Chapter 4
Lexi reached for Lauren, trying to pull her out of Sebastian’s arms to talk things through.
Smack.
Sebastian struck her. The force sent Lexi stumbling back into his chest.
She shoved away, cheek burning. “What the hell? Why did you hit me?”
He caught her chin, forcing her to look up. His gaze was cold.
“That was for slapping Lauren,” he said evenly. “She hit you because your scene lacked conviction. You hit her out of spite.”
A hollow laugh escaped her. “Spite? She kept sabotaging me—messing up lines, pushing for retakes just to slap me again. It wasn’t my acting. She can’t stand me.”
She thrust the script at him.
The room fell silent.
No one challenged Sebastian Blackwood.
Lauren watched with a faint smirk.
Sebastian caught the script. His fingers tightened around Lexi’s wrist.
“No one defies me,” he said quietly. “Should I hand you back to those men from the club?”
Lexi met his eyes. She believed he would.
“Go,” he ordered, shoving her slightly toward Lauren. “Apologize.”
She didn’t move.
Lauren slipped her arm around him, voice sweet and wounded. “Seb, she has no manners. She doesn’t belong here.”
The director quickly agreed. “Miss Mitchell is right. She’s not suited for this industry.” He added carefully, aligning with Lauren to avoid offending her.
“Cowards,” Lexi muttered.
The director stiffened. “How dare you—”
“Enough.” Sebastian’s voice cut through.
He stroked Lauren’s hair gently. “Apologize,” he repeated to Lexi. “Don’t make me say it again.”
Lexi looked at him for a long moment. Then she smiled.
“Fine.”
She turned to Lauren.
“Miss Mitchell, even knowing you deliberately sabotaged me, I shouldn’t have slapped you. That was wrong. I accept the consequences.”
Lauren’s face flushed with anger. The apology had landed like a blade.
Sebastian watched Lexi closely, irritation and something unfamiliar flickering in his eyes.
He stood.
His shadow fell over her.
“Maybe you belong somewhere rougher,” he said, gripping her arm and pulling her toward the exit.
Outside, he shoved her into the car.
She grabbed the door handle. “I apologized! What more do you want? You’re not taking me back there!”
“You slapped Lauren,” he said flatly. “That requires punishment.”
“So this is it?” she shot back. “Throw me to the wolves?”
For a split second, his expression shifted—something unreadable passing through his eyes.
“Get out,” he said abruptly. “Disappear from my sight.”
She stared at him, stunned.
Then she yanked the door open and ran.
He didn’t stop her.
From the building, Lauren watched, jaw tight, already dialing her phone.
Lexi ran until her lungs burned.
Her cheek still throbbed—but the deeper pain was the humiliation.
One moment he saved me. The next, he chose her.
She turned into an alley near her apartment.
Her ankle twisted on loose gravel. She gasped and stumbled.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
She froze.
Victor stepped out, flanked by the same men from the club. A wooden bat rested casually on his shoulder.
“Well, Miss Starling,” he said with a grin. “Fancy meeting again.”
Her grip tightened on her briefcase. “What do you want?”
“What do you think?”
Her old address. They’d tracked her.
She hurled her files at them and tried to run.
They caught her easily.
“Stay still.”
“I’ll call the police!” she shouted, fumbling for her phone—
A hand clamped over her mouth.
