Asena's POV
The noise from the hit still bounced around the room.
My hand felt prickly, my breathing shallow, but I wouldn't show any weakness. Mr Ambrose was standing still in front of me, his head to the side, with a faint red mark showing up on his face. For a short time, he just looked at me, unable to speak.
Then, little by little, he stood up straight. His yellow eyes shone with anger.
"How dare you," he said quietly, his voice full of hate. "Do you even know who I am?"
I lifted my head up. "I don't care who you are. No one can come into my room and ignore me just because I am a woman. Not you, not anyone else."
His mouth twisted, his face showing hate. "Do you think that slap makes you stronger? No. It makes you careless. It makes you weak. I could destroy you with just a few words. Every person who invests his or her money in this city listens to me. If I put in a bad word, they will take back their money and watch your business fall apart."
