Chapter 1 — Crushed

POV: Beatrix

The music on the rooftop lounge was so loud it made my chest vibrate. Bright purple and blue lights flashed across the dance floor while waiters in white shirts walked through the crowd, carrying heavy silver trays filled with champagne.

Julian’s sports agency had rented the entire top floor of the Sky Tower tonight. We were celebrating the massive new contract with the Thorne family and everyone was drinking and laughing.

I stood near the edge of the room, holding my cheap leather purse tightly against my stomach, feeling totally out of place. My plain black cotton dress was five years old, and my flat shoes were worn out. Compared to me, the other women looked like goddesses with silk dresses and shiny diamonds.

But I didn't care, I was so happy now I could barely even breathe.

I reached my hand inside my purse and my fingers brushed against a small box hidden at the bottom.

Inside the box was a silver engagement ring.

I bought it myself. I knew Julian didn't have the money for a ring, so I used the last bit of my savings for it. I didn't mind. I loved him. For four years, I worked for him for free. I paid his office rent, wrote his business plans, and took out massive loans in my own name so his agency could survive. Today, all my hard work finally paid off. Julian got the millions of dollars in investment money.

I took a deep breath. It was time. I was going to find him, take him to a quiet corner, and ask him to marry me.

I wasn't traditional enough to think only men proposed. This was modern day, not the 1960s.

I pushed my way through the thick crowd, walked past the long bar and headed toward the back of the lounge. The loud bass of the music faded away behind the heavy doors. This was the VIP section.

I walked down the quiet hallway and stopped in front of a closed door. I could already hear Julian's deep, familiar laugh coming from inside and my heart did a happy flip.

I reached out and pushed the door open.

"Julian, I have a big surprise for..."

My voice instantly died in my throat.

The VIP room was dimly lit. There was a long leather couch in the middle of the room and Julian was on it. But he wasn't alone.

His jacket was on the floor while his white shirt was completely unbuttoned, showing his bare chest. A thin, blonde woman was sitting directly on his lap, her thin dress pulled all the way down to her waist while her arms were wrapped tightly around Julian’s neck.

It was Evelyn Thorne. She was the twenty-four-year-old daughter of our new billionaire investor.

My brain completely stopped working. I just stood in the open doorway and stared at them.

Evelyn finally turned her head and looked at me.  She didn't jump off his lap but just smiled, slowly pulled her dress back up, and let out a mean laugh.

Julian on the other hand, sighed loudly, looking utterly annoyed. He slowly pushed Evelyn off his lap, stood up, and casually buttoned his shirt. He looked at me like I was a piece of trash on his clean floor.

"Beatrix," he called flatly, his voice completely calm. "Close the door."

I ignored him. "Just what the fuck are you doing? What the hell are you doing?! We are together!"

Julian let out a short laugh. "Stop making a scene, Beatrix. When did I ever say we were together. It was just a business arrangement. Nothing else."

The words felt like a physical punch to my stomach. "Four years," I cried, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. "I paid your rent. I built this whole company with you. I love you!"

Julian shook his head, looking at me with total, absolute disgust.

"Look at yourself, Beatrix," he sneered, pointing a harsh finger at my body. "You are fat. You wear cheap, ugly clothes and you're totally plain. Did you honestly think a successful CEO like me would proudly hold your hand in public? A fatass woman like you could never stand beside a powerful man."

My hands shook so hard that my purse slipped right out of my fingers. It hit the floor and the small box fell out, the engagement ring rolling onto the carpet.

Julian stared at it. "What the fuck is this? Were you actually thinking of proposing?" He asked, his voice completely filled with mockery.

I couldn't say a word, my chest felt like it was caving in.

"Don't be so stupid Beatrix. Get off your fucking dreams!" He didn't even blink and lifted his shoe, stepping directly on the ring.

Crunch.

The sound of the silver bending broke my heart into a million pieces.

"Evelyn is an heiress. She belongs in this high-class world. You do not. Now, pick up your cheap bag and go back to work."

I couldn't breathe. I bent down, snatched my purse off the floor, and ran.

I left the crushed ring on the carpet, ran blindly out of the VIP room and burst through the doors, right back into the loud, crowded party.

The moment the heavy bass of the music hit my ears, my phone started ringing loudly in my hand.

I looked at the screen through my blurry, tear-filled eyes. It was my mother.

I stopped walking in the middle of the crowd, people bumping into my shoulders, and answered the phone, putting it phone to my ear with a trembling hand. "Mom? I...I can't talk right now."

"I don't care if you can talk, Beatrix. I need you to transfer two thousand dollars to my account right this second."

"Two thousand? Mom, I don't have that. Something terrible just happened..."

"Oh, stop being so dramatic," she cut me off, her voice laced with annoyance. "Serena was invited to an exclusive college party tonight. She cannot show up looking cheap. She needs a new designer dress and matching shoes. Send the money."

"Mom, please listen to me," I begged, my chest heaving as I tried to pull air into my lungs. "Julian just...he..."

"Julian is a busy, successful man, don't disturb him!" my mother snapped. "You should be at that party networking for your sister, not whining on the phone to me. Don't be selfish, Beatrix."

The betrayal I just witnessed in that room collided with the toxic voice on the phone. My chest felt like it was going to explode.

"Selfish? What about me, Mom? Am I not your daughter too? Why do you just care about Serena?"

There was a split second of silence on the line before she let out a loud scoff.

"Don't you dare raise your voice at me," she yelled through the speaker. "Are you not the eldest? It is your duty to provide! And let's be honest, Beatrix. Look at yourself. You are fat, plain, and completely classless! I still wonder how Julian even looks at you. A miracle like that can only happen once in your life for a girl like you so you better be grateful."

I gasped, covering my mouth with my free hand. The cruelty of her words sliced right through me.

"Serena, on the other hand, is beautiful, slim and elegant. She actually needs to go to these parties to find a rich husband and elevate this family. You are just a worker, Beatrix. Now, send the money quickly!"

Something inside me completely snapped.

The four years of working for free. The massive credit card debt. The crushed silver ring. The constant, endless abuse from my own family. It was all too much.

Tears gushed out of my eyes like a waterfall. I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

"I hate you, Mom!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I didn't care where I was or who heard me.

"I hate you!" I shrieked. "I hate everyone!"

I hung up the phone.

The hallway suddenly went quiet. Dozens of rich executives, waiters, and beautiful women stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at me. They looked at my red face, my cheap dress, and my ruined makeup. I could see the pity and disgust in their eyes.

I couldn't take it anymore. Covering my face with both hands, I fled.

I ran as fast as I could until I saw the gold sign for the women's restroom. Pushing the door open, I ran inside, went straight into the largest corner stall and slammed the door shut.

My legs gave out completely and I collapsed onto the freezing floor, wrapping my arms around my stomach, and curling into a tight ball, sobbing uncontrollably. I cried until my throat burned. I had absolutely nothing left. No money, no boyfriend, and no family.

Suddenly, I heard a small scuffing sound on the floor.

I stopped crying and held my breath.

A tiny hand suddenly reached under the gap of the bathroom stall door. The small fingers were holding a clean, white tissue.