Regina
My chest burned for reasons I didn't even understand.
He wasn't doing anything wrong—just out on a date with his girlfriend.
So why did it feel like my chest was being sucked into a black hole?
I watched him kiss her back, then lead her into his car and drive away.
My chest burned. Laughter died in my throat.
I suddenly felt stupid for even considering he was jealous of Mike earlier today.
He had a girlfriend—or at least a girl he was seeing. Why would he be jealous of Mike talking to me?
It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I actually went as far as to assume he liked me.
But I couldn't have been more wrong. Not with him standing there, kissing another girl.
Sensing my mood shift, someone turned to me.
"You okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost," Hanna said, clearly worried.
They all glanced in the direction I'd been staring, saw nothing, then turned back to me.
Clearing my throat, I smiled and said, "Sorry about that. I'm fine—don't worry about it."
They nodded slowly, not entirely convinced. I must've looked shaken.
Hanna spoke up again. "You know, if you're not feeling well, we can call this off."
"No, no—it's fine. We don't have to cancel anything. Let's keep going."
They nodded, finally dropping it—much to my relief.
"Alright, come on guys! I know a bar not too far from here," Hanna said excitedly, making Chloe and Cleo cheer in anticipation.
I smiled too, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. Not that they could tell—I was still wearing the mask.
This is gonna be a long night.
⸻
Julian
I initially brought... Steph? Or was it Samantha?—back for a night of fun. Just something to take my mind off a certain employee after running into her at the movie theater.
I figured that was the solution: a distraction. A warm body. A one-night thing.
It had been a while. Maybe that's why I kept thinking about her.
But then I saw her.
The very woman who'd been invading my thoughts. At the theater. In a dress that could make any man forget how to speak.
I dropped... Jessica, was it? Off at her place immediately.
I couldn't go through with it. I knew I'd be thinking about her the whole time.
I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
All I could think about was dragging her into my car, ripping that dress off her, and—
My suit pants grew tighter. Wonderful.
It was undeniable now: I was attracted to the girl who ruined me.
I never thought in a million years something like this could happen.
But now it made sense.
That rage I felt earlier when I saw Mike talking to her? Yeah. That was jealousy.
Even though she turned him down, I still wanted to put my fist through his face for even thinking about what was mine.
I had to leave before I did something I'd regret. Well, scratch that—I wouldn't regret it. That was the problem.
I loosened my grip on the wheel, worried it might snap off completely.
But I couldn't help it. Every time I replayed the situation in my mind, my blood boiled.
It also explained why I wanted to devour her lips the moment I saw her biting them earlier.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. This is a one-way road to catastrophe.
But I still hailed a cab to get there.
This is not going to end well.
⸻
Regina
The night went by in a blur. I barely enjoyed it after seeing Julian with that girl.
My entire evening took a U-turn... off a cliff.
Now I'm sitting on my bed sulking, hating both Julian and that girl for putting a damper on my mood.
Who is she, anyway? Is she his girlfriend?
Not that it matters. That's not why I'm sulking.
Okay. Maybe it's part of the reason. But still.
Why am I reacting this way to seeing Julian kiss another girl?
Of course I don't like him.
That's ridiculous.
He's my boss. I'm the girl who—along with my best friend—basically ruined his company.
There's no way I like him.
I shake my head and get up, realizing I've been sitting here thinking about him way too long.
Needing a distraction, I grab Cora's laptop and click on the movie we started together last night.
She's probably going to be mad I watched it without her, but I really need this.
I need to get out of my head.
I watch for a few minutes, but my thoughts keep boomeranging back to Julian.
Eventually, I give up. I shut the laptop and crawl into bed, defeated.
⸻
The Next Day
I walk into the office with a clearer head than before.
I'm minding my business, mopping floors, waiting for my lunch break so I can meet up with the girls.
Then someone taps me on the shoulder.
It's Julian.
My heart spikes.
He clears his throat.
"Miss Vale. I'd like to see you in my office."
Hey guys!
Another short chapter — sorry about that!
I promise the next one will be longer.
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Love you all, and I'll see you in the next one. 💖