Ignoring her, I fixed my gaze on Asher. My voice was weak but firm. “I have a high fever, Asher. I did what I promised you. Can you just let me go?”
A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but before he could speak, Nora interrupted, her tone saccharine. “Oh no, that would not do! I have already told the fans how professional Miss Rose is. If she leaves now, would not that make me look bad?”
I glared at her, my voice ice cold. “What will it take for you to be satisfied? Do I need to die for you to let this go, finally?”
Feeling shocked, Nora hid behind Asher like a frightened child.
Immediately, Asher stepped in front of her protectively, his tone harsh. “I called you here to apologize to Nora and now you are pulling this? You are finishing today’s shoot. No excuses!”
I let out a hollow laugh, the last shred of hope I had in him shattering. “And if I refuse?”
His face darkened. “You don’t have a choice. David, take her to the set.”
David dragged me to the following location, his grip rough and unrelenting. He shoved me onto the set with such force that I stumbled and almost immediately, the props team lit the torches around me.
In seconds, flames roared to life, surrounding me. I yelled out in fear.
In the afterglow, I caught a glimpse of Asher's worried eyes and he must have remembered that I was once locked into a hut and almost burned to death. That time, he was the one who crashed through the gate and rescued me.
“Help! Somebody help me!” I screamed, my voice cracking.
“Asher, this is just part of the scene. Miss Rose will be fine,” Nora said, her voice sugary sweet.
The flames crept closer, the heat searing against my skin. My body gave out and I collapsed to the ground, sobbing. “Please… someone, help me…”
Just as the fire threatened to touch my clothes, a figure rushed through the smoke. A heavy, dark blue coat was draped over me, shielding me from the flames as strong arms lifted me out of the chaos.
Shaking, I clung to the stranger, the fresh, clean scent of his cologne grounding me.
“Who are you? Do you know we’re filming here?” The director’s angry voice rang out.
But as the man turned his face toward the director, the indignation melted away into an almost servile tone.
“Young Master of Brooks family! What brings you here?”
Asher’s confusion was evident as he turned to the assistant director. “Who is Young Master Brooks?”