I swallowed, my throat tightening.My fingers fidgeted.“I’ll take care of it.”
I couldn’t look at either of them as I excused myself, trying not to let the shame overwhelm me.
His words rang through my head, and I couldn’t understand.Why would he say that and push me under the bus?
But the day spiraled during the design meeting.I had prepared my concepts carefully with innovative designs, sketches that I was proud of.It was creative and nothing likeOpulencehad done before, but as I began to present, Justin cut me off.
“No, no, Katie, what we need is something more marketable,” he said, dismissing my idea, barely glancing at them.
When the head of our design studio entered, he straightened up and took credit from the junior designers.My jaw clenched when he started claiming the same concepts he had dissed as his own.
But I stayed silent, making a mental note to confront him later during lunch.I refused to let him blame me for his fuck-ups and his lack of creativity.Has he always been this way?Why had I never noticed?
Still.I had some hope.Even though I had the urge to call Amanda and update on everything that had happened so far.I knew she would demand me to meet her, curse Justin and make my day better.
By noon, I had grabbed the small gift box and stepped into the luxury hotel where we had arranged our lunch.Since it was my birthday, Justin had asked me to treat him at a pleasant restaurant, and even though I didn’t mind, it made me think back to the day I had spent with Dylan.How he had paid for my expensive dress, lingerie and even Taco Bell despite my protests.
My stomach was full of nerves when I found Justin already seated at the grand table.He looked nice in his tailored suit, exuding charm.He was easy on the eye, and he knew it.
“Happy birthday, Katie,” he said, flashing a smile.
“Thank you,” I replied, my voice steady despite the heaviness in my chest.
Before I could even take a sip of the water, he started giving the order to the server.Selecting the most expensive items on the menu without hesitation.“We’ll have the lobster bisque, the Wagyu beef tenderloin, and of course, the finest wine.You must indulge on your special day,” he said smoothly, flashing me a wink.
I shook my head at the server and said, “No wine for me?—”
“But it’s your birthday,” Justin interrupted.
“I-I don’t really enjoy drinking?—”
“Nonsense.”He frowned, waving his hand.“One glass won’t hurt.Consider it a toast to your success.”
I didn’t argue further as we made small talk about work and how he was looking forward to his vacation in Miami.I stared at him and wondered how different the conversation between him and Dylan was.
Yes, he was younger than Justin, but it never felt so… dull or boring.
The delicious food arrived, but every bite became agony itself.Justin chewed loudly, smack by obnoxious smack, the sound grating against my nerves as my misophonia got triggered.My hands tightened around the fork and knife, my jaw clenching as I tried to block it out.Focusing on the soft lull of jazz music or how uncomfortably tight the dress had started to feel.
I couldn’t even enjoy the delicious lobster.Chugging the half glass of wine, I finally mustered the courage to break the tension.
But a phone rang abruptly.Justin glanced at the screen and casually excused himself.
“I’ll have to take this,” he said, standing up and walking away without even glancing at me.
I stared at my plate, the lobster bisque growing cold.My fingers hovered but didn’t move to pick up the fork.I couldn’t stop comparing him to Dylan, since he was the only man I had talked to the most intimately.He was playful, mischievous, but also kind and someone who listened to me without any pity or judgement.
While Justin was charming, he was someone who didn’t take accountability for his actions and blamed it on me without any consequences.
My long-term crush was just that.Acrush.It was completely imaginary, and it faded away as I stared at the empty seat across from me.
I sighed, contemplating whether I should return home.Pollux would listen to me vent, and I could forget the whole day.
“Miss?”The server smiled, placing the dessert in front of me as I looked up.“This is for you.It’s a blueberry cheesecake.”
“Thank you!”I smiled at her.“But I didn’t order this…”
She turned and pointed to a corner.“That man sent it for you.He also paid the entire bill, so you can order anything else you want.”
