Alyssa’s eyes narrowed.
She looked at Lisa’s neck.
There was a faint mark there.
Red.
And her collar was rumpled, like someone had grabbed it.
She reached out and gently turned Lisa’s face to the side.
More marks.
On her cheek.
On her jaw.
She was slapped.
Alyssa’s blood ran cold.
She turned around.
Her so-called colleagues were whispering.
Their eyes darted between her and Lisa.
Some of them didn’t even bother to hide their smirks.
Colleagues.
She almost laughed at the word.
These people hated her.
Every single one of them.
They had made that clear from the day she joined the company.
They didn’t care to hide their disdain.
And because of her, Lisa got the same treatment.
Even some directors treated Lisa like she was invisible.
Or worse.
Alyssa remembered the rumors.
The ones that spread like wildfire through the building.
That she had charmed a director.
That she had slept her way into the industry.
That her beauty was her only talent.
She had ignored it all.
She had focused on her work.
She had kept her head down.
But then Lisa had almost been assaulted because of those rumors.
Alyssa had lost it that day.
She had stormed into that director’s office and almost beaten the hell out of him.
Security had to pull her away.
She didn’t play when it came to the people she loved.
You could throw shade at her.
You could torture her.
She could endure it.
But the moment you touched someone she cared about?
All bets were off.
She turned back to Lisa.
Lisa smiled.
It was weak.
Forced.
“I fell down the stairs. Hit my face on the floor.”
Alyssa’s jaw tightened.
Liar.
She hated when Lisa lied to her.
Hated it more than anything.
Especially when Lisa did it to protect the people who had wronged her.
Alyssa looked at her neck.
“Then can you explain the mark on your neck, did the stairs grab your neck too?”
Lisa’s hand shot up to cover it.
Her fingers pressed against the reddened skin.
“It’s nothing, Alyssa. Stop overreacting. I’m fine.”
Alyssa opened her mouth to argue.
But Lisa was already turning away, grabbing a folder from her desk.
“I got some gigs for you. Get ready. We’ll be leaving soon for your shoot.”
Her voice was bright.
Cheerful.
Like nothing had happened.
Like she wasn’t bruised and battered.
Like she wasn’t hiding something.
Alyssa stood there, her hands clenched at her sides.
She’s lying to me again.
She watched Lisa as she shuffled through the documents on her desk.
The bruise on her cheek had darkened since Alyssa first saw it.
She’s pretending everything is fine.
Alyssa couldn’t take it anymore.
She crossed the room in three quick strides.
Before Lisa could react, she grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the door.
“Alyssa, what are you doing?” Lisa’s voice was a sharp whisper.
Alyssa didn’t answer.
She dragged Lisa out of the office.
The whispers started immediately.
Eyes followed them.
Smirks spread across faces.
Alyssa ignored them all.
“Alyssa, calm down. You’re hurting me.”
Lisa’s voice was soft.
Pleading.
Alyssa’s grip tightened.
She didn’t let go.
She pulled Lisa toward the elevator and stabbed the button with her free hand.
The doors slid open.
She shoved Lisa inside and followed her in.
Finally.
Silence.
Alyssa let go of Lisa’s wrist.
She pressed the button for the top floor.
Then she turned to face her manager.
“You know my grip hurts.”
Lisa rubbed her wrist, avoiding eye contact.
“But you let them beat you up anyway.”
Alyssa’s voice cracked.
“Is it because of me again? I know it is. It’s always because of me.”
She pressed her palm against her forehead, trying to steady herself.
“Why would you let them do this to you? Why?”
Lisa reached out.
“Alyssa, calm down—”
“Calm down?” Alyssa’s eyes snapped to hers.
“When did they do this to you?”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened.
Alyssa grabbed Lisa’s wrist again and pulled her out into the hallway.
“Where are we going?” Lisa asked, stumbling to keep up.
“They’re going to explain why they did this to you.”
Lisa’s heart sank.
She knew that tone.
She knew that look in Alyssa’s eyes.
There was no stopping her now.
Alyssa had a temper.
A quiet one.
The kind that simmered beneath the surface until it boiled over.
And when it boiled over, there was no putting the lid back on.
Alyssa reached the director’s office.
She didn’t knock.
She threw the door open and froze.
Lisa peered over her shoulder.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The room was full of people.
And sitting at the head of the table… was a young man.
His suit was dark.
His posture was relaxed.
His eyes were cold and sharp, cutting through the room like a blade.
Alyssa’s heart stopped.
An elderly man at the table cleared his throat.
“Miss Alyssa. I was about to send someone to fetch you later.”
Alyssa didn’t hear him.
Her gaze was locked on the young man.
What is he doing here?