The CEO'S Sugar Baby

Chapter6

6

Janet's POV

I awoke to intense pounding. For a moment, I wondered who the f**k would be having such a loud party, then I realized it was my head pounding. Almost as if waiting for me to realize that, the pain set in.

I was having the mother of all hangovers, and it came with its most intense headache.

Sighing, I dropped back on the bed, then shot right back up as I realized I wasn't looking at my own ceiling.

‘Where am I?’ I wondered, my heart going into a slow, strong beating.

I racked my head for memories, anything to give me a clue. Gradually, memories of the day before – was it just a day before? I felt like I've been sleeping for forever – surfaced in my mind.

The engagement news on X, my attempts at breaking up and Drake's solid refusal, the visit to mum, the threat from Drake's mother, the bar, cursing Drake –

I gasped, intensifying the headache. I remembered Drake showing up, but nothing past that. Did he take me back to his house?

More than a little nervous, I got out of bed. But the moment I stepped outside the door, I knew this wasn't Drake's mansion.

Now truly afraid, I rush back into the room and search around. Relief washed over me when I saw my phone on the desk beside the bed.

For a few moments, I debated keying in 911 in readiness to dial before exploring the house, just in case, but I didn't want more news about me. So I decided to call Mira and find out what happened first of all.

To my surprise, I heard a phone ringing somewhere in the house right after I dialed the number. Recognizing Mira's weird ringtone, I finally relaxed.

“Hello, I'm in the kitchen. Follow your nose,” Mira said when the call connected.

Now relaxed, I realized there was a strong smell of coffee in the air. Following my nose, I walked in to two people, obviously in love, playing over a cup of coffee.

My heart clenched as I watched the blond haired man kiss a drop of coffee off Mira's cheek. The affection between them was almost visible.

How many times had I wanted to play like couples in love with Drake? Even though we acted like we were in love – well, he acted, but I wasn't acting –, such plays were inappropriate in public.

And Drake wouldn't be caught dead kissing me in private.

“Hello,” Mira greeted, leaving the table to come hug me. “How do you feel?”

“Like teens are having a disco party in my head.” I reply, trying not to wince. “Your boyfriend?” I asked, nodding towards the blond man.

“Fiance. His name's Richard. Richard, meet Janet. Janet, meet Richard.” Mira introduced us.

The way she said fiance had my heart clenching again. Maybe it was the alcohol from yesterday, but I suddenly realized I was feeling very lovesick.

I wanted so desperately to be loved, to be cherished, to share some affection with someone.

“Mira always talks about you,” Richard said, leaving the table to come shake my hands.

Does she? It's been six months since I completely stopped working in the arts department. Does she still talk about me since then?

“So does the news,” I reply.

Richard shrugged. “It will pass. I will leave you two to talk.” So saying, he walked out.

In a minute, I was sitting at the coffee table, Mira beside me, and I can finally ask the question that's been bothering me ever since I woke up.

Only that when I asked, Mira burst into a raucous laughter. I frowned, wondering what could be funny. Countless scenarios flashed through my mind, each more horrifying than the last.

Had I told Drake I loved him? Had I confessed publicly? I couldn't think of anything worse than that.

“What happened?” I asked again, fearing the answer even as I did. “Don't tell me I did it, please.”

The last sentence was said in a low voice as I imagined the headlines already flying around.

Mira looked at me strangely. “Why? That was cool, man. Are you regretting it? That was very badass!”

I frowned. I was about to ask what exactly happened when Mira held up a hand to stop me as she picked her phone. A short time later, she thrust it into my hands.

My heart went into a slow beat as I read through the headlines.

[“Leave me the f**k alone! You're engaged now!” - Girlfriend yells at billionaire]

[Drake Hoffman chases girlfriend, gets rejected]

[Girlfriend proves Drake Hoffman won't leave her alone, see footage below]

I clicked the play button and an incredibly unbelievable video played out on the screen. I was yelling at Drake, poking my fingers in his chest and sticking them in his face. I looked mad, and Drake looked thoroughly stunned. In the background, every single one of my former colleagues, including Brylee, had their mouths hanging open.

The video had no sound, but I could only imagine what I had said to Drake under the effects of alcohol. I took a deep breath, not knowing what to think.

Years of pandering to his every wish had made me instinctively a little scared, even though I had resolved to break away from him and had the means to do so.

When I looked up, Mira was smiling at me with bright eyes. The twinkle in her eyes dimmed a little when she saw my face.

“Are you regretting it?” she asked, frowning. Then without giving me a chance to reply, plowed right on. “Come on girl, what's wrong with you! You put him in his place right there and now you want to go crying back to him?”

I shook my head, opened my mouth to talk, but didn't speak in the end. I wondered what was wrong with me. I should be happy, instead, I felt confused and a little lost. And I didn't even know why.

“See, for the first time, the media has a favorable impression of you. Don't you go throwing that away –”

So suddenly it took even me by surprise, I burst into tears. Mira looked confused for only a fraction of a second before enclosing me in a hug.

“It feels so good.” I said, sobbing into her shoulder. “I'm just not used to it, that's why. But it feels so good.”

I finally realized why I wasn't happy. I was just disconcerted. I had lived so long as a bad guy that being the good person came as a shock. For once, I wasn't “pet” or “slut” or “w***e” or “seductress”, I was “girlfriend”.

I never realized how much I needed that, how much I craved the recognition. How much I missed being supported, how much I craved release.

And now, I was finally free.

Mira rocked me gently till the tears stopped. I didn't know when exactly it came on my face, but when we separated, I had a big, wide smile.

Mira and I looked into each other's eyes. “So, what are you going to do now? Will you let me write your resignation letter? I've learnt some new curse words and would like to —”

Her words were cut short by the ringing of my phone. The name on the screen was like a douse of cold water on my excitement.

Drake's mother.

“I don't like my son being in the news like that,” her voice was incredibly cold. “But I'm going to let it pass. I just need you to complete what you started. Go, make the break-up official. Cash that cheque, pay your debt and have him make a public announcement!”

A beep told me she's disconnected. I took a deep breath as I thought of the billion dollar cheque sitting in my purse.

It was time to end this farce. Right now, I wasn't sure I would ever stop loving Drake, but I sure as hell was not going to make myself his doormat any longer.

I'm ready to live with my unrequited love.

____

You know that thing they say the universe is the master trickster? Well, I never believed it, till now.

I was at Drake's mansion. Surprisingly, entering had been abnormally easy. The gate was open and I didn't have to disable any security alarms.

Which made me uneasy. I had wondered if Drake was waiting for me, probably with a lawyer, ready to make my attempt to break up as hard as possible.

Instead, he was sprawled on the couch in his sitting room, bottles of liquor scattered around him, a half finished dish of the spaghetti I had prepared two days before on the table.

On the table too, was his laptop, fully powered up, the sss application open. And would you believe it, the subject of the mail he was composing was “CONFESSIONS”, the opening words were “I love you”, and the to section showed the recipient was …

My hands froze on their way to shaking him awake. My eyes widened. I concentrated on the laptop screen, sure I had misread it, sure it was just a similar email address.

It wasn't.

Drake was sending me a lo

ve confession! As the room shrank around me, I seemed to hear the universe asking: but are you ready to live without requited love?