CHAPTER 65
One of the women stepped forward, her eyes glinting with a predatory gleam.
"Little missy, you can’t blame us for what’s about to happen. You’re the foolish one who provoked the wrong person."
Arianna sneered, her defiance clear. "Stop talking rubbish!"
Another woman, amused by Arianna's fiery response, chuckled darkly.
"Oh, she’s got quite the temper. Sisters, let’s teach her a lesson. Show her what it means to respect her elders."
Without further warning, the three women lunged at her, their intentions unmistakable.
Arianna's instincts kicked in, and she agilely dodged their initial assault. She moved with a fluid grace, her body a blur of motion as she evaded their grasps.
With a fierce determination, she threw unrestrained punches, her fists connecting with surprising strength.
The room became a whirlwind of chaos as Arianna fought them off, her movements precise and powerful.
She was outnumbered but not outmatched, each strike fueled by her resolve to defend herself. The women, initially dismissive of her capabilities, quickly realized they had underestimated their opponent.
Initially, the women underestimated Arianna, assuming she was weak and defenseless.
Their confidence quickly waned as they realized they were the ones suffering under her blows. Despite their attempts to strike her, Arianna deftly avoided serious injury and managed to land several solid hits on them.
Frustration and anger flashed across their faces as they regrouped. The leader snarled,
"Enough playing around! Let's get serious."
Although none of the women were trained in martial arts, they possessed raw strength and the advantage of numbers. They used dirty tactics, pulling at Arianna's hair and kicking at her legs to throw her off balance. Their relentless onslaught began to take its toll.
Arianna's movements became slower, her breaths more labored. The room felt stifling as her energy waned. Sweat dripped down her face, and she could feel her limbs growing heavy. Despite her determination, the odds were stacked against her.
She fought valiantly, but the women’s combined force and persistence started to overpower her. They managed to land a few painful blows, and Arianna stumbled, her strength nearly spent. She knew she couldn't hold out much longer.
The women's triumphant laughter filled the room as they seized the opportunity to overpower Arianna. Two of them pinned her hands, pressing her against the unforgiving wall, while the leader approached with a cruel smirk.
Mocking Arianna's weakened state, she taunted,
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? You were quite the fighter a moment ago. Out of steam already?"
Arianna's response was a cold smile, her eyes gleaming with defiance. In a swift and unexpected move, she lunged forward, sinking her teeth into the woman's finger with ferocity.
The room erupted into chaos as the woman recoiled in pain, cursing loudly. Arianna seized the opportunity to break free from her captors, her resolve renewed by the taste of victory, however fleeting.
"Ahh—!" The woman recoiled in pain, cradling her injured finger. The flames of rage danced in her eyes as she issued a menacing threat.
"You're digging your own grave!"
Meanwhile, the woman on Arianna's left, nursing bruises from their earlier scuffle, seethed with resentment.
"Boss, this girl's got more fight in her than we bargained for. She won't back down until it's too late!"
The leader's lips curled into a cruel smile as she reached into her hair, retrieving a small hairpin concealed within its depths.
With a flick of her wrist, she revealed the sharp edge of the pin, holding it menacingly towards Arianna.
"Alright," she spat, her voice dripping with malice.
"Let's show her what happens when you cross us."
"Ladies, keep her restrained!" the boss commanded, her voice dripping with malice.
"Yes, boss!" the other women chorused in unison.
With an eerie laugh, the boss raised her hand, the hairpin glinting ominously in the dim light of the room. With cruel intent, she aimed the sharp edge towards Arianna's beautiful face.
********
Meanwhile, Ronald frowned as he listened to the sudden click of the phone line. Arianna's urgent plea weighed heavily on his mind. Should he interrupt Xander's meeting to inform him of the situation?
The consequences of such an action were daunting. If Xander proved unwilling to assist Arianna, Ronald would undoubtedly face his wrath. Yet, Arianna's safety was at stake, and he couldn't afford to delay.
Xander paced back and forth in the conference room, his mind completely preoccupied with Arianna.
The words of the meeting attendees seemed to drift past him, barely registering in his consciousness as he grappled with the overwhelming thoughts of her.
Confusion gnawed at him as he struggled to understand why she and her well-being mattered to him. After all, he harbored nothing but disdain for her.
Or did he?
"Mr. King, what are your thoughts on this proposal?" The question pierced through the fog of Xander's thoughts, drawing his attention back to the present moment.
Startled, Xander blinked, momentarily disoriented as he refocused on the middle-aged man addressing him.
"Apologies, could you please repeat the question?" he responded, his tone more composed now.
The middle-aged man cleared his throat and repeated his inquiry, this time with a touch of impatience in his voice.
"I asked for your opinion on the proposal we've just discussed."
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Xander straightened his posture, his professional demeanor slipping seamlessly back into place.
"Ah, my apologies. Regarding the proposal, I believe....."
A gentle rap on the door interrupted his train of thought, prompting Xander to halt mid-sentence. Turning his attention towards the source of the disturbance, he acknowledged Ronald's presence with a subtle nod.
While he maintained a façade of composure, inwardly, Xander's pulse quickened with a hint of apprehension.
"Can I come in Sir?" Ronald's voice quivered slightly, betraying his own apprehension.
Xander's gaze briefly flickered to the documents before meeting Ronald's eyes. With a subtle nod, he silently granted permission for Ronald to enter.
As Ronald approached, his hands trembling slightly, he slid the urgent document towards Xander, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Mr. King, there's something urgent that requires your immediate attention."
