The tom black paper fluttered to the gray pavement.
The contents of the bag spilled out like a detonated bomb. A tiny, practically nonexistent scrap of burgundylace underwear landed flat on the concrete. A heavy glass bottle of expensive strawbeny-Ravored personal lubricant rolled loudly across the sidewalk. Three brightly colored, siliconeadult toys bouncedand scattered across the pavement, comingto a dead stop rightinthe middle of the pedestrian walkway Two businessmenin tailored suits stopped walking A woman holdinga poodle gasped loudly.
Anissa stared at the pavement,
For one full second, her brain completely shut down. All the oxygen vanished from her lungs. A wave of heat so intense it felt like a physical sunburnrushed up her neck and exploded across her cheeks, She was. standing inthe middle of Fifth Avenue and her most intimate, humiliating secrets were lying on the dirty groundfor the entire city to see. Connorstared at the scattered items. He blinkedonce Twice.
Then, a loud, ugly, barkinglaugh erupted from his chest,
He painted his good hand at the pavement, bendingover as he laughed hysterically. It was the laugh of a drowning man who had just found a pieceof driftwood. He thought he had finally found her weak spot.
“0 h my god!" Connor yelled, his voice carrying over the traffic. Is this what the great Mrs. Snow buys on Fifth Avenue? Toys?"
He looked at Anissa, hiseyes filled with malicious triumph “Looks like my powerful uncle can't actually satisfy you in bed! You have to buy plastic to do a real man's job'"
Melody stood behind him, covering her mouth with her hand, giggling loudly at the slut-shaming
Anissa's hands curled into tight fists. Her fingernails duginto her palms. The embarrassment was instantly incinerated by a surge of pure violent anger.
Before Anissa could even take a breath to speak, Clara moved,
00% 1704 ml
NC £% +120 Points at most Clara st epped forward inher red trench coat like a gladiator entering an arena, She moved swiftly, usingthe side of her stiletto -clad foot to block the rolling bottle of lubricant, stoppingit dead against the curb.
She pointed a perfectly manicured finger directly at the center of Connorsface
“What are you laughing at, you pathetic little boy?" Clara shouted, her voice echoingoff the buildings
She gestured aggressively to the items on the ground "These are top-tier intimacy accessories. They are designedfor a real man who actually has the stamina to go for three hours in bed and wants to add some variety!" Clara looked Connor up and down, her face twisting into a mask of absolute disgust
“Of course you wouldrit understand,” Clara sneered, her voice dripping with lethal volume. "A three-minute quickie like you doesn't need accessories. You barely have enough time to take your pants off before you're cryingand apologizing You only need your eft hand!
The phrase three-minute quickierang out crystal clear over the noise of the street.
The two businessmen standing nearby burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter. The woman with the poodle snickered trying to hide her smile behindher hand.
Gonnorshysterical laughter died instantly in his throat.
The malicious triumph vanished from his face, r eplaced by a look of absolute, soul-crushing horror. He looked around at the laughing strangers. He had tried to shame Anissa, and Clara had just publicly castrated himin the middle of Manhattan
Melody stopped giggling She looked at Connor her eyes widening slightly as she mentally calculated the truth of Claras words. Connor saw her look. It was the final nail n the coffin
Anissa didn't say a word. The anger drained out of her, r eplaced by cold efficiency.
She bent down, moving with slow, deliberate grace. She picked up the burgundy lace and the silicone toys, her face a mask of absolute indifference, and shoved them back into the torn paper bag.
She stood up and looked at Connor.
“Connor” Anissa said, her voice quiet but carrying the weight of an anvil. 323% 1706 N8)
Giá. 8 +120 Points at most “Only an incompetent man views a womans needs as shameful Harding's power is somethingyou will never comprehend in this lifetime.” It was the ultimate dismissal. She was defending Harding's masculinity while simultaneously erasing Connor's.
Connorlost his mind The humiliation broke his final thread of sanity. He let out a feral scream, raised his good fist, and lunged forward, trying to punch Clara inthe face.
Caleb didn't even draw a weapon.
He st epped forward, planted his left foot, and delivered a brutal, perfectly executed front kickdirectly into the center of Connor'sstomach. The physical impact sounded like a baseball bat hitting a sack of wet meat.
Connorsfeet actually left the ground He flew backward through the air and crashed heavily into a de ep, fithy puddle of stagnant street water near the curb. Mud and dirty water splashed over his face and ruinedsuit He curled into a tight fetal position clutching his stomach, gasping desperately for air.
“Twitch,” Caleb warned, his voice dead flat, "and | break your spine” Anissa didn't look at Connor again. She grabbed Clara's arm, pulled her into the back of the armored SUV, and slammed the heavy door shut. The vehicle accelerated smoothly into the traffic. Through the tinted glass, Anissa saw Melody standing on the sidewalk, looking down at Connorin the puddle with absolute disgust, makingno move to help him Inside the quiet cabin, Anissa threw the tor black bag onto the leather seat next to her. She pressed her fingers against her temples. Her head was pounding
Clara bit her lower li, lookingslightly guilt. "Sony about the drop, babe. But watching you defend your husband'shonor? Absolutely badass.” Anissa closed her eyes. She just wanted to go home. She prayed that giving Harding the cufflinks tonight would go smoothly, without any more. disasters.
68.2% 1700 8|
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