As Julian’s hand swung downward toward her face again, Elena acted on pure instinct. She reached up with explosive speed, her fingers wrapping around his thick wrist with every ounce of strength she possessed. The sudden resistance caught Julian completely off guard, freezing his hand just inches from her face. His eyes widened in disbelief as he tried to pull away, but Elena held her grip tight, her knuckles turning white under the strain. The coastal sunlight highlighted the sheer determination in her expression as she stared directly into the eyes of the man who thought he could break her spirit with violence.
Elena lunged forward, standing up from her seat until she was toe-to-toe with him, her voice booming across the spacious dining room with raw, furious power. "I am not your employee!" she screamed directly into his face, her tone laced with absolute defiance that made Julian flinch backward. She squeezed his wrist tighter before throwing his arm away from her with utter disgust. Victoria gasped from the far end of the table, setting her cup down so hard that hot tea splashed onto the white linen tablecloth, but Elena didn't give the older woman a single glance. Her focus was entirely locked on dismantling the arrogant man standing before her.
With a single fluid, angry motion, Elena swept her arm across the elaborate breakfast spread laid out before them. Ceramic plates, crystal juice glasses, silver serving trays, and expensive imported food were sent flying into the air. The violent crash of shattering glass and splintering porcelain echoed through the mansion as everything slammed onto the hard marble floor. Juice and coffee splashed across Julian’s spotless shoes and beige pants, leaving dark stains as shards of broken dishware skittered across the pristine tiles. The manicured perfection of the estate was thoroughly ruined in a matter of seconds.