004

Marion POV

I waited for a second for him to burst out laughing and confirm that he was pranking me. Thirty seconds later, that confirmation didn't come. Instead, Chase's gaze remained pinned on me, a hopeful look on his face.

Well, since he didn't laugh mockingly, I chose to do it for him.

" That sounded funny." I replied, my face shifting from a smile to a scowl. " I don't appreciate it though." I added and continued inside.

Chase waited until I helped him on the sofa and preparing to escape before clutching my hand in a tight grip.

" Think about it Marion. I need a girlfriend to help me with my parent's situation." He said and I swear, Chase looked like he was begging me. That was ridiculously impossible, hard to believe. Chase Hudson was not the type to beg, especially beg someone he clearly hated like me.

I shook my head to clear that delusional thought out of my mind.

" I don't need trouble in my life." I blurted out. Chase Hudson was a walking trouble. Be his girlfriend? I didn't want to be torn apart by his crazy obsessed fans. Not to mention, I wasn't even his type.

" Trouble? Is that how you see me?" He asked, feigning a hurt expression. Of course I knew that was one of his tactics. I wasn't falling for it though.

I rolled my eyes.

" You are a walking disaster." I corrected myself. I wasn't afraid of saying it in his face without even a strand or remorse.

The conversation was getting out of hand and I needed to take control before he found something else to threaten me into his madness with.

" Sit tight and let me do my job." I said, trying to deflect. I retrieved my kit and knelt before him, my focus now on assessing the damage he had incurred from the fall.

" I don't need a doctor right now. I need a girlfriend." Chase insisted but I was not having it.

" That's too bad because the person kneeling before you is your nurse. That's what I signed up for." I replied dryly. " And your nurse needs to do her job before your leg gets messed up and your career goes down the drain." I added.

That seemed to get his attention. His jaw tightened.

" Fine," he said, finally relenting. " But we're not done talking about this."

" I am afraid that conversation won't be appreciated by me." I countered, my tone leaving no room for argument.

I carefully examined his leg, checking for any signs of further damage. He winced a few times but didn't complain.

" The fall didn't affect your injury, just a strain that will disappear in no time." I noted, after a thorough examination.

" You'll need to rest for the rest of the day." I added. Chase looked at me with a grin that spelt one word in bold " trouble"

" You'll help me to bed, right?" He asked and for some reason, my mind conjured images that had no business appearing in my mind.

How the hell could I think about Chase Hudson and me in bed?

Dude hates me and the feeling is mutual. Okay, maybe hate is a strong word to describe what we feel for each other. We definitely dislike each other though.

It must be because of that ridiculous offer he has been slapping on my face.

“ That's not my scope of work.” I replied after swallowing and shaking my head to clear those ridiculous images off my mind.

“ Come on Marion, don't be so rigid. You can't even take a joke? It's not like I'll drag you in bed and have my way with you.” He snorted.

“ It's not like you can fuck someone in that condition though. Maybe if you prefer getting ridden.” I fired back, rolling my eyes.

It wasn't until those words left my mouth that I realised what I just said.

I slapped my palm on my mouth, my eyes widening.

Chase looked taken aback, like he wasn't expecting that from me. Then he laughed…a loud carefree laughter that I hadn't heard from him since yesterday.

“ Now that's the Marion I knew from college. I was starting to wonder what the hell happened to you.” Chase muttered after he stopped laughing.

“ Life happened. It fucked me up.” I heard myself saying. I didn't even know why I said that, I just found myself saying it.

Chase looked at me…really looked at me without that signature annoying smirk or grin on his face.

“ I hope the future is kind to you, Marion. You are a good person. You deserve it.” He declared. I felt my throat constrict at those words, a heavy lump forming there.

I have always believed that goodness is rewarded and evil is punished. My life however seemed to be full of punishment no matter how many good deeds I did.

My father gambled everything we owned before he got himself killed. He didn't care if my sister and I ended up in the streets when he sold the house.

At 23, I should be living my life yet I have to redeem the house, take care of my sister and keep her safe from creepy bastards who want to take advantage of our situation.

Before I thought, even if my life was fucked up and a mess, at least I had someone with me. That's until I walked into Finn proposing to some other woman and calling me a low-life.

“ I don't dare think about the future,Chase. That's a luxury I can't afford. I’d rather take one step at a time.” I replied, forcing a smile on my face.

“ Something happened?” Chase asked and for a moment, I had the illusion that he actually cared. Then I realised that men like Chase never cared about people like me. The two of us belong to two different worlds with nothing in common.

“ Not really. I'm fine.” I replied.

“ I'll get someone to help you upstairs.” I added and started walking away.

“ Finn…he broke up with you, right? His welcome party in the team is in a few days.” Chase declared. He wasn't asking, he was only confirming.

I had told myself that I would care about Finn, that I wouldn't let him get to me. But hearing Chase’s words, they still stung. After all, I'd given my all in that relationship, supporting him throughout his career only to be discarded like something disposable.

“ You'll come with me to the party.

Don't you want to get back at him? Prove to him that you don't need him? That you are better off without him? What's better than to appear right besides the person he hates the most.” Chase suggested.