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Stephanie had spent so much time lying on the bathroom floor crying, she'd actually fallen asleep. The sudden loud banging at the door was what roused her.
In an instant, the brunette flinched, her eyes snapping wide open at the sounds.
"You crazy little bitch!" Paul shouted from the other side of the door. "You're gonna be sorry when I break this door down and get you!"
Stephanie crept backwards in her position on the floor, away from the source of his voice. His anger, his hatred, malice - all of it chilled her to the bone, and she found herself wondering how any human being could possess such an incredible amount of those emotions and qualities.
She wondered what she should do as she glanced down, her cell phone still clutched in her left hand. Sean had promised he was going to call 911 and come and get her. But what if he'd already shown up while she'd been asleep?
"Open the fucking door!" Levesque shouted from the main room. Her eyes blinked tightly upon the sudden sharp bang he gave on the door. Dear God, what if he really *did* break it down? He was a big man, incredibly strong. He was probably very able to do exactly as he threatened.
The brunette shook, a soft whimper escaping her as an even louder bang issued when he struck the door again.
"Fine... stay in there, you dumb bitch... I'll just go down to the front desk and tell them I think my fiancee had an 'accident' in the bathroom... Like in those commercials with elderly people, you've fallen and you can't get up." He laughed in evident merriment of his own little idea.
Stephanie cringed. She dared not to speak a single word, however. Somehow, she had to get out of here. Sean - he was her savior, her ticket out of this mess.
"Have it your way, Steph..." Levesque called calmly from the other side of the door. It was at that precise moment that her cell phone began ringing again. The brunette practically jumped at the tones, mentally cursing herself for not having set the phone on silent. God, could she not do *anything* right these days?
To her shock and even relief, Paul didn't yell or anything. Instead, she heard the distinctive sound of the hotel room door closing. Had he really left?
Shifting her gaze back to the cell phone, she saw that it was Sean again. She flipped it open in a hurry, frantic to speak with him, especially while she had the chance.
"Hello? Hello?"
"Steph - thank God! I was afraid you weren't going to pick up. I'm here at the hotel."
Her blue eyes widened in a combination of relief and horror. He was here? And if Paul had gone down to the lobby to get a key for the bathroom at the front desk, they could very well run into each other. Who knew what chaos could ensue?
"Sean - Paul went down to the front desk," she blurted. "He's... I'm still locked away in the bathroom and he awoke to discover that. He said he'll get a key and get me, and-"
"Slow down, honey," Sean said. His voice was fairly calm in spite of the fury he felt. "I'm making my way through the parking lot. If I see him at the front desk - wherever - he's *dead*."
Stephanie held her breath, more tears threatening her. What was he going to do? What if Paul had taken his gun with him? Oh, God! Sean could be in serious - maybe even *fatal* - danger!
"No! Sean, he's got a gun!" she screamed. She shook her head frantically, although he obviously couldn't see her. "I-I don't know if he took it downstairs with him or not."
"You fucking son of a bitch!"
Stephanie gasped at the sudden shout of the dark-haired man and nearly jumped, realizing that he'd just come upon Paul. Her breathing grew heavier and faster as she continued to listen, and she could detect the sounds of a struggle. O'Haire's cell phone was very obviously dropped in the fracas as the sounds in the phone suddenly grew somewhat muffled.
By now, tears were streaming down the brunette's face. She was gripping the phone so tightly, her knuckles grew white.
And then, the line suddenly went dead.