It had all started to go downhill when Pierre asked douchebag how he met Elly. I remember it so clearly. She looked up at him as she placed her palm on his chest.

“She had the best tits in the room,” he said, smug as shit. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. She froze. And for the first time, I noticed how much pain and insecurity she hid behind her ready smiles. I also had an inkling that it wasn’t the first time he’d put her down in front of people.

As our group grew quiet, Elly gently disengaged herself from his hold and said that she needed to use the bathroom. After we’d watched her figure disappear into the crowd, I turned to address him. “Wow, I feel so bad for you.” I let my gaze run over his figure, and I hoped he could see all the contempt and disgust I felt for him. “You must have such a small dick if you need to talk about her like that.” I smiled sweetly before I walked away without giving him a chance to reply.

Needless to say, the coward avoided me for the rest of the night.

Later on, after bidding everyone good-bye, I was making my way to the elevator when I heard the familiar voice of a man yelling at someone. I paused on my spot, the fluorescent light above me casting a yellow tint on my skin, as I contemplated whether to keep walking or to go back and find out if someone needed my help. Common sense told me to disregard it, not get involved.

In the end, my instincts won. I walked in the direction of the yelling. It was coming from behind the door of the exit staircase. As I held the doorknob, I could hear the man shouting, his words carrying so much hate and anger. I really should have walked back to the apartment and gotten Pierre, but all I could think of was that someone needed help. I grabbed the pepper spray I always carried with me from my bag and opened the door. My gaze immediately zoomed in on Elly being slammed against the wall by her boyfriend before focusing on her face, blood oozing from a cut on her lip.

They both turned to look at me at the same time. I don’t think I will ever forget the sheer terror I saw in her eyes as our gazes met. And the hate I saw in his. He looked gone, lost in anger—soulless.

“Leave us, you fucking bitch. Don’t you see that we’re busy?”

Right away I realized that the pepper spray wouldn’t be as effective from my position. I thought about approaching them but I dismissed that notion as quickly as it came. I didn’t want to put Elly in more danger by making him angrier. I needed him to get closer to me.

Think, Blaire, think.

Oh God.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“No. Let her go.”

He smiled, chilling me to the bone as he gripped her shoulders harder and made Elly whimper in pain. “And what if I don’t? What are you going to do, huh? I can probably break your pretty little neck in two with one hand.”

Appear at ease. Don’t let him see how scared you are, Blaire. “I’m not scared of you. Pierre’s apartment is just past this door. I could go get him, giving him and the boys the excuse they’ve been waiting for to kick the shit out of you.” And I did think about calling for help, but I was terrified that he would push Elly down the stairs in an attempt to escape and get rid of her.

I saw him loosening his hold on Elly, my words sinking in. “Fuck off. I’m not fucking scared of a bunch of pussies.”

I leaned my shoulder on the wall and crossed my arms over my chest, making sure I kept the little bottle hidden as I flipped its safety cap open. “That might be so, but it would be you against at least ten guys. And ten guys who happen to be really good friends with Elly. Ten guys who will be extremely pissed off when they see what you’ve done to her.” I wasn’t even sure that they were friends with Elly, but he didn’t need to know that. “If you let Elly go now, I won’t go get them. I’ll let you leave before they hurt you.” Smiling at him, taunting him with my words, I got ready to spray. “I’ll take pity on you.”