I didn't think I could sober up this quickly but the fear of what Tristan Larsen might do to me pretty much bitch slapped my inhibitions back in place.

I cleaned up quickly and rushed out, frantically searching for Stefan. The combination of red and green laser beams pulsing overhead made it almost impossible to spot him in the throng of people.

I found Candice instead. She was by the corner, making out with some girl, hands deep in her pants. I hurried over and tapped her shoulders. She pulled away immediately, looking flushed, her lipstick smudged. "Sorry to ruin your fun but I need to borrow you for a second!"

I didn't wait for her reply as I began to drag her away to the safest spot I could find.

"Sup, having fun?!" She asked over the music when I let her go.

"Yeah but not anymore! Have you seen Stefan?!"

He was the only one who could get me out of this mess.

She smirked. "He just went into one of the rooms! That dog is about to get his game on!"

Crap.

"I need to leave!" I told her.

She blinked. "What? why?!"

"Tristan just called, he's furious!"

"Oh damn! We don't want our billionaire daddy furious! Come on, I'll drive you!"

I shook my head. "No, you're drunk!"

"Shit, you're right! Wait here, I'll get someone!"

"No, no wait, I don't!-" She was out of my sight and disappearing into the fog of sweaty bodies before I had the chance to protest.

Great.

I went after her immediately, calling out her name in hopes she heard me but the music was too damn loud. I shoved through the sweaty dancing mob to meet her halfway and Just when I was about to reach her, someone harshly bumped into me, sending me stumbling backward into a body behind me.

"Oh shit!" I gushed, immediately finding my balance and spinning around to apologize to the hunky guy with a serpent tattoo running over his face.

Ew.

"Watch where you're going cupcake." His foreign accent was simply unmistakable and so was the hideous stench oozing out of his mouth.

Something tickled my skin. I looked down at my dress and found that I had been drenched.

Could my night honestly get any worse?

"I'm sorry!" I yelled over the blaring music but he was too busy leering at my cleavage to listen.

Thank you, Candice. Thank you for making me look like a freaking hooker.

His eyes eventually tore away from my cleavage and he zoned in on my face. "You know this drink cost me a lot." He said, stepping closer with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "How are you gonna repay?"

I stepped back. "It was an accident and I apologized and frankly my dress is ruined too so I guess it's a lose-lose." I retorted, looking him dead in the eye whilst silently hoping he backed off but he stepped a little too close to my personal space, so close I could smell him and he smelt absolutely terrible. Smiling smugly, he spoke. "How old are you? You don't look old enough to be at a club."

"My age is not of your goddamned business, sir!" Fed up, I made a move to walk away. I had bigger problems waiting for me at home, I couldn't stand here exchanging words with a luna- he grabbed my hand before I could take a step and tugged me back.

"You look like you could use a good fuck." He leaned into my ears. "Let's go somewhere and have some fun. I have weed."

Shivers ran down my spine but not in a good way. I boldly pushed at his chest. "Alright, listen up snake face! I'm not that type of girl so you better back off!" I snapped, cheeks flushing red with annoyance. I didn't wait for his response, I moved out of his way and walked but I only managed to take two steps before I felt his large hand grip my right butt cheek.

"You've got a mouth on you that's for sure." He sniggered behind me, squeezing harder. "I'd like to stick something else in it."

My eyes flared.

Oh, hell no.

Before I could stop myself, I balled up my fist and swung around to slam it into his face. "Fuck you!" I yelled, the mixture of adrenaline and anger causing my voice to shake.

He staggered back a few steps, his hand going to his jaw. Then his eyes came to meet mine with a fierce darkness that made the euphoria I felt minutes ago disappear without a trace.

"Fucking bitch!" He charged at me and I yelped, shutting my eyes close in anticipation of his hit, but it never landed, and after seconds of standing like a pathetic statue, I opened my eyes slightly to see someone standing in front of me with his arm up, holding back the pouch meant for my face.

My nerves spiked. Ryder?

He looked over his shoulder at me, his eyes clouded and unreadable. "Are you okay?"

What was he-how did he know I was here?

Oh God, was Tristan here too?

When I nodded slowly, he turned back to snake face and much to my surprise, gave him a head butt so powerful that he was knocked off balance and fell to the floor, howling.

Jesus.

My hands flew to my mouth in shock.

Unaffected, Ryder turned to me. "We should leave."

I swallowed hard, staring at the man whose nose oozed out blood on the floor. "What-what about him?"

"He'll be fine." He cut me gruffly. "Move."

Not wanting to cause any more scenes, I followed him without protest.

The outside air was cool, a sharp contrast to the rising heat in there. Ryder walked me to the Mercedes parked close to Stefan's car and opened the door for me.

My heart pounded. As I stepped in, I was half expecting to see Tristan sitting inside and glaring daggers at me but it was empty.

Half relieved, I settled in and let Ryder drive me home in silence.

By the time we arrived at the penthouse, I had gotten multiple texts from Stefan and Candice asking if I was okay. I was not okay but I shot them a quick reply saying I was home safe and then I boarded the elevator with Ryder who remained stoic and gave nothing away.

When it dinged and let us into the penthouse foyer, I stepped out, expecting him to follow behind but he didn't.

"You're not coming?" I asked.

He shook his head and smirked as he gestured for me to go forward. "The boss is waiting for you."

My heart began to pound rapidly as I began to sense that I was really in trouble. Keith and Gus were gone for the weekend. That meant we were alone. The elevator door started to close on Ryder.

"No, wait, don't-" the door closed, taking my throat with it.

I turned around and stared at the dimmed foyer, taking a moment to weigh my options and think about the possibilities that awaited me if I walked through this hallway.

What was the worst he could do?

Yell?

He couldn't hurt me physically. He wouldn't.

It took me a while to pull myself together but once I fought down the panic that threatened to overwhelm me, I forced myself to suck in a deep breath, and then, I walked, slowly, cautious, terrified that he might jump out the shadows and choke me again.

But as I approached the living room, I found that the wide-screen television was on, blaring with loud music. When I got close enough to see what was displayed on the screen, a sharp breath flew out of my lungs.

It was the CCTV footage from the club and I was in it, dancing.

Why did he have it? How did he get it?

Tristan sat on the sofa, a tumbler in his hand as he watched me make a fool of myself.

Mortification shrunk me. I needed to explain myself. I took a step forward and nervously cleared my throat, making my presence known. Although I had a feeling he already knew. "Tristan..." I called softly.

The video continued to play, showing the part where Candice started to twerk on me. This had to be the worst day of my life. "I can explain." Actually no I couldn't. What was I doing? "My friend and I, we-"

He suddenly got up, halting me. Dropping his tumbler, he rounded the couch and matched towards me, his steps heavy on the marble floor.

My mind raced and every cell in my body told me to retreat, but I stood firm, clutching my purse.

I could do this.

"I didn't mean for it to end this way." I started, thankful for my unwavering voice.

He was in his thin sleep attire that did nothing to mask his toned build. I would've been impressed had I not felt like shitting my pants.

When he stopped a few inches from me, I could feel his whole body contorting with anger. "Is this what you do?" He asked tightly, his voice low and full of peril.

"No, it's not."

As if sensing my apprehension, he took one more step forward, and then, with a menacing voice that echoed across the hollow room, he spoke. "Then explain to me why the woman I am getting married to in less than 24 hours; my fiancée is out in a club acting like an undomesticated slut."

I cringed at the horrible reality of his uncensored words.

"Do you know how disgusting that footage is?" He bit, squeezing the remote control tight. "If you wanted to be a whore, you shouldn't have agreed to this."

"I am not a whore." I shot, keeping my building irritation in check but as my dumb luck would have it, the part where Candice and I were on each other's faces played on the screen.

It actually did happen...

We kissed.

This was crazy and wrong and completely out of character for me. "I was drunk." I defended but his discerning look told me he didn't believe me.

"There's no need denying who you are Sienna. I should've known you wouldn't be any different from the loose garbage on the street."

My fists clenched by my side. "I am not a whore! And that doesn't give you the right to address me that way. I was just trying to have fun like any other person would!"

He took a predatory step forward and spoke, deadpan. "Two hundred and fifty thousand will be cut off from your pay and you are banned from stepping out of this house without my permission."

Eyes wide, I shifted back like he had slapped me in the face. "No, you can't do that to me. I won't let you!"

"You broke the rules, Sienna." His teeth gritted. "You should be glad I am not throwing you out on the fucking streets where you belong."

My cheeks flamed as my temper sparked. "Well screw you, Tristan, because you're being mad for no reason! All I did was dance!"

"I'm being mad?!" He blared his teeth, nothing but ire flashing in his eyes. "We're getting married Goddamnit! What if this got out and the whole of New York saw my wife doing shit with some fucking gypsy at a club?!"

"You racist son of a bitch! She's not some gypsy, she's my friend! and she has a name! it's Candice!" I bit back, my voice cracking from anger.

He shot me a hostile glare. "Is she the one corrupting you? Did she make you dress up like a whore and embarrass yourself?"

Rage flowed through me like lava from an erupting volcano. "You asshole, I said I am not a whore!" I screamed and I didn't know if it was the alcohol or my raging hormones but I found myself lifting my hand and striking him right across his cheek, so hard, his head twisted to the side.

Reality dawned right after and I took a hasty step back, heavy breath rushing to my lips at the sudden realization of what I had just done.

I slapped him. Oh, God. I slapped him.

The room went eerie quiet, the only thing heard being my rapid heartbeat.

Tristan lifted his face, setting my whole body on fire with his burning glare. "Who. The. Hell. Do. You. Think. You. Are?" He seethed through gritted teeth, his voice so thick and low that unwilling shivers crept over my skin like poison.

"Tristan..." I stuttered, my steps receding. The look of pure disdain on his face made fear pour through my body and out of nowhere, Lily's words replayed in my head.

'He'll hurt you,"

His hands folded into a fist as his mouth twisted into a sneer. "You silly little bitch."

My lips parted to let in air and they trembled as I continued to move backward. A rush of fear courses over my body. I had never been so desperate to get away from him.

When he lunged at me, I screeched and bolted.

He chased me.