The Royal Contract

She certainly looked like she needed assistance. But she could hire other lawyers, more experienced ones. Why him? Why would she want him to represent her?

“So, tell me, Serena, what happened.” Adam had to hear her story first before deciding on his next move. But he could not outright turn her away after seeing the extent of her situation.

Now that he had a better look at her face, she did have a slight cut on her lower lip, probably a few more bruisings concealed by the thick foundation and makeup applied on her skin.

As far as he remembered, he left her last night with only a slight mark on her cheek. How did she end up with a dark patch on her eyes? And did she have other injuries besides the damage on her face?

“After you had left, he returned to my apartment.” She removed the cap covering her head and held it in her fingers. “I forgot that he still had the keys to my front door.” Then, her eyes glazed as she recounted what happened that night.

She remembered she stayed on the couch, wishing she would wise up and not end up with a loser again and again. But how could she distinguish the bad guy from the good ones?

.....

It was not like they had a sign on their foreheads telling her which was which. But most of them lured her with the perfect gentleman act until she was too deep in the relationship. Then they showed their true colors.

When she heard the door open and close, she opened her eyes, and he was already walking toward her with an angry expression. It was unmistakable her former boyfriend was not happy with what occurred earlier.

“Elliot, what are you doing here?” She panicked upon seeing him. “I think you should leave.” She calmly said.

She wanted to fight, but experienced had taught her that it was futile. She only ended up more hurt than if she remained passive and cooperative. As she said, this was not her first abusive relationship. But she was hoping it would be her last.

“I think we should talk.” He insisted as he stopped before her. “I think you were just under a lot of stress. I am going to let go of what happened earlier.”

She could not believe what she was hearing. Her arrogant son of a bitch ex-boyfriend was not even apologizing and making it sound that everything was her fault.

“Get out of my house before I call the police.” She threatened him. Not particularly interested in having any further conversation with him. But it seemed he did not like her response as his eyes narrowed at her and his expression suddenly changed.

“You bitch!” He grabbed her from the couch before she could do anything else, dragging her to her feet. “You think you can get rid of me that easily.” He shouted on her face as his fist landed on her stomach.

The impact caused her to land back on the couch with a thud. “Please, stop!” She cried out, crouching in pain. “Or else...” But she could not finish her sentence as she felt his fingers buried into her hair, yanking her again until her scalp hurt from the tension.

“Or else what?” He pulled her to her feet until she was face to face with him. “You are going to call your new boyfriend.” He ran his finger along her swollen cheeks before grabbing her chin tightly until it hurt badly.

“Where is he now? I don’t see him anywhere.” He looked around the room to make his point. “He is not here, but I am.” He rambled on as his breath reeked of alcohol.

“Did you let him fuck you while I am not looking, you fucking, cheating whore?” Elliot furiously exclaimed as he captured her lips in a punishing kiss. But she bit him off, making him retract his lips away.

“I am not the whore, you are. You are the one who cheated on me. Besides, I already broke up with you.” Serena snapped at him, not liking that he was reversing the situation.

But he also did not like that she answered back. “You don’t get to say we are through until I say it is over between us. Do you understand?” Then, his hand swung in the air and landed on her other cheek.

“You can’t dictate what I can and can’t do.” She argued back, unable to believe that he would not accept that they were over.

“I said you are mine until I am through with you.” His hand smacked her across her face. “I think you need to understand that I own you. I can ruin you just as easily as I made you a star again.”

She knew he was right. Her career was dying after her last scandal with her other ex-boyfriend. Then, he helped her get back on her feet and put her on the pedestal again. But with his connection, he could easily take that all back.

But at this point, she was past caring about her career. “I don’t care. I don’t want to see you again. Get out of my house.” She shouted at the top of her lungs.

He struck her again with his hands across the face, making her stumbled on the side table. From there, she grabbed the first thing her hand could get hold of and used it against him.

She swung it with all her might, letting the lamp crash strongly on his head. He swayed on his feet and fell to the floor. She knew it was her only chance to escape, so she hurriedly bolted out of her apartment.

“I should not have stayed at my apartment that night after you left,” Serena told Adam. “I have driven to my assistant’s apartment and stayed there until this morning.” Ending her story.

She had no one else to blame but herself in this situation. She had already seen the telltale sign that their relationship was not healthy anymore, but she still stuck around, hoping they could recover.

Like before, she was a fool.

“I seem to have a talent of attracting the wrong men out of a good batch.” She jokingly said, chuckling but lacking the humor in it. “I swear I have enough of men. I only want to be alone after this.”

“I am sorry about what happened, but do you want to file a case against him?” Adam stared at her, waiting for a response. “If you really want my help, I think you should.”

A man who could hurt a defenseless woman like Elliot was an insecure, coward, and spineless prick. They could only hurt those people who could not retaliate back.

Adam could not discount that there were many men like this Elliot guy. But many were still decent, but he could not blame a victim of an abusive relationship if she thought otherwise.