repercussions

"I couldn't believe that asshole had the guts to tell me to kneel and apologize to that red-haired freak," I fumed.

Leon raised an eyebrow. "What do you think he's going to do?"

I shook my head, still reeling from the encounter. Ryder's departure had left the restaurant in a state of tension. "I don't know."

Danielle, our dark-haired coworker with a nose piercing, spoke up. Her emo style seemed to match her gloomy prediction. "I think he's going to write a scathing review, and nobody will come here anymore. We'll lose our jobs."

Her words hung in the air, a dire prophecy that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Don't say things like that, Danielle," I warned, trying to keep her pessimism at bay.

Danielle shrugged and continued chewing her gum, her expression unchanging.

"This is all that bitch's fault," Nora spat, her anger still simmering. "I should've injured her with one of the glasses."

I placed a my hand on her arm. "Don't you think that would've made things worse?"

Nora sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Now what are we going to do?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation.

As I stepped into my apartment, the tension in my body began to unwind. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of soft music drifting from the living room. Maya, my roommate, looked up from her phone, a sympathetic smile spreading across her face.

"Hey, Ash, rough day?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.

I dropped my bag onto the floor, feeling the weight of the day's events settle onto my shoulders. "You have no idea," I replied, collapsing onto the armchair beside her.

Maya nodded, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "Well, I think I know just the thing to take your mind off things," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "What did you have in mind?"

Maya grinned. "Let's go to a party! I heard about this amazing one downtown, and I know the host. We can get in for free."

I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons. But as I looked at Maya's enthusiastic face, I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement.

I opted for a simple tee and jeans, feeling more comfortable keeping a low profile. Maya, on the other hand, had a different approach in mind. She slipped into a sleek black dress that accentuated her curves, leaving little to the imagination.

We finally arrived at the party venue, and the sea of unfamiliar faces overwhelmed me. Maya, however, dove right in, greeting a blonde-haired boy with a warm smile. "Hey, Duke!" she exclaimed.

He yelled over the music, sweeping Maya into a tight hug. "Maya! It's been ages!" They chatted enthusiastically, reminiscing about old times. I stood by, feeling like an outsider, as they laughed and joked.

Eventually, Duke's gaze shifted to me, and I forced a weak smile. "And this is...?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Maya made the introductions. "Ash, meet Liam. Liam, Ashley." Duke's handshake was warm and firm. "Nice to meet you, Ashley," he said, his smile friendly.

"Same," I replied, feeling a bit more at ease

As Liam attended to the other guests, Maya and I made our way to the drink table. She opted for an alcoholic beverage, while I chose a juice. "So," I began, curiosity getting the better of me, "why did you call him Duke? His name is Liam."

Maya flipped her long brown hair, giggling as the alcohol took effect. "Well, we were in a high school play together. He was the Duke, and I was the Duchess." She grinned mischievously. "Ever since then, I've been calling him Duke, just to tease him, I guess."

I smiled, imagining the playful dynamic between them. It was clear Maya had fond memories of her high school days. My own experiences, on the other hand, were a different story. I had taken on a parental role, caring for my mom instead of enjoying my teenage years. I pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on the past.

Maya was now chatting with a guy whose intentions were transparent. His eyes screamed one thing: he wanted to get close to her, very close. I rolled my eyes, amused, as they headed to the dance floor, lost in the music.

"You don't seem too thrilled for your friend," a deep, smooth voice noted.

As I turned, I was struck by the piercing grey eyes and disarming smile of the stranger.

"What do you think?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his vodka. "Honestly? They'll probably hook up tonight."

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his blunt tone.

"Wow, you're really blunt, aren't you?" I asked, amused.

He smirked. "You're pretty straightforward yourself, baby girl."

I laughed. "Trust me, I'm no baby girl."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and set his drink down on the table. "Oh, really?"

I studied the button-down suit he wore, trying to place him. "You know, you look very familiar," I said, my curiosity piqued.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah," I replied, still trying to figure out how I knew him. "You know, you shouldn't be talking to me."

His smile never wavered. "But I like talking to you."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How's that?" I asked.

He leaned in, his voice low. "You're funny, smart, and...gorgeous." My dark skin hid the blush spreading across my cheeks. "Thank you," I managed to say.

"He'd love you," he continued, his expression thoughtful.

I was taken aback. "What?" I asked, my voice rising in surprise.

I stared at him, confused. "Oh, I'm sorry, I meant my best friend," he clarified.

"I don't get it," I admitted.

"My best friend would really like someone like you," he explained.

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, just thought of it."

His phone rang, interrupting our conversation. "Oh, my wife is calling me," he said, and my eyes widened in shock.

"W-wife?" I stuttered, trying to process this new information.

He nodded casually. "I should head home before she gets angry."

I struggled to compose myself, still coughing. "It was nice meeting you," he said, waiting for me to introduce myself.

"Ash... Ashley," I managed to say, quieting my cough.

He smiled. "Ashley, nice to meet you. See you." With that, he turned and left.

I decided to look for Maya, I finally found her in the bathroom having sex with that same dude " am sorry to interrupt but we should go home, its late, " I said looking at anything but them, " oh ok. Just give me a minute. " She said and I nodded and hurried out of there and bumped into a huge figure " ouch" I yelped " be careful " the person , said to me and I turned to Look at him to see, Ryder Blackhood .

"Be careful," the person said, and I turned to look at him.

My heart sank as I saw Ryder Blackwood standing before me, a smirk spreading across his face.

"Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who we have here."

I felt a chill run down my spine as he gazed at me, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

Ryder chuckled. "I could ask you the same thing."