Chapter 011.

The atmosphere was electric, charged with the anticipation of celebration. Ari's anniversary party for her cosmetic brand, Remedy by Ari, was in full swing.

The exclusive event was being held in one of the city's most elegant venues, where the black-and-silver theme was accented by opulent chandeliers and soft, flickering lights that bathed the room in warmth.

Guests mingled in designer outfits, glasses of champagne clutched in their hands, and laughter ringing out as the soft hum of hip-hop music played in the background.

Nashira stood at the edge of the luxury event space, eyes narrowed as she watched Temia strut through the room with an air of defiance.

The glittering black-and-silver decorations of Ari's anniversary party shimmered in the soft, ambient light, but the warmth and festivity were quickly being smothered by the storm that had just entered.

Temia's arrival had been a spectacle in itself, a clear disruption in a night meant to celebrate the success of Remedy by Ari. A party filled with friends, associates, and the who's who of the beauty industry now had the buzz of impending chaos hanging over it.

Nashira clenched her jaw, the muscles in her neck tightening as she resisted the urge to go charging toward Temia and demand an explanation. She didn't need this right now.

Not after the month, she'd endured—long hours of meetings, the stress of maintaining her brand, and the emotional toll of Temia's relentless social media jabs. Yet here Temia was, smirking like she owned the room and daring Nashira to step up.

"You were not invited," Nashira's voice cut through the noise, cold and hard as she stood in front of Temia.

The smirk on Temia's lips only deepened, her eyes glinting with mischief as she leaned in, close enough for Nashira to smell her expensive perfume.

"I come and go wherever I want," Temia said, her tone dripping with entitlement.

A surge of rage burned through Nashira's chest. She could feel the tension in the room rise, people shifting uncomfortably, glancing nervously between the two women.

Before Nashira could react, Trinity appeared at her side, eyes wide and desperate as she reached out to put a hand on her arm. "Nashira, don't. Not tonight. Not here," she whispered, knowing her girlfriend well enough to sense the storm brewing within her.

But Nashira was already beyond reason. The past few weeks had taken a toll on her—Temia's tweets, the subtweets, and the relentless bad-mouthing of Nashira's life, brand, and work. Enough was enough.

"Back up, Trinity," Nashira snapped, eyes still fixed on Temia.

Before anyone could intervene, Beisha and Destiny made their presence known, stepping between the two like the shields they were. They knew what was at stake—if Temia took a swing, it wouldn't just be Nashira getting involved. Trinity would step in, and all hell would break loose. They had to prevent it.

Suddenly, a voice rang out, slicing through the tension like a hot knife. Ari, the host of the evening and the mastermind behind Remedy by Ari, was making her way toward the scene, a mixture of irritation and disbelief on her face. "Temia, what are you doing here? This is my event. You need to leave."

Temia's eyes flickered with something Nashira couldn't quite read—surprise, perhaps, mixed with amusement. "Oh, Ari, it's so nice to see you. I was just here to congratulate you," she said, raising her champagne glass in a mock toast.

But before Ari could respond, Temia's hand snapped out and struck Ari across the face. Gasps erupted around the room, and the air turned electric with the shock of the moment.

In an instant, Beisha and Destiny sprang into action. Destiny grabbed Temia from behind, yanking her away from Ari while Beisha launched herself at Temia, fists flying. Nashira's vision blurred with fury as she watched Temia twist and struggle, trying to break free. The chaos became a blur of shouting, struggling bodies, and the clatter of glasses hitting the floor.

Nashira barely registered Trinity's frantic voice calling out her name, but the raw, unfiltered anger coursing through her veins left her unable to hold back. Without thinking, she grabbed a glass from the nearest table and threw it at Temia.

The glass shattered against Temia's back, a jagged crack that seemed to ignite the fight further. Temia spun around, eyes blazing, and before Nashira could react, Temia's fist collided with her jaw. The impact was sharp and fierce, a jolt of pain that made her head snap to the side. Nashira retaliated instinctively, swinging back, fists meeting Temia's face with a bruising force.

The room seemed to spin around them, the sounds of yelling, broken glass, and a room full of people watching in stunned silence merging into a chaotic symphony. The next moment felt like an eternity as Nashira's rage took over, her fists a blur as she continued to land punch after punch. Temia stumbled, blood trickling down her lip, eyes locked on Nashira's with an expression that spoke of betrayal and fury.

Security finally made their presence known, their voices booming as they worked to separate the two women. Nashira's heels clattered to the floor as she kicked them off, lunging after Temia, who was already being hauled backward by two burly security guards. Nashira's heart pounded, her chest heaving as she fought the urge to break free and continue the assault.

Temia's glare met Nashira's one last time before the guards pulled her away, dragging her toward the exit. But Nashira's blood still simmered, her body vibrating with adrenaline. The last thing she saw was Trinity's frantic expression, eyes wide and worried as she stood with Beisha and Destiny, who were trying to catch their breath after the chaos.

But Temia wasn't done. Outside the venue, the echo of chaos had already spread, and it was clear that backup was arriving. Nashira could hear Temia's voice, loud and insistent as she called for her friends. Before Nashira could process it, the front doors burst open, and a new wave of people flooded in.

"What the hell is happening?" Jon's voice cut through the confusion as he grabbed Nashira by the arm, his eyes blazing with anger and concern. "You let her get in your head. This isn't you, Nashira."

"It happened. So get over it," she shot back, a mix of defiance and exhaustion in her voice.

Trinity stepped forward, placing a hand on Nashira's shoulder, her expression softening. "I don't want you to fight anymore. Not tonight. Not after everything," she said, her voice a mix of concern and pleading.

But Nashira didn't have time for apologies or explanations. Nashira broke free, charging back into the fray with an almost primal need. The scene was pure madness—screams, fists flying, people stumbling, and Jacob desperately trying to hold his wife Destiny back as she swung at one of Temia's friends.

"Temia!" Nashira screamed, her voice raw as she pushed past people and tried to spot her. The sight of Temia, bloodied and wild-eyed, brought a rush of anger so fierce it nearly blinded Nashira. But before she could get to her, Joshua stepped into her path, blocking her way.

"You gotta see me!" Nashira yelled at her, the desperation in her voice a stark contrast to the rage in her eyes.

Joshua shook his head, muscles taut with the effort of holding her back. "Not like this, Nashira. You can't let her do this to you."

But Nashira was beyond reason. Temia lunged forward, aiming for her, but Nashira sidestepped, bringing her foot up to deliver a sharp kick to Temia's stomach. The impact sent Temia sprawling, and Nashira followed up with a series of uppercuts, fists connecting with her jaw and cheek before security finally intervened, pulling them apart once again.

Through the cacophony, Nashira saw Trinity storming toward the scene, her face etched with fury as she yanked Temia by the hair, forcing her backward. But it was too late. Temia's nose was already bleeding, her eyes swimming with rage and disbelief.

Jon's voice cut through Nashira's haze, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her into the bathroom. He was breathing heavily, eyes dark with anger and worry. "This isn't who you are. This isn't how you fight."

Nashira's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, rage and exhaustion warring within her. "It happened, Jon. I couldn't let her get away with it anymore," she whispered, the fight finally draining from her.

Outside, the noise was growing louder, the police sirens cutting through the chaos as people screamed and ran. The party had ended, but not without lasting damage.

Jonathan was still livid, his jaw clenched tight as he tried to process what had just happened. Trinity was next to him, eyes wide with disbelief and frustration. The room was already a wreck, and Nashira knew that whatever happened next, her night was far from over.