Page 136 of The Encore’s Crown

“He may have put something in Nat’s drink.”

Kasia’s grip tightens.

Natalia looks at Julian as though she’s trying to reconcile the man she's been talking to tonight with the one standing in front of us now. Julian takes another step toward me.

“You’re making a serious accusation.”

“I’m giving you a simple way to clear it up.”

He tries to knock the drink from my hand. I shove him and his back hits the edge of a table. Glasses jump and people gasp. Security has started looking toward us. Rafe takes the drink from my hand and passes it to Kasia.

“Keep that.”

She nods. Julian straightens his jacket. His face is flushed now.

“You’re finished,” he says to me. “Do you understand that? You don’t put your hands on me.”

“Then stop trying to drug women at our party.”

“Your party?” He laughs. “You’re talent. This is the label’s room. Who the fuck do you think pays for all this?”

Rafe steps forward. Something in his eyes finally makes Julian hesitate. The crowd around us grows and phones begin to appear. Elise, our long-suffering tour manager, is pushing her way through from the far side of the ballroom with Stefan behind her, both of them already looking horrified.

Rithy pulls harder on my arm.

“Let management handle it.”

Kasia has moved Natalia several feet back. Natalia’s eyes remain on me. I force myself to step away.

Rafe keeps himself between Julian and the women while Ronan guides me toward the others. We turn.

“Walk,” Rithy says quietly.

Behind us, Julian laughs.

“That’s what I thought, run back to Miss Malhotra. Glad to see she still has a heart for charity.”

I stop. Every person around me feels it happen. I turn. Julian is smiling, a small, satisfied curve of his mouth because he thinks I’ve remembered who has the power here. I cross the space before Rithy can stop me. My hand closes on Julian’s collar and I drive him into the wall. The impact shakes a framed tour photograph beside his head. My forearm presses across his throat.

“What did you fucking say?”

His smile twitches.

“You heard me.”

I lean harder. The laugh disappears when his air does. His hands grip my arm, trying to pull it away.

People shout behind me. Rithy reaches us first, one hand on my shoulder.

“That’s enough.”

Julian’s face is reddening beneath mine.

“Say it again,” I tell him. “Come on.”

He tries to speak but can’t. Rafe’s voice cuts through the noise.

“Kiri, let's go. We need to get the ladies out of here.”