5/5
Chapter 29 ~ Cheap
Athena
My smile drops instantly.
Suddenly the cold air starts to sting and this is the moment I wish I had superpowers so I can vanish.
But wasn’t this my plan?
To have fun because this man doesn’t control me?
Alex stands there, tall and menacing, his green eyes hard and unreadable. His black shirt is unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled up, exposing strong forearms. He looks relaxed, but I know better.
His gaze drags over me, slow, lazy and deliberate. My heart pounds.
I swallow. “How did you-”
“Shut up.”
The air turns suffocating.
He takes a step forward, his expression impassive, but the way he looks at me–like I’m filth beneath his shoe–sends a chill
down my spine.
My fingers tighten around the railing behind me.
“What the fuck did I tell you?” he says, his voice calm. Too calm.
My throat goes dry.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
Alex tilts his head, his gaze flicking down to my dress, my bare legs, then back up to my face. Something flashes in his eyes, and
his lip curls in disgust.
“You look cheap.”
The words slap me harder than I expect.
I straighten my shoulders, my face burning.
“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” I retort, refusing to let him break me.
He lets out a slow, mocking breath.
“Right.” His voice is bored, but his eyes burn. “So this is what you do now? Dress like a desperate slut and throw yourself at anyone willing?”
1/5
Chapter zy – Choup.
“You must be into sluts I suppose, seeing how you rushed here when your little minions updated you on how much fun I was having. Tell me something, were you bored and decided to check on me?”
He laughs.
But there is no humor in it,
“Leah was called and we came. I escorted her to attend to her medical emergency. As for following you, I don’t think you’re that
exciting.”
My blood runs hot. “Fuck you, Alex.”
He smirks, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Already did, sweetheart. Didn’t change shit, did it?”
My nails dig into my palms.
He takes another step closer. “Tell me, Athena, how much tequila did it take before you forgot you had dignity?”
I refuse to let him see how much that hurts. “Go back to your perfect little Leah then and leave me alone.”
His eyes darken, but instead of getting angry, he laughs. A low, cruel sound.
“You’re jealous. That’s new.”
I scoff. “Of what?”
He places his hands in his pockets. “Of my per ct Leah. You’re jealous of how perfect and put together she is. I bet you chose to study medicine as well so I could see you in a different light but that will never happen.”
Something inside me cracks.
I shove past him, my heels clicking against the tiles, but he grabs my wrist. Not hard, but firm enough to stop me.
The air shifts again.
His fingers tighten just slightly. “Who did you come with?”
I laugh, “You’re insane. You just said my life doesn’t concern you. Who I came with isn’t your business.”
“I’ll decide what my business is. Answer the fucking question.”
I freeze.
The way he says it–slow, measured–tells me he already knows. He’s just testing me.
Noah has been so good to me, I can’t have him beaten up because his cousin turned out to be a mental patient.
“Mira.” I lie.
2/5
A long silence.
Then
His grip tightens.
“lie to me again and see what happens.”
I lift my chin. “I don’t have to answer to you.”
His jaw tics. “No, you just have to spread your legs for every man in this city-”
My hand flies before I can stop it.
The slap echoes in the air.
Silence.
Alex’s head barely moves from the impact, but the loud snap of his jaw tells me he wasn’t expecting it.
I step back, my heart hammering.
His lips part slightly, like he’s tasting the sting, before he turns his head back to me. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes-
His eyes are terrifying.
“Athena,” he says softly.
My breath catches.
“Do you think that was smart?”
I step back again, but he follows.
The world tilts. Or maybe it’s the alcohol.
Was I even drunk?
At this point I’m not so sure.
He exhales, long and slow, shaking his head. “You humiliated me tonight.”
My stomach knots. “You humiliated yourself by showing up here. Besides, I don’t even know you when we’re in public!”
His lips curl. “Oh, I’ll make you pay for this.”
My chest is full of rage. He insulted me, deamened me and still wants to make me cower? Not on tequila’s watch!
“I’ll check my stash and see if I have any fucks left to give.”
His eyes turn cold.
3/5
Choper–up
He studies me for a long moment, then slowly rakes his gaze over me again, lingering on my lips.
Then, just as slowly, his expression shifts.
Disgust.
Pure, unfiltered disgust.
Like I’m nothing.
Like I’m beneath him.
Something inside me crumbles.
My breath stutters, but I refuse to let the tears come.
He steps back, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Enjoy your fucking party, Athena.”
Then he turns and walks away.
For the first time tonight, real panic grips me.
I don’t know why. I don’t know what I expect.
That he’d lift me on his shoulder and take me home?
Or maybe that he’d demand I only dress this way for him.
What am I doing?
My body moves before my mind can catch up.
“Alex-”
I push forward, heels clicking against the tiles as I try to reach him-
When I feel a sudden push.
I don’t see who does it.
But suddenly, the world tilts.
Air rushes past me-
Then I fall into the pool.
I can’t swim!
