Loyalty and Ashes

Elizabeth 

I lost my job. I've lost everything I worked hard for and why? Because I was trying to please him. My parents don't care as long as I marry into a wealthy family. 

It's always been me trying to please everyone. 

I can't take it anymore.

I'm breaking up with him. 

He was on his knees about proposing to me but I plan on ending it here and humiliating him in public because I'm done putting myself at a disadvantage. 

I'm fed up with his whole existence. 

I'm fed up with being used as a tool and looked down on. 

I sipped on my drink trying to suppress the urge to throw up on his face.I hate him.

“Elizabeth, I don't know what I'll do without you.” He said.

I rolled my eyes internally.

He continued.“ You've improved my life, and without you, I would fall apart.” He reached for his suit pocket.

I looked around the restaurant; it was pretty crowded, and people were already peeking at us except for one man sitting at the far end of the building. 

I don't know why he had caught my attention but I could feel his immense aura in my bones. Just the movement of his chest as he breathed gave me goosebumps.

He looked like a city thug, a gang leader or maybe a mafia lord, and I'm into that kind of man. He had tattoos peeking out from his button-up. 

 I trailed my eyes on those veins on his arm.  He had long fingers and I couldn't help  imagine how they would feel curled up inside me or maybe wrapped around my neck.

He has nails, too, not fingers but long nails, and I found them insanely sexy and attractive. 

My breath caught in my throat as our eyes locked; the look he gave me was so nonchalant like I was but another irrelevant human. But it also held something deeper.

His eyes, they carried this flicker of danger in them.Like I was staring at something forbidden.

I watched as he sipped from his mug and ate the toast. He was insanely attractive but I did not like the aura fanning around him. 

Still he was attractive. 

I took in his facial features; I could only see half of his face, but that was enough for me.

 I'll create the other half of the picture with my head later and then day dream about him sweeping me off my feet. 

I sighed , why am I even having such thoughts? I've had enough heartbreaks so my thoughts should be less men ,more me. 

“Will you be my wife ?” Felix snapped me out of my lust-filled reverie. 

He was supposed to put the ring on my ring finger, but I beat him to it and picked up the ring. I brought it close to my eyes, scrutinizing it to see if the diamond on top was fake. 

I've owned enough jewellery to differentiate fake diamonds from real ones, this here was fake. 

He was as broke as shit! 

I scoffed. “Eww … No!” Tossing the ring on the table, I walked out on him. 

My heart beating loudly in my ears at what I just did. I walked out on Felix Sanchez. 

No one walks out on him let alone refuse his proposal. I'll deal with the consequences later but for now ,I need to get out of this place. 

The restaurant turned quiet and only the sound of my heels could be heard.

I threw one glance back before pushing the door open, but I didn't see the tattooed man. 

That restaurant was the same restaurant where my high school friend got her heart broken and tell you what…he was the same guy. 

I just returned the favour. 

My phone rang and kept ringing even as I made my way outside. I bumped into someone while trying to put my phone on DND and I almost dropped my purse. 

I looked up to find a set of irritated eyes, that of the man who had given me that nasty look inside the restaurant.

How did he get outside in such a short amount of time? Maybe he left when I wasn't looking. 

For a few seconds, we just stood there with him glaring at me, his teeth grinding against each other.

The next second, he shoved me aside. 

Yes, he placed his wide palm on my shoulder and shoved me roughly out of his way, then stepped past me like I was a pest. 

I staggered, almost falling to my feet.

I groaned from the impact." What the hell !"

He didn't respond or even turn around but I knew he heard me.

What should I expect from men who have tattoos and are dressed in all black? 

I huffed out an angry breath and proceeded to flag down a cab while my phone kept ringing. 

My supposed boyfriend or rather ex was calling, I wasn't going to answer, not yet.

I stalled for like 15 minutes before finally answering.

“ Yes?”

“ Lizzy, please, where are you? Please let's talk, I can't lose you. Is there anything I did wrong ?”

I sighed. “ I was never yours to begin with, Felix. I just used you, and now you've been dumped just like you dumped Avery.”

His voice cracked.“ That was years ago! You can't do this to me, Liz.”

“You disgust me, Felix. You're a selfish asshole.” And then I ended the call.

The taxi driver gave me an amused look.“ You still haven't told me where you're going,”he said grumpily.

“To Luciano Hotel.”Cold wine and a nice bath would do me some good.

“ Are you married ?”

“Nope ”

“Engaged?”

“Nope?” 

“Relationship?”

“Nope”

“Then what was that about? ” 

The taxi driver was nosy, but I didn't mind; this might be the last time I would see him, so there was no big deal.

“I hate good men.”

He raised a brow glancing at me through the rearview mirror.“But surely, you would get married someday right?”

“Nah …. I just told you. I hate the male species.”

“Whatever your reasons are, I know you can't keep it up forever. My wife used to hate men, too, but look at us now. You'll find someone who will change your heart someday.”

I looked out the window, I didn't think any man would be able to break through the wall I had around my heart. 

I had been hurt  too bad to let it happen again. I'm the way I am now because of them. 

Felix had gone on a different level and deep down I know he'll come for me. He doesn't take no for an answer let alone a humiliation from a nobody like me. 

He continued. “ Not all men are trash, you know.” 

I laughed.“I don't think so.”

“You just haven't come across the good ones yet.”

“ Well, the only good man I know is my dad.” I just lied after all , everyone thinks they have a good father until it finally hits.

He took a left turn, and the hotel came into view; I had arrived at my destination. 

“Don't worry, you'll meet someone who'll change your view on the male species.”

I only smiled at him. 

  

          I intend to stay for a month at least because Felix would come looking for me at my house.

 He would lose his mind and act rashly;  he has anger issues, so for my safety, I'll be staying here. 

Did I mention that this was a five-star hotel that belonged to my parents? Parents who cared too much about fame to look after me since I was a child. 

Happily, I walked in and was directed to my room on the top floor. The first thing I did when I got in was quickly take off my clothes and hop into the jacuzzi.

A few minutes later, the sound of my phone ringing woke me up. Sloppily, I got out of the tub and grabbed my phone. 

“Yes, Dad?” 

“ Where the hell are you?” He yelled.

I contemplated for a moment then replied. “Umm…in my room?”

“What's this video I'm seeing all over the internet?…do you intend to ruin my reputation ?”

I furrowed my brows, what was he talking about?

“What video are you talking about ?”

He snapped.“I'm allowing you two days to resolve whatever dispute you have with Felix and find a way to get that video down!”

And he ended the call. 

      

I sighed.

      My best guess was that the proposal video was all over the net.

Wrapping a towel around my body, I sat on the bed and opened my I*******m account.

   

         I scrolled down the page and saw the video of Felix proposing to me.

    They didn't leave out how I threw the ring at him and walked out; it wasn't just one person who posted it. 

Probably half the people who were at the restaurant did.  Of course, there were negative comments; some were saying I was heartless, and some said I was a bitch.

As usual,I always receive hate.

This was Felix Sanchez, the city Prince that I turned down and humiliated publicly. 

I scrolled further down and saw more negative comments. 

- Why would she date him in the first place if she wouldn't marry him in the end?-

- it's obvious, she's a gold digger - 

  

- I hate women like that, she's a bitch !- 

- I heard she's the daughter of the owner of Luciano Hotel; she's a spoiled brat. No wonder she'll never settle down…. she'll die an old hag - 

I know I'll get insults, but calling me an old hag? 

I bit down on my lips as my chest tightened from hurt,the corner of my eyes stinging a little. 

    

They thought Felix was the victim.  Let's see what they'll say when I expose Felix. 

  

I searched for the video and just as I was about to upload it ,I paused. 

My fingers trembled slightly as they hovered over the screen.

If I do this ,I'll put myself in more trouble than I already am. No one goes against Sanchez let alone try to humiliate them but if I don't do this then no one will know the kind of person he is. 

Closing my eyes ,I clicked on the button before I started having second thoughts and then back out from fear. 

 It was a video of Felix drinking, smoking, and lap dancing with countless whores in a bordello.

    They all criticized me over some video; let's see what they'll think of their Golden City Prince now! 

       In the video description, I took my time to formulate a plausible storyline that would be in my favour.

            

         Then my eyes caught a Silhouette in the video, and I scoffed.  It's that arrogant Jerk that shoved me roughly. 

I hope we meet again so I can put my fork through his eyeballs.

I crunched up my nose on my brazen thoughts. That was so unlike me. 

Once again, don't judge me; I already choose pleasure over love.

It's safer. 

But that tattooed man, why was he staring at me like that? 

Like I was a prey.