Page 134 of Rosabel and the Billionaire Beast

“Hey!” I said.

I fought against his grasp. He gripped me harder, but I stepped on his foot and wormed my way free. With my heart hammering, I booked it, running for all I was worth back to the Crystal Bridges.

Just before I reached the door, another man wearing a hoodie and a medical mask stepped out of it, stopping me in my tracks. Someone’s hands gripped me from behind, making me shriek. I peered back.

Hoodie Man was there, breathing hard through his mask.

“Let me go,” I said, but the words weren’t enough. I could barely push them past the fear clogging my throat.

I should have made more use of that punching bag Duncan gave me—but even so, I was no match for two men as the second came to my other side.

“No,” I said, my voice building. “No!”

But no one was around to hear.

The men took my arms, one on either side, and before I knew it, I was being hauled to the mouth of the concrete arches, to the black vehicle parked right where the parking lot met the entrance.

Duncan had been so worried about coming to this party, about all of this.

I should have taken his worries seriously. I should never have left his side.

Now, it was too late.

THIRTY-FOUR

duncan

Mom hadthe gall to demand I return to Grandmother’s party, as though she hadn’t just been completely nasty to Rosabel.

Her treatment of Rosabel had coerced a confession from me. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, but I knew I couldn’t stand there and allow my family—or anyone else—to degrade her like that.

Not in front of me.

“You’re seriously leaving?” Mom said through the phone.

“I think I’ve already made that clear,” I said, staring at the large conglomeration of metal sitting in the hall just visible from the mouth of the lobby.

Agitation flowed through my blood, coursing with fervency.

“Be reasonable,” Mom said.

“I am,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “This is the most reasonable I’ve been in a long time. I will not allow you to treat her like she’s something you stepped in.”

“But Veronica?—”

“Veronica is welcome to enjoy the party as well. Just without me there. I’m hanging up now.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Goodbye, Mother.” I tapped the screen, feeling a surge of both satisfaction and regret at the same time.

She was out of her mind if she thought she could treat me or Rosabel the way she had. I didn’t care how old Grandmother was—she had to earn the respect she demanded I give her.

And she certainly hadn’t today.

The whole awful scene replayed in my mind with stark clarity, including the insulting words Grandmother and Mom had said—and the graceful way Rosabel had taken their criticism.

She was classy. She was incredible.

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