Chapter 210

I would never accept an offer like this, even if the vile club hadn’t been part of it. I intended to get by on the strength of my own abilities and merits. I had no interest in accepting handouts, no matter how generous.

But this offer was not an act of charity. The Vice President wanted me to place myself above others, to benefit while they suffered.

I was not the kind of person who could forget everything that Joseph and this club had done to me, nor could I just ignore the continued abuse made against other girls.

This club had to be stopped. The man before me had to be taken down as well. Or those girls would never be safe. And neither would I.

“I appreciate your generous offer,” I said through my teeth. “But I wish to succeed through my own hard work. I’m sure you can understand how accepting this gift is just not possible.”

His eyes narrowed. “That is your final decision?”

This was a threat. He was threatening me, but I wouldn’t back down.

“It is.”

He leaned back into his chair for a moment, though his piercing gaze never left my face.

“That little shit Joseph should have known better than to target someone like you. I’ve told him, time and time again. Only go for the weak, vulnerable girls. Instead, he gets you pregnant. He’s always been reckless and foolish.”

Abruptly, he stood up, pushing his chair back. The wooden legs thunked against the floor.

“What’s happening?” Asher said in my ear.

Chase shushed him.

“The club has benefited me very much throughout the years. I refuse to lose it. I refuse to have it all threatened by some little pregnant slut who couldn’t just lie back and take what she was given.”

“We’re moving now,” Asher said.

“Wait,” Chase told him.

“Cynthia? Cynthia, say pineapple,” Asher said.

I bit my tongue. He hadn’t said enough yet. I could hold out a bit longer.

“You, Cynthia, have been a barb in my side for far too long. Joseph always picked the girls I liked before you. He caters to my interests, providing pictures and videos he knows I’ll like. You were only a side project for him.”

He walked to the side of the desk, tracing the edge with his fingers.

“A distraction, more like. One I had hoped to remove peacefully. I truly hate getting my hands dirty.”

“We’re going,” Asher said, more forcefully. “Now.”

“Yeah, okay,” Chase agreed. “Cynthia, get out of there.”

The Vice President stepped toward me. I jumped to my feet and rounded the chair, placing it between us.

“But if needs must, I will protect my assets and preserve my status quo. It’s not always personal, you understand, although this time I will take some enjoyment in it.”

“Pineapple,” I whispered.

“Hold on, Cynthia,” Asher said. I could hear him running.

The Vice President smirked, but there was no humor in it. Then, at once, he lunged for me.

I toppled the chair in his path, and he tripped on it, dropping to the ground. With him indisposed, I rushed to the door and tried to yank it open, but it was locked.

“Let me out!” I cried as I pounded on the door with my fist. I hoped the secretary could hear me. Surely she couldn’t approve of this.

The Vice President righted himself. Back at his full intimidating height, he brushed off his elbows and straightened his clothes.

“Everything in this room is soundproof, Cynthia. There is no escape for you.”

He walked slowly around the chair.

The room had only one door. There wasn’t any other way to escape, unless I jumped out the window. But we were on the third floor. To fall from that distance would seriously hurt me and my baby, if it didn’t kill us outright.

“Asher,” I said, desperate.

“Hold on, Cynthia. We’re almost there.”

“Asher? That’s your little boyfriend, isn’t it? You really think he’ll save you? Come now. Be a good girl and let me give you what you truly deserve.”

“Step away from the door, Cyn,” Asher said.

I rushed to the side, unfortunately putting myself in a corner.

The Vice President closed in on me. He lifted his hands, fingers curled like claws. I tried to dodge but he went straight for my neck.

I scratched at his arms and kicked at his shins. Yet the harder I fought, the tighter he squeezed his grip around my neck.

Lilith growled within me, adding strength to my defensive attacks, yet even our combined strength could not remove this monster’s hold.

Through my earpiece, I heard the Vice President’s secretary say, “Now, hold on! You two! You don’t have an appointment!”

A loud thud sounded against the door.

I wanted to cry out for Asher, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even breathe.

“I’m calling security!” the secretary shouted.

“Do it then!” Chase shouted right back. “Asher. Together, on three.”

The Vice President’s eyes were wild with rage. His upper lip curled.

“Three. Two. One!”

The door burst off its hinges, and Asher and Chase barreled into the room. They looked around, then spotted me in the corner, being actively choked.

Asher roared, but it was Chase who got to us first.

“Get off my sister!” Chase said. He gripped the Vice President by the back of the neck and threw him across the room. The Vice President rolled over the top of the desk and fell down onto the ground behind it.

I sucked in sharp breaths, suddenly able to breathe again. I slid down the wall to the floor.

Chase knelt beside me. “Are you okay?”

He’d called me his sister. He saw me as his family. Tears filled my eyes.

Behind us, Asher loomed protectively, filling the space between us and the desk, where the Vice President was struggling to stand once again.

“You must be Asher,” he said, rubbing his shoulder.

Asher was losing control. His words came out wolf-like, with a deadly growl beneath. “You dare attack my mate. Our child.”

“Your child?” the Vice President scoffed.

Asher squared his shoulders. He doubled down. “My family.”

My heart raced in my chest. Oh, Asher…

“Security is on their way, sir!” said the secretary from the doorway.

The Vice President straightened his tie. He pushed a hand through his hair, attempting to right it, but it was too messy and the previous hairspray could no longer hold it all in place.

“Thank you,” he told his secretary, like he didn’t have a very angry alpha boxing him in behind his desk. Instead he smiled again. “Stay right there if you want, Asher. It will make it easier to have security take you away.”

With Chase’s help, I rose again to my feet.

“Not if I tell them you tried to kill me,” I said.

The Vice President snorted a laugh. “My word against yours, my dear. Good luck proving it.”

At that moment, security rushed in, stun guns held at the ready.

The Vice President motioned toward us. “All of them! Take them… away…”

When he looked at me, I brushed back my hair and motioned to my neck. I couldn’t see myself, but I could feel the painful bruises that were forming there, from when he had tried to choke the life from me.

His voice trailed. His smirk fell.

Security moved in on Asher, Chase, and I.

“Wait.”