I took it, not because I wanted to, but because it would keep him quiet. My hands were shaking.
The festival was buzzing. Bright lights, bodies everywhere, music pulsing through the air like a second heartbeat. I should’ve felt something. Anything. But I just felt...numb.
"We’re meeting up with Sierra and Ace soon," he said, trying to sound casual.
My throat tightened. I hadn't seen Ace since last month’s fashion week, when he and Sierra openly mocked a cover I’d done for Vogue Mexico. His words still echoed in my head.
"It looks like she's melting," he'd laughed. "Like one of those wax figures under the sun."
I hated him. I hated her more. But I hated myself most of all.
"Look, I know you don’t want to talk about whatever's going on, but you're not alone, Brit. You never have to be."
He meant it. I knew he did. But the truth was too heavy to say out loud. So I just nodded, silently.
The night got worse.
Ace and Sierra were already at the private lounge trailer area behind the VIP zone. They were both drunk off whatever was being passed around. Sierra had glitter all over her face and Ace had that stupid, smug grin like nothing in the world could touch him. He greeted Jasper with a loud bro hug, clapped him on the back.
Sierra threw her arms around my neck. "You look so skinny! Gosh, are you eating at all? I love it!"
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have the energy.
Then he showed up.
Young.
"Darling," he said, coming out of nowhere, his breath tinged with whiskey and mint, and his expensive blazer slightly wrinkled. "You look ravishing."
Jasper tensed beside me.
Young turned to him. "Jasper, my boy! Enjoying the festival? I’ve got a trailer just up ahead. We should chat about your sister’s upcoming shoot. Big things are coming. Huge."
Jasper looked at me. I looked away.
Young leaned in, whispering, "Just five minutes, sweetheart. Your mom said you'd want to hear what I have planned."
I didn’t want to go. Every inch of my skin prickled. But I was trained to obey. Groomed to smile. Taught to submit. And Young knew that.
"Okay," I said, my voice thin.
He led me to a silver trailer behind the tents, far from the noise. The door closed behind us with a click, and I froze.
He locked it.
"You’re going to be a star," he murmured, taking off his jacket. "But you need to keep proving you're worth the investment."
"Please don't," I said softly.
"You didn't complain last time," he smiled. "And you won’t now."
He pushed me back onto the couch, his hand on my thigh, his breath hot on my cheek. I tried to fight, but he was bigger, stronger, and determined. He didn’t take everything this time, but what he did take was enough to rip me apart.
He made me touch him. He made me say things. I felt myself detach, like my soul had left the room, floating somewhere near the ceiling, watching the horror unfold.
Then a knock.
Loud. Urgent.
