Bluegrass State of Mind(30)

The steady thump of dance music assaulted her ears as she approached the conference room. It was a glass-enclosed room that ran the length of the building. It hosted the company meetings where all hundred-plus attorneys tried to squeeze in for meetings. Not knowing what she’d find, she slowed her steps as she approached the last cubicle. Once she got to that point, she'd be able to look into the conference room. Knowing it must have to do with the equity partners’ guy night, she didn't want to be seen, so she ducked into the cubicle and slowly raised her head over the top. Her heart was pounding and her palms were starting to sweat. Her breathing seemed to be so loud she thought they'd be able to hear her. Bob made it clear to everyone that these nights were privileged. If you weren't invited, then you’d better not be seen there.

When she looked in to the conference room, she saw a professional clothes removal expert up on the table with Bob and about fifteen other men leering at her while they were watching her dance. "Ah, poker night," she mumbled as she let out a breath. Nothing too serious besides the dents the stripper was leaving on the table. She marched her way up and down the table as if it were a runway. Kenna was about to turn around and duck out of the cubicle to head home when the girl on the table screamed again. Kenna popped her head back up and saw the stripper backing away, shaking her head as if saying "No." The sea of men parted and Chad approached the dancer.

"What the hell?" she said under her breath. She stopped herself from going in and cussing him out when she saw him reach up to grab the dancer's legs. He jerked them toward him, making the girl fall onto her back. The table shook and the air was knocked out of the girl. She lay still on the table, her blonde hair fanned out on the dark mahogany wood. Her legs were spread and dangling off the table, Chad's hands still on each calf where he had pulled them out from under her. The conference room erupted. Not in outrage like she thought, but in whistles, hoots, and cheers. Chad ran his hands slowly up her legs and stopped at the waistband of her black G-string. The dancer was struggling to breathe again, and then she started to thrash her arms and legs, trying to shake Chad off her.

This was not right. Waves of panic came upon Kenna as she realized what was going to happen to the girl. The worst part was the smile she saw on Chad's face, his fake tan making his bleached white teeth look animalistic. With one hand, he ripped the g-string off and tossed it into the crowd of men. She recognized some of the partners, a couple of sitting judges from the appeals court, and even one from the Supreme Court. She was also pretty sure that one of the men was a U.S. senator. Chad used one hand to cup the stripper's bare mound and his other hand went to her breast, which he squeezed so tightly that it elicited another scream from the girl. He ripped off the silver-sequined bikini top and used both hands to squeeze her breasts so hard that even Kenna cringed. The dancer screamed again and started to struggle.

She couldn't help it anymore. She had to do something. She looked around the cubicle and found the phone. Hoping no one would notice the line light appear on the conference room phone, she picked it up and dialed 9-1-1. When the operator came on, Kenna gave the address and the location of the conference room in a whispered voice. She told the operator she was witnessing a rape. When the operator asked her name, she gave it. The operator asked her what was going on. So she raised her head again and looked into the room. Chad had one of his big hands around the girl's pale throat. She was kicking and trying to hit him with her arms and legs, but a couple of the men had moved up to pin her flailing arms down. Kenna looked around the room for some help. They all stood still, smiles coming onto their faces as they started talking excitedly among themselves. Chad slapped the girl's breasts until they were bright red. The girl, sobbing and begging to be let go, tried to fight one last time. Chad pulled his hand back and slapped her so hard the girl became dazed. With one hand pumping hard and fast into her, Chad's other hand went to his zipper. His voice rose above the music as if making an announcement. "Okay, boys, I won the pot tonight. I get to go first, but it's up to you all on who goes next."

Kenna's face went white. They weren't going to rape her just once, they were going to gang-rape her. Fear mixed with anger and overcame all thought. Kenna placed the phone face up so the operator could keep recording. She knew it was a long shot that any of the talking would be picked up over the music, but she knew the screams of the girl had a chance to reach the receiver. She rose and ran from the cubicle with a stapler in her hand. She ran to the door and pushed it open so forcefully it slammed into the wall. The occupants of the room froze. Chad raised his head from where he was biting the girl's breast as he raped her. With that same twisted grin on his face, he looked her right in the eye. "Sweetie, what are you doing here?"