Chapter 34: XAVIER POV

"I hate you," she said. "Now get out of my office."

Her words stung me, like a dagger to my chest. I looked into her eyes one last time.

She despised me, truly, and wasn't like how I pretended to hate her all those years ago—there was real hate and disgust for me in her eyes.

She has completely changed now, she wasn't the same person I fell for, but I still managed to fall in love all over again.

Unrequited love.

Her eyes narrowed at my audacity to look at her, so I left defeater.

I lost it all.

Well, technically I never had it. It was all a game for her.

But I couldn't blame her at all.

There were 2 sides to each story and from the way she saw our story, she was absolutely right for doing what she did.

In fact, I would be surprised if she didn't do anything.

Passion and hard work coursed through her veins, and I knew she would avenge her mother if it's the last thing she would do.

I knew it was coming, but I was so entranced by her that I didn't see it, and, for that, I couldn't blame anyone but myself.

Because she was determined, she was undefeated, and she was the best.

She was mine, but fate didn't couldn't deal with the fact that I had everything.

The most money, the best company, the best lifestyle.

And the best woman.

So she took everything away.

I drive back to the Kings Corp. building, probably going to be one of my last visits to the place. I take a moment to actually look at the building after having just strolled right into it all these years.

The tall glass building, strong concrete pillars and KINGS CORPORATE written in bold white letters.

A shell of what I was.

I turned my head to see an Eva Enterprises-sponsored car already at Kings Corp. She did not waste time.

I decide not to think about it and walk up to my office to see Leroy talking to Amelia's assistant. Thesis arm is around her as they both look extremely distraught.

Her face seems to soften a little as Leroy whispers words of consolation into her ear.

Her eyes widened when she saw me, and she speed walked towards me.

"Mr King," she greeted me.

"Hello, um." I'd forgotten her name. I just couldn't think straight.

"Call me Jodie." She smiles. "Miss Davis has told me to inform that she will not be firing any employees, nor will she be changing Kings Corp."

"Well, that's good." I sighed. "At least all these people won't lose their jobs."

"Mr King, I am so sorry. If I knew anything like this was going to happen—" she began.

"You didn't know?"

"I thought that you two were finally going to make it work again." She smiles.

"So did I," I breathed out. "So, am I the only person who's lost their job then?"

"Well, you and…" She turns over to Leroy, who's standing there carelessly.

"He'll be alright, Jodie. He's actually very good at his job." I try to make her feel better. "Just take care of him for me."

She nods, her eyes shining but she doesn't cry. 

She gives Leroy a small kiss before getting into the car and leaving.

"Boss man," Leroy said quietly. I've never quite seen Leroy serious, let alone sad.

"Cheer up." I place an arm on his shoulder, "You'll get another job—maybe somewhere even better."

"It's not the job, sir." He sighed and pulled me into a hug. "You're the best boss I've had. Thank you for not firing me in like 3 days." He squeezes me tight.

"Looks like we're just a couple of hot, unemployed guys, huh," I joked, and he chuckled. "I'm going to go home, Leroy, and I think you should too," I said, getting back into my car.

I was planning on spending a few final hours in my office, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen.

I drive back to my house and immediately get into the shower, hoping I'll be able to wash away my pain.

I felt heavy and sick, and it wasn't even because I had lost my company but because I had lost her.

I hated the fact that if she wanted, she could call my name and I'll go straight back to her.

I didn't know what it was about her and what was wrong with me, but she owned me, whether she knew it or not.

I roughly dry my hair with a towel and get changed into a black button up and jeans.

I was going to go to the bar and drink the night away when I heard my phone buzz on my nightstand.

There was no contact name but a long number.

"Hello," I answered the phone.

"Good evening. Is this Mr King?" a lady asked.

"Yes. How may I help you?" My voice was already irritated. I didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

"I'm speaking from the New York Mental Rehabilitation Centre."

"No thank you." I'm about the hang up the call.

"No, please wait!" But I end the call.

I don't want anything to do with Eric, he ruined my life completely and I have nothing to say or hear from him.

I call get into my car and drive to the bar not far from here. It was only a 10-minute drive at most.

I get inside and sit on a bar stool, waiting for the bartender to be free.

"You're Xavier King, the businessman?" a guy sitting next to me, probably in his mid-twenties/early thirties, asked me.

"I was."

My solemn reply turns him off from talking to me and he turns back to his friends—just in time as the bartender is free.

"Can I get 10 shots of vodka?" I asked the bartender.

"10 shots? You got any company?" the bartender asked.

"No, not tonight."

He doesn't question it any further but quickly prepares the shots and places them in front of me.

Tonight, I needed to forget.

Forget Kings Corp.

Forget that Chopra.

Forget La.

I downed one shot after another, the alcohol sizzling the back of the throat as it made its way down. I grit my teeth at the pain but carried on until I finished each drink.

Soon after I can feel the alcohol kick as I struggle to keep my mind straight.

Even when I was highly intoxicated, she wouldn't leave my mind. I could still imagine the curves of the body, the glitter of her eyes, the way her lips taste.

Every little thing, crystal clear in my memory.

Stop thinking about her, she played you. 

I keep on telling myself that, but I can't help myself. I'm in love with her.

What am I doing here?

She's still out there.

She was broken, she was crying out for help, and I wanted to save her.

She didn't hate me; she hated what she thought I did.

I needed to clear the air. I didn't care what Eric would do. He could kill me, but I needed her to know.

I'm coming La.

I get off of my stool and stumble my way of the bar, looking for my car.

"Hey, buddy, you're really drunk." A stranger stopped me.

"Get off me!" I push him away and jog to my car.

I got into the driver’s seat as my engine roared to life. I backed out of the car park and slowly drove onto the highway.

I could barely focus on the road, but luckily, it was pretty much empty—no one else really decided to get drunk on a Wednesday night.

I decide to spend a little, since the entire road is empty.

I'm cruising down the road, slowing down a little as I see a pair of headlights in the distance, getting closer.

Wait those headlights are extremely close…

Within seconds, the car rampages into mine, the clash of the metal hoods make my ears ring.

Shattered glass fragments spread all across the front of the car, many of which sunk into my hands as I realized I'm still gripping the steering wheel.

"What the fuck!" the other driver yelled. He comes out of his car and comes to my window.

He's a man, I think, I couldn't make it out as my vision got more and more blurry.

"Shit! Stay with me! I'm calling the ambulance!" was the last thing I heard.

"He's in a stable condition. Please give me your contact information. I'll call you when he's awake," a faint female voice muttered.

My eyes feel heavy as I pry them open.

I'm in the hospital. I wince as the beeping of the machines makes my ears hurt.

"You just missed your saviour, Mr King," the nurse said.

"What happened?" I asked, but it came out as an incomprehensible groan.

"You were very drunk and crashed into the gentleman who just left."

Wait, what?

I try to lift myself off the bed.

"No, no. You’re far too weak to be moving—please get some sleep. I'll be back to give you your medicine." The nurse leaves and I sink back into the bed.

Just as I'm about to doze off the door of my hospital room bursts open.

"What the hell did you do to yourself, King?"

La?