Chapter 47: Dog Attack

Leonie staggers in wearing an evening gown. Her face is caked with thick makeup and she smells like alcohol. She has just returned from a dinner where she had more than a few drinks. Unsteadily, she stumbles toward Avery. Avery tries to push her away. Leonie tries to slap Avery across the face, but Avery grabs her hand and slaps her first.

"Leonie, what the hell are you doing?" she asks.

The slap seems to sober Leonie, and she covers her face.

"What am I doing? Don't play innocent, you vindictive bitch," Leonie says, "I only frisked you to see if Dr. Meyer gave you any pills and I already apologized publicly. I can't believe you're so petty."

"That didn't make it okay," Avery answers, "Next time, you should think clearly and carefully before you take such a foolish risk"

"Oh please, we both know Dr. Meyer gave you the pills," Leonie responds, "If you want to come after me, fine, but why did you have to lay your dirty fingers on my sister's things?"

Avery is confused, "What things?"

"Really? You know the Zuri Hotel is my sister's. My family promised she could manage it when she got married. You played dirty and made Evan get it for you, you bitch!"

"What?"

Avery is baffled. She knew that the Summers owned the Zuri Hotel, but she didn't know it was intended for Diana.

"Why did Evan acquire his childhood sweetheart's hotel for me?" she thinks.

"Do you know how much work Diana put into the Zuri Hotel?" Leonie fumes, "She redesigned the hotel and practically managed it on her own. Then she went abroad to study hotel management. Who the hell do you think you are to take her stuff?"

"Believe me, I didn't know it was hers," Avery says.

"Like hell, I'd believe you," Leonie says, glaring at Avery, "Just wait for it, you bitch. Don't you dare think you can get away with stealing from my family!"

She whirls around and stomps heavily toward the door just as a servant enters, carrying a tray of food for Lucky. The servant steps left to allow Leonie to pass, but Leonie goes the same way. The servant moves to the right and Leonie does the same. They awkwardly block each other's way. The food on the tray smells gross. Leonie looks at it and sees that it's fresh, bloody beef slices.

"He'd bite Avery's neck off if it weren't for his illness," Leonie thinks, "Though if Lucky mauls Avery…"

She can imagine Lucky opening his huge mouth and closing it around Avery. She can see Avery's flesh tearing and the blood bursting from veins and arteries that can't be repaired. A dirty scheme sprouts in Leonie's mind, and she quietly stretches out her foot.

The servant trips over Leonie's foot and the tray goes flying. The raw beef lands on Avery, who screams and tries to pull the bloody meat off of herself.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Howel, I'm so clumsy," the servant apologizes, standing up.

The servant tries to help Avery, but she stops upon seeing the aggressive look on Lucky's face. Frightened, she slowly backs away.

Lucky's huge, crimson mouth is opened, exposing all his teeth. There is blood in his eyes, and he's staring intently at Avery. The other servants see his brutal look and cower terrified; they know there's nothing that can be done for Avery.

Avery is scared too. It's possible that Lucky accepted her because she smelled like Evan, but now she just smells like fresh blood. She pulls the meat from her body to try to throw at Lucky as he stalks toward her. The beef is like an appetizer for the huge dog, and the strong scent of blood has him wound up.

He slowly squats to concentrate all of his power in his back legs. Then he suddenly springs forward and is on Avery in a flash.

"Mrs. Howel!" the distressed servants scream.

"Go and get help," Leonie says.

Leonie holds the door handle and gives the nearest servant a gentle push toward the door. Suddenly restored to their senses, the servants rush from the room to get help. They'll suffer greatly if anything should happen to Avery on their watch.

Leonie sneers and takes a look at Avery, about to become Lucky's next meal. Avery is fighting like hell, but the dog will soon overpower her. As much as Leonie is enjoying the spectacle, she knows that she can't stay in the room and take the blame for not helping Avery.

She feigns anxiety and says, "I'll go and get help."

As she exits the room she whispers quietly to herself, "Sic her, boy."

Lucky has become crazed with the smell of blood. He's snapping at Avery, oblivious to her squirming and screaming. Drool drips from his mouth. He finishes eating the beef and begins to claw at Avery, looking for more meat. 

Evan is standing in the study in front of the French window, looking at the sky darkening outside. Dr. David Walter stands near him and ducks his head to peek at the bin to see if the pills Evan discarded are still there.

"Is the test done?" Evan asks.

"Yes. Apart from the expected ingredients, there was one unknown component we couldn't identify."

"Really?" Evan sounds displeased, "I told you that you have three days to test the pills, and I want the results. If you don't get them to me, you're fired."

David stiffens, "Dr. Meyer is a genius at making medicine, so—"

Evan cuts him off, "I don't care. I want results."

"I see," David nods.

Robert runs into the room with a deathly pale face.

"Sir, Mrs. Howel went to Lucky's kennel and he attacked her."

"Everyone in the Howel house knows that Mrs. Howel is afraid of dogs," Robert thinks, "What the hell was she thinking? Lucky doesn't behave well around strangers. He'd come for anyone and maul them to death. Everyone knows that."

Evan's look darkens. Almost before Robert can finish speaking, he's running from the room toward Lucky's kennel.

Lucky is barking and growling. Leonie stands outside the kennel door, too thrilled to conceal her smile. She burps drunkenly and turns to see Evan and a group of servants running toward the kennel.

She rearranges her face and puts on an anxious look, "Evan, help Avery!"

Evan hears Lucky's barking and his heart suddenly slows; he almost can't feel it beating. He rushes into the room like an animal ready to fight.

Leonie follows him, smirking. It sounds like Lucky hasn't let her down and has mauled Avery. Leonie can't help but walk a little faster, eager to see just how badly Lucky has destroyed the woman.