2 - I Fucked My Life

Elena’s POV

I felt cold lips pressed against mine.

His tongue felt so warm. The only thing my drunk-brain could catch was; broad shoulder, tall figure—almost like a foot from mine.

I had to lift my chin high to catch his lips. Was Nathan Stallard this tall? I remember our height gap wasn’t that big.

I heard dozens screaming behind my back. One of them, was Gabriel trying to call me. My lips kept pressed against his as I wrapped my arms around his neck. I sensed something strange about him.

He didn’t push me back, nor react. Just, there. He let my tongue wander around his mouth. Then, something snapped me.

It was my best friend, Daniella. Her voice banged my ears so hard that I pulled my lips right away.

“ELENA!”

“YOU KISSED THE WRONG MAN!”

“…”

“What?”

Nathan Stallard—no, where is he? I was sure I grabbed his arm before I tugged the wine bottle. My head turned around the crowds. Stu-art Huggesss suit, Irish Whiskey in his palm.

He was there, glancing at me eyes widened. Nathan Stallard, at the 099 table with his coworkers.

Seven meters away from me.

‘Oh, fuck.’ My heart dropped to my stomach. I gulped, the warm feeling brushing my lips turned cold as I turned my head toward the man standing in front of me.

I’ve never wanted to kill myself this bad after years ago when Gabriel first cheated on me.

Brunette irises. Deep, like blades. Standing right beside my wine bottle on the floor. Our seniors were staring at us, quiet, but loud enough to tell me just what the actual fuck did I just do.

“M-My a-apologies—” My voice barely came out. I turned my head to Gabriel, his face as pale as a corpse.

Why? Why didn’t anyone stop me? Never in my life had I dreamed I’d kissed a wrong man!

“M-My apologies, S-sir. I-I was d-drunk. I’d pay for your suit’s laundry—” I bowed my head.

I fucked my fucking fucked up life.

Jake Harold.

Folks in my office called him the owner of biggest business in this country. The Manhattan’s Snake, New York’s underground. His name filled the award for ‘The Most Influenced Man’ in the States’ for 10 years in a row. All those achievements, and he’s only in his mid-30s.

Gabriel once told me Jake is his distant uncle. I need to brush him off for that bullshit. I only ever saw him in the TV shows. How—how could he be here? Our company is domestic. I once heard that we’re gonna have a new President for the new branch, though. But I thought it was Yor, Gabriel’s father?!

Why is he here!?

“How much?”

I paused.

I saw his pale hand, pulled something thick from his pocket—a wallet. He counted a pile of dollars, without saying anything, then, handing it to me.

I never this humiliated for the rest of my life.

“Is this that much?” The edge of his mouth curling up to me, stared at me from head to toe.

“Women these days only catch men for money, right?” He chuckled. Our seniors started to laugh at me, watching me get humiliated in the middle of the party. “Is this money enough?”

I clenched my hand. Anger suddenly burning my face more than the wine got me. I know, I had made a big mistake. But—for Jesus’s sake. I even had to lower my face so that he couldn’t hear that I cursed him.

“I made a mistake,” I mumbled, “I got the wrong person, I will—”

“Wrong person,” he hissed. His eyes rolling like he was trying to mock my answer. “Do girls these days get drunk and kiss random men?”

He brushed his lips in a disgusting expression, as if that kiss had grossed him out. “Marketing department, right? You still need a lot of ‘social’ skill if you don’t want your boss to fire you.”

“What?” I gasped. What’s wrong with this man? I already apologized, does he really need to bring my position at the company?

How does he even know my position?

“Don’t you need the money?”

I paused. My tears almost flowed down. Not sadness, rather, anger.

“Look, Mr. Harold. I understand I caused such a commotion, but I already apologized. As I said, it was a mistake, as compensation, I’ll make sure to pay—”

“So, you mean, you kissed me, playing with my tongue, even wrapped your arm around my neck, all of that was only a fucking mistake?”

His cold voice made me freeze. “I-I apologized!” I said, gripping my gown tight, “I was drunk, I mistook you for someone else!”

“No,” He glared at me. It was the first time, I saw such a fierce expression from the infamous handsome face, that I was only able to see from the screen.

“You didn’t mistake me for someone else,” his voice dropped cold. His jaw clenched as if I hurt his pride.

His face leaned to me. “Just say it, who are you? Which one? Are you being sent by my father? Or, my mother? Which one? Are you here to seduce me, or destroy me?”

What the hell is this man talking about? I had to bury my face in shame when the party attention suddenly turned toward me.

Jake Harold walked toward me. His brunette eyes searched something from my face, then, I heard him laugh.

“Ah.”

“You got dumped.”

Those words instantly slapped my face right where it hurts.

“So? Is that your business—”

“Then I’m right,” he cut me off. His face leaned toward mine. I can feel his cold breath brushing my nose. “I have seen someone like you. Women tend to spread everything they have at their lowest. That’s nothing new. I’m used to it.”

“So,” his face backed off, “Which one? Do you use me for my name, face, or, money?”

I gritted my teeth. Gabriel was a trash, but he never insulted me like this. I couldn’t stand the crowds making me their new entertainment. But, I’m more irritated by how Jake Harold saw me.

I turned back. I was about to leave the building when a strong arm suddenly pulled me hard.

“You forgot your money.” Jake Harold pulled my wrist. He tugged the pile of money into my palm. Before I saw his arrogant eyes skin me alive.

A moment before he walked away, he whispered to me. “Tell your boyfriend. Next time he’s gonna dump you, make sure to find the replacement right. It was such a humiliation for a man like me, being used by a drunk, unstable, ill-mannered, woman.”

“And, once again.” Jake Harold brushed his lips, as if trying to erase our kiss a very disgusted face.

“You are not my type,” he hissed, voice low. “And you are a terrible kisser.”

He locked my body with his cold stare—for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Then I felt our shoulders bump; he walked away after tearing the last dignity I have.

My body leaned against the table, I almost collapsed to the floor. Of course, I was shocked. Everyone knows about his arrogant attitude but this is the first time I experienced it by myself.

I saw in front of the stage, Gabriel with his woman, but his eyes were fixated at me. I almost threw up remembering this was all his fault. I was about to search for Daniella—I need to know why she didn’t stop me earlier. Then—

/click!/

—I saw it.

A phone—no, a camera. Professional camera. The lighting was stuck directly at me. The moment I recognized him, that man disappeared in seconds.

“Reporter! Ugh, fuck!” I yelled. Right, this is New York we’re talking about. Surely there’s a bunch of reporters here, why didn’t I notice!?

“Excuse me, can you please delete it!?” I ran toward that reporter.

Fuck. Fuck my life!

How long? How long has he been here? Don’t tell me he captured everything, even when I kissed Jake Harold?