Kiss me in the crossfire

ChapterEleven

Chapter Eleven

Annika's POV

Irritation fills my face as I watch Vivienne walk up to me with a soft smile on her face, as if all was well between us.

Nothing irritated me as much as her pretense. “Who the hell did she think she was talking to?” I asked myself, standing still like I was forced to give an audience to her.

She looks down to the point where Sloane and my hands were tightly held together. Her smile fades away, and she looks at Sloane as though she could read that she wasn't anything.

“I don't know you, do I?” Vivienne asks Sloane.

“Clearly you don't.” Sloane didn't flinch by the bullying voice and elegant presence of Vivienne.

I gulp my saliva down my throat before I spoke. I know no reason why I feel tense speaking to Vivienne or being in front of her. I was angry, and I was also scared. I wish we could go back in time, and I would never have had to watch her and Ares. It would have been better a rumour than I having to watch.

“What do you want?”

Laughing oddly, “Uhm, okay? What's with all this attitude? What do you mean by what do I want?”

“b***h!” The word that filled my mouth but never came out of my lips.

“Don't speak to me again. Stay away from my business.” I held Sloane's hand tightly and turned away from her.

“So you want to mingle with the lower class because you're angry. You don't know what life is about.” Her voice keeps increasing in pitch as we get farther from her. “They are worse than us. She's just here because of what she thinks she can benefit. And you don't even have anything to offer.”

I had had enough and was ready for the attention that Vivienne clearly wants to receive. Everyone was beginning to look at both of us and her as she yelled while I walked off.

I walk over back to her. Without thinking, I hit her on the face and she fell to the floor.

It felt so good.

It was as though I had hit her with all the pain I felt and was never given the opportunity to express myself.

“Don't you dare speak to me like that again.”

I could spit on her face, but I need to look like a hero, other than a weakling, like everyone in the room must be thinking I am.

A server was passing next to me with a glass of champagne and had stopped at that instant, like everyone else in the walkway.

I pick up the glass of champagne and threw it on her face as she lay holding her face on the floor.

“Let's leave.” Sloane walks over to me and holds my hand. “It's enough, everyone is a staring. Your dad as well. Let's leave now.”

I didn't know how bad things were going to get from there, so I headed to Sloane's advice and follow after her, heading out of my dad's house.

No one said a thing to me. Everyone seems in shock, and clearly, that will be the first public announcement of the fallout of Vivienne and I.

We got out and I couldn't help my anxiety. I keep panting and gasping for breath from what I had done. I had never hit someone before or caused a scene. Doing it felt great, but my panic level 🎚️ increased.

“Breathe, breathe.” Sloane rubs my back gently as I bend, trying to gasp for air.

“Girl! You did well. She deserves what she got. You need to see the look on your dad's face. I must tell you, it was a proud one. You did well. Just breathe.” She continues

I began to feel joy outweigh the panic I felt while I slowly gain my step.

“That really felt good!” I clenched my fist as I speak.

While we were yet speaking, a car drove into my dad's apartment and head towards Sloane and I.

“Who the hell is this?” Sloane says as we both watch the person drive in our direction without moving away, but in the hope that we won't be hit.

“Mrs Brooker, you're advised to step into the car this moment.” A tall, hefty man with a dark shade came out of the car and says.

I knew it was one of Ares' men.

Unbothered, I look at him in the face and said, “Firstly, I'm your boss's wife. You should never address me in such an unruly manner. You can lose your job.” Clearing my throat, I add, “Secondly, I am not following you anywhere.”

Since no one was going to listen to me anyway when I do all that they want, perhaps they will listen to me when I don't do what they want.

The door to the car flung open, and my poison stepped out of the car, clapping.

“Wow! In how many days, you've grown some wings. I've told you before that you're not built for the world outside the walls of my care. Look at you now, sounding like a man.” He scoffs.

I could not look Ares in the eyes as he approach me.

“What? You're shy now?” He erupts into a manipulative laughter. “How can you live without me? Look at how you're shaking because I'm standing in front of you.” He push my chin up and locked eyes with me.

I could barely breathe with how close he was to me. His cocky aroma filled my lungs, and I longed for my pain to have me in his room.

He leans in like he will kiss me.

He bit me on the lip and flung my face away like my lip was disgusting.

“Don't do that to her.”

Sloane, who stood invisible to me while all this was going on, yelled at Ares.

Ares didn't act like he heard anyone speak. He is never known to give his attention to women who are not of his level because of his arrogance.

“Get into the car, Annika.”