Page 97 of Redeeming the Villain
My eyes fly open. “Are you blackmailing me to sleep with you?”
Shaking his head with a smile, he murmurs, “No, doll, I’m blackmailing you to get you on your knees. I’m notthatmuch of a monster.”
“It’s hard to tell when you’re assaulting me.” My words gain stability as an eerie calmness settles into my skin.
Maybe this is the moment of freeze, fight, or flight. Maybe it’s not a pick or choose, but an order of actions. I already froze, which means I’m onto step two.
For the first time in my life, I’m going to do something I’ve always hated my father for—wielding his name, title, and place in the world as a weapon.
Turning my head to face him, I snarl, “I assume you know my last name.”
He nods thoughtlessly, his fingers still wrapped around my waist. “I do.”
I chuckle darkly, and it sounds like a warning bubbling out of me. “Then you know it’s the same one who just made a five-million-dollar donation to the music department. Do you think my name holds no weight at this school? Because you would be very,verywrong.”
He stays quiet, studying me intently.
“You may think you’re the one with the power in this dynamic, but you’re sorely mistaken. I can have your job eliminated with a single call. I can ruin your tenure with HEAU and make sure you’re not hired at any school in this country.”
He begins to shrink as I sit up taller and taller, feeling a hint of power igniting in my blood.
His seemingly sweet demeanor falls, his lips twisting in a snarl. “You spoiled brat. You have a lot of confidence for someone who lives in her dad’s shadow.”
“Yeah? Are you willing to take your chances?” I challenge him.
“I sure am,” he growls unexpectedly.
Shit.
He launches himself at me, and his lips crash against mine before I get a chance to even react.
Oh God, eww. Stop!
His other hand falls to the front of my corset, slipping inside of the top. He cups my bare breast, and my soul begins to leave my body as my chest tightens.
“Get off of me! Why the hell are you doing this?” I scream, and he rips the hand from my top and slaps it over my mouth.
An odd calmness finds him, as if he has no fear in the world of being caught or me overpowering him. A terrifying sight.
“Because everyone who finds success in this industry has to make sacrifices to get there. This is yours.”
His words sear into my mind, and I know they’ll be there forever.
I tried tofreeze. I tried tofight. Only one option left.
He leans back in for a kiss, and I rear my arm back and punch him straight in the throat. A goose-like honk sounds from him as he gasps for air and clutches his neck.
Standing from the bench, I hop over his legs. But he grabs the strappy back of my top, yanking me back toward him.
But I don’t stop. I stride forward as hard as I can, hearing fabric tear as I pull away from him, feeling cold air hit my lower back.
“Stop!” I scream at him, hoping someone outside of the room will overhear, but I know it’s unlikely. These rooms were built to be nearly soundproof.
But he doesn’t stop as he rises to his feet. Sunny rushes over to me, starting to become well aware of the threat.
She positions herself between my legs, standing guard.
He looks down at her and laughs. “A little golden isn’t going to hurt me. Alora, stop making this such a big deal. It was just a few kisses from someone who admires you. I had to pay my dues to get to this level. And eventually, you’ll have to pay yours.”
