Chapter 7: Contractually Yours

Jem's POV 

Every head turned towards us. Conversations died. Even Dante’s speech stopped mid-way.

I froze at once.

I can't believe this girl hasn't grown up yet.

Is she really still this petty?

Is this really who Dante was about to hand over his entire empire to?

Surprisingly for me, I was still relaxed despite all the eyes on us now.

I knew I was in trouble already.

I could've just left when she asked me to.

Now, look what I've caused upon myself.

The attention—the eyes, and barely audible whispers were killing me faster than the fact that I knew I might lose my opportunity of getting paid here.

Honestly… right now, nothing scares me more than losing this job.

I looked around slowly. I couldn’t count the number of judgmental eyes that seemed to be casting me out. The situation reminded me of what happened at the police academy just a few weeks ago… the exact same way Mara had made the whole university turn against me with just their stares.

Why does this girl want to ruin me completely?

I let out a dry chuckle, then I leaned close and whispered to her, “You're still acting cheap, girl!” I hissed, “Grow up or Dante wouldn't see you fit enough to be his successor.” I added smoothly.

And with that I turned around to walk away from the mess she created with her own hands.

I bet my words must have sunk fast and deep.

She suddenly screamed, “Guards! Throw him out now! This is my party! THROW HIM OUT!” She cried.

Before I could take any step further, guards had already rushed forward towards me. 

“Wow, stupid guards taking orders from the petty witch!” I smiled bitterly.

I swear, I wouldn't go down without trying.

So I stepped back a little, trying to speak, to explain myself—to make them understand that I'm not trying to cause trouble here—but then, the second I stepped back, my foot suddenly slipped and I crashed into the tall champagne pyramid behind me.

The entire glass filled with champagne suddenly went crashing to the floor, shattering into a thousand glittering pieces as the liquid sprayed everywhere.

My heart sank. Now I think this is the real trouble.

“Oh hell, this didn't happen!” The voice in my head cried.

By now, champagne had already flooded the floor.

The room was now in complete chaos—faces furrowed, women hissed, men grabbed their ladies closer for protection, fellow waiters and waitresses covered their faces in embarrassment.

I stepped forward to explain myself again but I suddenly missed my step and slipped and fell hard. 

A sharp glass shard sliced my palm, and I let out a sharp cry as blood poured freely from my hand.

Guests started to whisper loudly—some nice ones even suggested that I needed to be rushed to the hospital. 

Mara didn’t care. She was smiling behind her eyes.

“Get him now. Throw him out, he came to ruin my party.” She continued to scream.

The guards didn't move, they couldn't.

The broken glass was scattered everywhere so the guards refused to come close to me because they were scared of hurting themselves.

“I said get him! NOW!” She cried out loud.

“But the glass—” a guard was just about to speak but she suddenly cut him off mid-sentence.

“Shut up stupid head! I'm not blind of course. I'm commanding you now, go get him and throw him out of here. I don't want to see his face here, get him out now!” She yelled at all the guards.

Slowly the attention shifted from me to Mara.

Her voice was so loud, and she sounded utterly rude, especially since the guards she was arrogantly commanding were old enough to be her father—or older.

Everybody was now staring at her, some shook their heads in pity.

This was when Dante rushed down from the stage. 

Everybody immediately made way for him as he approached us.

In that instant, his voice thundered. I swear I almost felt the room tremble from its sheer power. “Mara, that’s enough!” His command landed heavily in the room; as if it didn’t settle, it hung in the air like a storm about to break—real and suffocating, almost impossible to ignore.

At that moment everything froze.

Even the hall went dead quiet.

Dante’s eyes suddenly landed on me. His brows furrowed. “You again?” he muttered.

My heartbeat suddenly multiplied by ten, hammering in my chest like it wanted to escape

But something shocking suddenly happened.

Despite Dante's frown, he didn’t order the guards to throw me out. Instead, he stepped forward—toward the shards of broken glass everyone else had avoided—and without hesitation, he squatted beside me like someone carefully tending to a wounded bird.

“Are you alright?” His voice suddenly came out soft and tender.

My mouth fell open, I couldn't say a word.

He pulled himself closer and grabbed my arm at once to help me up but a glass shard suddenly cut Dante's palm. 

He jerked back quickly.

“Boss, you're hurt. Stop!” Shark screamed from behind as he rushed forward to help Dante.

Dante suddenly flung his bleeding palm up into the air, stopping Shark in his tracks. “Don’t come close!” he barked.

“Oh God, why am I getting hard right now?” The voice in my head screamed.

Look at that!

Now this is what we call a man with power!

Dante didn't back away completely, he drew closer again… he didn't mind the blood that was slowly oozing out of his palm.

He stretched his hand forward for me to grab, and I didn’t think twice before slamming my palm into it.

Our hands had already touched before I realized—it was my bleeding palm I pressed against his own bleeding palm.

The second our blood met—warm, shocking, and electrifying.

We both jerked back in shock.

Just like how it happened the other day under the rain… it repeated itself again… except that today's shock was stronger and I could've passed out if I wasn't strong enough to endure it.

It was like electricity had just torn through me.

Dante, on the other hand, couldn’t even hide his pain. The way he withdrew sharply and slammed his palm to his chest was clear evidence that it struck him hard too.

Before I could even process what had just happened, Dante staggered back in shock—and without warning, he collapsed to the floor, his body hitting the glassy ground with a heavy thud.

Screams filled the hall. 

Hell no… I bet the party had just come to an end.

An elderly, yet classy and elegant looking woman suddenly rushed forward and dropped to her knees…”Dan, Dan…honey—wake up.” she cried.

Dante's mother, I guess.

I could see the familiarity in their faces and height, she has the same nose as her son.

Her head suddenly snapped up and the second our eyes met, I almost looked away in fear, “Who—are you?” She asked slowly with a trembling voice and wet eyes.

I froze.

Oh, I hope the dictionary could answer that.