Chapter 6: His jacket.

ELENA.

The thought of that photo didn’t leave my head.

Did Brandon take them just to blackmail me?

The morning air was supposed to cool me off but it didn’t.

I rode my bike towards the hospital, hoping I could finally have a good day after my unsuccessful encounter with Mr. Brandon.

However, my peace was shattered the moment I stopped at the curb in front of the hospital.

A car rushed by and splashed a wall of water on me.

My mouth opened in shock. “Hey! What the hell-”

I yelled as I watched the car screech to a halt.

Then I looked closer… and of course it was Rita’s car.

She got out of the car with her friend, and they were both laughing.

They stood back with their arms crossed, a smug expression appeared on Rita’s face.

“This isn’t funny, Rita!” I yelled out.

Rita stared at me for a second, before bursting into a loud laugh. “That’s what you deserve, you low life bitch.” She scoffed. “Just take a look at you, all wet. I know you’re too embarrassed to walk into the hospital.”

Her friend snickered beside her, but Rita didn’t care.

She stared at me with so much hatred in her eyes.

I wanted to throw everything in her face. The one night stand. Her fiancé’s betrayal. Everything that happened that night. I wanted her to feel the same humiliation I was feeling right now.

But something held me back. I took a deep breath, my fist clenched at my side.

Not yet. I won’t let her watch me break.

Before I could say anything else, a sleek black car rolled in front of us, tires screeching. The car windows were tinted and the air suddenly shifted. I knew exactly who it was before the door opened.

Brandon.

He stepped out of his car, dressed in his usual black suit, tall and imposing, his dark silk hair styled perfectly, and his grey eyes were cold and intimidating.

He glared at Rita, then his gaze settled on me, and he stopped.

My chest tightened.

For a second, his eyes flickered at my wet clothes before settling back on me.

He didn’t say a word. He just stared at me with an unreadable, cold expression, like he was trying to put the pieces of the scene together.

“What’s going on here?” his voice was cold as ice.

Rita moved quickly, stepping between me and Brandon with a wide, fake smile. “Nothing, baby. Nothing.”

Before she could say another word, Brandon brushed past her and walked straight to me.

That cold look on his face hadn’t changed.

My heart began to skip.

Rita’s gaze darted nervously between us. Her lips, pressed into a thin line.

For some reasons I expected the worst.

For him to shout or tear me apart in front of Rita.

But he didn’t.

He did something I didn’t expect.

He stepped closer.

His grey eyes locked onto me for a second.

Then he unbutton his jacket smoothly and held it out to me.

Rita’s eyes widened.

I froze.

My wet shirt clung to my skin, and taking his jacket felt like admitting defeat in front of him and Rita.

I stared at the jacket, then at him.

Why was he helping me?

“What..? Brandon-” Rita’s voice cracked in confusion.

But Brandon didn’t look at her.

His eyes were still locked on me.

Like I was the only one that existed in the world right then.

He didn’t speak.

He didn’t move.

He just stood there, holding the jacket out like he had all the time in the world.

I stood still, my body trembling slightly.

Part of me wanted to accept his jacket.

But the other part didn’t trust him.

Not when I still didn’t know if he was the one behind the photo.

Then his voice, low and even, cut through the silence. “Stop trembling.”

Before I could answer, he stepped forward and threw the jacket over my shoulder.

His fingers brushed my skin for a second.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t kind.

It felt possessive.

“Brandon! What the hell?” Rita’s voice was sharp and high.

Her eyes darted between me and him.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

There was a sudden silence between us.

It was heavy and awkward.

Then Rita walked closer to me, trying to snatch the jacket on my shoulders.

“Give that back.”

Brandon caught her hand before she could touch me.

His grip was firm but he didn’t look at her.

His eyes were still locked on me.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly. “Rita. Tell your friend to leave” he added, without breaking eye contact.

Rita’s lips parted but she couldn’t say a word.

I saw her friend standing by her car, take a step back like she saw danger coming.

She didn’t wait for a second warning. She stopped a taxi quickly and left.

Brandon turned his gaze off me, as he released Rita’s wrist and guided her towards his car.

She didn’t hesitate or fight him.

This was the first time I ever saw Rita submit to anyone.

The car door shut with a loud thud, and they drove off, leaving me standing at the front of the hospital.

It took me a second to notice.

People were staring at me.

In his jacket.

Speechless.