Chapter 3

Jasmine's POV

The guards came at me fast.

I stepped back, but one of them was already grabbing for my arm. I twisted away and drove my fist into his jaw. He stumbled backward and the crowd around us gasped, but there were two of them and I was exhausted from twenty hours of flying. The second guard grabbed me from behind, locking my arms, and the first one recovered quick enough to seize my other arm. They had me pinned between them, and no matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't break free.

Elise walked toward me slowly, and the smile on her face.

Her hand came up fast and slapped me hard across the face. My cheek started throbbing immediately.

"That's for hitting me!" she screamed in my face.

She hit me again, harder. My eyes started watering.

"See how it feels?! See?!"

I could taste blood in my mouth now, and my whole face was burning.

Elise picked up the necklace from where the store manager had left it and dangled it in front of my face. "See this?" She laughed, "Now it's mine. I'm wearing it tonight when I go to the gala with Oliver."

She put it on right there in front of me, then pressed herself up against Oliver . "How does it look?"

"Beautiful," Oliver said.

Elise smirked at me. "Hear that?"

Then she turned to one of the guards. "Strip her jacket off. Let's see what kind of trash thinks she can impersonate the Caldwell family."

"What?!" I tried to pull away but the guards just tightened their grip on me.

They yanked my jacket off. I was standing there in just my thin tank top while everyone in the store crowded closer with their phones out, recording the whole thing. My face went hot with humiliation and anger.

I looked straight at Oliver. He just stood there watching, arms crossed.

"You're seriously just going to stand there?" I was so angry.

"You started this," he said, ice-cold. "Can't blame anyone else for that."

"I started this?!"

"You attacked Elise. You're pretending to be someone you're not." He looked at me. "On my territory, you'd better learn your place real quick."

I stared at him, and all I could think was how much I hated him right now. "You're going to regret this, Oliver."

"Threatening me?" He laughed, "What are you, exactly?"

My hand found my phone in my pocket. I managed to pull it out even though the guards were holding me tight.

Elise saw and laughed. "What, calling for backup? Too bad nobody's coming to save you."

I dialed Theodore's number.

"Theodore," I said when he picked up. "I'm at the jewelry store you told me about. Someone doesn't believe who I am and they're hurting me."

"What?!" Theodore's voice went sharp immediately. "Who's doing this?"

Elise snatched the phone right out of my hand.

"Still pretending?" She held up my phone.

"Let go of Miss Caldwell immediately!" Theodore's voice was loud.

Elise rolled her eyes. "Miss Caldwell? She's just some con artist."

"I am William Caldwell's chief secretary," Theodore deadly serious. "Release her now or you'll regret it."

"Chief secretary?" Elise laughed. "Yeah, sure."

She hung up on him and threw my phone across the floor.

Then she turned back to me, and her face was twisted up with so much anger I actually felt scared for a second.

"Liars need to be taught a lesson," she hissed.

Her hand came up again and this time the slap was even harder. My head jerked to the side so hard, and I felt something wet on my lip. Blood.

"That's for pretending to be part of the Caldwell family!"

She hit me again before I could even process the first one.

"And that's for daring to talk back!"

I bit down hard on my lip to keep from making any sound.

"Let me go," I said through clenched teeth.

"Or what?" Elise grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked so hard. "You're in no position to make demands, sweetheart."

I tried to fight back but the guards had me locked down tight. One of them twisted my arm behind my back, bending it at an angle that made me gasp involuntarily.

Elise kicked me hard in the stomach with her pointed high heels. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and I tried to bend over to ease the pain, but the guards yanked me upright.

"This is what happens when trash like you puts on airs," Elise said, standing in front of me.

She kicked me again, this time hitting my ribs. I felt pain throughout my entire body.

Oliver stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, looking bored.

"I will never forgive you," I forced myself to say, even though breathing caused me pain.

"Criminals deserve punishment," Oliver said casually. "Impersonating the Caldwell family? That takes some serious nerve, I'll give you that."

"I'm not impersonating anyone!"

"Of course." He checked his watch. "Are we almost done here? I have a meeting."

Elise leaned in close to me, her breath hot against my face.

"You're nothing," she whispered. "You hear me? Nothing."

Then she grabbed my hair with both hands and yanked down as hard as she could.

"Kneel! Kneel down and apologize to me!"

She was trying to force me to my knees, and the guards were pushing down on my shoulders, helping her. My legs were shaking from the effort of staying upright. I wouldn't kneel. I refused to kneel.

"Kneel!" Elise shrieked right in my ear.

One of the guards kicked the back of my knee and my leg gave out. I was halfway to the ground when I heard it—

The screech of brakes outside, loud enough to make everyone freeze.

The whole store shook as vehicle after vehicle pulled up outside, blocking off the entire street.

The front door slammed open so hard and some men in black suits flooded into the store.

"Who," the lead man said angrily, "put their hands on Miss Caldwell?"