Chapter Two

"It's okay George." he then said "I already had a business dinner to attend"

I couldn't just stand there hearing him talking about me like I was some chore he was obligated to do. I grabbed Lora's hand and before she could say anything dragged her into the elevator.

"Thank god it's over!" I nearly screamed at Lora when we entered the elevator.

"Well, it was definitely crazy! But.. you have to admit that he looks hot." Lora said smirking. "You are a lucky girl! Wish I had your luck!" she sighed with a pout on her face.

"If you want him he is all yours" I replied mockingly. He is just a handsome man; nothing more, nothing less. Plus I don't want to marry him. Not to mention that his voice full of authority and that is pissing me off. I don't belong to him! I'm not his property!

"Leave them, George! As long as Evie is okay with her part of the deal then there is nothing else to say." his words never leave my mind.

I wanted so much to scream back at him and tell him that I am not okay and if it was up to me I wouldn't even consider talking to him. But luckily I managed to hold myself back.

"Did you hear how he bossed my dad around? Can you imagine me being dragged around like a puppy?" I told Lora. She of all people understands me the most.

"It is a way to judge his character, you know? It means something," Lora said

"Yeah, it does. It means he is an asshole!" We walked out of the elevator.

We stepped out from the building and into Lora's limo. Drinking and driving is not a good combination, and after what happened I don't want to risk it. 

~~~

Normally I love shopping. But shopping with Lora while she is trying to cheer me up... Now that is another thing. She has dragged me into every store she could. And in every store, she refused to leave until I bought at least three items. Well, originally it was ten but after a lot of whines and threats, she obliged.

So here we are; inside Sephora trying to decide whether the pink or the red blush is better for my complexion...

"Lora please... I'll do literally anything for this torture to stop. I am begging you..." I said for what seemed to be the hundredth time today.

"Ok, fine! But we are getting both blushes. I can't work under such pressure!" she said dramatically and walked over to the register.

~~~

After Lora's endless shopping spree, we went directly to the nearest club. Entering the club it was crowded but luckily we were transferred to the less crowded VIP area and I felt like I could breathe again.

After Lora greeted almost everyone she sat down with me. A few drinks later, we were dancing and singing to the rhythm of the song not having a care in the world.

"That's what I mean when I say party. We have to make a toast! What are we celebrating?" Lora shouted so that I could hear her since the music was very loud. I thought about it for a while and then I raised my glass full of champagne or was it vodka? Anyway, I raised my glass, Lora did the same and  I made a toast.

"To my freedom !!" I said and I fell on a luxurious sofa and started crying. Luckily for me, everyone was too distracted to mind me.

"Hey! Calm down. You know what I think we should get going it's too late. Come on darling!" Lora said helping me up. I helped her get out of the club and Lora called her driver. 

The thing is I don't have a problem with drinking. It's a bit fuzzy at the beginning but after a while, I am perfectly fine. So drinking my problems away is not a very effective method to relax.

I started walking -if what I was doing could be considered walking- and I ended up at a dark alley.

Out of the blue, a man appeared in front of me. I couldn't do anything so started walking backward. Unfortunately, I bumped into another guy, and from the smirk on his face, I was quite sure that he had the same intentions with his friend.

"What is a pretty, little girl like you doing out here all alone?" the first guy asked smirking.

"I was heading home and got lost so I should get going. My friends will be looking for me." Or so I hoped... The truth is that under this brave façade, I am so scared right now.

"Do you want us to help you with that?" the man behind me said.

"Thank you but no I am good" I replied and tried moving away but his grip got tighter.

"You know it's not polite to turn down such an offer..." he said.

My body is not as well as my head, so trying to escape or pick a fight is not really an option. But neither is allowing them to rape me. I have to do something. I started moving my body so that I could free myself from the man's grip but had no luck with it. In my attempt to release myself, I hit his crotch. Almost immediately he released me and I lost no time and started running.

But as I have already said luck is not on my side today. The other guy was quicker than me and caught me before exiting the dark alley.

"Let me GO !!" I started shouting but he wouldn't listen to me. He placed his hand on my mouth and dragged me into the alley.

"LEAVE ME ALONE !!!" I screamed and then I started crying since no one was there to help me and these men... I don't even want to think about what they are going to do to me.

Suddenly police sirens are heard which means that either they are just passing, either Lora realized that I was missing for a while now.

"LET GO OF ME! HELP, SOMEBODY. PLEASE HELP ME." I cried out. I was devastated. If I wanted to get out of here I had to do it alone.

I pushed the man in front of me the hardest I could manage and kicked the one who held me. There was one in front of me and the other one behind me. The first tried to punch but I ducked the punch and got the opportunity to hurt him by punching his abdomen. I had to deal with the other one who had his hands wrapped around me blocking me from moving. Suddenly a man appeared at the entrance of the alley. I tried to scream but my mouth was being kept shut by the man's hand. I bit his fingers and using my hands I bend down and flipped him in front of me using my back. He was thrown on the other guy and they were both groaning. I put my heel on the man's neck that called me 'little' and told him" Who's the little one now?" and then I started kicking both of them as hard as I could. I felt someone grabbing my waist so as to hold me back.

"Let me go! Help" I started shouting again but he didn't say anything. I turned around and to my surprise, I saw a man smiling at me. Though it wasn't an evil smile, it was rather a genuine smile.

"Who the hell are you?" I said and without waiting for his answer I just started hyperventilating and my vision was blurry and then... nothing. Just black. I fainted.

֎

I had work to do but I couldn't stop thinking about her. I should really decide to leave my office at some point. Why not have some fun tonight.

I closed the laptop in my lap and called my driver to take me to a club. In a matter of minutes, I was there. A horrible noise pulled me out of my thoughts and I looked on my left only to see a girl dressed in red on the ground, puking her guts out. Now, that's not a very nice experience...

Just before entering the club, it came to me.

Lora!

And if Lora was here Evie would be too.

I turned around and walked over to Lora who was now cleaning herself with a tissue. I didn't see Evie anywhere near her. Strange...

"Hey, Lora!" I said and that made her turn around, her eyes opened widely the moment she saw me.

"Mr. Lockwood hey! What are you doing here?" she paused a bit but didn't wait for my answer and continued "Weren't you supposed to attend a business meeting?" she then said mockingly a smirk appearing on her face.

" I was and I did. I never said that I would stay there all night." I replied smirking myself.

"Do you, by any chance, know where my future wife is?" I said in the same mocking tone. The moment I mentioned Evie her head started moving left and right trying to detect her friend and the smirk instantly left from her face. She looked back at me with a glare full of desperation and anxiety.

I pulled my phone out of my suit's pocket and dialed 911. I informed them about what has happened and they said they would be here as soon as possible.

"Evie!" I started shouting there was no response.

~~~

Thirty minutes passed since then policemen arrived and still nothing. They found only two men. They were beat really hard and from their descriptions, it turns out that a small, brunette girl dressed in blue did it. Even though they did not say clearly what happened I was pretty sure of their motives towards her.

Suddenly my phone started buzzing and Jordan's name was on the screen. Jordan was my best friend, he could be really annoying from time to time, so this better not be one of those times. I answered the call and I didn't wait for him to say anything. 

"What do you want Jordan? I have important things to do than talk with you right now."I said rather harshly.

"More important than your future wife?" Jordan said and I could practically hear him smirk. My attention was now on him.

"What the hell do you mean?" I asked him

"Is this a thing of yours to say hell when you are asking someone for something or just me?" he replied.

" What the hell do you know Jordan?" I asked more infuriated this time.

"Woah there Xander. I found her in an alley fighting with two men. By the time I got there, they were already lying on the floor groaning in pain. Then she fainted and I caught her and brought her to a hospital because she seemed really wasted and her dress was literally ripped. She looked like she was in a catfight." Jordan informed me.

"What's the hospital?" I asked and walked over to my car.

I ended the call and talked with the police. I was ready to open my door but Lora stopped me shouting my name.

"Alexander wait!"

"What is it?"

"Did you find her? Can I come with you?" she said terrified and hopeful at the same time.

"Come on in. We must hurry" I said and stepped aside from my open door so that she could get in.