Marcus’s words replaying in my head over and over again. Stop behaving like a slut.
Those words weren’t just an insult, they were a scar carved straight across my heart.
But the further I walked, the more hollow my steps felt. My throat tightened, and this gnawing ache spread through . It wasn’t just anger; it was fear. Fear that if I left things like this, I’d only keep drowning in uncertainty.
I stopped dead in my tracks, clutching my bag close.
No. I can’t keep letting this drag down. I need to know. I need to fix this. Even if it breaks , I’d rather be shattered by the truth than slowly eaten alive by doubt.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I turned around and started running back toward the club. My heels weren’t built for running, but adrenaline numbed the sting. My heart raced faster with every step, not just from the sprint but from the thought of what I was about to do.
I was going to tell Marcus. Tell him I liked him, tell him that if he wanted , he had to go all the way in, no half-assed insults, no gas, no pushing away and then pulling back like I was so toy.
But as I got closer to the side alley near the club, I froze. My breath caught in my throat.
There he was.
Marcus, I an.
His back was pressed against the wall, his hands tangled in a girl’s hair as he kissed her like he wanted to consu her. Her fingers clawed at his shirt, pulling him closer, while his mouth moved hungrily against hers. It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t hesitant. It was ssy and passionate, the kind of kiss that left no space for doubt.
And it wasn’t .
I felt my knees wobble, my entire body stiffening. My voice wanted to scream, but nothing ca out. I couldn’t even breathe properly.
Then, the girl broke away just long enough to whisper, "Who was that girl?" She tilted her head in my direction, though I wasn’t sure if she actually saw through the shadows.
Marcus barely glanced up, his voice rough, careless. "She doesn’t matter."
That was it. That was all he said.
Just three words.
I don’t matter.
Sothing cracked inside , sharp and painful, like glass shattering in slow motion.
Almost imdiately, a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky. Then the first droplets of rain fell, cold and stinging against my skin. Within seconds, it was pouring.
Marcus and the girl laughed, sprinting back toward the club for shelter. They didn’t even notice.
And ? I just stood there.
I let the rain soak , drenching my hair, my makeup smudging down my cheeks with the tears I couldn’t hold back anymore. My heart was screaming, my chest aching so badly I had to clutch it as if that could hold together.
It was the third ti I broke down that night.
My phone buzzed in my bag, the vibration weak against the thunder. I pulled it out with shaking hands. Maxie’s na lit up the screen. My best friend.
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t pick up. I didn’t have the strength to explain why my world felt like it was crumbling. So I pressed decline, shoved the phone back, and let the rain hide as I staggered ho.
I noticed from a car that I was being watched... the eye was following my every movent and I beca scared but looking closer even that car seed familiar... Aec
"I must be cursed" I murmured under my breathe hard
I could see the smoke from his cigarette’s coming out through his car window but he didn’t do anything and for once I felt relieved that he knew his place.
---
The Morning After
I woke up with swollen eyes and a headache so heavy it felt like bricks were stacked on my skull. My bed sheets clung to , damp from my rain-soaked body the night before.
I dragged myself up, every movent heavy, like I was moving through mud. When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I almost laughed, mascara streaked down my cheeks, my lips cracked, my eyes lifeless.
But instead of crying again, I straightened my shoulders.
If Marcus thought I didn’t matter, then fine. I’d make sure he never saw break again.
By the ti I got to work, I had my armor on, a sharp dress, perfect hair, lips painted a confident red even though I didn’t feel it. Inside, I was still in pieces. But outside? I was ice.
Maxie slid into my office a few hours later, her eyes full of concern. "Shay, what happened last night? You disappeared. I called..."
"I was busy," I cut her off, not even looking up from the stack of files on my desk.
"Busy?" She blinked. "You didn’t pick my calls. I was worried."
"I had work to do," I said flatly, pushing another file aside. "And speaking of work, I’m taking on Taylor’s reports for this week."
"Taylor’s reports? That’s not even your departnt!"
"Well, soone has to do it." I shrugged, flipping a page. "Better than sitting around gossiping."
Maxie’s mouth opened like she wanted to argue, but I slamd the file shut before she could. "I don’t want to talk about it, Max."
Her shoulders slumped, and I hated how her face fell. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t let her in, not when my insides were still bleeding from Marcus’s words.
"Hey Sharon, Mr Kade needs you" Joel called out... It was a perfect escape at the mont but I t sothing bigger outside, maybe Maxie was better ...
"Even under all the makeup, I can see the dark circles ford perfectly under your eyes"
It was Aec, the fact that the new CEO was in tight business with Aec felt like a threat but at the mont I was avoiding everyone... Including aec
Even Joel tried to strike up small talk at lunch, throwing one of his cocky smiles my way. Normally, I’d throw a snarky coback or at least roll my eyes. But this ti? I didn’t even bother. I just kept typing, like his existence was as irrelevant as a flickering light bulb.
By closing ti, I could feel Maxie’s eyes drilling into my back as I packed my bag. She tried one last ti.
"Shay, please, talk to . What’s going on?"
I zipped my bag and slung it over my shoulder, finally looking at her. My voice softened, but only a little. "Max, I’m tired. Let’s just drop it."
Her lips pressed together, and for a second, I thought she’d cry. But then I exhaled, forcing a small smile. "Hey, rember that birthday party Marcus’s friend invited us to? The one he ntioned a few days ago?"
Maxie blinked at like she couldn’t believe I brought it up.
"We’re going," I said firmly.
---
I was exhausted but I forcefully created ti for this party, Maxie and I dressed together at my place. She wore her usual fun, colorful style, bright red heels and a glittery dress. But ? I wanted revenge, even if I’d never admit it out loud.
I slipped into a black satin dress that clung to my hips in ways that felt dangerous. The neckline dipped low, the slit on the side revealing just enough thigh to make eyes follow when I walked. My hair was styled in soft waves that frad my face, and I’d gone heavy on the highlighter, making my skin glow like fire under the lights.
When Maxie saw , her jaw dropped. "Damn, Shay. You’re... glowing."
"Good," I said simply, grabbing my clutch. "Let him choke on it."
The party was already alive when we arrived music pulsing, laughter echoing, drinks flowing. Marcus was there, of course. He spotted instantly, his gaze lingering for a second too long before he turned away.
Fine. Two could play that ga.
I wanted to have all the fun and at this party, I laughed louder than necessary, danced with strangers, made sure my smile looked effortless. But every ti my eyes flicked back to Marcus, he was watching. Always watching but never reacting and sohow I still felt hurt.
Then ca the gas.
Soone shouted for Truth or Dare, and the crowd roared in approval. I tried to blend into the background, but fate had other plans.
"Sharon!" one of Marcus’s friends called out, smirking. "Your turn."
My stomach twisted, but I lifted my chin. "Dare."
The smirk widened. "Kiss a guy. Right here. Right now."
The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles. My face heated, but I forced myself to stay cool. My eyes scanned the room, lingering briefly on Marcus. His jaw was tight, his eyes burning into .
This was it. The mont.
Do I kiss soone else... and break him the way he broke ?
Or do I back out and let him think he still owns ?
The crowd chanted louder, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" as the ga turned into a cliffhanger I could barely breathe through.
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