Chapter 3
Someone hesitated, looking nervous. "Wait, won't people see us?"
"Idiot! This slut already thinks she's got something going on with Mr. Murray. She's learned a few dirty tricks. Of course she'll try to compete with Maritza for his attention! Break her finger!" Paislee snapped.
Someone seized my finger and wrenched it back. A stabbing pain shot through me.
Cecelia hesitated, her voice shaky. "Uh... are we even allowed to do this? Isn't it illegal?"
Paislee waved the recording on her phone, smirking. "What are you scared of? We've got her whole pathetic act on video. Let her try going to the police and see what happens."
She tilted my chin up, forcing me to look straight at her. "Isn't that right? Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
"Isn't that right? Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
I bit down hard on her hand, leaving two deep, bloody rows of teeth marks.
"Paislee!" Cecelia cried out.
The others immediately swarmed toward me.
If they got any closer, they'd spot the brooch I had stashed in my hand.
The sharp edge had already cut into my palm, leaving a trail of blood.
But it quickly sliced through the ropes that tied me up.
I shoved past them, dashed out the door, and made a beeline for the room next door.
Luckily, the door wasn't locked.
I crashed into the door, and it swung open.
"Mr. M..." I tried to shout, but my throat was so torn up that all that came out was a broken, raspy whisper.
My voice was barely more than a hoarse croak, no matter how hard I tried.
It sounded painfully out of place against the elegant melody flowing through the room.
Gabriel, lounging on the couch, looked up when he heard me.
I stumbled toward him, barely able to keep my balance.
But before I could reach him, a girl in a flowing dress stepped between us and wrapped me in a protective hug.
Maritza's voice was full of surprise. "Oh my! Why are you not properly dressed? Quick, get my coat!"
She called out to Paislee and the others, who were right behind me.
They all snapped into action, crowding around me with fake concern.
"What happened to you? Don't worry, we're here. We'll get you back to your room," they said, their voices dripping with false sympathy.
Paislee "helpfully" pulled me to my feet, her grip tight and her smile sickly sweet.
They all surrounded me, with Maritza standing between me and Gabriel, completely blocking his view of me.
"What's going on?" Gabriel called out.
I heard Gabriel's voice.
They were threatening me
Gabriel! Please, help me!
I tried desperately to make a sound, but my throat just wouldn't cooperate.
All I managed were a few weak whimpers, sounding more hurt and wronged than anything.
Maritza turned to Gabriel with a gentle smile.
"It's fine, really. She just got lost, and then the eighth floor had a power outage for maintenance. It scared her a bit," she explained, sounding oh-so caring.
"Oh, I see," Gabriel said.
Gabriel sounded as calm as ever. "Just make sure she gets back safely."
"Of course!" they all chimed in.
"Don't worry, we're all here. You're safe," Paislee said.
Paislee kept up the caring act, but the look she gave me was pure ice.
"Take good care of her," Gabriel said.
Maritza had a smile on her lips as she ushered me out, but her eyes were cold.
I was dragged out of the room.
I just barely caught a glimpse of Gabriel on the couch through the gaps between people.
I shrieked, the sound tearing from my throat.
A deafening, earth-shattering scream ripped through the air.
I poured every ounce of strength I had into that hoarse, desperate cry, and for a split second, everyone froze.
Gabriel turned to look at me.
In that split second, I crashed right into Maritza, ending up face-to-face with Gabriel.
"Wait!" Paislee shouted, her voice trembling with panic.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed sharply, his gaze suddenly intense.
The very next moment, he shut his eyes and turned his head away.
"Maritza, get her something to cover up," he said.
Only then did I realize my clothes were a mess.
They'd already ripped my clothes, and when I tried to escape, Paislee yanked at me again.
I looked anything but presentable.
Gabriel was a stickler for keeping things strictly proper between men and women.
"Sorry, Mr. Murray, we'll get going now!" Paislee said, her voice full of false politeness.
Paislee and the others swarmed around me again, slapped a hand over my mouth, twisted my arms behind me, and dragged me away. But Gabriel didn't spare us another glance.
I could hear Paislee's teeth grinding as she hissed in my ear. "Wasn't that lesson enough for you? Just wait till we get back. You're in for it!"
I was completely spent from struggling, powerless as they clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me away. My tears fell for nothing.
Then I heard Cecelia's voice in the distance, talking on the phone.
"Yeah, any guy will do. Hell, if you have to, just grab a bum off the street!" she said.
"Maritza wants to teach someone a lesson.
"And hey, bring seven or eight of you if you want. We've already covered her in writing—trust me, you'll have a great time."
'No!' I screamed inside, but it was useless. No one could hear me.
This time, if they dragged me away, it wasn't just about scribbling on me and making me a joke anymore.
I gripped the doorframe with everything I had left, but my twisted fingers shook and slipped. They just yanked me off, no matter how hard I tried to hold on.
I was done for...
I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to face what was coming.
"Stop," Gabriel's voice cut through the air.
Paislee and the others kept dragging me away, but Gabriel's voice cut through the chaos, even sharper and colder than before.