All Chapters of SELFISH AMBITION : Chapter 41 - Chapter 43

I wake up to a dull headache at the forefront of my face. I roll over and embrace the warm sheets, then suddenly feel the urgent need to pee. My bare feet hit the cold tile and I realize they’re gritty and dirty from dancing the night before. Part of me can’t believe I danced for a bunch of men at a club. Another part of me feels a chip on my shoulder for finally doing something reckless and not feeling guilty about it. I make my way to the kitchen and reach for my phone. The screen lights up. My stomach drops. “Oh my god, did I really post that?” I tap the photo. There I am in that tight black dress, long dark hair falling over one shoulder, pale skin glowing under the neon lights, Zach smiling beside me like a proud idiot. I look good. Really good. Scrolling through the comments, I see the usual questions. “Where have you been? Has the bride made a return? Who’s the new beau?” One friend wrote, “Is that Zach from high school? Didn’t realize you guys were still friends.” Another

I slam my shoulder into the door and the frame gives with a crack. Zach barely has time to stand before I’m on him. My hand fists in his shirt and I drive him back against the wall hard enough that the drywall dents. “Where the fuck is she?” The words come out low and ragged. He shoves me off and swings. The punch lands solid on my jaw and pain blooms bright and hot. I answer with a fist to his gut and he folds. I grab the back of his head and drive my knee up into his face. Blood sprays across the floor. He stumbles back, gasping, but he’s not done. He lunges and we crash into the coffee table. Wood splinters beneath us. I end up on top, forearm crushing down on his throat. “She’s not yours, Reed,” he chokes out. My face is inches from his. “She was never yours to begin with.” He claws at my arm, eyes wide. “She just needed space.” I press harder. “Space from me? After what we built?” My voice drops to something dark and quiet. “She’s mine, Zach. Mine to break.