Page 98 of Hold On Me

Turning to face me, he smirks. “You’re seriously gonna get all bent outta shape for a little whore like this?”

I don’t think, I just react. My fist connects with his nose and the satisfying crunch I feel underneath my knuckles lets me know I’ve broken it. He bellows loudly and my eye catches on Penelope as she steps toward me. Distracted, I miss his counterattack, and when he launches himself at me, we tumble to the ground.

Shouting fills my ears, but I don’t know where it’s coming from. Surely it’s not me? A blow to my cheek has me reeling, but not for long as I manage to overpower him and spring to my feet, anticipating his next move. I lick the blood from my lip, feral and wild, grip his collar, and scream in his face. “What the fucks your problem. You don’t get to force yourself on women. You cunt.”

He reels back from my language, and for a split second it surprises me. He can assault a woman, but not be called a cunt? What world am I in?

“Ben, please stop. He isn’t worth it. This is the reason I didn’t tell the Bradys, I didn’t want this.” Her voice stills my movement, but her words make me see red.

“This is the man who hit on you at the school?” He’s still gripped in my hold, the alcohol he’s consumed dimming his reflexes, as my gaze pierces through Penelope.

“Yes.”

The timidness in that whispered word sends anger surging through me. I’m not aware of my surroundings, don’t care if we have an audience or not, all I care about is righting a wrong for her.

“So let me get this straight…” My voice is loud, my body thrumming with anger. “You came onto her at the school, and when she turned you down, you got your wife to get her fired?”

He smirks so I slam his head against the wall. That wipes the smirk from his face.

“Ben, please?” She whimpers to the side of me, but I can’t take my eyes away from him.

“You couldn’t handle her saying no? Your ego couldn’t take the blow? She didn’t want you. She said no. That should’ve been enough. But you couldn’t cope with it. You got her fired andthen decided to pin her against the wall here and take what she wouldn’t give to you freely?”

“I didn’t fire her,” he spits back at me, so I slam his head again. I’m vaguely aware of gasps, a few of them, but I ignore them.

“No, of course not. You left that to her boss, Director Allen, didn’t you? Were you working together?” He shifts his gaze away from mine, confirming what I already knew. “Did you know he hit on her too? Told her if she slept with him she could save her job?”

His eyes are wide and he starts to splutter. “That wasn’t?—”

“Part of the plan? Looks like the predator couldn’t be trusted.” I slam him against the wall again, knocking the breath out of him.

“Ben.” She’s gritting her teeth, but I don’t care. He deserves everything he’s getting and more.

“What’s the big deal?” he snarls. “Director Allen fucked her mom whenever she needed money or liquor. Suppose he thought the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. And look at her now. Fucking a billionaire.”

His laugh makes something in me snap, and an animalistic roar rumbles through my chest. This time I don’t hold back. My fist connects with his jaw and he slumps to the floor. I pounce on top of him, grabbing his collar, blood spilling from his nose and lip as I slam his head against the floor again.

“She’s not her mum. She’s Penelope fucking Richards. She has more strength and morals in her little finger than you do in your whole being. She turned both you and Director Allen down, she didn’t sleep with either of you. She left the job she loves instead of dirtying herself with either of you.”

His eyes are glazed as I step away from him, only now taking in the crowd around us. Shocked faces, eyes wide, some narrowed in disgust. I find Angie and Jameson in the crowd andturn away from them quickly, shock and anger written all over their features. Shit. I didn’t realise they were all here.

I turn my head to the left to find Penelope, but only see her retreating back running from me. Without a second thought, I run after her, finally catching up to her outside the venue. Our coats forgotten inside, the chill of the night instantly taking over, I slide my blazer off and try to offer it to her, but she slaps it to the ground.

“Little One, I’m sorry?—”

“No. Don’t call me that. You’re not sorry.” Her voice is filled with anger as she spits her words through gritted teeth.

“You’re right. I’m not sorry I beat the shit out of him. He had you pinned against the wall. He was going to?—”

“I know! But I had it handled. You didn’t see my fist clenched, ready to pummel the douche in the head, did you? No, you were too focused on ‘saving me’ again.” She scoffs as she turns away, so I grab her arm and force her to look at me once again.

“You have got to get over this aversion to being ‘saved’.”

“No. I don’t have to do anything. You don’t get to tell me what to do ever again. I quit.”

“Penelope.” There’s an edge to my voice, low and dangerous. I want her to listen, and normally this works.

“Don’t even bother. That voice doesn’t have a hold on me anymore. Not now that you’ve broken your promise.”

---