chapter 8: bringing the pain

After that charged encounter with Chenxiu, Mina spent the following weeks wrestling with unbidden thoughts about the enigmatic man. His penetrating gaze seemed seared into her mind, those glimpses of the man beneath the intimidating veneer stoking an insatiable curiosity. Just who was Liang Chenxiu?

Pushing such fruitless musings aside proved increasingly difficult. Mina found herself becoming uncharacteristically distracted, her renowned focus scattered. Clearly, she needed to blow off some steam before her preoccupation impacted her work.

The next free evening she had, Mina shed her white coat for a sleek black leather pants, a cropped top and a big jacket and headed into the city's pulsing nightlife district. She allowed the thumping bassline and kaleidoscope of lights to wash over her as she moved through the crowd, welcoming the sensory overload. Grabbing a whiskey, Mina settled into a shadowy corner booth to watch the people on the dance floor, feeling the tensions of the day begin to bleed away.

Several hours and drinks later, Mina's shoulders had loosened considerably. Emboldened by the alcohol's warming embrace, she began scanning the dancefloor with predatory intent. If she was going to indulge herself for once, might as well make the most of it.

Her roving gaze settled on a ruggedly attractive man dancer provocatively with his buddies, clearly trying to impress. Their leering appraisals as she passed didn't go unnoticed. Perfecto.

Mina sidled up to the cocky ringleader, a deliberate sway in her hips. "Buy a girl a drink?" she said, flashing him a sultry smile.

His interest was piqued instantly, devouring her with his eyes. "Damn, I'd buy you anything you want, sweetheart."

Allowing him to pull her close, Mina breathed in his sandalwood cologne clearly fake judging from the smell that lingers after but still said. "How about we take this somewhere...quieter?"

The sexual desire intensified as he signaled his friends. "Lead the way, gorgeous."

Mina did just that, guiding the pack of would-be casanovas into the dingy alley behind the club. As soon as they were engulfed in shadow, her demeanor shifted.

"Okay boys, let's get one thing straight," she said coldly, shoving the ringleader back. "I don't actually date pathetic little boys who can't take no for an answer."

Their swaggering bravado evaporated instantly, replaced by confusion and outrage. "What the hell, bitch?!"

Mina laughed derisively. "I'm just getting started."

What ensued was a brutal display of pent-up aggression and finely-honed martial arts skills. Mina was a whirlwind of devastatingly precise strikes, crippling the idiot ringleader first before methodically taking down his dumbstruck friends one by one.