Chapter 5
Derek came to the piano and leaned over it with both hands planted on the edge.
Ellie stopped playing and turned toward him.
"Derek, please don't interrupt my work."
"You're not the grand Miss Turner anymore. Don't you think it's time to change your attitude?"
He reached a finger toward her neck. She jerked away.
"What are you doing?"
Karen, the floor manager in a black suit, hurried between them with a strained smile.
"Mr. Grant, please let our employee do her job."
"She's a pianist. What's wrong with asking her to entertain me?"
He tried to push past Karen. She held her arm out to protect Ellie, but Ellie rose and put a hand over hers.
"Don't worry, Karen. It's seven. My shift is over."
She lifted her skirt to leave. Tyler stepped into her path.
"No need to rush off."
Scott came up from the other side. "Derek hasn't heard enough."
Ellie folded her arms and turned back.
"What do you want?"
"Don't get so angry. I just want a song." Derek looked her up and down. "Oh, right. You need money. Is that it? How much? Ten thousand? Twenty? A hundred?"
She lowered her eyes. They were right about one thing. She wasn't living on a family fortune anymore. She needed money.
"A hundred thousand. I'll play."
He stared, then laughed loudly.
"A hundred thousand? I preferred you when you looked down your nose at me. When did you get so cheap?"
Ellie pressed her lips together, her face draining.
At the Hayes house, the clock changed to 7:13. Julian unbuttoned his jacket while his assistant stood nearby.
"Is Ellie back?"
"She went out this afternoon. Not yet."
"Apparently the rules mean nothing to her. Find out where she is."
"You pay, I play," Ellie said to Derek. "It's a fair exchange. What's your problem?"
"Your brother's in a basement. Can you really live like that after being spoiled your whole life?" He moved closer. "Come with me. Keep me happy, and I'll give you whatever you want."
He reached for her face. She knocked his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
He slapped her hard enough to send her to the floor.
She cried out. Derek stood over her, furious.
"You think you can treat me like that?"
A black car sped through the city. Julian glanced at his watch in the back seat.
"Faster."
Blood marked the corner of Ellie's mouth. She gripped the cold floor as Derek pointed down at her.
"You should be grateful I still want you. You think you can play hard to get?"
"Go with him," Tyler said. "Save yourself some pain."
"Before your brother sells you to some old man," Scott added with a laugh.
Derek crouched in front of her.
"You want to sell something? Two hundred thousand. Spend the night with me."
He seized her dress. Ellie pushed and struggled.
"Let go! Nate won't let you get away with this."
"I'm supposed to be afraid of that loser? Your family's finished."
"I'm with Julian Hayes now. You know who he is. If you touch me, he won't let it go."
Derek paused, then sneered.
"Julian? With the way your families hate each other, you're lucky he doesn't kick you while you're down."
His friends laughed.
For a moment she wondered if she would get away at all. Then she forced herself to act. She could not let Derek take her.
As Julian entered, adjusting his cuff, Ellie scrambled up and tried to run. Derek caught her arm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
She bit him hard. He shouted and flung her back to the floor.
"You crazy bitch. I'll teach you a lesson."
He raised his hand. Ellie shrank back and closed her eyes.
The blow never came.
Julian's hand closed around Derek's wrist.
"Who gave you permission to touch her?"
