Chapter 10 - I Am Not His Girlfriend. I Am His Victim.

I have lived through many forms of suffering. But this? This was new.

Pierre having fans? Unacceptable.

The moment I heard the words "Oh hey, you're that line cook from La Riviera, right?" I knew my night was ruined. But nothing—nothing—could have prepared me for what followed.

The fact that some random guy actually recognized Pierre was bad enough. The fact that he complimented his cooking made it worse. But the absolute final straw?

When he pointed at me and asked, "Oh, is this your girlfriend?"

I felt my soul detach from my body.

No. No, absolutely not.

I was not about to be publicly associated with this walking, talking caffeine addiction. Not like this. Not in my bodega.

And Pierre. That idiot. That absolute menace.

He could've said no. He could've ignored it.

But no.

He sighed, shook his head, and said, "Yeah. We're in a very passionate enemies-to-lovers arc."

I nearly blacked out from rage.

Luis? Falling apart behind the register.

The random guy? Completely convinced.

"Man, I get it. My wife hated me when we first met, too."

I turned to him so slowly I may have warped time itself.

My life was unraveling before my eyes.

I was going to be haunted by this moment for years. Decades, even. I would be sitting peacefully in my old age, drinking a cup of tea, and suddenly remember this exact conversation and feel the urge to launch myself into the sun.

"…How nice for you," I said, voice so devoid of life that Luis had to turn away, wheezing.

And Pierre?

Pierre just stood there, sipping his iced coffee like he didn't just destroy my will to live.

I took a deep breath, searching for calm, and instead found pure, unfiltered pettiness.

Finally, I turned to Luis. "How much do I have to pay you to ban him from this store?"

Luis, still trying to breathe, just snorted. "Not enough, sweetheart."

I clenched my jaw, exhaled slowly, and made a decision.

If Pierre wanted to act like this was an enemies-to-lovers arc…

I was about to make sure he got the "enemies" part loud and clear.