Marcus froze, and for a moment, he wondered if he had heard Gerard correctly. "What?" He blurted. "Lick your car?” Gerard rolled his eyes. “You heard me. Or are you so dumb that you can’t understand simple English?” Marcus looked toward the Bentley, then back at Gerard. “There's no way,” he shook his head. “I…I can't do that." “It’s not a matter of if you can or not,” Gerard snapped. “You either do it or I’ll have you dragged out in handcuffs with one phone call.” Marcus checked his watch and his stomach tightened. He had already run out of time. His eyes darted around as though searching for someone in the crowd who could save him. Gerard tilted his head as he noticed this, and then a knowing smile appeared on his lips. “No one is going to save you.” “Or…” he paused and turned to the onlookers. “Would anyone like to take his side?” “Of course not!” Someone responded immediately. “We are all on your side, sir! Teach that rat a lesson!” “Yeah!” The others agreed in unison. G

There Marcus was, on all fours. The security guards exchanged amused glances and Marcus took a breath before going again. “Woof.” This time the guards burst out laughing. “Louder,” Jeremy ordered, his smirk getting wider. Marcus’s face burned bright red. “Woof! Woof!” Jeremy pulled out his phone and snapped a picture, grinning the entire time. When the five minutes were finally up, he didn’t utter another word to Marcus. He simply walked past him toward the entrance, then paused and glanced back at the guards. “Let him in. He’s my brother-in-law.” The two guards exchanged startled looks. “So he wasn’t lying,” the second guard muttered as Jeremy disappeared inside. “He’s actually related to the Johnsons?” “Doesn’t matter,” the first guard shrugged. “Didn’t you see how Mr. Johnson talked to him? He clearly doesn’t rate the guy. We’re fine.” They turned back to Marcus, their expressions doing nothing to hide their disdain. “You can go in.” Marcus simply got up, dusted his ha

Belinda shoved Marcus hard enough to make him stagger, and in the next second, her palm connected with his cheek. “You revolting bastard!” she spat. “How dare you try to ruin my daughter’s most important day? Didn’t I tell you to stay with the servers?” Marcus rubbed his cheek in confusion. “Mother, I only wanted to be here for my wife.” “Would you shut your trap!” Belinda fired back. “Who asked for your irritating presence? Do you think my daughter needs you embarrassing her in front of all these important people?” Jeremy suddenly approached the stage, scratching the back of his head. “Mom, I have to tell you something,” he started. Belinda turned toward him. “It’s my fault he got inside,” he admitted, feigning innocence. “I saw him outside with the guards. They were trying to throw him out, but I stupidly let him manipulate me into telling them to let him in.” “Oh, Jeremy, don’t blame yourself.” Belinda’s face and voice softened immediately. “You were only trying to be kind an

A few moments later, the same security guards Marcus had encountered outside came running into the hall. They hurried toward Gerard and stopped in front of him, bowing slightly. “Sir, is there a problem?” Gerard pointed at Marcus. “I want you to deal with this loser right here. Beat him till I tell you to stop. If I haven’t ordered you to stop, don’t stop.” Marcus’s gaze alternated between the guards and Gerard, then he raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, I think this is—” His words hung in his throat as one of the guards grabbed him and dragged him down from the stage. His body slammed against the floor, and the beating began. A punch landed repeatedly in his gut, and then to his shoulders and chest. Marcus groaned and curled up instinctively as the punches were soon followed by kicks to his ribs, groin and legs. “Stop!” He cried out, raising both arms to shield his face. “Please, just—” Another kick landed to his side, cutting him off and knocking the breath out of him. The

The woman stared at Marcus as the hot coffee dripped from her clothes onto the floor. “Are you blind?” she snapped, looking down at herself. “Couldn’t you watch where you were going? Look at my clothes now!” Marcus blinked, then quickly looked down at the damage he had caused. She was wearing a white crop top underneath a blue and black varsity jacket, blue jeans, and black boots. The coffee had soaked through the front of her white top, leaving a large brown stain across it. “I’m sorry,” Marcus apologized heartily. “I should have watched where I was going.” “Your apology doesn’t fix anything,” she fired back. “What am I supposed to do now? Walk around like this?” Marcus glanced at the stain again. “I can ask if the hospital has a laundry service,” he offered. “Maybe they can help clean it.” “Oh, just shut up, you pathetic piece of shit.” She glared at him. “Do you really think that fixes anything?” Her eyes moved over his bruised, disheveled appearance and she scoffed. “Looki