Chapter 154 The founder's day ball II

The sting of Ava's slap lingered on Rose's cheek like a cruel reminder of her humiliation. The laughter of the crowd still echoed in her ears, and the sticky sensation of the red paint dripped down her gown, clinging to her skin. She clenched her fists, trembling—not from embarrassment, but from the sheer anger simmering beneath her poised exterior. She wasn't one to take humiliation lightly, and Ava Gonzalez would learn that the hard way.

Simon's excuses had been meaningless in the moment. "I had no idea what I was doing, Rose," he had pleaded. But his words only ignited her fury further. She saw the way Ava had stormed off, victorious and smug, dragging her posse along like a queen leaving her court. Ava might have thought she'd won, but the night was far from over—and Rose Malicious ways was just getting started.

Taking a deep breath, Rose glanced around, her eyes locking briefly with Emily and Sylvia. They both looked concerned but knew better than to intervene. Rose was unpredictable when crossed. Brushing past them, she stormed toward the restroom to clean up. Her gown was ruined, her hair matted with red paint, but she was far from defeated.

---

The bathroom was quiet, a sharp contrast to the chaos outside. Rose stood before the mirror, gripping the edges of the sink, her reflection glaring back at her like a specter. The woman staring back was not the perfect, poised socialite everyone expected—this was a vengeful force, sharp and unyielding.

"I'll ruin her," Rose whispered, her voice low and venomous. "She wants to humiliate me? Fine. Let's see how she likes it."

As she scrubbed the paint off her skin, her mind raced. Simon had been Ava's Achilles' heel for as long as Rose had known her. Ava paraded their relationship like a trophy, flaunting her power over him as if he were nothing more than an accessory. But Rose had seen through it. She'd seen the cracks in their so-called love, the way Simon's eyes wandered, the way his body language betrayed his growing boredom with Ava's theatrics.

Tonight, Rose would exploit those cracks.

---

Rose didn't have to wait long. Simon appeared moments later, pushing open the door without knocking. His face was a mask of concern, but the underlying tension in his body betrayed his guilt.

"Rose," he began, his voice soft. "I'm so sorry about—"

"Save it," she snapped, cutting him off. "Do you think an apology is going to fix this? Ava humiliated me in front of everyone, and you just stood there!"

Simon winced, stepping closer. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. You know I wouldn't hurt you like that."

Rose turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "Then prove it."

Simon blinked, his confusion evident. "What do you mean?"

Rose stepped closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "If you really care about me, Simon, show me. Ava doesn't own you, no matter what she thinks. Or are you just her lapdog?"

The challenge in her tone was impossible to ignore. Simon hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering to the door as if expecting Ava to burst in. But Rose's proximity, her intoxicating perfume, and the fire in her eyes pulled him back.

"I'm not her lapdog," he said firmly.

"Good," Rose replied, a sly smile curling her lips. "Then show me."

Simon didn't need more encouragement. He closed the distance between them, his hands finding Rose's waist as their lips met in a heated kiss. It was a clash of passion and rebellion, both of them caught in the moment, ignoring the consequences.

Rose pressed herself against him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she deepened the kiss. Simon responded eagerly, his hands sliding up her back, pulling her closer. The room seemed to shrink around them, the world outside forgotten. All that mattered was the electric connection between them, the shared defiance in their actions.

"You taste better than I imagined," Simon murmured against her lips, his voice husky.

Rose smirked, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. "And you're far more obedient than I expected."

Simon chuckled, leaning in to kiss her again, but Rose placed a finger against his lips, stopping him. "Not so fast," she teased. "If you want more, you'll have to earn it."

"How?" Simon asked, his voice filled with anticipation.

Rose didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stepped back, her eyes scanning him like a predator assessing its prey. "Follow me," she said finally, grabbing his hand and leading him toward one of the stalls.

Inside the stall, the air was thick with tension. Rose leaned against the wall, her dress slipping slightly off her shoulder, exposing the smooth curve of her collarbone. Simon's breath hitched as he took her in, his hands itching to touch her again.

"You're beautiful," he said, his voice low.

"I know," Rose replied, her tone dripping with confidence. "And you're mine tonight."

Simon didn't need further prompting. He stepped closer, his hands framing her face as he kissed her again, his lips trailing down her jaw to her neck. Rose tilted her head back, letting out a soft sigh as his kisses grew bolder.

"Simon," she whispered, her voice a mix of desire and command. "Don't stop."

He didn't. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer as his lips continued their descent. Rose's fingers trailed down his chest, her nails lightly grazing his skin through his shirt. The heat between them was undeniable, a fire that threatened to consume them both.

But just as Simon's hands began to explore further, the sound of the bathroom door opening snapped them both out of their haze.

Rose and Simon froze, their eyes wide as the familiar click of high heels echoed through the bathroom. Rose smirked, her mind already piecing together what was happening. Ava had returned.

"Simon?" Ava's voice called out, sharp and suspicious.

Rose placed a finger to her lips, signaling Simon to stay quiet. But the smirk on her face betrayed her amusement. This was exactly what she wanted.

"Simon, are you in here?" Ava called again, her tone growing more irritated.

Simon glanced at Rose, panic in his eyes, but she simply leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "Looks like the queen is about to find her king in the wrong castle."

Before Simon could respond, the stall door creaked open, revealing Ava standing there, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene before her.

And just like that, the carefully constructed illusion of Ava's perfect world began to crumble. And seeing the pale face of Ava Rose smiled maliciously.

" Look like I won tonight Ava Gonzalez...."