"Please let me go. I promise to get your clothes fixed up. I can…"
"Shut the fuck up! Why did you even bump into me?" Mr. Scarred face laughed, losing his grip on her. "I am not here for the fucking party and I do not care what happens here. The stupid lady who invited me left with another dude and I see this is my cue for me to go with you. But I won't do that, I have been watching you and I see that you are alone. You are fragile and not strong enough. I would like to have a taste of you." He licked his lips, seductively staring at her.
"What are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?" Orla was frightened but she couldn't stay back there and let him ridicule her like that.
"They are all busy. They won't even hear you if you shout." Mr. Scarred face laughed hysterically. "I have no business here, I can do anything and get away with it." His hand went up to her chest, he grabbed her breast and was about to fondle it when Callan showed up from behind, sending a big blow right to his nose.
Orla ran to his side when she sighted him.
"Callan," she heaved a sigh of relief. This man always showed up for her, she thought.
"Did he hurt you?" Callan looked at her, stroking her face to check for bruises. "Bastard!" He turned to the stranger again and punched him harder. "No one dares touch my wife. I will kill you for touching her that way," he punched his face harder until he got a black eye. "Fuck you!"
"What's wrong with sharing your wife's pussy with a fellow man?" Mr. Scarred face slurred, blood was gushing out of his mouth now. He was laughing even though tears filled his eyes.
"I will kill you." His words triggered Callan's fury, he reached for him and sent blows to his head, tummy, and all parts he could lay his hand on.
When the noise grew louder, other guests went over to rescue the scarred face. He was almost unconscious.
"You stupid dick!"
"Tell your wife to make use of her eyes, she wouldn't be going around bumping into people if she didn't need a good dick like mine." Mr. Scarred face snickered, rising to his feet with the redhead he came with.
Callan attempted to punch him again but Liam and some men held him back. The redhead apologized to Orla and Callan and they left the hall afterwards.
"Orla, are you alright?" Liam asked when Callan walked away from them. He was still burning hot with anger.
"Yes, I am. Callan showed up before he could do anything silly."
"I am so sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone." Guilt took over Liam.
"It's fine. You didn't know they were psychopaths around." She smiled gently, "I will go sit with Callan now. Go back to what you were doing, I don't want to ruin your day." She smiled, assuring him that she was good.
Liam understood his friend was still mad, and he probably wouldn't talk. So, he left Orla to join him while he went up to continue the arrangements with his models.
Orla glimpsed Callan where he was seated on one of the chairs, legs on top of each other, hands dusting his crispy blue shirt. He looked so beautiful, and elegant and even with that frown on his face, he looked handsome.
She walked closer, sitting beside him.
"I went to pick up a call from the Doctor treating Betty when I bumped into him. I—"
"Spare me the fucking details, Orla." He kept his voice low even though he was very mad at her. "I told you to be careful that I will not always be there for you. I told you to not let people step on you. I told you to fight for yourself. What if I hadn't shown up, huh?"
"He was stronger than me, there was nothing I could do other than beg him to let me go." She said dryly. "I put you through so much, I am sorry about that."
She looked up at him, his eyes on her. It wasn't her fault, he knew that but was there a way he could blame her for it?
There were ways, but right now, he couldn't think of any way when she was staring at him with those big eyes that softened his heart.
"How is Betty?" He sighed.
What the hell had she done to him? He wasn't this soft.
"The Doctor will bring her tomorrow." She was smiling again, and somehow that relieved Callan. Like that was what he wanted.
He struggled to curtail the words, but they dropped. "Did that bastard hurt you?"
"He didn't." Orla lowered her head. "You showed up on time. You always do." Her smile broadened. "Thank you, Callan."
"It's what I will do for anyone who is sexually assaulted. You should not thank me." He countered her words.
He looked at her when she wasn't looking, her eyes were on Liam where he was waving at her from the stage.
She was beautiful, young and very innocent. Her smile was enough to soften a hardened heart. He didn't know if she was happy or she was just smiling because she had to. There was a lot he didn't know about her, a whole lot.
"I think Liam will win, do you?" She turned to him, capturing his eyes on her. Callan was a bit late in staring away, he was so engrossed in her beauty he forgot he was still staring.
"I don't know. He's good."
Their table was served with food, wines and desserts. Callan was the first to dig in, Orla watched him as he ate. After a few minutes, she started to devour her food.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time." The host announced and everyone clapped their hands in anticipation of what was about to happen. "The award ceremony starts now, thanks to you all for being here."
"Now is the time," Orla whispered, her eyes on Liam as he nervously fiddled with his suit. She smiled, silently praying that he would win.
"As you all know there is only one award to be won here and before we announce the winner, let's call out the names of the nominees." The host said again and this time Orla glimpsed true panic in Liam's eyes.