Twist of Events

"More sauce here, nerdy," Lia spoke loudly from behind as Claire served Roman, who smirked in response.

As she had expected, the birthday party was indeed a trap to torture her. She hated Adrian, but hated his minions more, as they bullied her more than him. They basically relished the hatred they both shared and enjoyed ordering her around in his name.

Sighing, Claire grabbed the ketchup and handed her.

"Squeeze it, sweetie," Sebastian rasped in a deep tone, making the table burst into laughter. Claire threw him a stink eye, but swallowing her rage, she tried squeezing the bottle when Lia suddenly snatched the ketchup from her hand and turned the knob towards her, dousing her face with sauce. Claire didn't even get time to protect herself. Loud laughter erupted from all corners of the room while Austin and Jenna froze in shock.

"Wow! I didn't plan on getting a fresh and ripe tomato for the night," Roman spoke while licking his lips as he sized Claire up and down, who was dripping with sauce.

Adrian, who was busy enjoying the show, smiled devilishly, watching Claire's face. She was stiff as a board, her eyes were closed, and her hands were frozen in the air, as it was unexpected. He was about to say something, but words died in his mouth when he saw Austin rushing to Claire with a tissue in his hand.

"Oh, my God! Here," Austin immediately tried to hold her, but the moment he could touch her, Adrian kicked him in his shin, making him double over. Hearing a thud, Claire quickly backed away, but her feet slipped, making her collide with Austin. She screamed in fear and was about to hit the floor when she felt a strong grip on her right wrist, and the next moment, she was pulled in a firm embrace.

"W-What the hell!! Jenna!!"

A pin-drop silence shielded the room as Adrian pulled Claire on her lap and circled his arm firmly around her waist. Claire, on the other hand, couldn't see, so she grabbed his shoulders for support. Panic was written all over her face as firstly, she couldn't see and secondly, because of his disgusting behaviour.

"Mr Kingsley. This is inappropriate," Jenna couldn't hold back her tongue as she immediately jumped to her rescue, but stopped dead in her tracks as soon as Adrian shot her a glare.

"Don't forget this is my cafe, Jenna. I make the rules here, not you." He growled in a dominating tone and glared at the staff, who immediately bowed down in fear.

He then shifted his attention back to the girl who was fidgeting on his lap.

"I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU, ADRIAN, IF YOU DON'T LET ME GO THIS INSTANT!!!" Claire screamed in his face as she kept jumping and throwing punches at his shoulders and chest. Hitting him wherever she could.

Adrian stared at her. Her bravura amazed him as well as amused him. She had her eyes squeezed shut, her face was morphed in pain, and he knew her eyes were burning. Even being so vulnerable, she always gives him a tough fight.

Smirking, he grabbed a tissue and gently brought it closer to her eyes.

"My sweet tomato. I still have my fries left, and I am gonna need some ketchup. If you keep squirming, I wouldn't mind finishing them while licking the sauce off your face. Or you can stay still and let me clean you up."

Claire's face lost colour as she heard his words. Her ears turned red as she felt a bucket of embarrassment and humiliation was splashed all over her. But Adrian mistook her silence as submission and brought his hand to wipe her face.

*Pang*

The tissue fell from his hand as his face turned to the left from the loud impact. Everyone gasped in shock as Claire slapped him hard and stood up from his lap while wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Jenna covered her mouth with her palm as she looked at Claire in shock, who was now seething in rage.

"HOW DARE YOU!!! How dare you touch me without my permission!!! You may own this cafe, Adrian, the university, the library or even the entire city, but you don't fucking own me!!"

Claire shouted while tears of anger rolled down her cheeks.

"Enough is enough. Who permitted you to touch me? What do you think of yourself? Just because you are rich, you will trample a girl's dignity. Play with her emotions and humiliate her. On what basis? Huh!! Do hell with this job. You planned this to make me quit tonight, right? This grand fucking birthday celebration was a plan to torment me. I have tolerated enough, not anymore. Here-" she undid the strings of her apron and shoved it on his face while he remained seated on his spot. His face was still turned to the same position, his eyes digging holes in the wooden floorboard.

"Take this and get lost. I don't care even if you kill me, but next time, think twice before offending me. Last time I only complained about you to the school officials; this time I will report you to the police."

Once she vented, she grabbed the ketchup from the table. Opening the lid, she poured it all over his head and tossed it away while his minions watched her in fear. This wasn't the Claire they knew. Her endurance limit had reached its peak today, and tonight she couldn't keep up with his crap anymore.

Tossing the flask away, Claire stormed outside, closing the door with a loud bang.

*****

Claire

"Mmm"

After multiple failed attempts, I finally managed to put eyedrops in my eyes, although it was burning like hell. Last night was a complete disaster. I couldn't sleep a wink as my eyes were itching a lot. I tried everything. Ice, water, rose water, but nothing worked. And to put drops in your eyes is one huge task.

"Gosh, I look like a cartoon."

I had put on shades as my eyes were completely red. But the problem was that these goggles belonged to Noah. He had left this once in my house, and right now I can't find anything else, so obviously it was looking much bigger on my face. But I can't miss university. Exams are near, and just because of that jerk, I can't afford to miss the only chance that can change my life.

I don't regret slapping him. He deserved it. Bullying is different, but how can he touch me without my permission? If I weren't concerned about my dreams, I would have gladly killed him and ended up in jail. At least I had ridden the earth of a monster.

But I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I am practically shivering right now. Not only did I humiliate him, but I also slapped him. What if he plans on murdering me tonight? I tried calming myself down, but all sorts of worst scenarios keep running through my mind.

Nonetheless, slinging the bag over my shoulder and grabbing my keys, I headed to the door.

"God, please help me."

*****

Once I had parked my bike, I looked up only to find everyone staring at me. But I was surprised, as for the first time in my life, their eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation, not with hatred or rage.

But not dwelling on it much, I headed to my class. I focused on my steps and kept staring ahead, and again, what came as shocking was that there was a pin-drop silence in the hallway. No taunts, no whispers, no biting remarks, nothing. I could literally hear my heartbeat as it was so eerily quiet. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but no one said a word.

But the pressure was overwhelming, so I fastened my pace and hurried to my class.

"Oh! I am so sorry," I didn't check my steps and ended up crashing into someone who quickly held my shoulders firmly. I looked up only to see a confounded Noah staring at me with furrowed brows.

"Why are you wearing my goggles?"

Anger instantly surged through me as his act of care was simply a pretence. His acidic words were still fresh in my mind, replaying on a loop. I jerked away his hands and walked past him.

But I didn't expect him to pull me back.

"What are you doing?"

"What's wrong? Why the shades?" He ignored my screams and quickly removed my glasses.

"The hell, Noah!! Give it back," I shouted in frustration and tried to get my shades back when he cupped my left cheek and bent down to look in my eyes.

"Why are your eyes swollen? Wait, why are they red?" He kept inquiring, making me irritated. I started hitting his chest and tried to pry his hands off, but he wouldn't budge.

"Leave me alone. Why are you-"

"ANSWER ME DAMNIT!!!"

"ADRIAN DID THAT!!"

And as I said, his hands froze. Shock registered in his eyes, making me laugh bitterly at his reaction.

"Why do you look so surprised, Noah? Your Godfather is the sole reason for my misery. Now don't tell me you had expected me to pour chilli in my eyes or accuse me of a reason for seeking your attention."

In an instant, his face morphed into anger. He suddenly grabbed my face in his huge palms, squeezing my cheeks in the process and thrust his face forward, catching me off guard.

"Don't talk nonsense." He growled and was about to berate me, but I was in no mood to listen to his rants.

"Let me go!!"

"Stop it, we are going to the hospital before the infection spreads." Ignoring me, he suddenly grabbed my wrists and started dragging me with him.

"Leave me alone!! Stop it, Noah!!!" I screamed and tried to pull my hands off, but he simply tightened his grip and increased his pace.

"Let go of me, Noah!! I am not your toy!!!"

What does he think of himself? He treats me like trash yet keeps staking his claim over me. My resistance, my decision and my words mean nothing to me.

"Leave me-"

Thud!!!

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Noah was torn from me. I saw him flying across the hallway as someone ruthlessly rammed a fist into his face. The impact was so strong that I lost my balance and was about to fall when someone caught my hand midway and pulled me up. I ended up in protective arms that shielded me like armour. My face got buried in his chest as I grabbed the lapels of his jacket, my breathing haggard as I closed my eyes in fear.

His loud and harsh breaths reverberated in the hallway, and I could feel his chest heaving against my cheek.

"Adrian...."

Noah's strained voice pulled me from my reverie. My eyes widened as I immediately lifted my face, only to see Adrian glaring ahead, wrath written all over his face as he resembled a predator.

"She told you to leave her." He seethed and pulled me close, snatching the ground beneath my feet.

What the hell!!

Adrian saved me.

*****