He Took Me For Granted, I Said No

Chapter 3

I didn't have a single penny to my name, but everyone always said if you work, you'll never starve.

I'd been pounding the pavement for six whole hours, my stomach growling and my throat drier than dust. When who did I spot inside a bar? Jasper... and Monica.

A crowd had them surrounded.

She was grinning from ear to ear, her eyes crinkling into little crescent moons as she leaned all soft and cozy against his shoulder.

Jasper was smiling too, his head tilted as he listened to every word she said. The way he looked at her? It was just as soft and doting as how the male lead stares at his love interest in every romantic movie.

My gut clenched. I scrambled backward into the shadows, pressing myself against the wall to hide. I didn't want them to see me.

But I was too late. She had already spotted me.

She leaned in and whispered something in Jasper's ear. His dark brows snapped together instantly, and he strode right toward where I was hiding.

His face was tight, his voice sharper than usual, "Ella, didn't I tell my assistant to drive you home? Why did you run off alone like this?"

I couldn't tell if he was upset because he worried about me... or because I'd shown up here and ruined his good time with Monica.

I dropped my gaze to my high heels that had rubbed my heels raw. "I didn't come looking for you. I was just passing through. I'll leave right now."

I'd just turned to go when his hand closed hard around my wrist. He huffed a tired, exasperated sigh and tugged me right into the bar with him.

"I'm right here. Where else do you need to go? You ran all the way out here because I didn't come home, didn't you? It's dangerous for you to go out alone. Don't ever do this again."

I wanted to tell him I hadn't come looking for him, but he'd already made up his mind. So I just bit my lower lip and stayed quiet.

The bar was blaring loud music, thick with the stench of cigarette smoke and booze that burned my nose and made me want to cough.

A whole group of men and women were crowded onto the sofas. Most of them I'd never met before.

When someone caught sight of Jasper holding my wrist, they tilted their heads and asked curiously, "Who's this pretty little thing you've got there? Never seen her around before."

His grip on my wrist tightened just a fraction.

"She's a good friend of mine." Then, with a bit of hesitation, he added, "She's... not all there, a little slow. Sorry, guys."

I snapped my head up fast and stared straight at Jasper.

He wouldn't even look at me. Like one extra second of eye contact would be enough to embarrass him.

I let my head drop back to my chest.

In my past life, he'd said the exact same thing to people every single time we went to any important event.

I should've been used to it by now. I just didn't expect it would hurt this badly all over again, this time around. That dull, throbbing ache settled deep in my chest, sour and sharp.

A fat man laughed, his greedy gaze raking over me, lewd and unashamed. "What a damn shame. Pretty little thing like this, and she's just a simpleton."

Monica's lips tugged up into a smug little smile. She flicked a dismissive glance my way, then tugged lightly on Jasper's sleeve. "It's our turn to play now. Come sit down quick."

"Ella, go entertain yourself for a bit. I'll drive you home later," Jasper said, dropping my wrist before going to sit right down next to Monica. They sat shoulder to shoulder, so cozy and intimate.

That was when the fat man leered and coaxed, "Hey, little dummy, don't just stand there. Come here, sit next to me, yeah?"

I dodged his hand and scurried to the far corner of the room, as far away from both of them as I could get.

The fat man just glanced at me and didn't bother pushing the matter.

Everyone else was crowded around playing 'Truth or Dare', howling with laughter that bounced off the bar walls.

No one paid me any mind.

My throat was screaming for water by then, so I stared at the rainbow of glasses scattered across the coffee table, grabbed one, and gulped down a huge mouthful.

I had no idea the drink was straight liquor! It hit my tongue and burned like fire, searing all the way down my throat and into my chest, everything inside me felt blazing hot!

I coughed so hard my shoulders shook, but even that racket never caught the attention of Jasper, the man who'd taken care of me for years.

I didn't even feel disappointed, honestly.

Wherever Monica was, I was invisible to him. It was as simple as that.

I couldn't stop thinking, would it be better if I just snuck out right now?

But I was so tired and hungry, I just wanted a minute to rest.

That was when I heard it, her sweet, breathy voice cutting through the noise.

"For my penalty, I pick dare," she said as she turned to Jasper. "Can I kiss you?"