Page 91 of The Wallflower

He doesn’t care to listen and takes a small step forward, driving his fist into my gut. I should’ve anticipated the hit, but part of me thought maybe he wouldn’t do it. I bend in the middle, pain shooting up into my ribs and chest. Before I can maneuver myself out of his way he lands a cheap shot, slamming his knee into my stomach. A sharp, stabbing pain fills my chest, and I gasp for air. I fall to my knees, my vision going blurry, my stomach threatening to dispose of the whiskey I drank earlier. I suck a ragged breath into my lungs, and the pain in my side intensifies. "I think you broke a fucking rib."

He tilts his head to the side, a smile ghosting his lips. "Guess we should get back to the party now, huh?" Uncaring to my pain or current condition, he lifts me under my armpit and hauls me up. Then roughly straightens my suit jacket. I hiss through my teeth as my muscles protest at the movement. "We’ll be havingwords after the party is over. Was that the girl you’ve been seeing? The trailer trash I told you to stay away from?"

I can hardly breathe, let alone speak, so I choose not to respond and follow him begrudgingly back out to the party again because I don't have a choice. He stops just inside the doorjamb and leans into me. I want to punch him, to hurt him like he’s hurt me, but not here. Not right now.

"Speak to her at all, and I'll make sure she’s punished, and then you'll be watching it before you get your own. And I promise you, I won't be gentle with her."

I grit my teeth, wishing this night was over. Wishing that I could take Bel away from all of this. If I have to kill this man to protect her and my mother, I will. I’m tired of playing his games. Tired of pretending for the sake of pretending.

I scan the crowd, looking for Bel, and find her serving drinks across the room. I follow my father to where his client and Spencer wait.

She greets me with a smile and immediately loops her arm into mine, tugging me tight against her. "I missed you. Where did you go?"

I answer, trying my best to hide the pain and still keep my eyes on Bel, who continues to move about across the room. "Just had to step out for a moment. School stuff, you know?"

She nods, and I cup her waist as my father sends an icy glare my way. "Do you want to grab a drink?"

Her hand runs down the length of my chest, and I flinch. Of course, she doesn't notice, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Yeah, let's get something to drink."

I tug her to the side of the crowd and move in the direction of the bar. My father calls my name, and I pause, my back to him.

"Come back soon. The speeches are going to start soon."

I barely restrain myself from lashing out at him and pull Spencer toward the bar in the corner, as far from both my fatherand Bel as I can get. She orders a glass of wine, and I order a double whiskey. Something to dull the pain in my rib that is climbing up into my arm now.Fucking hell.It's hard to focus on playing my part when the only thing getting through right now is pain.

Once I down the whiskey, I face the room. It’s impossible for me not to seek out Bel in the crowd. Even in a work uniform and slightly sweaty, she looks better than the woman at my side in diamonds and silk.

Spencer chooses that moment to interlace our fingers, and I have to actively not pull away from her even though every fiber of my being screams at me to shove her away. Not just because of Bel but because I hate that my father has basically sold me to the highest bidder. She tugs me by the hand to the corner alcoves again, and I know she’ll push for what she's wanted all along.

I sit on a bench trying not to cringe as I do, my side throbbing and on fire. She plops down beside me with a sigh.

"This is the best party ever. Does your dad do events like these often?"

"No, only a couple of times a year."

"Do you attend all of them?"

She sips her drink, and I stare down at her. "No, only the ones I'm ordered to attend."

"Ordered?"

How can she be so damn stupid?"You don't remember the conversation with my father? The only reason I'm here is because he ordered me to be here." My response doesn't sink in at all. She places her glass on the floor by the bench and leans up to kiss me. Like the first time she tried to kiss me, I don’t move under her mouth.

When she swipes my lips with her tongue, I’m forced to end this charade, and I grab her chin, stopping her. Her eyes pop open, and I see heat there, not fear. Maybe she'd do better in TheHunt than I thought. There's a tap of crystal, and the music cuts out. I stand and extend my hand out to her. "That's our cue. We should get out there, or we'll be missed."

Her lips form into a pout that makes me want to punch something. "We could skip it and stay here instead. It would be the perfect time to get to know each other better while everyone else is distracted.” I don't need to ask her what she means by the perfect time or getting to know each other better. She wants my cock, and that’s too damn bad.

More gently than I feel, I tug her out of the alcove, and we return to the party. Upon our reappearance, my father spots us immediately, a smug smile on his face. Everyone gathers in a small circle in the middle of the room. He ushers me over with a wave, and I force a smile, walking slowly toward him.

"Now that my son has joined us, we can start the speeches."

He waves at the client to his left and lets her talk about stocks or some shit. I tune it out and keep my eyes on Bel as she circles the edge of the room. It's not like I need to pay attention. It'll be a year, at least, until I can start at my father's firm anyway. Spencer watches her mom speak about mergers and investment, and when she claps, I clap.

The lights dim, and I peer around the room, confused.What the fuck is happening?

My father surveys the crowd. "As many of you know, my wife has been ill for some time." There's a murmur of sympathies from the crowd, and I clench my fists so hard, my knuckles ache. How dare he bring my mother into this fucking sideshow? “It’s why I’m so thrilled to make the next announcements. It’s a wonderful thing for our families, and it's even more important because of the new investments that will be made in the company."

I try to slink back into the crowd to escape this madness, but his eyes land on me. One single look, and I know if I makeanother move, I’ll pay dearly for it. "Son, come here and bring your lovely girlfriend with you."

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