Chapter 5

I swallowed the self-loathing, pushing it deep down. This was it. No more tears. No more begging silently for his affection. If he wanted a performance, he was going to get one. But this time, it would be my show.

I grabbed a shot glass from the tray Christian presented, then another, and another. "Gentlemen," I announced, my voice clear and strong despite the tremor in my hands. "Let's not waste time with individual toasts. Bottoms up!" I tossed back the first shot, the burning liquid searing a path down my throat. Then the second. Then the third.

My reputation as a "fixer" wasn't just about my connections or my wit. It was about my ability to read a room, to charm, to disarm. And sometimes, it was about my ability to out-drink men twice my size, all while maintaining a facade of elegant control. These powerful men, these titans of industry, often underestimated women. They saw a pretty face, a compliant smile, and assumed weakness. They never expected a woman to meet their gaze, shot for shot, and demand their respect. They loved a woman with "spunk," a challenge, a wild card they thought they could tame. It was a dangerous dance I knew all too well.

"Whoa, Annie!" Demonte chuckled, impressed. "Now that's what I call dedication!"

The lead investor, a notoriously difficult man named Mr. Harrington, raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in his jaded eyes. "Well, well. It seems Christian has himself a firecracker. Alright, Byers. One more round. If you can keep up, the deal is yours."

My eyes met his, a silent challenge passing between us. "Deal," I said, my voice firm.

Shot after shot, the world began to blur. The heat bloomed in my chest, dulling the sharper pains of betrayal. I felt a strange detachment, watching myself from afar, a puppet with a new master. My head swam, my vision wobbling, but I kept going. I had to. For my parents. For the last vestige of my pride.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I stumbled, my hand reaching out to steady myself against the table. Christian was there instantly, his arm around my waist, his face a mask of concern. "Annie, darling, are you alright? You've had enough. Let me take you home."

His touch, once craved, now felt like a violation. I leaned against him, feigning helplessness, my head lolling slightly. "One more question, Christian," I slurred, my voice thick with alcohol. "If I can't... hold my liquor... would you send Kimberli to finish the job?" My eyes, though blurry, fixed on him, a silent challenge.

He stiffened, his jaw tightening. He looked down at me, a strange mix of emotions in his eyes-contempt, but also a flicker of something almost... protective? "Kimberli?" he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "That little amateur? She couldn't handle these old wolves. No, Annie. You're irreplaceable tonight. No one could ever replace you."

A bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped my lips. Irreplaceable. Used, discarded, but irreplaceable. The irony was a cruel twist of the knife. I looked up at him, my eyes filled with a pain he couldn't possibly comprehend, a pain I wouldn't let him see.

He caught my gaze, and for a fleeting moment, a shadow passed over his face, as if he almost understood. But then it was gone, replaced by his usual charming smile.

I pushed myself upright, a surprising surge of strength coursing through me. "Fine," I slurred, grabbing the last full bottle of vodka. "Let's finish this." I chugged it down, the burning liquid igniting a fire in my throat, in my stomach, in my soul.

Mr. Harrington slammed his hand on the table, a booming laugh echoing through the room. "The deal is done! Christian, you're a lucky man! To Annie, the best damn fixer in L.A.!"

A hollow victory. I managed a weak smile, my head spinning. "Thank you, gentlemen," I mumbled. "Always a pleasure."

"And the land, Annie?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, a sudden sobriety piercing through the alcohol haze. "The project... my parents' cemetery. Is it safe?"

Mr. Harrington looked confused. "Cemetery? What cemetery, dear? We're talking about the new resort development in Malibu. Prime beachfront property."

My blood ran cold. Malibu. Not my family's land. He had lied. Again. The bottle slipped from my trembling fingers, crashing to the polished floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.

Panic, cold and sharp, cut through the alcohol. I looked around, my gaze desperate. Christian. Kimberli. They were gone. The table was empty, save for the drunken investors. They had disappeared. Abandoned me.

"Excuse me," I mumbled, pushing back from the table, my legs like jelly. I stumbled towards the restroom, the world blurring around me. I needed air. I needed to escape.

As I reached the opulent bathroom, I heard voices from one of the private stalls. Kimberli's sweet, simpering voice, then Christian's low chuckle.

"Christian, darling, you should have let me handle them," Kimberli whined. "I could have closed the deal. Why did you force Annie to drink so much? She looks dreadful."

"Please, Kimberli," Christian scoffed. "You? You're still a novice. The old men like Annie's 'veteran' charm. Besides, it's good for her. Keeps her in line. And now that the deal is done, she's no longer needed."

"So, you're really going to ditch her at the wedding?" Kimberli asked, a greedy anticipation in her voice.

"Of course," Christian purred. "I told you, she was just a means to an end. Now it's our time, my love. Our future. No more Annie."

My gut twisted, a wave of pure revulsion washing over me. No more Annie. He said it with such casual cruelty. He was worse than I thought. A monster cloaked in charm.

I couldn't hear any more. I stumbled out of the restroom, the opulent surroundings mocking my shattered dignity. The rain had started, a cold, relentless drizzle that matched the storm raging inside me. I pushed through the heavy doors of the club, the cool night air a welcome slap to my face. I walked, aimlessly, the rain soaking my thin dress, mingling with the tears that finally escaped.

All those years. All that love. All that pain. Was it all just a charade? A performance for his twisted ambition? I had given him everything, and he had repaid me with lies, manipulation, and the cold, hard promise of public humiliation.

My head throbbed, my body ached, and my heart felt like a gaping, bleeding wound. The alcohol, the exhaustion, the devastating betrayal – it was all too much. I swayed, my vision blurring, the world spinning into a dizzying vortex. My legs gave out. I crumpled to the wet pavement, the cold rain washing over me, the darkness claiming me. I just wanted it to end.

The city lights blurred, streaking into desperate lines around my fading consciousness. No one saw me. No one cared. Just another broken woman on a rainy L.A. night.

Then, a sudden warmth. A gentle lift. Strong arms enveloped me, holding me close. A soft cloth brushed against my face, wiping away the rain and tears. My eyelids fluttered open, barely. I saw a dark silhouette, a man, his face obscured by the dim light and the overwhelming fog in my brain. He looked... familiar.

He whispered something, but the words were lost in the roar of blood in my ears. He took off his expensive jacket, a dark, plush material, and carefully draped it over my shivering body. His eyes, pools of dark intensity, stared down at me, a strange possessiveness in their depths.

"Take her to the hospital," I heard him say, his voice a low, commanding tone. "And make sure no one knows who brought her."

"Sir, are you sure?" a new voice, a driver's, asked, clearly surprised. "It's just... you never..."

The man ignored him, his gaze still fixed on me. And then, the darkness swallowed me whole.