The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 84

He actually dragged her straight into the adjacent empty private dining room.

The man clamped a hand over Natalie's mouth.

His eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. "Seven, since you're already serving an old man like Professor Adler, why not serve me instead?"

He had twisted her professional relationship with Professor Adler into something completely vulgar. Natalie felt sick enough to vomit. "If you touch me today, do you think the other executives will let you get away with it? I'm a core member of that team."

She tried to use her professional value as a shield.

He merely brushed it off. "What use are you really? Adler and that Marvin kid were guarding you like a hawk at the table, not even letting you touch a drop of alcohol. Don't tell me you're servicing both of them at the same time."

Gritting her teeth, Natalie waited for a split second of inattention before slamming her forehead viciously into his.

The middle-aged man hissed in pain, letting go to clutch his head.

Natalie bolted for the door.

But he was fast, instantly chasing her down the hall.

She ducked into the room at the very end of the corridor, slamming the door shut and locking it behind her. She leaned against the wood, gasping for air.

She patted her pockets, wanting to call for help, but both pockets were empty.

Had she dropped her phone? Or had that creep pickpocketed it?

He probably anticipated she would try to make a call.

Natalie raised her left wrist; her smartwatch could make calls too.

But before she could tap the screen, the doorknob rattled.

With a *click*, the lock disengaged.

The middle-aged man stood there, staring at her with a sick, malicious smile. "Thanks for your help. Just having a little lovers' quarrel with my girlfriend here."

A waiter had used a master keycard to open the door for him.

"Let me go! I don't know him! Call the police!"

The waiter didn't recognize Natalie, but she certainly recognized the middle-aged regular. The manager had mentioned he was a VIP. Terrified of getting involved, the waiter immediately scurried away.

The man reached back and shoved the door shut.

"What are you screaming for? No one's coming to help you here." His lecherous eyes swept up and down Natalie's body. "If you're a good girl, maybe I'll go easy on you."

Hassan swung again, burying his fist into the man's chest.

Natalie heard the sickening crunch of bone.

Trembling slightly, she snatched her phone off the nearby cabinet, ready to dial emergency services.

Hassan grabbed her wrist. "You can't call the police."

He had recognized the man. Involving the police would only backfire on them.

The man had already passed out. Hassan called Julian to come handle him.

They took him directly to Yale Easton's hospital.

Yale stood in the hospital room, staring helplessly at the man in the bed.

"Why the hell did you beat him up? He's Stewart Walsh's grandson!"

The knuckles on Hassan's hand were split and bleeding, but his dark gaze was fixed entirely on Natalie. "Why were you with him?"

"I was just having lunch there. I was walking down the hallway, and he dragged me into the room."