Chapter 26 Killing me slowly

Chapter 26 Killing me slowly

Rose raised her hand with the intention of slapping him again, but the intensity in Adrian’s eyes had her stopping mid movement.

“No, go ahead and hit me.” He leaned in, gaze keeping her trapped. “I dare you. I’m not afraid you drag you down to the filth with me.”

There were footsteps outside the door before it opened and Rowan walked in. Adrian looked up and Rose saw it as an opening to strike his cheek.

He stumbled back from the force, eyes flashing in anger. He could see the other gather at the door from his peripheral vision.

“What the hell?” Rowan yelled, pulling Rose away by the arm. “What is fucking wrong with you?”

The anger Adrian felt was muffled by the laughter that poured out of him, but he shut it the second Rowan glared at him.

“Sorry, it’s just funny hearing you cuss out loud,” Adrian said, then winced when his cheek hurt.

“Can’t you take care of yourself better?” Rowan yelled, not even caring that everyone else had their phones out, recording.

He pushed Rose out of the way and bent down to Adrian’s eyes level. He touched his cheek lightly. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Adrian blinked severally.

The tender look in Rowan’s eyes almost knocked him off the chair. He could already feel his heart start to race.

“Shouldn’t you be checking in with your precious girlfriend instead?” he asked, “She’s so red in the face I fear people will mistake her for a tomato."

He tried to play it off real smooth but all his focus was on the warmth that flowed out of Rowan’s fingers and soothed his cheeks.

Why was Rowan doing this to him? Was this his way of making Adrian let his guard down?

There was no way he truly cared about Adrian.

“I asked if it hurts?” Rowan repeated, fingers still on his cheek.

Adrian hissed. “Careful, your woman is stronger than she looks.”

“Wait here.” Rowan stood up and grabbed Rose by the arm. “You’re coming with me.”

“Hey! You can’t drag me around,” Rose protested, but the man in front of her already threw all reasoning out the window.

He didn’t stop until they got to the storage room, it was the closest place they could get a bit of privacy.

Rose pulled out of his grip immediately he shut the door.

“Do you know how embarrassed I feel right now? Why would you drag me like that in front of everyone?” she turned her face away with a pout. “I’m not going to forgive you no matter how hard you apologise.”

Rowan could barely contain his anger. “What happened to never showing up in front of me?”

She gasped, turning back to him. “I figured you were angry with the way I ended things the last time and needed space to cool off.”

“What part of we’re done don’t you understand? And don’t give me the crap excuse that you’re in love with me.”

“But I’m in love with you!”

“Is it the chairman that’s putting you up to this? Do you need my father’s approval for a project? All you need to do is ask me for crying out loud. Playing a jealous ex is really unnecessary.”

“This is not about any project! I’ve realized my mistakes now, I should’ve treated you better.” She put a hand on his bicep but he shrugged it off. “Give me another chance.”

Rowan stared point blank at her.

That was when it dawned on her— “You’re not really together with that sewer rat…” he didn’t deny it. “Right?”

“If you repeat what happened today then you’ll have to face the consequences. I mean it this time, never show up in front of me or him, ever again!”

“There’s no way you’re leaving me for—”

“I dare you to finish that sentence.” Rowan’s voice had dropped to a whisper, but the anger in his voice carried.

Rose could feel the fear creeping in, Rowan had never treated her like this even when she’d annoyed him the most.

“You really like him, don’t you?”

“I respect him.”

That was the only response he offered but Rose knew better. She’d seen the worry in his eyes, the way he touched Adrian’s cheek like it was some precious thing that he was afraid of breaking.

All through the months they dated, he knew treated her like that. He never looked at her like she was something precious.

She’d chalked it up to his indifferent nature, but now that was seeing him openly care for someone—it made something in her frozen heart crack.

“You can lie to everyone, but don’t lie to yourself.” Rose straightened up. “I won’t apologize to him, and I’ll be the one to decide if I want to see you again or not.”

“Rose—”

“Let me have that at least. I’ll decide if I want to show up in front of you or not.” She turned her back to him. “Leave first, I’ve been embarrassed enough for one day.”

Rowan didn’t hesitate to pull the door open and walk back to the dressing room where Adrian was waiting for him.

He’d already changed into his own clothes, and the spot on his cheek had turned a deep purple.

“Where’s she—” Rowan pulled Adrian by the arm. “Hey! What’s with you and dragging everyone around today!”

Adrian tried to get out of his grip but Rowan was stronger than he was. He let the angry man pull him all the way to his car.

“Get in.” He opened the door to the passenger seat, Adrian knew better than to protest. He slid in without a word.

“Why are you so pissed?”Adrian asked, but he knew it was the wrong question when Rowan turned to him with a glare.

“How could you just stand there and let her hit you?”

Adrian was at a loss for words. “How was I supposed to know she would slap him? It’s not like your girlfriend comes with a warning sign. And this shit hurts like hell! I’m suing if this leaves a scar.”

“You could’ve moved away,” Rowan said through gritted teeth, fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “At least defend yourself?”

Adrian scoffed. “Why are you even mad? You’re not the one that got hit.” He cradled his cheek. “Oh, my money maker.”

“I care.”

“What?” Adrian wasn’t sure he heard him properly.

“I care about you,” Rowan said a bit louder this time. Then hit the wheel with his wrist. “Far more than I should, and it’s fucking killing me!”