He Stares Back

Chap. 23: I Do Now

Emily takes Brody's hand as he helps her out of the limousine. Her nerves rattle frantically. She had never wore such a elegant, expensive dress before in her life. She fussed when Brody handed it to her but he insisted that she wear it.

The brunette leans into Brody. "So how do you know that Christian will he here again?"

The brown eyed man with a crooked smile chuckles at her, patting her hand. "He will be here. I know he will."

Emily gives him a reassuring smile. "While I wait, I'll be at the bar."

Brody gives her a smile, one that makes Emily uncomfortable. Devilish. The man lets her escape to the bar. She nods to the bartender, who she recognizes from the last party.

"Can I have a tequila?" Emily says simply.

"Coming right up, Miss." the bartender says

Then it dawns on Emily that she doesn't have any money. So she slowly begins to slip away before he can make her pay for a drink she can't afford. As the brunette starts to get away, she physically rubs into someone. They nearly fall to the floor.

Immediately, Emily is the first to apologize.

"I'm so, so sorry!" Emily's eyes divert up, "I wasn't looking—Kaley?"

The blonde stands there wide eyed and mouth slightly open. She blinks a few times before straightening up.

"Emily!" Kaley smiles, but it doesn't feel right to Emily. "What are you doing here? Are you here with Christian?"

Emily smiles. "Kind of...where have you been? I went by our old apartment and you weren't there—"

"Well, Christian had me moved." Kaley says quickly, "Considering what happened to Mr. Hardon."

Emily's face goes white. "What happened to him?"

"He was stabbed fifty-two times and his dead body was thrown into the ocean." Kaley pouts her lip, "Did you know about that?"

Feeling queasy and at fault, Emily grabs into Kaley's arm for support. She notices her gorgeous black, velvet dress.

Kaley can barely afford to pay $500 worth of rent. Emily thinks, How can she afford a dress like Audrey's?

"I do now." Emily says slowly, "Where did you get this gorgeous dress?"

Kaley stretches a smile, looking down at her dress. "From Georgina's."

Emily gives her a look but doesn't budge. She's lying, but why? I am her best friend of course.

"Well, it suits you." The brunette fakes a smile, trying to hide her suspicion.

"Well, I must hurry." Kaley says hurriedly, backing away quickly. "I've got a job I haven't been able to finish quite yet."

"Oh when you're done, maybe you can come back and visit with me!" Emily says hopefully.

"Oh I don't think that will be possible, Em." Kaley suddenly hurries away.

Emily starts to go after her friend but the blonde is gone. She stands there with a pouted lip, her thoughts surrounded with confusion.

What did she mean it couldn't be possible? Does she have a date? An interview? Probably. And why hasn't she been able to finish it? Emily thinks as she stands there staring at the exquisite pictures on the other side of the room. Why did she say all it a 'job'?

The brunette turns around to look at the bar, seeing the bartender frustratingly look around with an unpaid tequila in his hand. Emily begins to duck into a large crowd of men smoking to avoid evening caught when cool blue eyes stop her in her spot. Christian.

Emily's heart begins to race. Christian's complexion is white as a ghost. He doesn't look angry as she would have thought he would be. He actually looks shocked, causing Emily to worry. Shocks electrifying her body all at once, causing her senses to heighten. Her face twist into desperation as her feet begins to move forward. But suddenly, a firm hand grabs her bicep.

Emily snaps her head over at the gentleman who has a hold of her. It's Brody. She gives him a confused look.

"What the hell grabbing me like that for?" Emily turns back to where Christian had been, but he no longer stands there.

He was just staring at me! Emily screams internally, Christian was just there! Where did he go?

Brody's grip on her bicep tightens, causing a tight knot to form in Emily's stomach. The brown eyed man whose crooked smile used to be warm is now dark and dangerous. He begins to drag Emily along with him. Fear sleeping into her emotions, Emily tries to fight against him. But Brody is too strong for her.

Brody drags Emily to the ballroom floor where people are gathered and whips her around, hitting his chest. He forces her hand in his and begins to slow dance with her in his arms. Pain punches through the brunette's wrist. She lets out a whimper of pain.

"You're hurting me, Brody!" Emily whimpers painfully, "What are you doing? Let me go!"

    "I'm so sick and tired of bastard Christian getting everything he wants because he's the golden boy!" Brody hisses at Emily, his eyes lighting up at a sight beyond them. "And it's about time I take some of it away from him and rub it in his million dollar face!"

      Brody leans down and forcefully kisses Emily, who is taken by surprise. She immediately squirms under him and turns her head to part their treacherous kiss. But Brody grips her hand, making Emily cry out in pain. The brown eyed man attaches his lips to hers once again, tasting the brunette's salty tears. She bites his lip in defense, trying what she can to be aggressive. Brody cries out in pain, taking a step back from her to hold his bleeding lip. He glares up at her angrily after seeing the blood on his hand. He raises his hand, curling into a fist, and punches Emily in the lips. She falls to the floor, people around her gasping and moving away at this action.

           "Stupid bitch!" Brody growls, "Bite me and think you'll get away with it!"

           Emily sees Brody's foot moving to kick her and she closes her eyes as she winces. But she never feels his leather shoe hit her body. Instead she hears complete silence, then a familiar voice who gives her relief. Christian.

• • • • • • • • To be continued • • • • • • • •