“What are you doing?” she hissed as she backed away from him. Without the eyes of the crowd on them, his face contorted, his true personality showing through loud and clear.

“I can do whatever I want to you,” he snapped, still not yelling at her. He wouldn’t want anyone passing the door to hear a commotion and come busting in. That might ruin his prestigious reputation.

“No you can’t,” she said, trying to be brave. “I’m not here alone. Someone will notice.” Chloe could see how her words infuriated the man. He stepped toward her and she shook, but she kept her shoulders back as she faced the giant who loved to torment her.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” he hissed as he cornered her, his hand shooting out and slapping her across the cheek. Her anger and fright didn’t allow her to feel the sting of his mark.

“What are you going to do? Beat me so when I walk out of here, I’m black and blue? How would you explain that?” she snapped, hating the tears welling in her eyes.

“I can drag you out of this building and make sure you regret your insubordination,” he threatened.

“You can’t take me anywhere ever again. I’m not some helpless child you can continue to abuse. Your son risked his life just to get away from you. I’ve tried my entire life to gain your approval. I’ve been afraid and cowered because of you. I’ve been unwilling to take risks in my life. That will never ever happen again,” she assured him.

“You little bitch,” he thundered, apparently uncaring anymore if anyone heard them. “Do you really think I’ll allow you to speak to me this way?”

Before she was able to respond, his fist connected with her cheek. Her vision blurred as spots danced before her eyes. She didn’t fall like he’d assumed she would, though―like she had done so many times in the past. She stood there, waiting for her vision to clear. When it did, he was looking at her with satisfaction.

She spat at him, turning that satisfaction to shock and then fury.

“You can beat me all you want, you bastard. I still won’t ever kneel at your feet again.”

The rage in his eyes told her she’d made a mistake. She’d pushed him too far. Even though a room full of people was just on the other side of the door, it would be too late before any of them could get to her. The only satisfaction she had was in knowing he wouldn’t get away with it. They would see him exit the room, and then they would find her and know he’d done it.

She smiled, pushing him over the edge.

He lunged at her, and she stared him down, wanting him to see her eyes as he tried to end her life. He was the one to help bring her into the world, and he was more than willing to be the one to take her out of it, too.

Just as his hands were coming up around her throat, the door was thrust open, light shining in on them. Chloe watched in amazement as her father went flying backward, through the open door, landing with a thump on the hard floor.

Then it was Nick standing in front of her, his eyes filled with rage at her father but deep concern for her. He slowly reached out to her, his finger gently running down her cheek, making her flinch at the pain she hadn’t even known was there.

“I’m going to kill him,” Nick told her as he turned.

Panicking, she grabbed his arm to stop him. Though he could easily have stopped her, he turned back around, his eyes wild as he looked down at her hand.

“Let me go, Chloe,” he warned. “I’m furious right now.”

Even though she should be terrified, Chloe wasn’t afraid, not at all. Instead of letting him go, she pulled him to her and threw her arms around him, holding on tight as she shivered in his arms. She almost expected him to push her away, but he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m so sorry,” he told her as his hands gently rubbed her back. She was so close to losing it, but she refused to let herself fall apart.

“It’s okay. I’m fine. Just another typical meeting with my father,” she said. That was what she was supposed to say.

Nick pulled back and looked into her eyes, the fury in his fading away. He gently cupped her uninjured cheek and rubbed her chin with his thumb.

“No, you aren’t fine. That man has hurt you for the last time,” he assured her.

She wanted to fall apart, wanted to let it all go and rely fully on him, but she was so afraid if she did just that, she would never stop falling. She had to maintain control. There was a commotion behind them, and only then did Nick let her go, carefully placing her behind him as he took her hand and stepped out of the room.

Chloe’s father was getting up off the floor, his eyes furious. The entire room of people circled around, trying to figure out what was going on. Her father shot them both lethal stares.

“Did you see what happened? Nick Armstrong assaulted me,” her father thundered.

Nick smiled at him, a cruel smile that sent a shiver down Chloe’s back. She clung to his hand as she faced the fury of her father.

“Everyone in this room knows that’s not the case. You hit your daughter, left your damn mark on her cheek. This is one assault charge you won’t get away with, you piece of shit. I know you did a lot worse to her growing up, but this time you screwed up and did it in a room full of honorable people.”

As Nick spoke, two officers walked up. Her father lunged at her and Nick, but the officers stopped him. When he noticed them, he tried to get himself under control, but it was too late.