Broken not Defeated

The loud music and chattering were tiring for Leila as she yearned for the comfort of her bed, but that had become a fantasy. Her spine ached, her knees were sore, her legs could give way anytime, yet she stood numb, her gloomy eyes darting from one end of the club to another. Silly giggles, drunk teenagers, s*x-starved fools! They littered the entire place but one caught her eye. She'd been staring at them for over three minutes now, it seemed like a first for the poor girl as the thirsty vipers rounded her, yet Leila knew not to cross boundaries. After all, the chica seemed to be enjoying all that pleasure. She blinked and looked away. Leila Smith - a live-in daughter-in-law and slave of the Styles conglomerate family. Whatever any of the royalties requested of her, that's what she had to become and now, the last child of the family was hosting a party where she stood as a damned bodyguard! Rolling her eyes at that thought, she glanced over her shoulders at her 'client'. The spoilt last child of the Styles family -Tori Styles. Leila could bet her life that Tori was just a human house for the one thousand year old demon that lived inside of her. Yet she looked away again. First, she was tired from all the house chores during the day, and now standing for hours? The loud music was adding more to her already aching head. She just wanted to go home, but her role tonight was a bodyguard and a driver.... "Hey! Don't just stand there! Go get an extra bottle!' one of Tori's drunk minions yelled and did we forget to include - a waitress? Yes! A bodyguard, driver and waitress. Leila needed no one to tell her she was actually been referred to. She sighed and walked to the counter. "Another one of whatever's on that table", she said to the dude, pointing to Tori and her friends. The bartender nodded and got a bottle as she requested. "Please put it in a bucket of ice", she added. She can't be humiliated in public again like every other time. Humiliation had equalled for a morning coffee for her at this point, but she did her best to avoid the much she could. "Thanks", she took their order and hurried back to their table. Tori didn't spare her a glance as she put down the bucket so she turned to leave, but the insults rolled out. "Will it uncork itself you bastard?!" Tori spat with a drunk belch, glaring hard at Leila who swallowed her spittle in an attempt to calm her nerves. "My apologies", she bowed and took the wine bottle. "You're f*****g unteachable", Tori mumbled but loud enough for Leila to hear. Her hands clenched tightly around the bottle, as she smiled. Uncorking it, she served them all and placed the remnant on the table, but immediately, she felt a soft touch in the dimly lit club. He'd caressed her left palm the moment she'd laid down the bottle, and trailing the hands, she looked up to meet his gaze. Sitting gracefully beside Tori, he winked at her. "Shall I rip your eyes off too?!" Tori smacked her head with a chuckle, "I guess even the poor wish to get laid" . Her friends giggled at the embarrassment of Leila. "My apologies". Leila surely hated saying those words but it would mean worse punishment if she didn't apologize. She left them and returned to the spot where she'd been standing. From side view, she could see the same dude oogle at her, whilst his hands played with Tori. The sight was disgusting for Leila. She didn't oblige him, instead she looked away, staring at the dance floor with zero interest in whatsoever they had going on. Her phone beeped the next minute, earning a sigh from her. She took it out, the name was bold.. MOTHER-IN-LAW. * Where are the heck are you?!!* – she could envision the glare on the woman's face from the text. Leila sighed. She hated her stay with them. An immediate family of four with lots of relatives who stepped all over her like she worths nothing, but one man made her stay. Mr. Ronan Styles - her employer. Not until seven years ago, her life seemed perfect. Leilani Smith; a princess adored by her mother and father, but it all faded in one go! Her beloved father had fallen ill and next, her mother and herself were wrapped up in an accident but her mother didn't make it. The incident was printed vividly in her memory. From the failing brakes, to the bright headlights of the incoming truck! The screams that escaped her throats as she tightly held onto her mother. The loud clash that sent them tumbling over, leaving them lifeless. She had opened her eyes a week after, alone and scared. Far from home with just an kind lady waiting on her. She knew her murderers but with her father sick - the one man who could protect her, going home was stupid. She remained hidden, willing to do anything just to earn a place in the world! And by anything, even being a paid wife! She had met Mr. Ronan three years after the accident in a luxurious hotel which her abusive ex had managed to get her a job as a cleaner. He'd saved her from him and offered his own terms. A wife to his stone-hearted son. The pay was magnetic and besides, Leila had no dignity left to savor, so why not? She had been through worse so how hard could this be? She agreed. But sadly, the only man that ensured she was treated right was now bedridden and had been taken to the hospital, only a year after their contract. The vibrating thrills of her cellphone drew her back to earth. With the phone still in her hand, it had began ringing. MOTHER-IN-LAW, displaying yet again on the screen. Leila's heart fell, what else could they want from her now! This was almost midnight! She could snooze this and get the beating of her life when she gets home or as well.....Leila chuckled at her own thought. She inhaled deeply and stepped out. It was foolish of her to try and create options where there are none. "Leila!" She yelled the moment the lines connected. "Yes mother", Leila muttered with an eye roll. "I don't care to know where you are. Get yourself down to the hospital now! My husband wishes to see you", she scoffed and ended the call. The tension eased a bit. She hadn't committed a heinous crime as she thought, it was just Mr. Ronan's wish to see her. He did that every now and then. She knew the family would have done away with her if not for his abrupt wishes to see her, to ensure she was still a part of the family. Thankfully, the family didn't know she was being paid by him, else she would have been cut off a long time. She was saving just enough to leave soon. "Hey", his voice reached her, breaking her thoughts. Leila turned on her feet. It was the dude seated beside Tori. He had snuck out after her, and she recognized him. Tori's new boyfriend that wouldn't surpass a month like the rest. Leila didn't have time for this. She needed to go in there and alert Tori on her urgent need to leave. "Hi", she responded curtly even though older and tried walking past him back into the clubhouse. But he pulled her back by her arm with a smile. "Your scent is intoxicating", he hiccupped, completely drunk but sane enough to know what he was doing. Leila scoffed, about to loose it and would have pushed him off with all her strength not minding where he'd land but she held it in and gently detached herself from him, but the stubborn fella pulled at her hair, infuriated at her decline. "f**k! I'm still talking to you!", he growled, tightening his grip on the chunk of hair he'd grabbed. Leila winced in pain.."What do you think you're doing?!!! Stop this madness and let go", she spat, tapping at his hand to let go of her hair, instead he yanked at it, pulling her to himself in a forced hug. He smirked at his achievement, snaking a hand around her waist as he leaned in and whispered, "You want me just as much as I want you". His drunk breathe hitting her face irked her even more. Her anger pulsed through, the rage she'd been suppressing stood tall. Maybe a little transfer of aggression might lighten her mood? - she thought. Her fists balled in tight clench as he continued with a grin, "I knew you wouldn't resist", he croaked with a boyish grin and dived in for a kiss but it tasted like blood and pain. His eyes widened. The alcohol vanishing with immediate effect. In a flash, Leila had pushed him off with all her strength, throwing the best punch of her life that kissed his cheek, bursting his lips and leaving him staggering backwards. "I don't want you and have some composure as a man!" She spat with a glare, her chest heaving with an angered exhale. She wanted to do more than just a punch but she held it in and turned to leave, but halted at the glaring figure of Tori Styles. Her heart skipped a bit. Tori glanced from Leila to her boyfriend, her eyes coming back to settle on Leila. None said a word. In a second, Tori took the first step, her eyes not breaking their locked gaze. Her strides were long and quick, standing before Leila in no time. "He...." *SLAP!* It was Leila's turn to stagger backward as she swallowed her words, but the 17-year-old brat didn't stop. She closed the gap between them, landing the second slap, and the third, and the fourth. "I didn't do nothing..", Leila had fallen to the ground with a gasp. Her heart was pained. Circumstances had made her, a 25-year-old subject to this brat! "He came at me first, believe me", Leila tried to explain, her voice croaked but she wasn't going to shed a tear before these kids. Tori's friends rushed out in that moment, a few drunk, whilst the sober ones found it a perfect time to film. "He came at you?" Tori scoffed, "an old hag?" She closed the gap between them again and Leila shielded her face, anticipating the next hit. Tori hissed, "stand up!" She ordered. Leila took a peek from her shielded hand, she envisioned Tori's funeral in that fleeting moment. She'd gladly grace the occasion in an emerald green dress, her middle finger for a rose, and a victorious smirk. "Are you f*****g glaring?!!!" Tori yelled, her right hand grabbing a chunk of Leila's hair. "Please", she winced in pain. "Come on baby! Let's not ruin tonight", the asshole of a boyfriend rushed forward, hugging Tori from behind and it infuriated Leila the more. "I only came out to pee when I'd notice her with some other guy. I was only concerned as to why she'd leave you in there all alone", he lied, causing Leila to gasp, "but it doesn't matter. She's not worth our time. Let's go back in". "Tell her the truth!" Leila stood to her feet angry at this point. "You know I'd never lie to you baby", he turned to Tori who for the first time noticed his bleeding lips. "Did.. did she do this?" She asked and he pouted, pretending to be in pain. But Tori left his embrace, she walked back to her friends, grabbing the wine bottle from one of them, she emptied it and turned with a smirk. Leila's eyes widened with a gasp. Her brain giving her ideas of what was to happen. It was quick, almost in a blink. The sprinting figure of Tori towards her as the empty wine bottle collided with Leila's face, shattering in pieces with Tori panting in satisfaction. "Woah!" Gasps erupted, the drunk giggled, some clapped and the boyfriend rushed forward, pretending to hold Tori back. Blood trickled in little streams. Thankfully, Leila had held up her hand in time, shielding her face though not fully, as two tiny pieces had managed it's way into her left cheek. "Dirty w***e!", Tori snickered proudly. She hadn't met the dude forcing himself on Leila but had seen her throw such punch. Leila breathed shakily. The glass particles stung, her breathe hitched seeing her blood in mass. Her years of pai n and torment flashed before her eyes. She turned wide-eyed to face the crazy couple. This was too much! And it ends now!