Chapter 231: Inescapable Predicament
The entire ordeal unfolded smoothly; Ellis hadn’t given Victoria another glance. Caught off guard, Victoria stumbled, nearly making a complete fool of herself. As she watched the Bugatti vanish among the traffic, her heart brimmed with loathing for Ellis, her teeth grinding in hatred. It was all Ellis’s fault that she was in this embarrassing mess, and she vowed not to let it go!
Still grappling with her paranoia, Ellis remained vigilant against anyone who might be out to get her. Even half a month later, she was cautious every time she stepped out, afraid that someone might suddenly snatch her up in a burlap sack and beat her up. Yet, Victoria had made no move, leaving Ellis on edge and exhausted.
This weekend, she had wanted to stay home and relax for a couple of days, planning to take a break from her job at Petal Estates. But before she could ask for time off, Casey called her first, telling her not to come in on Sunday since he’d be out. It was rare for Casey to go out; intrigued, Ellis considered whether to report this to Lois. Just then, the delivery service called, asking her to come downstairs to the property office to pick up a package that had arrived.
Inside the gated community, with security patrolling continuously, it was hard for strangers to gain entry. Thus, Ellis felt nearly completely safe as she headed to collect her package without giving it much thought. As she approached the property office, she noticed two men standing by the door, their appearances slightly off-putting. Although it’s often said that looks can be deceiving, more often than not, they can be quite telling. These two seemed to have the look of trouble. Moreover, their glances, seemingly casual, were fixed intently on her. Maybe it was just her recent jumpiness, but everyone seemed like a threat to her. Shaking her head to clear it just as she relaxed her guard, the two men greeted her in unison.
“Hello, Ms. Harper!”
Having lived there for a while, Ellis hadn’t gotten to know all the property staff just yet. The property management at this upscale community generally employed high-caliber staff, who were always polite as part of their professional etiquette. With their friendly greeting, she instantly dismissed any notion of them being threats. However, she didn’t engage with them and went straight into the property office to look for her package.
As she faced the shelves storing the packages and turned her back to the door, the unexpected happened—the natural light vanished. The office was dark, as the lights were off, and she reflexively turned around. To her surprise, the door had been closed, and the two men who had been at the entrance now stepped inside. The friendly expressions they had earlier shifted to something more menacing as they rolled up their sleeves.
Something was off? Danger! Her brain screamed at her to flee, but Ellis made a dash for it. However, she was boxed in; the door was not only shut but also blocked by the two men. Despite her fear, she tried to keep her composure and said coolly, “You were sent by Victoria, weren’t you? Beating me won’t benefit you!” Nobody but Victoria would have someone hit her. As the saying went, “He who paid the piper called the tune.”
With a single sentence, Ellis identified their employer, which, of course, they couldn’t admit. They simply responded, “Whether it benefits us is for us to decide.”
It was commonly said, “Money talks.” If Victoria could pay someone to assault her, Ellis could pay to avoid it. Unmoved by her offer, they seemed unswervingly principled against being swayed by money. The taller one raised his fist, but before striking, he seemed almost kindly as he advised, “Stop talking, close your eyes. We won’t be too harsh, just bear with it.”
Ellis was left speechless. How could anyone simply endure being beaten? The shorter one, after listening to his partner, looked regretfully at Ellis’s pretty face, clicked his tongue, then pulled on a pair of white gloves and reached into his pocket. Suddenly, a glaring light flashed. Ellis squinted and saw it was a knife.
These men were not just planning to punch and kick her; they clearly intended to use the knife as well. Regardless of the disparity in strength between men and women, or the fact that it was two against one, she was unarmed, and they had a weapon—she stood no chance. Am I supposed to just wait to be slaughtered? A sea of fear was drowning her; her limbs turned icy, revealing her fear as she trembled. Taking advantage of her apparent daze and slow reaction, the taller man’s fist opened into a palm and rose high, striking her cheek. A sharp slap rang out, and not only did Ellis’s cheek sting with pain, but it also swelled rapidly. The tall man’s strike to her face was clearly something Victoria had instructed.