Chapter 17

Assistant Ella, with a few people desperately trying to fend off the crowd, couldn't prevent their boss Kelly Gray from being impacted. Someone had pinched her hard, leaving a yellowish-brown mark on her white office jacket that emitted a foul odor.

Kelly Gray, who came from a good background, had never experienced such chaos. Her face turned pale, and she felt like she could be overwhelmed at any moment.

Suddenly, a strong male voice came from behind: "Over here, this way!"

Kelly Gray turned around to see a young man in a tight T-shirt, leading a few people rushing out from the Beast House.

Bruce assisted Martin, forcefully clearing a path, helping Martin to reach Kelly Gray.

Martin shoved away the person lunging at him, but more people kept coming. He grabbed Kelly Gray's arm with one hand and a forty-something brunette woman with the other, shouting, "Quickly, let's go!"

Kelly Gray hurriedly ran towards the Beast House.

Martin shielded them as they made their way back. Taking advantage of the chaos, he scratched his left neck with his right hand as they walked.

Once inside the entrance of the Beast House, Kelly Gray, still in shock, yelled, "Close the door! Shut that damn door!"

The safety of herself far outweighed that of her battling colleagues outside.

Martin, seeing that everyone was back, closed the door with Bruce and locked it from the inside.

"That was insane. Everyone's gone mad."

Five others followed them inside. Rachel, a forty-year-old woman, was terrified: "Those people are lunatics."

Martin then said, "It's really chaotic outside. Can you stay here for a while?"

Outside, the sound of police sirens echoed as a large number of APD officers arrived.

Yet, Kelly Gray had no intention of going out and followed Martin further inside. "Sounds good." She saw the bar and the liquor cabinet. "Can I have a glass of sweet wine?"

Bruce set out six glass cups and poured peach sweet wine.

Martin took out a small pack of wet wipes, handed one to each person, and stood next to Kelly Gray after giving her one. He then opened the last pack to wipe his neck.

Kelly Gray wiped her hands and the places on her body that had been grabbed. She smelled the pungent odor on her jacket, took it off, and threw it aside.

Suddenly hearing a gasping sound, turning her head, she saw the young man who had saved them with three noticeable scratch marks on his neck.

"Thank you," Kelly Gray said, having calmed down a bit, and asked, "Are your injuries serious?"

Martin smiled, "Just got scratched. It's nothing. Actually, it's us who should be thanking you. You were here to protect us."

This good-looking man, who spoke so nicely and got injured to save her, left a deep impression on Kelly Gray.

Ethan came over, looked at Martin's neck, and cursed, "Who hurt you? I'll turn them into a punching bag!"

Martin felt like kicking him but held back and said, "This was too crazy. I didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Bruce handed Ethan the trash bin, telling him to clean up the wet wipes and not be an idiot.

Kelly Gray, after having half a glass of wine and regaining her composure, asked, "Why were they targeting you?"

Martin told the truth, "This afternoon, those people suddenly gathered outside the club."

Kelly Gray frowned, thinking.

Martin selectively told the truth, "I know your Mr. Andrew. He told me if any actions were aimed at you, to notify him immediately. So, I called Mr. Andrew."

Kelly Gray remembered Andrew, an old employee of her company.

Martin moved his neck a bit, wincing in pain, "Sorry, I didn't expect things to go this far..."

Kelly Gray waved her hand, "It's not your fault. The road to freedom is always difficult."

"Yes!" Martin said helplessly, "None of us provoked them, but those stubborn crazies attacked us."

Rachel, who had gone to the porch, came back and said, "The APD has the situation under control. Kelly, do you want to go out and manage things?"

The idea of going outside was the last thing Kelly Gray wanted.

But she couldn't say that. Besides Rachel, there were also a few ordinary members.

Abandoning her comrades would affect her leadership.

Kelly Gray was privately annoyed, unsure if Rachel did it on purpose.

Martin, keenly observant, had a hunch and spoke up, "I suggest you all stay inside. The recent clash will result in many brothers and sisters being detained by the APD. You are crucial members; if you get detained, who will rescue those inside?"

Coming from an outsider, this statement held much more weight than if Kelly Gray had said it herself.

One of the people with Rachel at the porch agreed immediately, "Yes, many are being detained by the APD. We can't let them be held overnight."

Kelly Gray looked at Martin with newfound admiration, asking, "Does the club have a back door?"

Martin replied, "Yes, in a quiet alley."

Kelly Gray took out her phone and dialed, "I'm at the Beast House on West Street. Send two cars to the back door right away."

Rachel stayed silent.

Kelly Gray, considering the situation tonight, got up and walked towards a secluded area, gesturing to Martin: "Let's talk privately."

Martin followed her to the other side of the stage.

Kelly Gray asked, "What's your name? Can you make decisions?"

"Martin Davis. Just call me Martin."

"Alright, Martin, tonight's incident will have significant implications." Kelly Gray planned to influence public opinion, "Media will be interviewing you later. Do you know what to say?"

Martin replied righteously, "You stood up to protect the Beast House and the innocent, forced into self-defense."

He emphasized, "You are heroes!"

Kelly Gray was now completely calm, "Good, remember your standpoint."

Martin promptly said, "I always stand with you."

"Let me introduce myself." Kelly Gray, considering Martin's importance, handed him a business card, "I am Kelly Gray."

She emphasized, "Before any journalist interviews, notify me. I'll arrange someone to assist you."

Martin asked, "What if journalists come tonight?"

Kelly Gray replied, "I'll arrange someone as soon as possible."

Soon, the cars arrived at the club's back door. Martin, with Bruce, escorted Kelly Gray's group out.

With no one else around, Bruce said, "I underestimated you. You played the old hero-saving-the-beauty trick so well."

Martin shrugged, "Old but gold."

*****

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