Jade
They had taken her to the police station, fingerprinted her, and put her in a cell.
She felt powerless; there was nothing she could do to change her situation. And she feared her father's reaction, his health was already hanging by a thread, and seeing her behind bars would break his heart.
The first tear escaped, followed by many more. She lay on the bed, everything looked dim, and the cell's colors gave off a gloomy atmosphere.
She closed her eyes, searching for a little peace.
[...]
A few hours later, she woke up. Her limbs ached, and her head was pounding. She rubbed her eyes, wondering what time it was. Then she heard footsteps, someone was approaching. It was an officer, who stopped in front of the metal bars and said:
"Jade Henderson, the charges against you have been dropped. You're free to go."
Jade was overjoyed and surprised. Dropped the charges? Did Dominick do that? Something didn't feel right...
"Are you planning to stand there all day?" the guard asked, bored.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she murmured, embarrassed.
The chubby man opened the door, and she stepped out. Outside, she found Nerea, Maximiliano, and Dominick waiting.
The sight of the last one annoyed her instantly.
"Jade!" Nerea exclaimed. She had been very worried about her friend and immediately hugged her.
Dominick rolled his eyes.
"Are you alright?" Nerea asked once they separated.
"Pfft, I'm the only one who got hurt in this situation," Dominick scoffed. Nerea shot him a murderous glare.
"Maximiliano," Jade said his name, comforted by his presence. She walked over to hug him.
"What a shameless woman..." Dominick muttered.
"What is he doing here?" Jade asked with a scowl.
"I came to drop the charges, but not because I wanted to," he crossed his arms. "I only did it because I care about Maximiliano, and you're his little tramp of the moment."
Dominick shrugged.
Jade felt her blood boil.
"You son of a..." she started toward him.
"Don't listen to him, he's an idiot," Maximiliano held her back with his arm.
"Well, my community service for the day is done freeing a criminal. I'm out of here," Dominick gave Jade a contemptuous look, turned around, and left.
"I want to punch him," Jade growled through clenched teeth.
"You already did, and that's why we're here," Maximiliano scolded. "I told you to stay away from him, Jade. He's not good. Dominick will do anything to make your life miserable. I won't always be around to protect you."
"Maximiliano, I tried…"
"I know. It's not your fault. Dominick is my friend. I care about him... but he's an idiot."
They all laughed.
"Let's get out of here," Nerea said.
They all walked out of the police station, got into Maximiliano's car, and headed back to the hotel.
Dominick
He felt frustrated, like an idiot. What the hell was he thinking?
He ran his hands over his face. He was exasperated, annoyed, his face hurt, and he wanted to let out his rage somehow.
After finishing buttoning his shirt, he stepped out of the room. Five minutes later, Dominick was in the lobby.
"Can I help you with something?" asked the receptionist.
Dominick snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her. Do they change receptionists all the time?
"I don't think so," he said, looking toward the entrance. People were coming and going.
He was bored and had no idea what to do.
He looked again at the receptionist, tall, blonde, blue eyes, delicate face, small nose, and large breasts… He couldn't see much more behind the counter.
She was stunning, no denying it.
"On second thought, what would you recommend... Lisa?" He read her name on the badge.
"Well, the hotel is opening a new bar tonight. They say it'll be amazing."
"Would you come with me?" he asked, flashing a flirty smile.
"You want to go with me, sir?" she asked, licking her lips.
Dominick smiled. Gotcha.
Lisa glanced up at something—or someone—and Dominick followed her gaze. Maximiliano, Nerea, and Jade were walking through the door. Jade was clinging to Maximiliano, making Dominick narrow his eyes. He watched them say goodbye until Jade was left talking to that guy from before the fight.
She wouldn't stop smiling and flirting.
No doubt about it, she was just like the rest. With Maximiliano and that guy at the same time.
"That Jade is something else," Lisa muttered, not realizing Dominick had heard her.
"You know her?" he asked.
"Jade?" He nodded. "She's easy. She's with the boss, with poor Robinson, that fool she's talking to right now. He's totally whipped. There are a lot of rumors about Jade, and I'm pretty sure they're all true."
"I bet they are," Dominick mumbled. "What time should I meet you tonight?"
"Ten o'clock. I'll be at the bar, last table in the back."
"Perfect."
Jade
"You should go to the new bar they're opening tonight. It'd do you good to have some fun and shake off that bad moment. That jerk deserves a beating," Robinson exclaimed.
Jade stared at him, enchanted. She had liked Robinson for a long time. He was a great guy, and very handsome. Tall, light brown hair, hazel eyes. A semi-square jaw and broad shoulders. He might look like a bodyguard, but he was the sweetest person in the world.
"You think so?"
"Yeah, we should go together. I mean, if you want. We could also invite Nerea so you won't feel awkward with just me," he added, clearly nervous.
"I'd love to," she smiled. "Pick me up around 10:30."
"Alright, see you later, Jade." Robinson kissed her cheek and walked away.
Jade made her way to the elevator.
Dominick did the same.
Jade cursed under her breath, she didn't want to be anywhere near him.
"You have no shame," Dominick broke the silence. Jade shot him an angry look. "Cheating on Maximiliano with his employee? That's slut behavior," he said.
He was angry. Jade reminded him too much of Jazmín, beautiful and deceitful, a traitor... but above all, beautiful.
He shook the thought off.
"What I do or don't do with my life only matters to one person, and you're looking at her, you piece of shit," she muttered, squaring up to him.
"You're insolent. You think life is easy here at the hotel just because Maximiliano is drooling over you." He stepped in front of her. Dominick was much taller, so Jade had to lift her head to meet his gaze. She was only about 1.70 meters tall, and he had to be about sixteen centimeters taller… though she wasn't sure.
They could feel each other's breath. A bubble of anger surrounded them.
"You're a complete idiot. You go through life acting superior just because you have money. But let me tell you something, you're nothing but a snobbish, arrogant jerk," she snapped.
"You know nothing about me. You don't know who I am, and you're the last person who should be judging anyone."
"I wish you'd just leave, so I never have to see your face again." Jade pressed her lips together. For some reason, she wanted to hit him. Just seeing him made her furious. Dominick brought out the worst in her.
Against all odds, Dominick took a step forward, forcing her to step back.
Whatever he was about to do was cut off by the sound of the elevator doors opening.
Jade practically ran out, and Dominick cursed under his breath. He headed to his room, grabbed a bottle of alcohol, took a sip, and glanced at the clock, almost eight at night.
He lay on the bed and let his mind drift...
His thoughts betrayed him, and before he realized it, he was thinking about Jade, how in the elevator, he had finally noticed her eyes color. Green—though a deceptive green, because it changed with the light. Her blonde hair was lovely, though ruined by that awful bun she always wore. Her face was slightly round, her lips perfectly proportioned—neither big nor small, same as her breasts. Her fair skin, her narrow waist...
He sat up immediately, shocked at where his thoughts had gone. He hated her. That was all. He had to make sure he acted with his head—even with his rage—but he wouldn't let his dick take the lead.
"I need to get that woman out of my head. She's a nightmare come true. I need to calm down. I've been doing nothing but stupid things," he told himself. "I need sex, good sex."
Jade
"It's almost ten! Hurry up!" Nerea shrieked.
"I told him 10:30, don't worry," Jade replied casually.
"Don't worry?! You haven't even changed! Are you seriously planning to go out with your hair like that?!" Nerea cried, horrified.
Jade burst out laughing.
She picked out a fitted white dress that hugged her waist but was made of soft, flowing fabric that moved easily. It reached just two fingers above her knees. She put it on and sat in front of the mirror. A little mascara, some powder—very little—and she pinched her cheeks for color.
She grabbed a brush, then used a curling iron, and within ten minutes, her hair had soft, voluminous waves at the ends.
"What were you saying about not having enough time?" Jade asked teasingly.
"You're the worst. You still need lip gloss and shoes, black heels, please," Nerea begged.
"Only for tonight," Jade promised.
"Only for tonight," Nerea echoed with a smile.
Jade looked at herself in the small mirror and smiled. She couldn't deny she looked pretty. Even though she didn't like dressing up too much, she didn't want to draw attention. Like her mother.
The sound of the door pulled her from her thoughts.
"That must be Robinson!" Nerea exclaimed excitedly.
They both headed to the door. Nerea opened it, and sure enough, it was Robinson.
"You both look beautiful," Robinson complimented them.
"We know," Nerea grinned. "Hold on! I forgot my bag."
Jade stepped into the hallway to join him.
"You look really beautiful. I've never seen you with your hair down before," he said.
"I've been thinking about cutting it," she made a face, touching the curled ends.
"You shouldn't," he advised. "It looks amazing on you. Though I'm sure long or short, you'll still be the most beautiful of all."
Jade blushed.
"Don't say nonsenses," she murmured, brushing her fingers over the hem of her dress.
"It's the truth..."
"We can go now," Nerea announced. The three of them headed to the bar.
Dominick
He had been at the bar for just over an hour and already had a couple of drinks in him. Lisa had gone to the bathroom a few minutes ago, and he took the chance to look around.
He raised his glass to his lips and frowned.
She was there, with him.
Nerea, Jade, and Robinson were making their way through the crowd. They found a spot to sit.
Dominick downed his drink in one go, feeling the bitter burn slide down his throat. He was annoyed for no clear reason. He ordered a bottle and started drinking as he watched her. Her blonde hair was down, curled at the ends. She wore a simple white dress, yet she looked stunning in it.
He clenched his glass.
He couldn't stop watching her as he kept drinking...
He studied every part of her face, the outline of her body, and he hated it when Robinson gently touched her cheek and she let him.
Nerea said something and stood up, he figured she was going to get drinks. He watched Robinson go on and on talking while Jade stared at him, dazzled. Dominick rolled his eyes.
"Pathetic," he muttered, taking another swig.
Nerea came back with a round of drinks, and no one wasted time trying them.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it had been long enough to realize Lisa had ditched him. Not that he cared, he'd forgotten about her the moment he saw Jade walking through the crowd.
She drew his attention like no one else. Mainly, she triggered a kind of rage in him he wasn't sure he could control. He tried to focus on the clock. It was past eleven.
He looked back up at Jade just as she stood up and said something to her friends. Nerea stood as well and responded, but Jade shook her head. She took the last sip of her drink and disappeared into the crowd.
Dominick knew exactly where she was going, and before he even realized it, he was already heading down the VIP stairs. His feet moved on their own, and the alcohol in his blood was leading the way. He walked through the hallway.
He flung the door open with a loud bang that startled Jade.
"Jesus Christ!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "What the hell...? What the fuck are you doing here?!"
"Are you planning to sleep with him tonight?" he asked, glaring at her.
"What?" She scrunched her nose and clenched her jaw.
"Are you going to fuck that Robinson guy?" he took a step closer.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that because it was incredibly stupid," she growled, her hands balled into fists. "Get out of here, Dominick. This is the women's restroom."
"I'm not leaving until you explain "
At that moment, as Jade frowned, they both heard voices and the sound of heels approaching. Jade's eyes widened in horror.
Someone was coming.
Dominick clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into the last stall, slamming the latch shut behind them. He held her against the door, his hand still covering her mouth. She struggled to break free, but Dominick was stronger...