Page 185 of Embriagado

“Let’s go grab you some water, okay?”

Too hysterical to speak, she nodded, then followed me as I carefully led her down to the lobby. I had no clue what had happened to this girl, but from the looks of it, she was at the very least assaulted. My blood boiled with the mere thought of someone forcing themselves on somebody else, but before jumping to conclusions, I’d first hear her out.

“Can you tell me your name?” I asked her after we reached the lobby’s floor.

Her breath shuddered. “O-Olivia.”

I nodded, keeping a fair distance from her so she wouldn’t freak out.

“You’re all good now, Olivia.” I smiled at her. “My name’s Santiago Rivas. I work here.”

Her eyes went wide, and she quickly covered her mouth before she began crying again.

“Hey.” I held my hands in front of me, trying to calm her down. “You don’t need to worry. I won’t hurt you.”

“P-please.” She sobbed. “I j-just want to go h-home. I-I won’t say a word, I-I promise.”

Alarmed by her words, my forehead creased. “What do you mean?”

“Upstairs—”

“Mr. Rivas!”

I turned to the sound of Ariyan’s voice, watching him as he walked out of the elevator while holding Nacio by the arm, forcing him to move with him.

“Didn’t I tell you to find your brother and leave?” Releasing Nacio, he pushed him my way. “And here I find this one wandering in places he shouldn’t be in.”

Surprisingly, my brother didn’t bite back; instead, he kept his mouth sealed. It was then that I noticed his bloodshot eyes and the tear streaks on his cheeks.

“What happened⁠—”

“Who’s that?” Ariyan asked, eyes locking on the girl behind me.

Pushing my concerns aside for one moment, I half turned to face Olivia. “I bumped into her by mistake. I think she needs help.”

Wearing his typical cold expression, Ariyan examined the girl carefully.

“She says her name is Olivia,” I added when his stare moved to me.

“Very well. I’ll make sure to take care of Olivia⁠—”

I grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.

“Listen,” I said when both Nacio and Olivia were out of earshot. “I think she was assaulted. Like… raped.”

A brief crack appeared in his expression before he glanced back at Olivia.

“And why would you assume that?” he asked, voice low.

“I mean, just look at her. She’s all messed up.”

“Where did you find her?”

“Upstairs.”

His eyes jerked back to me.

“I mean, I went looking for Nacio, and I came across her on the fifth floor,” I was quick to explain so he wouldn’t jump to conclusions.