ROSALINE
"Do not talk to me!"
As I walked away from Gerald and headed towards my room, my steps felt heavy, with the weight of unresolved tension hanging in the air. I could feel his gaze burning into my back, but I refused to turn around, refusing to engage in yet another argument.
Before I could close the door behind me, Gerald's hand shot out, stopping it with a firm grip. I tensed, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced myself for the confrontation that was about to begin. I didn't plan to end this lucky day with an argument.
"Rosaline, we need to talk," Gerald's voice was strained, filled with a mixture of frustration and desperation. "I know that--"
"No, you don't know anything," I cut in as I turned to face him, my jaw set in a defiant line. "I'm not in the mood to talk," I replied curtly, my tone laced with irritation. "Please don't bother me. I'm exhausted right now."
"You're exhausted?" Gerald's brow furrowed confused. We made eye contact momentarily, and I was almost swooned, again. My defense threatened to crumble. "You didn't respond to my text," he pointed out. "Or my calls?"
The ones he sent when he saw my pieces of luggage at home? Funny. He didn't care before. Why did he suddenly care now?
"There was nothing to respond to," I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "And even if there was, I don't owe you an explanation."
An argument ensued as Gerald pressed me for answers, his words coming out in a jumble as he tried to make sense of my sudden coldness towards him. My patience wore thin as I was urged to know why he had left me back at the resort without any explanation.
Would that make me any more pathetic than I already am?
"Everything you're saying right now is pointless. I didn't respond to your text. So what?" I poked his chest. "We are not close like that. We do not ask about each other's whereabouts. You made that very clear at the resort!"
"I had important business," Gerald insisted, his voice strained with urgency. "But I can't tell you what it is."
My heart sank at his vague response, a surge of anger coursing through my veins as I struggled to comprehend his actions. "You left me without a word," I seethed, my voice trembling with emotion. "You couldn't even give me the courtesy of an explanation."
"I'm sorry, Rosaline," Gerald pleaded, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "But you need to understand that this is important."
My frustration boiled over as I reached into my bag and pulled out the admission letter I had received earlier that day. "You want to talk about important business?" I demanded, thrusting the letter in his face. "I got a job, Gerald. A job that I applied for and earned on my own merit."
Gerald's eyes widened in surprise, his expression a mixture of shock and annoyance. He scowled. "Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
My jaw clenched as I fought to control my temper. "Because I want to be independent," I replied through gritted teeth. "I would like to take control of my life, instead of relying on handouts from my parents." I eyed him. "Or you."
I moved to slam the door shut in his face, but Gerald's hand shot out once again, stopping it with a firm grip. "You don't need a job, Rosaline," he insisted, his voice filled with frustration. "That's ridiculous! You have your father's company. You have me!"
My heart clenched at his words, a bitter taste filling my mouth as I struggled to hold back tears. "I don't want to rely on anyone," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. "Not anymore."
Before I could close the door, Gerald's voice cut through the air, halting my movements. "Rosaline, wait," he said, his tone softer than before.
I turned to face him as I closed the door behind me, my expression guarded as I waited for him to speak. "What is it now, Gerald? Can you please let it go? I get it. You were busy. You had to go, and that's fine! Now let me be!"
He took a step closer to me, his eyes searching mine for any sign of understanding. "I had to leave because my company was having problems," he explained, his voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't mean to leave you like that. It's... so confidential and urgent that I had to leave immediately. And I'm sorry about that."
Too late.
I felt a pang of guilt at his words, but I quickly pushed it aside. "It's too late for your explanation, Gerald," I replied, my tone firm. "I just want to sleep, and you're being a disturbance."
In a fit of rage, Gerald closed in on my personal space, his breath hot against my face as he yelled at me. "You are not being less of a disturbance, either!"
The atmosphere crackled with tension as we stood there, our anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"Quit your job," Gerald demanded, "You don't even need it. What happens to your parents then? I don't want you to get treated like an ordinary worker just because you... are too stubborn to see your potential!"
I shook my head defiantly, my anger rising to match his. "I'll not," my voice echoed in the small space. "This conversation is over!"
"It is not!" Gerald's hands reached for my shoulders and settled there. He pushed me against the door and my heart skipped a bit. "It's not until you're willing to listen.
The subtle feel of his finger brushing against my skin sent shivers down my spine, and he was unbelievably close that my body couldn't bear it. I needed to be closer to him, and I know he felt it too, the electricity that plagued the air and how it stung our skins.
"Gerald, I..." the rest of my words met their end as my lip crashed against his.
His lips slammed against mine in one swift motion, and my mind was wrapped in a haze. I forgot everything else. I couldn't think of anything but those lips on mine. I had thought about it all evening-kissing him, touching him, and now I felt like I was about to explode.
We weren't supposed to be doing this, not after what he did to me, but protesting against it was too hard. I submitted to his hands.
The touch of our lips made me melt, and my tongue delved into his mouth, deepening our kiss.
His lips were soft like silk, and despite the force behind his kiss, it remained so subtle and equally defiant. My stomach churned, and my whole body felt like it was on fire. I slid my arm around his neck to steady myself, leaning into the kiss.
His mouth was hot against mine, and his tongue parted my lips, earning a moan from me as he slipped his tongue into my mouth.
Fuck! It's such a turn-on, and I haven't been this excited in years. My legs almost gave out. This kiss was better, hungrier. It ignited everything within me. My senses were waning.
We shouldn't be doing this.
Whatever it was, I didn't care. All that matters is that he was a great kisser. His hands slid down my waist, and he grabbed my butt as he lifted me off the ground without breaking the kiss.
It feels so good to be true. I break the kiss, moving my mouth to his neck, and digging my teeth into his skin, nibbling. Then my fingers grazed his nape and I felt a necklace. I didn't know what it was, but I was immediately reminded of Julie and the necklace he'd given her.
The one I wore. The pain was renewed deep in my heart, and my hands slid off his body as my feet touched the ground. I immediately broke free from him and took a step back.
"Good night," I muttered and walked into my room.
*
The next morning, I was woken by the shrill ringtone of my phone. Groggily, I reached for it and saw my father's name flashing on the screen. With a sigh, I answered the call, bracing myself for yet another lecture.
"Hello, Dad," I said, trying to sound as composed as possible.
"Rosaline, I heard a rumor that you got a job as a set designer," my father's voice was stern, cutting through the early morning haze.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering how he had found out so quickly. "Yes, it's true," I admitted reluctantly. "I don't want the position you offered me at your company. I'd like to work for myself."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line before my father exploded in anger. "You can't do this, Rosaline!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the phone. "You have to quit that job immediately. You're embarrassing the family name!"
I rolled my eyes, frustration bubbling up inside me. "I'm not going to quit a job that I just got," I retorted, my voice firm. "I'm capable of making my own decisions, Dad."
He sputtered incoherently for a moment before finally regaining his composure. "No daughter of mine shall take such a petty position," he declared, his tone final.
"You can't always tell me what to do, Dad." With a resigned sigh, I disconnected the call, knowing that arguing with my father was futile. Instead, I decided to focus on something more positive, like meeting Ava for lunch.
Or facing Gerald this morning.