Luke’s voice reached me through the phone again, steady and intense. “Julia, listen carefully. Do not let them isolate you. Move closer to staff or other people. Is anyone nearby who can help you?”
My legs felt unstable, but I forced myself to stand upright. Victor tightened his grip.
“Do not walk away from me,” he warned.
“Let go,” I said.
Danielle stepped closer while raising her phone. “You are acting insane,” she said with a bright smile that felt disturbingly unnatural. “This video will look terrible for you.”
Something inside me hardened when she said that. The camera meant they planned to twist the story later.
I turned toward my supervisor and said loudly, “Please call the police right now.”
A server approached the table cautiously and asked, “Is everything alright here?”
“No,” I answered, my voice trembling but loud enough to carry. “My husband assaulted me.”
Victor immediately switched to a charming tone. “She has had a stressful day,” he told the server with a sympathetic smile. “A little too much champagne and attention.”
“That is not true,” I said firmly.
Patricia leaned forward and murmured sweetly, “She has been emotionally unstable lately.”