Chapter 2

TWO-TIMING

~LAUREN~

A tempest of emotions swirled within me. What the hell was Patrick doing here? And why was Rosette calling him "babe"? Was this some sort of cruel joke?

"Patrick, what are you doing here?" I demanded, struggling to mask the hurt and curiosity in my voice.

Rosette shot him a look, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flicking between us like a ticking clock. The strange glances from Lilac, Fatimah, and our other coworkers only intensified the gnawing anxiety in my gut.

"Handle this," Rosette said tersely, her tone sharp as glass.

Patrick stepped toward me, his grip tightening around my arm as he yanked me away from the group. Pain shot through me, but I fought to free myself from his grasp.

"Let go of me, you lying cheat!" I shouted, my palm striking his cheek with a crack that silenced the room. Gasps rippled through the air, every pair of eyes locked on us in stunned disbelief.

"Are you done?" Patrick snapped, his jaw tight, the warmth I once loved in his brown eyes replaced by a chilling coldness.

"What is going on? Why are you with Rosette? Why was she calling you *babe*?" I asked, my voice cracking under the weight of my desperation.

"I love Rosette," he said, disturbingly calm. "And I plan to marry her."

Each word felt like a deliberate dagger, sharp and final.

My hands flew to my mouth, trying to suppress the hot tears welling in my eyes. This couldn't be real. How long had he been seeing her? How could he do this?

"You love her? What about me, Patrick? You once loved me!" My voice trembled with rage and sorrow as I pounded my fists against his chest, sending him stumbling back.

"Why would you stand in front of me and say you love her?" I demanded, my heart aching with disbelief and betrayal.

He stared at me, utterly unfazed. "Listen, Lauren, I thought we were over this. I broke up with you. I owe you nothing."

"Was she the reason you ended our relationship after three years?" I whispered, but he avoided my gaze, silence hanging between us like a suffocating weight.

"Stop this, Lauren. You're embarrassing yourself. Just get over it," he said, his tone dripping with annoyance.

My stomach churned at his words. "Get over it?" I scoffed. "You've been cheating on me all along, haven't you?"

"How long?"

"Excuse me?" He feigned confusion, but guilt was etched into his face.

"How long has this been going on? Be truthful for once, Patrick," I pleaded, my voice catching in my throat.

He ran a hand through his hair, his expression wavering. "A year now," he admitted, his words slicing through me like a blade.

"You bastard," I whispered, tears carving hot trails down my cheeks. How had I been so blind?

"I'm sorry," he said, though his tone was anything but apologetic. "But Rosette is my ticket to my dream. Her family is rich, and her father promised to invest in me. You were only going to drag me down."

His words burned like acid, each one reducing my worth to nothing in his eyes.

"Babe!" Rosette called, her voice a syrupy sing-song. Patrick turned toward her, his entire demeanor shifting to something bright and cheerful.

"I'm coming, my love," he replied, flashing her a smile.

He turned back to me, his expression cold and dismissive. "Look, Lauren, I'm sorry. Deep down, you knew this wasn't going to work. We were never meant to be."

As he patted my shoulder, I flinched, the warmth of his touch fading like an echo as he walked away.

I stood frozen, watching him embrace Rosette, their kiss dripping with mockery.

Tears blurred my vision, spilling faster than I could wipe them away. They refused to stop.

"Miss," the van driver called out, annoyance lacing his voice. "Are you getting your luggage or not?"

I forced myself forward, numb as he yanked my suitcase from the trunk and thrust it into my hands. Everyone else had already headed inside, leaving me utterly alone.

I sank to the ground, my knees pressed to my chest, sobbing uncontrollably. The murmurs of staff and guests faded into a distant hum, the world itself moving on without me.

"What's wrong with her?" I heard someone ask, their voice distant, like an echo in the fog.

After what felt like hours, I summoned the courage to stand, my tears spent. I grabbed my suitcase and rolled it toward the entrance.

Halfway there, something snapped.

"God, it shouldn't—" I murmured, stopping to check my luggage. One of the wheels had come off. I sighed, glancing around for where it had rolled off to.

There it was, wedged near a flower pot at the edge of the pavement. As I walked toward it, I stopped short, noticing a pair of feet blocking my way.

"Uh, excuse me, sir, would you mind moving your feet…?"

The words caught in my throat. I looked up and was met by a pair of striking green eyes that seemed to pierce right through me, reflecting a mix of confusion and intrigue.

How do you describe beauty like this? He wasn't just handsome; he was magnetic, the kind of man who turned heads without trying.

His dark hair, slicked back with precision, was undone only by two rebellious strands framing his chiseled face. His olive skin seemed to glow in the warm evening light, contrasting with the black sleeves of his shirt, rolled up to reveal strong, tattooed forearms.

An intricate dragon sprawled across his skin, its scales shimmering with life, as if it told a story of its own.

"And you are?" he asked, his voice cold but rough, snapping me out of my daze.

"Your feet, sir—they're in the way," I managed, my voice barely steady.

He glanced down, moving his feet just enough for me to pass. I bent to retrieve the wheel, but a strange flutter stirred in my stomach. There was something about him—an energy that both excited and terrified me.

"Thanks," I said, straightening up, clutching the wheel.

Without a word, he turned and walked away, muttering into his phone. "There are a lot of strange people at this resort," he said, annoyance clear in his tone.

After much struggle, I finally reached my room—a cozy two-bedroom suite. Everyone else had paired up, leaving me alone.

I didn't mind. Privacy was welcome. I needed space to recharge.

Just as I began to settle in, an invitation slid under the door. A party tonight. I groaned.

The last thing I wanted was to attend a noisy gathering where I'd be a wallflower. Sleep seemed far more appealing.

But maybe… maybe a distraction wasn't the worst idea. With a reluctant sigh, I decided to give it a shot.

After all, what did I have to lose?