Haven crashed onto the cold, marble floor, pain shooting up from her spine as her already sore body protested.
When more lights flashed around her, she raised her hand to cover her face from getting videoed.
Neglecting the exposed part of her body that showed purplish marks -everybody around knew what those marks were.
Gasps rippled through the crowd before turning into sneers
'She used her birthday party as an excuse to seduce director Louis, such a shameless woman',
'Slut'
The words pierced her like knives.
Haven's heart clenched. One thought echoed in her mind— It's over. My career is over… before it even begins.
Kiara. She ruined me.
Then… Footsteps
Sharp, measured and echoing across the hall like a warning bell.
The crowd of reporters and antifans stunned by the cold and fierce aura made them shrink back and instinctively create a path for the towering figure, who approached with an authority that demanded obedience.
'She was with me last night, not some old man',
His voice deep and mellow like a cup of well made iced tea:calm yet cold.
The crowd was silence.
The few reporters who knew the owner of such a cold presence, dropped their cameras and were disappointed, this big scoop of a ruined z-list actress was gone, the excitement dying into dread.
But the mindless antifans did not recognise him, one man from the crowd shouted , voice trembling with false courage,
'Who the hell are you? Supporting this slut'
Haven, who froze, upon hearing the cool, mellow voice started to regain herself.
She was sure she had heard that voice before,
'Your first time? Little kitten you interest me'
Haven looked up. It was him!
The man from last night!
Her trembling body moved before her mind did, stumbling to her feet, she hid behind his solid back.
His back gave her some kind of security just by being here with her.
The man was six feet tall and his immaculately tailored suit fitted him perfectly. He stood with one hand in his pocket, looking like he just stepped straight out of a glossy page of a luxury magazine.
Haven was mesmerised.
The man turned around, took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Haven's frail body.
'Cody, take care of things. None of them should leave unpunished' Zayden's eyes never left Haven as he spoke.
He took her hand and walked away.
Cody stood outstanding with his black suit with a small but cutting smile on his face, 'I am the assistant of the president of the Cross Corporation. You can redirect your questions to me'
The antifans who had been shouting moments ago paled, realizing too late who they had offended.
"We… we're sorry!"
Cody's smile didn't falter. His aura, though softer than his master's, carried weight of its own. "You should be grateful we are letting you off lightly."
His voice turned sharper. "But slander and violence against the young miss will not go unpaid."
Antifans were shocked, finally realising who they had offended and they felt inferior.
On his signal, men in black rounded up the offenders. Reporters hurriedly deleted every photo and video from their devices, trembling as they were checked.
The antifans struggled and cursed, but their cries were drowned out as police officers dragged them away.
"You offended the wrong person," one of Zayden's men sneered.
Within moments, the chaos was gone. The floor was empty. Silent.
__________________________
'Let go of me'
When Haven finally recovered from the drama that just happened, she was already in the underground parking lot.
She looked at the man's large hand that held her delicate one tightly.
Though she was happy she escaped from the crowd with the help of this man. It couldn't erase the fact that this man had taken her last night.
'Let go of me!', she yelled again as she tried to free herself from his tight grasp. Her strength was nothing compared to his and so she couldn't free herself.
The man stopped walking abruptly, his blue eyes flickered to hers, unreadable and freed her hand, due to exhaustion Haven fell to the ground.
Haven looked up at him, 'Why did you help me? What the hell do you want from me?', she yelled at him as tears welled up her eyes.
The thought of her career being ruined after all her efforts turned into anger and she poured it out on Zayden.
'Why did I help you? Shouldn't you be grateful?!', Zayden scoffed, tucking his hand into his suit pants.
Haven's mind was haywire, but she knew he had at least helped her to get out of that angry crowd or else… And he had given her his jacket.
She managed to get herself up on her feet,
'Thank you', her voice almost inaudible,
Her wobbly legs began to move but she did even take up to five steps before she blacked out and fell backwards but her falling body fell into a strong, warm pair of manly arms.
Zayden's lips curled into a smile as he stared down at her unconscious face, 'Little kitten, why are you so cute?'
A sleek black Rolls Royce Ghost glided to a stop in front of them
He lifted her in a princess carry, frowning as he realized how light she was.
Does she even eat at all? she is so thin
He entered the car and ordered coldly, his face returning back to its frosty look.
'Drive