Unwritten Desires-Chapter 42

Alex

The young lady blinked up at me like I had just confessed to murdering her cat or I had spoke in a language she didn’t understand.

Shit.

To be honest, her reaction was fair considering the fact that the joke wasn’t even that funny, but clearly Adrian didn’t give a fuck about that because all he cared about was making my ears bleed with his incredibly loud cackling.

I fought the pressing urge to run my fingers over my eyelids and yank out my earpiece as I repeatedly reminded myself why I was doing this.

"Umm...can I help you?" The receptionist tried to sound as polite as she could and it was a miracle I could hear her over Adrian wheezing like a dying hyena.

Honestly speaking, the slightly confused look on her face kind of reminded me of my college days.

Back when I used to make awkward, offhand comments to girls in my class just to fill the silence. Back when my hair was always hung in my face, my glasses were too damn big, and I thought being "smart" was enough to get noticed.

Back then, they’d look at me the same way. A handful of them tried to be polite, some of them were just indifferent while the others were just blunt and didn’t bother to hide their disgust.

I wasn’t one of the hot boys. I wasn’t bold or effortless or anything close to charming. I was just the skinny kid with books in his hands and sarcasm stuffed in his pocket. Not exactly anyone’s type.

But that was before.

Before it all happened.

Before everything flipped in my damn face.

Before I learned to survive.

I fought back a sneer. I’m certain the only reason I got targeted was because I was soft. Innocent-minded. But I’m not that kid anymore.

Now...there was only one thing I wanted.

Revenge.

I’m going to make sure they all pay for the things they did to me.

Every. Single. One of them.

And fortunately for Simon, he was number one on my list. With my entire life replaying in my mind again, slipping into a calm, disarmingly smooth charm came as naturally as breathing.

I suddenly let out a small laugh like I hadn’t just been seconds away from spiraling into a memory I never asked to keep. "Sorry," I said, flashing the kind of smile that usually made people either lower their guard... or raise their walls. But luckily it was the former in this case.

"Didn’t mean to catch you off guard. I seem to have that effect on people."

The woman was probably in her early twenties which was going to make my job a lot easier. Her eyes flicked down taking in my frame, and for a split second, the look in them reminded me of the one Theadora had that very day I cornered her at the lockers.

Why did I do that again?

Oh right. She was saying something about a girl doubting our relationship.

Good thing I cleared that up.

Come to think of it, why the hell has that brat been so quiet for the past few minutes?

"Oh...it’s fine." The little lady’s awkward laugh cut straight through my thoughts like a blade. "I just...wasn’t expecting you to say something like that, that’s all." She said reminding me of my half baked attempt of a joke earlier which tugged a smile at my lips.

My gaze flicked to her laptop. To be honest, I actually meant what I said, her laptop was holding on for dear life.

"Well...not many people do." I leaned casually against the counter, lowering my voice just enough to make her lean in slightly. "It tends to keep things interesting." I lifted my shoulders in a small shrug.

"...But you should definitely consider talking to your boss about getting you a new one. Wouldn’t want you hurting those pretty fingers of yours trying to type on that ancient thing."

"My my my. Look who’s suddenly got game...since when did you become the king of charm? I mean, should I be taking notes now?"

I ignored Adrian’s snarky comment, keeping my attention on the blushing woman in front of me. "Well, um...what can I do for you, Mr...?"

I hesistated, contemplating on whether I should give her my fake name or real one. "Jeremy." I cut in smoothly, tilting my head as I let the next words fall off my tongue like silk. "Now go on—say it. I want to hear how it sounds coming from you."

Both of my identities were going to leave a trace behind, so creating a new one was my only option.

She blinked, cheeks warming instantly as her lips parted in surprise.

Hmph. Women.

Tell them exactly what they want to hear and in a matter of seconds they’re all over you.

"Umm Earth to Jeremy. I’d hate to cut your little flirt session short but we seem to have a problem here." Adrian’s sarcastic voice crackled through the earpiece. "I can’t get a hold of Theadora."

"What?" The words slipped out of my lips before I could stop them.

"What was that?" The receptionist batted her lashes, a bit taken aback by my little outburst.

Shit.

"Oh it’s nothing sweetie I just..." My brilliant cover up lasted all of three seconds before my ringtone blared through the silent office like a damn fire alarm.

"There. Now you can excuse yourself still looking like the gentleman you’re definitely not. You’re welcome, sweetie." Adrian quipped through the earpiece, his voice laced with so much sarcasm it practically dripped.

I fought back an eye roll as I flashed a polite smile to the brunette in front of me. "...I just need to take this."

She hadn’t even fully nodded when I turned and walked over to a quiet corner and when I was sure I had put enough distance between us, I declined the call so Adrian and I could speak through the earpiece—though that didn’t stop me from holding the phone up to my ear, just to keep up appearances.

"Talk to me."

"That’s the thing Alex. I don’t know for sure but I think her earpiece is broken." Adrian explained.

"Why does that little gremlin thrive on putting me in situations like this?" I sighed reaching for my nose bridge.

"Oh come on, Alex. You know it’s not her fault. Besides you dragged her into this...we dragged her into this, so we have to get her out of there. Who knows what horrible things that monster might be doing to her right now?"

A cold chill ran up my spine as an image of Simon and Theadora flickered in my mind and slowly but surely that chill twisted into something else—rage.

White-hot, bone-deep flaring rage.

"That two-faced maniac..." I bit out through gritted teeth. "I’m gonna kill him."

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel