Darker Than Red

Asher Bennett greeted the server with a laugh.

"Waiter, bring me one glass of every drink on this menu! And one of each appetizer too!"

After speaking, he pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his friend's pocket and handed it to the server as a tip. The moment I saw that, I knew I'd been made a fool of again.

Asher's friend complained loudly. "Holy shit, how can you be so stupid?

"Anyone could tell this was fake! As if you'd ever get this lucky!

"Seriously, Claire Sutton, can you stop being so full of yourself? Why would he ever marry you?"

As I listened to them mock me back and forth, I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt.

Asher downed a glass of whiskey, then said with mock sincerity, "Free drinks really do taste better. Thanks so much!

"But don't feel too bad. After all, I did promise you a surprise."

He fished a cheap bracelet out of the trash can and held it out to me. The woman beside him couldn't help but chime in.

"Asher, why are you giving her someone's garbage?"

As she spoke, she made a point of showing off the expensive designer bracelet on her own wrist. Her eyes were full of mockery. Asher stared at me and smirked.

"Claire doesn't care about material things like that. She loves anything I give her. Right, Claire?"

When I took the bracelet, his friend sneered. "Wow, talk about being desperate. She really took it."

In the past, I would have argued until I was hoarse. However, now, I simply took the bracelet and used it as a hair tie to pull my hair back.

"Thanks. I'm supposed to be making toasts today, and loose hair wouldn't look right."

Asher paused for a second, then burst out laughing.

"Wait, Claire, you actually took that seriously? Making toasts? Do you think I'd ever bring someone like you home to meet my parents?

"You're living in a fantasy. There's seriously something wrong with you!"

He crossed his legs and looked at me with pure disgust. Even though I'd expected this, hearing him say it out loud still hurt.

The truth was, I'd known all along that today's proposal was nothing but a cruel joke.

Yesterday at noon, I made lunch as usual and brought it to Asher's office. Just as I reached his door, I heard laughter coming from inside.

Through the crack in the doorway, I could see Asher sitting on the couch with a cigarette in his hand.

"Asher, you're something else. Only you would get a kick out of bets like this. But let's see if this delusional woman actually falls for it this time!"

"You've tricked her so many times already, though. Will she really believe it again? I remember she got pretty mad last time!"