"What are you trying to do to me?" Linda stammered, even as she fought to steady her voice.
Williams stepped closer, his gaze unreadable. "What do you think I should do?" he asked quietly, looking down at her.
Her legs felt weak, her body betraying her despite her effort to stand firm. She couldn't tell whether the tightness in her chest came from fear or the sheer pressure of his presence. All she knew was that the air felt thinner with every step he took toward her.
She lifted her hand against his chest, pushing him back. The contact startled him more than he expected.
For a split second, something dangerous flickered in his eyes. He moved closer instead of away, his jaw tightening as if fighting himself.
"Damn you," he hissed, turning his face aside. "You have no right to make me lose control."
Before she could react, he grabbed her and lifted her over his shoulder. Linda screamed, pounding her fists against his back, but he ignored her struggles.
The next moment, he dumped her into a bathtub filled with cold water.
Linda cried out as the shock hit her skin. "You're sick!" she shouted, scrambling to get up.
"You said I drenched you with dirty water," he replied gently. "I'm just washing the filth off." he said with a mischievous smile.
She tried to climb out, but every attempt was met with his hand forcing her back down. Panic clawed at her chest as the water splashed over her face.
Her strength was fading.
Desperation sharpened her thought. When he leaned in again, she struck him hard, where it would hurt the most.
Williams let out a raw shout and staggered back, clutching himself as pain doubled him over. "You....!" he cursed through clenched teeth.
Linda didn't wait.
She scrambled out of the tub and bolted from the bathroom, water dripping from her dress. She reached the door just as her heel slipped off.
"hey...!" he called, his voice tight with pain.
She spun, grabbed the fallen shoe, and hurled it at him with all her strength.
At that exact moment, the door flew open from the outside. Linda didn't hesitate...she kicked the person who stepped in, sending him stumbling back, and ran.
She burst into the party hall soaked and shaking, pushing through the crowd like a woman possessed. She ignored the shocked stares, and the whispers.
Ha Rin and Alex froze when they saw Linda.
Her dress was soaked, her hair clung to her face, and she looked nothing like the calm, composed girl they had come to the party with.
"What happened to her?" Alex asked, shock flashing across his face.
"I… I don't know," Ha Rin whispered, unease tightening her chest. "Linda...wait!"
She rushed forward, but it was too late.
She waved down the first taxi she saw and climbed in.
"Go," she said hoarsely.
The taxi doors slammed shut, and the car sped away, disappearing into the night.
Ha Rin stood there, staring after it, her heart pounding with dread. Something was terribly wrong.
Alex clenched his jaw, his playful expression gone. Whatever had happened, it wasn't something Linda had simply walked away from.
-----
Williams stood frozen at the front of the bathroom, pain still pulsing through him.
Water dripped from the edge of the tub onto the floor in the bathroom.
For a long moment, he did not move.
The door hung slightly open. The room was silent.
Slowly, he straightened, his jaw clenched tight. His reflection stared back at him from the mirror: dark eyes burning with something far more dangerous than anger.
She had escaped.
A sharp, humorless laugh left his throat. "Interesting," he muttered.
One of the men outside shifted nervously. "Sir… should we... ?"
"Get out," Williams said coldly, without turning. His voice was calm, but it carried enough menace to freeze the air. "All of you."
They didn't hesitate.
When the door closed, Williams finally dragged a hand through his hair, replaying the moment again, the defiance in her eyes, the way she refused to break, the unexpected blow that had dropped him to his knees.
No one had done that to him before.
And lived to walk away.
He stepped out of the bathroom, water trailing behind him, and picked up his phone. With a few taps, the security footage filled the screen. He watched her as she ran away from the party. soaked and furious, the way she stormed through the crowd not minding the stare of the guests makes his lips curved slowly, not in amusement, but in intent.
"So that's how you choose to play it," he murmured.
He locked the phone, his eyes darkening.
"you thinks this is over."
He reached for his jacket and shrugged it on, every trace of pain buried beneath composure.
"It's only just begun.
-----
When Linda got home, she went straight to the bathroom.
She filled the tub with warm water, peeled off her wet clothes, and stepped in, letting the heat ease the ache in her body. Closing her eyes, she allowed the events of the party to replay in her mind, every moment she wished she could erase.
A tear slipped down her cheek, disappearing into the water.
Whatever your name is, she thought quietly, her jaw tightening, I know you won't let this go. But neither will I let you bully me as you please.
After what felt like an eternity, she stood, wrapped herself in a towel, and left the bathroom. In her bedroom, she changed into her nightwear and reached for her phone.
There were several missed calls from her friends.
She dialed Ha Rin's number. The worry in her voice came through the moment she answered.
"Linda...what happened to you? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Linda replied softly, exhaustion weighing down her words. "Tell Alex I'm okay. You don't need to worry about me."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"I'll see you on Monday," Linda added, then ended the call before more questions could follow.
She opened the latest news on her phone, scrolling absently through the headlines. Before she realized it, sleep crept in and pulled her under, leaving the night quiet at last.