Let Me Go, Mr.Lancaster!

"No need for that," said Hope with aplomb. "Knowing him, we both know calling for more people won't work anyway.

Sydney couldn't agree more. Tom Blackford and his gang had ties to prominent figures in Oakwood, including nobles. Nobody dared challenge their authority because they were obscenely wealthy and powerful.

"Then what should I do?" Her friend uttered, worried.

"There's no other way but to meet him in full flesh."

"Are you sure about this? I mean can you really? You do know life has many options, right?"

"Cut the crap, Sydney. I need to do this and clear the air once and for all."

Hope paced through the way and slammed the door open. She was too adamant to carry on with the deed because of the incident that happened last week. The stigma and trauma of his power tripping still lingered in her mind. She could vividly remember how he viciously attacked her. Tom dragged and pressed her against the couch and tried to peel her dress off of her body. Luckily, her reflexes were fast, she quickly grabbed a bottle of wine and whacked his head with an intense hit. Of course, he was incensed but the hell she cared. She was harassed mercilessly!

After that, everyone fell silent as she drew their attention to her. Without wasting another minute, Hope rashly rummaged through the bar cart, grabbed out one pricey bottle, and slammed it directly against the douchebag's head. Yes, for the second time. Her chest heaved up and down while she looked down on him. Tom was knocked out and unconscious on the tiled floor. Tom Blackford's hooligans went uproar, throwing daggers at them.

Then someone from his gang screeched. "What are you doing? Call an ambulance! We need to take him to the hospital, fuckers!"

"What?! Are you nuts?" Sydney yanked her arms, pulling her into a secluded corner. "Why did you do that?!"

"I had no other choice. He deserved it, anyway."

While others were busy comforting their stupid boss, Sydney took that chance and willfully dragged her disoriented friend out. They left the bar and took a cab for a ride home. The following days were blurry, which Hope found quite unusual. It was as if nothing happened because none of Tom Blackford's minions went after her. Call her paranoid, but she felt like the deities were telling her to stay calm before the storm hit.

She shooed the negative thoughts rounding up in her head and relaxed for the rest of the day. But not until she received a call from her workplace. Mr. Cage, her boss, learned about what happened to result in her getting fired.

What's worse, two days later, she received a call of dismissal from the school. This was the thing she scared the most. The school administrator even asked her sympathetically if she offended someone, some powerful ones.

The world crumbled on her feet; she felt helpless. She lost her job, was kicked out of school, and had nowhere to go. At that point, Hope buzzed in her thoughts for a considerable amount of time, leaving her feeling quite depleted overall. As she knocked some sense into her head, an idea popped out. This was the only way to solve this. She knew they would not let her go so easily and this was the consequence she got.

She rushed to her workplace to seek help, asking for Tom's digits. It didn't take long before she finally phoned the latter. After three rings, she heard him speak from the other line.

"Who's this?"

"Hello, Mr. Blackford. This is Hope Lancaster and I want to have a word with you." She pleaded in a soft, almost inaudible voice.

Tom scowled sarcastically while biting into his cigar and fiddling with a lighter in his hand. The prey was in his hands again. Effortless. Hope could imagine his lips pulled taut into a nasty grin.

"What the fuck did you say? I can't hear you, brush." More sarcasm.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble," she lamented, gripping the phone tightly. "I want to apologize to you in person. Are you free tonight?"

Tom didn't respond. Nothing but a long stretch of dead air though she knew he was still there. Frustration coiled into her gut; she squeezed her eyes shut. Empty and numb. That's what she felt as she stared at the blinking lights hung around the ceiling of Sybarite. She wanted to cry her heart out but even her tears won't fall. She couldn't help but wallow in her misery. She held tighter to the gadget and was about to drop the call when she heard him snicker.

"Sybarite, room 208. I want you there at 8 o'clock sharp next Tuesday night. No tagging along of dumb friends. Are we clear on that?"

"Noted. I'll be there on my own."

"You should be. Bye, harlot!"

His voice echoed in at the back of her head as if the bastard was actually there. Eventually, she busied herself thinking of what could've been. Tom chose that same place for a meet up which only proved how bad his intentions were.

Anxiety started to creep into her system. She was not a hypocrite; she was worried sick down to the roots of her hair. However, it was nothing compared to being dismissed from the school. He must have checked her background, so he immediately struck her weak points. Minutes passed before Sydney followed her there. In a snap, she told her everything.

"How about we try another tactic? I know there are a lot of ways to fix this issue."

She had already thought about what Sydney's out-of-this-world ideas were, that's why she had to purposely decline her suggestions.

"I think you should head first to Mr. Cage and explain the situation to him. Then I'll call you later for the updates."

"Shut up! I'm coming with you." Sydney insisted but she refused.

"No, you can't. He made it clear. I have to be with anyone but myself."

More importantly, she wouldn't want her best friend to be involved in her stupidity. She had to protect Sydney and their friendship at all costs. That's what all she got after all. No matter how hard Sydney persuaded her, there was nothing she could do.

"Fine. Go all you want but promise me one thing. You have to come back to me in one piece." She gently held her hand and folded it in hers. "You have to call me; update me from time to time. If it doesn't work, I will go to the police. I don't believe that the police really can't control him!"

"Yeah, of course. I promise."

Sydney left after an hour. Came Tuesday night and Hope was at the height of disturbance. She bravely headed on to the site and took a deep breath before buzzing the doorbell. But then she noticed the slight opening in the door. What? Were they testing her? This bunch of assholes was getting on her nerves.

"Come in." Someone from back there prompted.

With trembling hands, she pushed the door open and was greeted by a dozen people inside. More likely half of his men were there; the filthy rich squad of the second generation who were also present last time. Once completely inside, they taunted her, booed, and cat-called like a shit.

"Look who's here! The girl with a brave heart who smashed you in the head and the very reason why we rushed you into the hospital!"

It was then she saw Tom Blackford sitting in the dark corner. He was like a king ready to punish the slave. Their eyes met but it was too dark to read his expression.

She had to deal with her actions; to own her mistake. She was there to the point of no return.

Hope stood at the doorway, unmoving. She just stared at the devil. The room was filled with a vile stench coming from the smoke and something she couldn't name. Tom urged her to come forward, which she did apathetically.

"I want to ask for your forgiveness. I'm sorry for hurting you and causing your gang trouble." She sincerely stated.

"I don't need your apology," he bit out. "Take off your clothes and move here on your knees. ."