A few days later, Alex's friends came over to his mansion for a visit. They joked and laughed, filling the grand room with their boisterous energy. Alex instructed the maids to bring snacks and drinks for his guests, then settled back, engaging in light conversation.
Unbeknownst to Alex, Maya, wanting to be helpful, took it upon herself to bring the snacks. She balanced the tray with care, making her way into the room where Alex and his friends were gathered. The lively chatter momentarily ceased as she entered, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Alex was momentarily distracted, his focus elsewhere, and didn't immediately notice Maya's presence. However, his friends did. They eyed her with unwelcome interest, their gazes lingering on her in ways that made her uncomfortable. One of them, a particularly arrogant man named Vincent, leaned forward with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a lascivious intent.
Maya felt the weight of their stares and hesitated, a pang of fear mixing with her resolve to help. She placed the tray on the table, her movements quick and precise. Just as she was about to leave, Vincent spoke up, his tone dripping with condescension.
"Who's this, Alex? Quite a stunning maid you have here," he said, his eyes never leaving Maya.
Alex's attention snapped back to the room, his gaze finally landing on Maya. His expression darkened instantly. "Maya, go inside," he ordered in a deep, commanding voice.
Maya nodded quickly, turning to leave. But Vincent wasn't done. He leaned back with a smug grin, turning to Alex. "Alex, why don't you let me have her? She seems quite... entertaining."
The room fell into a tense silence. Alex's eyes narrowed, his body tensing as rage coursed through him. Without a word, he stood up, his movements slow and deliberate. The air grew thick with the promise of violence, and everyone in the room felt it.
Alex crossed the room in a few strides and grabbed Vincent by the collar, hauling him to his feet. The shock on Vincent's face was quickly replaced by fear as Alex's fist connected with his jaw. The force of the punch sent Vincent sprawling to the floor, blood trickling from his split lip.
"Don't you ever speak about her like that again," Alex growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Vincent's friends tried to intervene, but Alex's fury was uncontainable. He rained down blows on Vincent, each punch fueled by a deep, protective instinct for Maya. The other men tried to pull Alex away, but his strength and anger were too much. He continued until Vincent lay unconscious on the floor, his face battered and bruised.
Breathing heavily, Alex stood over his fallen friend, his hands stained with blood. He turned to the others, his eyes blazing with a warning. "Anyone else have something to say?"
The room was silent, the remaining friends too shocked and afraid to respond. Alex took a deep breath, trying to calm his rage. He glanced towards the door where Maya had disappeared, a mix of regret and resolve filling his eyes.
Turning back to his unconscious friend, Alex spoke coldly. "Get him out of here. And don't ever come back."
The others scrambled to obey, dragging Vincent's limp form out of the room. As the door closed behind them, Alex stood alone, his heart pounding. He knew his actions would have consequences, but he couldn't bear the thought of anyone disrespecting or harming Maya.
Taking a moment to compose himself, Alex headed towards the room where Maya had retreated. He needed to ensure she was safe, to explain his actions, and to show her that despite the darkness of his world, he would protect her at any cost.