Chapter 13 Chapter 13
The next day, she went to school as if nothing had happened. Around noon, the boy she had been helping came to her office and asked cautiously, "Ms. Hill, are you angry with me? You didn't answer my calls yesterday."
She didn't answer, only raised her eyes to look at him. She wondered whether he had been bribed or used by Benjamin.
Misinterpreting her silence, the boy softly explained, "I waited outside 'Verde' for you the night before last. I stepped away for a moment, and when I returned, I saw you driving away. I called out to you twice, but you probably didn't hear me.”
Even after enduring such an ordeal, Grace chose to believe that kindness existed in the world. Grace forced a smile. "I truly didn't hear you. I'm fine, thank you."
Life seemed to return to normal. Benjamin was like a monster lurking beneath the water's surface—one moment he'd drag her into the pitch-black depths and abuse her, and the next he'd vanish without a trace.
Her parents, who had been traveling for over a month, returned to Seattle first. When Grace joined them for dinner, her mother finally mentioned a terrifying incident that had occurred during their trip.
"Oh my, Grace, you have no idea what happened to us. It was right after you reminded us to be careful. In the middle of the night, we suddenly heard someone banging on the wall next door. It woke both your father and me up. Your dad got so angry that he knocked back twice, and then it went quiet. Guess what? The next day, we heard that someone in the next room had been murdered and that the word "murder" had been painted in blood on the wall. Terrifying! We have no idea if it was a person or a ghost knocking on the wall before, but we were so scared that we immediately changed hotels.
Grace's face drained of color. Her hands were shaking so badly that she could barely hold her fork and almost lost control right then and there.
The evening before Adrian returned to the country, Grace received another call from Benjamin. He said, "Ms. Hill, come over tonight to entertain a guest for me. The car will be waiting for you outside the campus."
His tone was polite, but it left her no room to refuse.
Sitting in her office, she took out the knife she had prepared long ago. She hesitated before slipping it back inside, clutching it tightly. She couldn't take the risk. She had no room for failure.
A black car transported Grace to a villa in the hills, where a small party was underway. Dizzying music pulsed through dimly lit rooms while indulgent men and young women were everywhere in sight.
Grace's attire stood out like a sore thumb, drawing stares the moment she entered. Ignoring the attention, she scanned the room until she spotted Benjamin leaning against the window. She walked straight toward him.
"Mr. Norman," she said calmly, standing before him.
He held a glass of wine and was engaged in conversation with someone. Though two bikini models were nestled close to him, he kept his attire fully buttoned. He turned at the sound of her voice, gave Grace a fleeting glance, and gestured toward a leather sofa in the distance with his wine-holding hand. "Go keep Mr. Clarence company," he instructed.
She followed his gesture and saw a heavyset African-American man in his forties with thick lips and a sleazy-looking face. He had been staring at her since she arrived.
She didn't refuse, walking over obediently. No sooner had she sat on the sofa than his bulky body pressed against hers. He grabbed her hand and grinned. "Hey, beautiful. Come here."
His palm slapped her thigh hard and remained there.
Unchanged in expression, she let his hand slide slowly up her leg, never glancing toward Benjamin.
The fat man grew increasingly bold and soon found the clothing barrier unsatisfying. He reached under her skirt. Grace could endure it no longer. She pressed his hand down firmly and murmured softly, "Boss, not like this. There are people here."
The fat man chuckled. "Are you shy? It makes it more fun. I love girls like you."
His voice carried, prompting immediate jeers from the crowd. "Why don't you just get down to it?"
Clarence chuckled at the suggestion and began pushing her toward the sofa.
As she pushed back, her hand slipped toward her purse. The moment her hand entered it, her wrist was seized.
Michael had appeared behind the sofa unnoticed. His large hand gripped her slender wrist tightly as he asked expressionlessly, "What was Ms. Hill reaching for?"
The chaotic room fell instantly silent. Clarence froze, looking down at Grace with a strange expression.
Grace remained half-reclined on the sofa, calmly meeting Michael's gaze. "Nothing," she replied.
Michael didn't believe her. He tightened his grip slightly and yanked her hand out of the bag. Seeing that her fingers were clenched tightly, he ordered coldly, "What's in your hand?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she turned her head to look at Benjamin. He was wrapped around a model and was watching her, too. A faint, mocking smile played on his lips as if he had been waiting a long time to see this show unfold.
Slowly, she lifted the corners of her mouth too. She gradually opened her palm, revealing a small, square foil packet. She asked him, "Mr. Norman, are we not allowed to use condoms anymore?"