Dawn POV
Humming softly, I made my way back to my department.
Is it normal for me to be this happy? Huh? Just because Ethan finally found a way to make me stay.
Ugh! Not like I wanted to leave him, I just couldn’t find a better way to express my thoughts than that.
“Look where you’re going!”
A loud gasp escaped my mouth as I felt something cold splash onto my face. Cold drops trickle into my clothes down to my naked body.
“Oh no, my Americano.”
Her Americano?
I fisted my hand, my grits together on hearing the familiar voice.
I did not bump into her, she fucking did that on purpose.
I glared at my now stained clothes before I finally looked up to Melinda.
Her lips plastered in a smirk, her eyes glinting with mockery.
“Oh no,” she jeered. “What are we going to do with my Americano now.”
“You… ”
“Wait!” She cut me off, her brows creased as she folded her arms beneath her artificial boob. “Do not tell me you knowingly bumped into me?” Melinda sniffed. “Fine, I’ll apologize… I’m sorry”
What? Sorry?
She did not even let me say a word, and now she’s playing the victim here and shedding those crocodile tears.
I mentally scoffed. I clenched and unclenched my fist as I glared at Melinda before me.
God knows how much I want to pull her with her hair, bite her cheeks, and slap them both.
“Look at her, Ethan…” Melinda wiped her tears as she slowly walked past me. “She must have been jealous because she saw you kissing me.”
I scoffed.
Now Ethan is here, the table has turned.
I folded my lips, whirling around to face Ethan who wore a frown on his handsome face.
His gaze flickered too quickly from Melinda to me, then to Melinda again.
“I mean,” Mel sniffed.
Okay! If anyone should take up acting as a job, it should be Mel.
Why does she even bother to waste her time here?
“Is it so wrong to kiss your fiancee?”
“Finance?” I gritted my teeth.
Alright, hearing her say that makes my blood burn.
How is Ethan her fiance? Huh? Just because they went on a date, does that mean they’re dating?
“I believe you’re really surprised…” Mel locked their hand with Ethan, resting her head on his shoulder.
I mentally scoffed.
Good for them! And good for Ethan who has nothing to say because his so-called bride is here with him.
Oh really! And last time, he was telling me to give him some time and that he has changed.
Ugh! I can see how much of a changed person he is.
Great… Just great!
“Babe…”
“Let it go!” Ethan said. His voice was low, but anyone in his right state of mind would know how toxic and fearful that tone is.
I’ve never heard him use that tone, not on me, and not even on anyone that I know.
“Ethan…”
“I don’t want to repeat that, Mel” his gaze snapped to her, earning a loud short gasp from her.
Melinda quickly released her hold, taking a couple of steps back.
She rested her misty gaze on Ethan who did not so much spare her a second glance.
“You can’t keep on hurting me, Ethan. We are to get married, you know that, don’t you?!” Melinda snarled, her voice shaky as though she was going to cry anytime soon.
Wait… What? Get married? Didn’t Ethan say it was just a one-time blind date… That nothing is going on between them?
“And why should I marry you?” Ethan creased his brows, his lips lifted in a smirk as he stared at Mel…
“Because I love you.”
I scoffed.
Tell her to stop saying that or I might lose my cool.
“Love me?” Ethan chuckled. Effortlessly, he slapped his forehead and took a couple of steps to Melinda. He leaned forward, his lips just an inch apart from Mel’s ear.
I saw his lips move too quickly, but I didn’t hear anything he said.
“I…”
Melinda chuckled awkwardly, taking a fat step away from Ethan.
Now I’m curious about what Ethan said that makes Mel look so nervous and pale so suddenly.
“No one is going to believe you anyway,” Mel said with a nervous chuckle. “I can still turn the table around.”
She snapped her gaze to me and her frown deepened.
Alright! I understand that she doesn’t like me, but I’d appreciate it more if she doesn’t glare at me murderously like that.
Mel took a couple of steps towards me, stopping right before me. She tilted her head forward such that our faces were only inches apart.
“I’m coming for you.” She breathed out angrily.
Okay! I get that.
Sparing me a long last glare, Melinda brushed past me, almost sending my butt to the ground.
What a lunatic she is! Acting like a high school girl who fell in love with the school bad boy after a one-night stand with him.
Ugh!
“Come here,”
I felt an arm snaked around my waist, earning a short gasp to escape my lips.
I flew my head up, my gaze meeting the sharp gaze of Ethan before me.
“Let’s get you out of that,” he nudged his head toward my chest and I gasped again.
Okay! Goddamned Melinda. I don’t wanna hate her, but I guess I have no choice now.
Subconsciously, my arms flew to my chest, hiding my nipples that were peeking out of my ‘ now wet clothes that stick tightly to my body. ‘
How dare she! And I didn’t wear a bra.
My face heated up, and blood gushed to my ear as I slowly lifted my gaze away from Ethan.
Get me out of my clothes? Him?
I’m getting a bad idea from this.
“No!” I shook my head
Ethan chuckled, he pulled me closer, almost slamming my head against his hard chest.
His nail dug deep into my waist as he leaned forward. His hot breath fanned my neck.
Damn that! I clamped my legs together.
“What…” He breathed into my neck, his cold lips grazing my head, making me shiver in anticipation.
Fuck! My legs buckled beneath me, and my middle throbbed, craving his touch.
No! Not now! Not here.
I bit my lower tongue, trying hard to stop the treacherous moan from escaping my lips.
“What were you thinking?” He chuckled.
What does he think I’d be thinking? Huh? With his hand around my waist, his manly cologne lingering on my nose, his hot breath on my neck, and his lips biting my earlobe… I’d be damned if my pants are not wet by now.
I quickly pulled away, leaving a large space between us.
“What…?” I let out an awkward chuckle. “It’s not what you’re thinking!”
“What am I thinking?” Ethan said with an arrogant smirk, his eyes glinting… “I am not thinking about anything.”
Great… Just great, Dawn.
Didn’t you say you’d learn how to control yourself before this man?
“Fine!” I huffed. “Whatever!”
Ethan chuckled softly. He grabbed my hand again and tilted my chin up. His adorable teal eyes bore deep into mine.
“I just wanna keep to my word, Dawn,” he mouthed. “But… If you want to stand like this before me, I’m sorry, but that would be hard to do.”
His eyes darted too quickly from my face to my chest and I gasped.
Damn him! Hitting his chest as hard as I could, I pulled him away and quickly ran into the restroom.
Ouch! I understand how hard that could be! But the thought of that only makes me wetter.
Standing before the mirror, I gaped at my reflection and sighed.
Who knows, I might as well enjoy this short freedom before my Dad gets me again.
I quickly undo my buttons, and remove my shirt, leaving me only in the blue underwear.
I silently cussed Mel.
Because of her, I found myself in this mess.
“Need my help?”
“No!” I replied almost too quickly, earning myself a loud chuckle from Ethan who’s behind the closed door.
Him in here? Hey! I’d lose it.
I let out a short yelp when my phone rang loudly and I let out a couple of cusses before I fetched it out of my pocket.
‘ mom? ‘ I mumbled.
I clapped my hand over my mouth, staring blankly at my mom’s name on the phone.
True! After Ethan did get me a new phone, I had only saved my mom’s contact, I haven’t contacted her even once.
I just did not want to hear her voice… because I’d be forced to give up on my wall and let my Dad have everything his way.
I blinked back my tears. My hand was too heavy to pick up the call until it ended, but just after two seconds, it started ringing again.
“Everything alright there, kitten?” Ethan sounded worried as he knocked on the door.
“Yeah!” I mouthed. “I’m fine….”
Sucking in a deep harsh breath, I closed and opened my eyes momentarily, mentally calming myself down
It’s not my fault, I just couldn’t bring myself to do Dad’s bidding!
“I’m sorry, mom.” I quickly mumbled as soon as I swiped to the receiver icon.
There’s a moment of silence after my apologies. A silence that’s followed by a heavy breath, thudding of heart, then a loud short sniff coming from the other hand.
“Mom…” I breathed out.
“Dawn…” Mom said with a shaky voice.
Hearing her voice now, I realized how much I’ve missed her, and how much of a bad child I am.
“I am sorry, mom. I… Truly don’t…”
“Are you okay, Dawn?” Mom cut me off, worries lay beneath her voice. “Are you eating well? You’re not getting skinner, are you?”
I clapped my hand over my mouth to muffle my cry.
“Mom…”
“I missed you, Dawn.” She mouthed. “You’re coming back, right? When?”
“Mom…”
“Listen, Dawn,” she sighed.
I could imagine her running eyes, her shaky lips, and her red cheeks that were puffy. “You don’t want to get your Dad madder, honey…”
“I don’t wanna get married to him, mom..”
“You already met him, haven’t you?” Said mom. She sniffed before she continued. “Nicole Miller, I heard that he’s nice…”
“Well… nicer than that little prick you’re living with!”
Henry, my kid brother yelled into the phone. His deep voice almost blocked my eardrum.
I hissed, moving the phone away from my ear.
Ugh! I made a mistake trusting Brent… that little lad will never keep a secret from his best friend.
“That’s not the way to greet someone you miss!” I laughed awkwardly.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Henry continued, blatantly ignoring my kind gesture. “Living under the same roof with the world star Playboy, huh? What have you two been doing together?”
“Henry!” I snapped.
“I supported Dad! C’mon, Dawn! Aren’t you done playing the hide and seek game… I like Nicole more than Ethan.”
I chuckled. Now he’s one to talk! He supported me fully when I was running away, now he’s eating back his word.
“If you like him that much, why not get married to him in my stead!” I hissed.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat, blinking back my tears.
I don’t want to cry, but this damn salty water finally found its way down my eyes.
“He’s a Playboy, Dawn…”
“He was…” I gritted out, fisting my hand around the phone.
Henry chortled. I can imagine the smug smile on his handsome bitchy face.
“Was?” He chuckled. “If you’re going to be this cheap, why not just get married to Cole?”
“Henry!” Mom snapped.
Cheap? Right! I am cheap! Is that not why Dad is tryna sell me off?
“She’s your sis, Henry!” Mom snapped. “Don’t you dare call her cheap…”
“Well… I’m sorry…”
“No! You don’t have to be,” I sniffed, my tears now rolling in beads. “Thanks to you, I got to be reminded of how cheap I am, Henry.”
“Listen, Dawn… I just do not like Ethan or whatever! I’m not in support, mom too, and Dad too.”
I ran my tongue over my lower lip, sucking in a deep harsh breath.
“Dawn…”
“Thank you, Henry. Mom, I’m sorry. But I got to go.”
Without waiting for their replies, I dropped the call and smacked my phone on the basin.
Cheap? Ugh! How dare he.
I fisted my hand into a ball, my misty eyes glaring at my blurry reflection.
What am I going to do?
Now everyone is in support of my Dad…. even my mom.