Chapter 4: On Her Knees

The elevator had opened on the ground-floor lobby, in front of the whole morning shift.

Paolo took my arm and hauled me out of the car.

My legs would not hold me, and I sagged against him.

"Two hours should teach you something," Russell said. "Apologize to Camille and we'll call it even."

My lips were numb, and my teeth chattered when I tried to answer.

Camille stepped forward and slid her arm around my back.

"Russell, stop it. Bianca doesn't mean any of this."

She smiled at me, wide and soft.

"We're still best friends, right?"

Her fingers found the burn under my jacket and pressed into it.

I screamed and shoved her away on instinct.

Camille cried out and stumbled back, and her eyes filled at once.

"Bianca, you still can't forgive me?"

"She pressed on my burn," I said.

"I was trying to help her," Camille said quickly.

Paolo shoved me into the wall.

My back hit the marble right where the skin had blistered, and my knees nearly gave out.

"How long are you going to keep this up?" he said.

Russell walked toward me.

For one second I thought he would catch me.

Instead he put both hands on my shoulders.

"Enough. Apologize to her."

"No."

I tried to twist free, but my legs were still dead from the cold.

Russell pushed down, and I dropped to my knees on the marble in front of Camille.

The lobby went quiet.

Russell flinched when he saw how hard I had hit the floor.

He did not reach down to help me.

"Just say it, Bianca," Paolo said.

I looked up at the three of them.

Camille stood behind her husband with wet eyes, watching me.

Russell stood beside me.

They were all waiting for the same thing.

They wanted me to give in.

When I did not, Paolo took out his phone.

"You're forcing this."

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