As Williams walked closer to Linda, his eyes lingered on her small, perfect shape.
"Stupid girl," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Alex, still unaware of Linda's situation, was happily dancing with her. When he spun her around, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her and pulled her forward. She stumbled, crashing into a hard chest.
Linda's breath hitched. His scent surrounded her, sharp and intoxicating, threatening to erase all her senses. Slowly, she lifted her head, and her eyes met a pair of strikingly beautiful ones.
"What the...." she hissed under her breath. Her body went stiff as she swallowed hard, remembering the day she slapped him.
Alex froze when he saw who had taken her. He knew exactly who Williams was. Without a word, he stepped back, watching from afar with a mischievous smile.
"You dared to slap me?" Williams whispered against Linda's ear. His warm breath brushed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
"It was just a small slap," she forced out, gathering her courage. "Besides, you drenched me with dirty water and didn't even apologize." She added a sweet smile for good measure.
Williams felt anger coil inside him. He spun her sharply and caught her again, so close that her heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She steadied herself, letting a small giggle escape.
"Do you enjoy drawing attention?" she asked lightly.
"It's only a little twist. Any girl of your age can handle it," he replied. "Besides, if you fall and break a bone, I can afford the treatment."
"Really?" Linda shot back. "I can see you're not afraid of expensive… like the way you pulled money on me the first day we met. Obviously, you don't know how that money was earned. All you know is how to spend it without thinking. I'm sure your father doesn't throw money around like that."
Williams yanked her closer, so close that there was no space between them. He felt his body react to her nearness, and it only irritated him more. Since when did he feel attraction towards stubborn girls like her.
"You're messing with the wrong guy," he murmured, tightening his grip. Pain shot through Linda's side, but she didn't flinch.
To everyone else watching, they looked like the perfect lovers dancing. The girl Williams had arrived with, along with several others, stared at Linda with jealousy.
"Carry on, girl," Ha Rin whispered from afar, smirking proudly at her friend.
Linda endured the pain and forced a quiet breath.
"Do you just enjoy bullying people because you have money to waste?" she asked.
"I can see you've got a sharp mouth," Williams replied, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's see how long you keep it."
As they continued to bicker during the dance, the girl Williams had brought to the party finally gathered the courage to walk toward them.
She gently tapped his shoulder.
Williams turned, and the moment he saw who touched him, irritation crawled up his spine.
"What?" he asked flatly.
"Can we dance?" she asked with a faint, hopeful smile.
He didn't answer, but Linda didn't wait.
She escaped with that little opportunity.
She slipped out of his hold and walked away quickly, her chest still rising and falling from the tension. She found a small corner near the far wall, sat down, and tried to steady herself as she waited for Ha Rin and Alex to join her.
Before she could breathe properly, a man in a black coat walked toward her.
"Excuse me, Miss. Can I have a word with you?"
Linda glanced up and immediately felt something was off. His smile was forced. His eyes were sharp. Something about him screamed danger.
"You can say whatever you want to say right here," she replied, rolling her eyes.
The man didn't appreciate her attitude. He leaned closer.
"Let's walk over there," he said, pointing to a dim corridor near the back.
Linda gave him a long, irritated look.
"I'm not that kind of woman," she said clearly, stressing every word as if she was slapping him with each syllable.
His expression hardened.
"I insist," he hissed, and this time, he lifted his jacket slightly.
Linda's breath caught.
A gun.
Her heartbeat slammed so loud she almost didn't hear anything else. She lowered her gaze slowly, her throat tightening as fear spread through her chest.
Two more men appeared behind him, blocking her escape.
Linda swallowed hard and stood up quietly.
Without drawing attention, she walked toward the direction he pointed to. The men flanked her, subtle but firm, guiding her through the hallway.
They stopped in front of a private room.
One of the men knocked twice.
The door opened.
Linda was pushed inside.
As she was pushed inside, the first thing she saw was Williams, sitting alone in front of multiple screens, watching the party through security cameras.
His eyes lifted.
They met hers.
"What is the meaning of this?" Linda asked, her voice sharp as her gaze moved around the room.
Williams didn't respond. He sat there calmly, eyes on his phone, scrolling as if her presence was irrelevant.
Annoyed, Linda turned and walked straight for the door.
She reached for the handle and pulled.
It didn't opened.
She tried again, slower this time, then harder. Only then did she realize that the room was locked from the outside.
A chill ran down her spine.
Behind her, a chair shifted, then he stood up.
She didn't turn. Her palm flattened against the door, her breathing uneven as his footsteps approached, unhurried and deliberate.
He stopped close enough for her to feel him behind her.
The room, once spacious, felt suddenly confined.
Linda leaned back against the door, her jaw tightening, refusing to show the fear tightening in her chest.
"Don't come any closer," Linda warned, her back pressed firmly against the door. "If you touch me, I'll scream."
"Scream?" Williams echoed, a low chuckle slipping from his lips.
He stopped a short distance away, hands in his pockets, his expression calm.
"My father owns this place," he said casually. "I control the security. And this room?" He glanced around. "It's soundproof. Even if I fired a gun in here, no one would hear a thing."
A slow smirk curved his lips as he looked back at her.
Linda's throat tightened, but she forced herself to meet his eyes. "You're bluffing," she said, steadying her voice despite the fear clawing at her chest.
Williams' smile didn't fade.