10
1398 Words
Celeste.
It’s been three days since Jared caught me fingering myself and since I made it my mission to ruin his thoughts with my need, in every way.
Every morning walking into that tower delivering that coffee, I had a new goal.
It wasn't just to drop it and run anymore.
It was to get into Jared Harlan's head.
To make him want me and then to deny him.
After his hurtful words that night.... something in me snapped.
I was so done with being the victim.
Tired of being the one who was hurt, rejected, pitied.
He told me it was a mistake.
He told me he didn't want me that way but I’ll prove to him he wanted me in every way if it’s the last thing I do.
"Earth to Celeste. Hello?"
Eric's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I was at the cafe, wiping the same spot on the counter for five minutes.
I jumped.
"What? Sorry."
He leaned on the counter, studying me. "You've been in another world for days ever since you started that daily delivery to the Harlen corporation. What's going on over there? I heard the CEO is a cold ruthless asshole…"
I forced a laugh brushing him off. "Oh nothing. It's just... a stressful environment quiet." That much was true.
"Right," Eric said not looking convinced. "Well I have the perfect cure for stress. You're coming out with me tonight and no arguments."
I groaned. "Eric no! I'm tired. I just want to go home and sleep."
"Tough luck," he said grinning. "My girlfriend works at The Velvet Room. You know that elite club downtown? Impossible to get into? She got us free passes…. VIP passes and we are going to have so much fun there you need something to clear your head."
"The Velvet Room? Eric we can't afford a glass of water there let alone a drink and I have nothing to wear."
"Free passes mean free entry and my girlfriend said our first drink is on the house and you can wear anything simple…. You're coming and I won't take no for an answer."
He was like a happy, persistent bulldozer living no room to argue.
And that is how I ended up standing outside the Velvet Room later that night feeling completely out of place in my simple black dress while everyone else looked like they'd stepped off a magazine shoot with Eric buzzing with excitement. "See? Told you!"
We walked into the to a pulsating music and swirling lights.
It was so loud and overwhelming.
Eric immediately spotted his girlfriend near the bar and shot off like a rocket, leaving me alone.
"I'll get us drinks!" he yelled over the music and then he was gone swallowed by the crowd.
I stood there awkward trying to find a spot where I wouldn't get bumped.
I made my way to the long bar hoping to find Eric.
A guy slid onto the stool next to me.
He was handsome in a slick polished way. "Hey," he said, smiling. "You look a little lost first time here?"
"Uh, yeah I can with a friend and he went to get—" I said giving a polite smile.
"He's taking too long," the guy said and leaned closer. "I'm Jason. You want to dance? It's better than waiting here."
My instinct was to say no but I came here to have fun and it’s exactly what I’ll do.
"Okay," I heard myself say. "One dance."
Jason grinned and took my hand and pulling me onto the crowded dance floor.
I let myself get lost in it for a minute the noise, the movement, it pushed all my complicated thoughts away but then I felt it.
A gaze, a hard, piercing, familiar gaze cutting through the crowd like a laser, my eyes scanned the dark room and then I saw him.
Jared.
He was standing near a roped-off VIP section holding a glass of dark liquid in the same office suit I saw him in the morning,
He was staring right at me, his expression like a thunderstorm.
My heart dropped to my feet.
What was he doing here? At a club? He had a fiancée at home! Was he following me? No that was crazy.
Jason spun me again pulling me back against his chest, laughing.
I looked away turning Jason’s arms, facing him and giving him my best smile and then I slid my arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.
He was taken aback but soon began to kiss me back his hands roaming around my back and onto my ass.
What was I doing?
Kissing a stranger!?
Fuck
My heart was hammering but It was working It was really working cause I was still feeling Jared’s eye on us.
A large hand clamped down on my upper arm the grip was iron-tight, painful causing me to break the kiss.
"Let's go. Now."
Jared's voice was low a growl that vibrated through the music.
It wasn't a request
It was an order.
Jason stepped back confused. "Hey, man, what's your problem?"
Jared didn't even look at him his eyes were locked on mine blazing with a fire I had never seen before. "She's with me," he snarled.
He didn't wait for a reply instead he just pulled hard causing me to stumble but he kept moving, dragging me through the dancing bodies, toward a side door marked 'EXIT.'
"Jared! Let go of me! You're hurting me!" I yelled, trying to dig my heels in but it was useless.
He shoved the door open, and we burst out into a cold, dark alley behind the club. The noise from inside was muffled
He finally released my arm and I staggered back rubbing the spot where his fingers had been. I could already feel bruises forming.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted, my voice echoing in the alley. "You can't just grab me and drag me out of a club!"
"What the hell am I doing?" he fired back his voice dangerously quiet. He took a step toward me forcing me to look up at him. "What are you doing Celeste? Dressed like that? Letting some stranger put his hands all over you? And kissing him In a place like that?"
"It's none of your business!" I yelled. "You don't own me! You have a fiancée at home, remember? Why aren't you with her? What are you even doing here?"
"That is not your concern," he hissed. "My personal life is not up for discussion with you."
"Well my personal life isn't up for discussion with you either!" I shot back. "I can go to a club, I can dance with whoever I want, and I can certainly kiss whoever I want, you don't get to control me just because I live in your house! You don't get to judge me!"
"I'm not judging you," he said his voice dropping but the anger was still there simmering. "I'm trying to protect you from your own stupid decisions!"
"I don't need your protection!" The words were a scream. "You don't get to play the responsible father one minute and then drag me out of a club like a jealous boyfriend the next! You don't get to have it both ways, Jared! You told me you didn't want me! You told me to forget it that night… So forget it and f*****g leave me alone!"
He flinched just a tiny movement, but I saw it. My words had hit their mark.
For a long moment we just stared at each other breathing heavily.
Before he spoke, his voice rough. "You shouldn't be in places like that”
"It's not your problem," I whispered.
Before he could respond Eric stumbled out, looking worried. "Celeste? There you are! I've been looking everywhere! Are you okay?" He looked from my furious face to Jared's imposing angry figure. "What's going on?"
Jared took a step back his mask of cold control slamming back into place. He looked at Eric with pure disdain.
"I'm fine Eric," I said, my voice trembling. "Let's just go."
I turned my back on Jared and walked toward Eric not looking back but I could feel Jared's eyes on me the entire way out of the alley.
To hell with him.
- Writer
