Chapter 3
600 Words
Mike's outrageous words almost made me burst out laughing. If his father knew that right after he begged me to collaborate with him, his precious son offered me a security guard job at their company, I wondered what he would do.
The breakup with Audrey was indeed an awkward one. She was my first love, and even though I had never been in a relationship before, I wanted to give her the best I had.
Audrey always hinted at wanting gifts during our relationship. Her tactics weren't subtle, but I was still willing to satisfy her, because I loved her so much.
I knew she could find someone better and was afraid she'd feel unhappy staying with me, so I gave it my all. But what I got in return was seeing Audrey kiss another guy on our first anniversary.
Faced with my questioning, Audrey was neither flustered nor apologetic. She even looked me straight in the eye and said in an indifferent tone, "Did I ever say I liked you? I never admitted you were my boyfriend, did I?"
Audrey's voice was mocking as if belittling my efforts over the past year as a joke. I had a big quarrel with her. The next day, she posted about us on the college forum, claiming I was a simp who tried to get back the money I spent on her after she refused me.
Some said I was dreaming, imagining a relationship with Audrey. Others said I was an idealistic romantic.
I became a laughingstock. Even if I wanted to clear my name, no one would believe me.
During the last two years of college, I kept to myself, and aside from Johnny, no one talked to me.
Perhaps the faint smile on my face angered Mike, as his expression suddenly darkened. He reached out and grabbed my collar. "What's with that look of yours? Do you know who I am?"
I had heard of Mike over the years. Though he came from a rich family, he was notorious for being a playboy with no achievements beyond partying.
Mike and I were about the same age, but maybe because I had seen so much through my entrepreneurial journey, I felt a sense of helplessness like an elder with his behavior.
I pulled Mike's hand off and straightened my collar, then stood up to face him, advising, "You shouldn't just listen to half of the story. If you keep doing this, how can your father trust you with the company in the future?"
Mike looked at me like I was an i***t, then sneered. "Who do you think you are to lecture me? You're just a broke-ass nobody. Do you think you're someone important?"
Audrey clung to his arm with a blatant smile. "Carl, have you gone crazy from work? Even if you work hard for a lifetime, you can't catch up to Mike's starting point. You don't really think that just because you can stand here and talk to us, you're one of us, do you? Remember, you are just a rat in the gutter."
Audrey's words didn't hurt me at all. When I first started my business, I heard all kinds of harsh words and felt hurt by people's comments. But now, I had realized that a few words from others wouldn't affect my life at all.
My calmness made their mockery seem even more ridiculous. Audrey's smile froze, then she turned to Johnny and said, "Johnny, what are you waiting for? Didn't you say there would be a good show today?"
At that moment, I was truly stunned.
- Writer
