Billionaire Lawyer's Secretary - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Elara lowered her head. "No, I came here on my own. He doesn't know about this."
Adrian sneered. "Oh, I didn't know you loved your boyfriend that much. You're even willing to throw yourself at someone else for love, huh?"
Hearing this, Elara looked up at him. 'Who said I was going to sacrifice myself?' she thought.
Adrian said, "You just said you'd do anything for your boyfriend. So tell me, Ms. Langton. How far would you really go for him?"
Someone nearby egged her on, jeering, "Why don't you spend the night with Adrian? Let's see if you can... satisfy him."
Victor shot the man a sharp look, shutting him up immediately.
Right then, Elara recalled Alex saying, "Places like this are vipers' nests, full of rich playboys looking for trouble. If you get involved, it's nothing but headaches. Stay away next time." Suddenly, a wave of regret washed over her.
Adrian seemed to enjoy the teasing because Elara's face turned crimson, her eyes shining with barely concealed distress. But she refused to back down, and he found her defiance oddly entertaining.
Elara took a deep breath, trying to swallow her frustration. She grabbed a clean glass and filled it to the brim with the same liquor Adrian had been drinking.
"Here's to you, Adrian," she said, raising her glass to gulp it down.
Adrian's eyes darkened. Before he could say anything, Victor pressed down on her glass. "Are you crazy? This liquor's strong enough to knock out a horse. Finish it and you'll be out cold."
Elara had already finished most of the drink, her face turning an even deeper shade of red. Her eyes, still full of charm, sparkled with unintentional allure. In a soft, uncertain voice, she said, "It's fine. I can take a little more."
She could hold her liquor, but she flushed easily. Right now, she didn't mind pretending to be a little drunk. It made her seem more genuine.
Victor frowned and said, "That's enough. I'll have Ruby come pick you up."
Elara remained silent, her gaze fixed on the half-empty glass on the coffee table. To her disappointment, Adrian not only rejected her but also stormed off in a fit of anger.
"Drinking yourself into a stupor in a place like this? What a foolish woman," Adrian scoffed as he grabbed his suit jacket from the couch and strode out without saying goodbye.
"Hey, Adrian, you're leaving already?" Victor called after him.
Elara stifled a yawn. Seeing Adrian leave, she was in no mood to stay. She gave Victor a quick nod and slipped out of the private room.
Victor shouted after her, "Wait! Ruby's on her way."
Elara nodded. "I'll wait for her in the car."
"Alright, take care," Victor said.
Elara stepped out of the restroom and splashed cold water on her burning cheeks. Her mind was overwhelmed with too many worries, and she was trying to figure out how to handle Adrian.
Suddenly, a rough hand yanked her backward, pulling her into the men's restroom. 'Oh, God. This is bad. I've just run into a creep,' she thought, panic rising in her chest.
She jabbed her elbow hard into the man behind her. He grunted in pain but stubbornly refused to let go.
Looking over her shoulder, Elara saw it was Neil. "You—"
"Sweetheart, Adrian might not want you, but I sure do. Just be a good girl for me tonight, and tomorrow, I'll have my uncle find a fall guy. How does that sound?" Neil said, leering at her.
Hearing this, Elara asked in a shaky voice, "You guys really set Dylan up?"
"Who cares if he's framed? My uncle's got the power to get anyone locked up. Getting your boyfriend's dad out? Easy as pie," Neil said, dragging her deeper into the restroom.
Elara felt her skin crawl with disgust. "Let go of me!" she screamed, her voice cracking with desperation.
Neil sneered. "Let go? Aren't you here to clean up your boyfriend's mess? I'm offering you an easy way out. Just lie down and get it over with. You were bold enough with Adrian earlier, but now you're acting all innocent?"
"With the likes of you? Don't be ridiculous!" Elara spat, her voice dripping with contempt even as terror coiled in her chest.
Being dragged toward the stall, Elara reached out, gripping the door desperately and refusing to be pulled inside.
"Let go!" Neil snarled. "Or I'll take you right here with the door wide open."
"Get off me, you bastard!" Elara shouted, kicking and thrashing.
Neil just grinned, unfazed. "Well, you've got a sharp tongue for someone who looks so delicate. I like that."
"Like hell you do!" Elara yelled.
"Keep struggling all you want," Neil sneered, yanking her inside. "You won't be able to once I'm done with you." The door slammed shut behind them.
Elara's instincts screamed danger as her mind raced. 'How can I bluff him into backing off?' she thought.
Seeing Neil start to take off his white suit jacket, Elara cried out hurriedly, "Adrian! Help me!"
Hearing this, Neil froze for a second and then scoffed, "Adrian? Didn't he already leave?"
Elara masked her panic and shot back defiantly, "He's waiting for me! Why would he leave?"
"Well, if he really wanted you, he'd have dragged you upstairs by now," Neil sneered.
Elara steadied her breath, pushing past the panic. "Adrian's a clean freak. He'd never do it in a place like this."
"Cut the crap," Neil sneered, stepping closer. He grabbed Elara by the wrist and yanked her toward him, leaning in to force a kiss.
"Don't you dare! I'm Adrian's woman. If you touch me today, he'll make you pay for it!" Elara shouted, struggling.
"Really? What makes you think I'd buy that?" Neil asked.
"I'll call him," Elara said desperately, pressing her back against the wall with no way out. "I'll have him tell you himself."
Truth be told, she barely knew Adrian, but she had no choice. She didn't even have Victor's WhatsApp.
Neil looked skeptical but not entirely convinced, pausing for a moment.
Noticing his hesitation, Elara seized the opportunity to pull free. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
That afternoon, Elara searched through Susan's files and found Adrian's number. She messaged him over and over, but he never replied. When she tried calling, he wouldn't pick up.
Now, with a calm face, Elara dialed Adrian's number right in front of Neil.
With each ring, Elara's heart sank deeper. 'Pick up, man!' she pleaded inwardly. But there was no answer.
Neil shook his head dismissively and tossed her phone away.
"Sweetheart, seems like Adrian doesn't give a damn about you," Neil sneered, closing in on her again. "So why not be a good girl and give in?"
"Help! Victor! Help me!" Elara screamed desperately.
"Well, scream all you want," Neil said. "Let's see who actually comes to save you today."
Neil yanked off her knit cardigan with brutal force, tearing it in half. Elara gasped, slamming her fists on the stall door.
Hearing footsteps, she shrieked desperately, "Victor! Is anyone out there? Get the owner Victor here! Help!"
However, no one answered her.
"Still screaming?" Neil asked.
With grim determination, Elara forced a bitter chuckle. "You want me, huh? Lay a finger on me, and I swear I'll kill you."
Neil laughed and said, "Fine. But before that, I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget."
Just then, the door burst open with a violent kick.
Tears streamed down Elara's face. Seeing Adrian, who kicked open the door, she sank her teeth into Neil's hand, broke free, and lunged desperately toward Adrian.
Her shoelaces became untied somehow. Tripping over her own feet, she fell straight into Adrian's arms at the door.
Adrian caught Elara firmly, and she crashed straight into his solid chest.
Elara winced as pain shot through her twisted ankle. Unable to stand properly, she could only lean weakly against him.
Adrian took in her disheveled state with a mocking sneer. "So when begging me didn't work, you went to Neil instead?"
Elara shook her head, tears streaming down her face. She raised a trembling arm and pointed at Neil inside, sobbing. "No, I didn't! He forced himself on me!"
Adrian's expression turned cold as he looked at Neil. "You're causing trouble on Victor's turf. Didn't I tell you? She's under Victor's protection."
Neil clutched the bite mark and scoffed, "Victor cycles through women faster than I trade cars. What's the fuss if she's one of his? He's done with them in no time."
"For now, she's still with Victor," Adrian said coolly, matching Neil's tone.
"Adrian, stay out of this. We both know you're not into women anyway. Let me handle things with Victor," Neil said.
"No way. I'm taking her with me," Adrian said firmly.