He was about to pour another when Jessie noticed and walked over to grab the bottle from his anxious hands.
Bruno tried to force a smile to signify he is okay, but it wouldn't come.
Jessie looked up.
"I think that's enough kissing, Beauty!"
However, Beauty was trapped as Ferdinand was secretly holding her glued.
Only the two could tell, others couldn't see her struggle and Ferdinand's harassment.
"Ferdinand, that's too much!" Kathy laughed. "You're practically getting into foreplay, groping her boobs like that!
"The fat slut's probably enjoying it".
May snapped angrily.
"Hey don't call her a fat slut, who do you think you are, because you date Ferdinand?"
Jessie replied.
In the midst of the heated argument,
Bruno stole a glance and noticed that Beauty looked uncomfortable, while Ferdinand seemed to be pushing things too far. No one intervened; perhaps because he was the manager.
Unable to watch any longer, he put down his drink and stood up.
Enough pretending.
He walked over and pulled Beauty out of Ferdinand's grasp.
"Hey what's your deal man?"
Ferdinand protested but Bruno silenced him with a hard punch to the face.
Ferdinand stumbled and Bruno, who was now drunk, lost his own balance too.
'I'm fine, I'm fine," he muttered to no one in particular as blurred figures surrounded him.
Ferdinand got up angrily to rush at him, but the male members held him back.
"He's clearly drunk; let it go," one of them said.
"That idiot raised his hand to me, because his father is Hathaway, he thinks he can hit for no reason and go free!"
Ferd snarled.
Beauty stood aside, feeling like she could disappear and never appear in front of them again.
Bruno brushed back his hair and chuckled drunkenly.
"Ouch, my head hurts".
Kathy rushed over, reaching out to help him, but he slapped her hand away.
"Seriously, that's disgusting, fatty! If Bruno hadn't stopped you, I would've thrown up. You're so loose, desperate to go all the way with Ferdinand."
May sneered at Beauty.
"Shut up, you bitch!" Jessi snapped, defending her friend. "It was your boyfriend forcing himself on her. That's why Bruno hit him."
The two women continued to argue, while others tried to calm them down.
"Everyone, this was supposed to be fun," Johnson, the photoshoot director, said.
"Well, Mr Ferdinand here owes everyone an apology. He went on way longer than needed. He also needed to apologise to Beauty; grabbing her like that was uncalled for. Maybe he had a crush on her or something"
Jessie snapped back.
"Crush on who?" Ferd scoffed. "I have someone better; that's ridiculous."
"It's sexual harassment".
Jessi interjected. "It was supposed to be just a kiss, but you grabbed her like a creep."
Ignoring her.
"I am out of here".
Ferdinand murmured and stormed off to his room, with May following behind, visibly disappointed and angry.
One by one, everyone left until Beauty was alone, staring blankly at the floor.
Jessi sighed deeply and gave Beauty a disappointing look.
She offered to help Bruno to their room, and he let her.
Beauty watched them leave, feeling irritated by the sensations of Ferdinand's hands all over her.
In order to get back at Bruno, she ended up this way.
They got inside the room, Bruno asked her to leave him at the door.
She complied without saying a word and shut the door gently behind her.
Leaning against it, Bruno pressed a hand to his face, the frustration boiling over.
With a hard slam of his fist against the wall, he yelled internally.
_______
Beauty felt utterly humiliated, the shame wrapping around her like a suffocating blanket.
First, she had thought that Ferd might kiss her and stop there, since he'd made it clear that she is not his type.
Now, she felt like a fool in front of everyone, branded a slut.
What was she going to do now?
How could she possibly survive this embarrassment?
And Bruno? What will he think of her?
Just then, Jessi came back outside, casually picking up Bruno's footwear that he left.
Beauty was the only one on the bench outside, the rest had gone back to their rooms.
As soon she saw Jessie stood up and walked slowly to her.
"Jessie.... How is..."
Jessie interrupted.
"He is really drunk; be careful with him. There's been enough drama this evening...if you really love him, you know what is best for the both of you...if you don't....well, you can finally let go and focus on yourself and career. Hurting each other like that..... it's not mature at all...I don't know what you think of Bruno...but he loves you...you know this too...don't you?"
Beauty looked down.
"You can deny it, even Kathy could tell...anyway...make up your mind...,the faster the better, if there's someone out there who will treat you better fine... let Bruno go...I will take care of him... I've loved him too".
Beauty's eyes snapped up at that last statement.