneath his green skin, and I can see the veins protruding from his neck. He”s a formidable figure, standing at least two heads taller than me, and I feel grateful that he was there to protect me.

My mind replays the scene, and I can”t help but feel grateful for Drakar”s intervention. His strength and quick thinking saved me from a dangerous situation. I can still feel the weight of Aurelius”s grip on my arm, and I shudder at the thought of what could have happened if Drakar hadn”t shown up. I remember the way Aurelius”s eyes glinted with malice, and I feel a chill run down my spine.

I”m not sure how I can ever repay him for his actions. I consider buying him a drink or dinner, but I”m not sure if that would be appropriate. I don”t want to make things awkward between us. Maybe there”s something else I can do to show my appreciation. And, of course, I couldn’t afford to treat him, anyway.

As I make my way back to the clubhouse, I can”t help but feel a newfound sense of confidence. Drakar”s presence gives me a sense of security, and I feel stronger knowing that he”s watching out for me. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders, ready to face the rest of the day. The scent of freshly cut grass and the sound of golf balls being struck provide a small measure of comfort, and I focus on the task at hand.

Walking in, I see a few of my coworkers whispering and pointing in my direction. I can feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment, but I hold my head high. I don”t want to let Aurelius”s actions get the best of me.

“Sally Harte!”