Revenge in Ruin

Chapter 4: Cold Welcomes

Aella pov

I was leaning back in my chair, mindlessly scrolling through a mountain of unread messages I had ignored for days, when the heavy click of the deadbolt echoing through the room made me look up. The heavy wooden door swung open, and the temperature in the office instantly dropped. The atmosphere grew so thick it was hard to breathe.

Sloane walked back into the room, but she wasn't alone. Trailing behind her was a girl and two boys. My fingers tensed against the back of my phone. This was it the first time I was laying eyes on the rest of the unit.

Sloane marched over to the double sofa and slid back into her spot right next to Jax. The new girl scanned the room before taking the empty chair right next to mine. The two boys moved toward the far wall, sinking into a long couch that was pushed flush against the plaster. It wasn't far from us at all, making the whole setup feel incredibly crowded.

I leaned my chin on my hand, my eyes drifting over the newcomers until they landed on one of the guys on the far couch. He was undeniably handsome, with sharp features and a dark look in his eyes, but he was glaring at me like he wanted to rip my throat out.

Why the f**k is he glaring at me? I thought, my irritation flaring up.

I shifted my gaze to the other guy sitting next to him. He was completely different. He sat up perfectly straight, his eyes scanning the room with a cold, military-like precision. He gave off a serious, heavy guard vibe, though I couldn't really figure out why.

For ten agonizing seconds, nobody said a single word. The only sound was the faint ticking of the wall clock. I tapped my boots aggressively against the floorboards, the silence grating on my nerves. I’ve always hated quiet rooms; they make my skin crawl.

The air in the room felt like a stretched rubber band ready to snap, and for the first time, a heavy, uncomfortable weight settled in my stomach. I felt like I was the problem in this room. The girl sitting right next to me lifted a ceramic mug, sipping her coffee in total silence, but there was a restless energy bouncing off her. Even though she was acting quiet, she gave off the vibe of someone who was secretly hyperactive.

Finally, Sloane broke the silence, her eyes locked onto the handsome guy who hadn't stopped staring daggers at me.

“I know you guys will never like her," Sloane said, her voice soft but pleading. "But please... just give her a try.”

The handsome guy didn't soften. His jaw clenched, and his glare somehow turned even icier.

“Give her a try?" he spat, his voice sharp enough to cut through the quiet. "For what? To destroy our group?”

I stared back at him, my grip tightening on my phone. What an uncomfortable day, I thought.

Before I could even open my mouth to fire back, the handsome man shoved himself up from the couch and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The girl sitting next to me set her coffee cup down with a soft rattle. “Sloane, I will give her a try," she said, her voice trying to sound reassuring. "And don't stress, he will accept her.”

But as she spoke, she flashed a look toward the doorway that wasn't so great. It was full of doubt, and it definitely didn't make me feel any better about being here. In my mind, only one burning question kept rising: Why the hell is that man so angry with me? The ridiculous thing was that I had literally just met him two seconds ago, only to find out he completely hates my guts. WOW. Unbelievable. Was I his ex in a past life? The way he hates me, I think I cheated on him in a past life, dang it.

“Sloane, don't stress,” the guard-like man chimed in from the couch. His voice was deep, steady, and calm. He shifted his gaze across the room, looking right at me. “Hello. I am Dante.” I could see he was trying to show sloane that he could accept me.

“Hi, I’m Aella,” I replied, introducing myself with a slight nod. At least someone in this room had manners.

I turned my head toward the girl sitting right beside me, who was still fidgeting slightly. “And you?” I asked.

“Oh, sorry! I am Ivy,” she said with a quick, bright smile. She finally put her phone down on the table, breaking some of that awkward energy. She glanced back toward the hallway where the angry guy had disappeared. “And that was Leo.”

“Can I know why he is angry with me? Didn't I just meet him now?” I asked Ivy, leaning a bit closer.

“You should ask him, as I don't quite know why either,” she said, her bright smile fading into a small, sad one. She was lying, and I could see that.

Watching her expression change, I realized this girl probably didn't get comfortable with new people very easily. I glanced over at the new guy one last time before shifting my gaze back to the head of the table.

“Sloane, can I leave now?” I asked.

I wanted out. I knew I wasn't doing any good by staying here. If I was doing anything at all, it was just bringing everyone bad mood.

“Yes, you can go,” Sloane said softly.

She was already pulling up her contacts and bringing her phone to her ear, probably calling Mr. Handsome. I didn't wait around to find out. I grabbed my phone, pushed my chair back, and headed for the door.

“I don’t think I will get along with them,” I mumbled to myself.