The Moment I Realized I Can't Lose You novel Chapter 26

Audrey glanced up. The hotel manager, Zeller, was sprinting out of the elevator with a small army of security guards, making a beeline straight for them.

"Finally!" Seeing the cavalry arrive, the terror in Harold’s eyes instantly morphed into vicious arrogance. "If you took any longer, I’d be dead!"

Sweating profusely, Zeller rushed over and helped Harold to his feet before turning furiously to Audrey. "Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to cause a scene in my hotel?"

Audrey raised an eyebrow, casually rubbing her knuckles which ached from the impact. "A grown man was openly sexually harassing an eighteen-year-old girl in your hallway. When she rejected him, he slapped her."

It was only then that the crowd noticed the teenager trembling in the corner, her clothes rumpled and a massive red welt blooming on her cheek.

Audrey locked eyes with the manager, her expression freezing over. "Tell me again, who exactly is causing a scene?"

Zeller scowled, his tone harsh. "You should have alerted the staff or called security! You had no right to assault him!"

Audrey let out a humorless laugh. "You think we didn't try?"

She hadn't planned on escalating this. It had been over a year since she last threw a punch, and given they were outnumbered, she had worried she might be out of practice. But when she flagged down a passing waiter for help, what did he do?

Not only did he ignore her plea, he enthusiastically handed the men a tray of drinks to keep the party going.

It was the sheer audacity of the staff’s complicity that had finally pushed her over the edge. And now, the hotel had the nerve to play the victim.

"Why are you wasting breath on her?" Harold spat, clearly feeling invincible now that he was flanked by guards. "This bitch punched me ten times and slapped me six. I’m going to return every single one!"

"Just paying her back is letting her off too easy!" one of his friends yelled from the back.

The crowd of cronies instantly fired up. "I'd hit her back three times as hard!"

"Exactly! She didn't just hurt you, she humiliated you! You have to beat some respect into her!"

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