146 — JULIAN ADAMS (POV)

I approach the bar and order a whisky. I didn’t plan to drink it, but my nerves are on the edges, and I need something to calm them down until I get down on my knees and ask Angelee to be my wife.
When the barman slides the glass over to me, I’ve already downed the whole dose in one gulp, feeling the strong taste explode on my palate and burn its way down my throat.
I slam the glass down on the counter and lean on it with one arm, sighing and wiping my face with the other, like this simple gesture could add some courage.
I’m scared.
Anxious.
My heart is beating so hard against my chest that it’s almost painful.
I need an answer — I need Angelee’s yes.
That’s all I need...
“Funny to find you here.” I hear a familiar voice that I wouldn’t want to, and my eyes meet the red hair that, on this night, seems like fire, as well as the eyes that burn with disgusting malice.
“You should stop your stalker habits, Laura... You’re going to get yourself arrested.” I retort, raising my hand to the barman, a gesture he easily understands: pour me another shot of whisky.
*It’s going to be a long night.*
Her laugh is sarcastic, and I don’t like the way she tosses her hair behind her shoulders confidently, also leaning on the counter and asking the barman for the same as mine when he slides my whisky over again.
“Even though you have the wrong idea about me, I wish you the best, Julian Adams.” I shudder to hear my name slide across her tongue as she licks her lips, like tasting it. “That’s why I’m here to warn you.”
I roll my eyes, anger rushing through my veins.
“Warn me? Let me guess... You’re here to try to change my mind and get you back into the company?”
Her eyes are steady on mine as she says, “No... I kind of deserved that. It’s true; I was responsible for the images of Angelee on the forum, but I didn’t say anything wrong. I tried to show everyone what she’s really like, but you’re all too busy looking at Angelee like she’s some weak, naive little girl.”
“You’re right; Angelee isn’t a weak or naive little girl.” I interrupt Laura, and she looks surprised by my words. “She’s a strong woman who’s trying hard to keep the control she’s regained from the kinds of you.”
“So I’m the villain?” She snorts, holding up the glass of whisky the barman has handed her.
“Villain? No... I don’t think life is a TV show, a fiction...” I take a long sip of the drink and add as I down the glass, “You’re not a villain, Laura... You’re just a frustrated woman who wants to be who you’re not, to have what doesn’t belong to you... and want to destroy everything you can’t be.”
My answer seems to touch the deepest wound because her expression slowly leaves the sarcasm; her eyebrows go down in a frown, and the smirk gradually disappears until her gaze becomes harsh and severe.
“If you’ve already said what you’d like, then get out of here,” I say without looking at her, staring at the shelves behind the barman, with the mirrored backdrop allowing me to see my own distorted reflection between drinks that I’d like to down in a single gulp. “You’re ruining my mood.”
“I’m ruining your mood?” She gives a sarcastic, forced laugh, then takes a sip of the whisky, grimacing when she tastes it. I can see her hands shaking as she pulls the glass away from her drink-soaked lips. “And how would you feel if you knew that, at this very moment, Eric is trying to win her back?”
I freeze, with a cold spreading through my chest and a shiver running down my skin.
“Come on... You’re Julian Adams, so clever... did you really not see through this ridiculous plan? It’s so cliché that I’m surprised you’re shocked by it.”
I grit my teeth and tilt my head, taking a short breath, drinking the rest of my glass, and slamming it down on the bar again, receiving a disapproving look from the barman.
“I wonder what Angelee will do when she sees the man she’s devoted herself to for four years... looking at her with puppy eyes, begging to have her back-”
I turn sharply, and she startles slightly, but I contain my anger, clenching my hands into fists.
And as quickly as it came, her surprise turned into a victorious, almost malicious smile.
“There’s no reason to be angry, dear...” She leans towards me, but I take a step back, sliding my arm across the counter, adding a more comfortable distance between the two of us.
“You’re talking a lot of bullshit.”
“Am I?” She takes another step, shortening the distance again, carrying her glass with her, which also slides across the counter. “Look me in the eye and tell me you’re confident that Angelee won’t fall in love with Eric again. It’s always been like this; all he had to do was snap his fingers and say something, and she’d obey with a smile on her face, desperate to please and get some attention.”
My blood is bubbling... so much so that I feel on the edge of sanity.
“I wonder what would happen if Eric said the words Angelee had always dreamed of?” Laura says slowly, her eyes sparkling with mischief and her lips twitching in a wicked smile. “What would she say if he asked her to marry him? It was her dream to build a family-”
That’s the slap I needed to slam my fist down hard on the counter, causing Laura to startle and take a huge step backward, almost tripping over her own feet. Her surprised expression now borders on fright, and I realize, through the reflection of her disgusting eyes, that I look like a monster.
I look around, and people are eyeing me warily... some men have their guards up, probably ready to protect the maiden’s honor. Hah, funny... If they knew what was behind this helpless mask, would they still want to get involved with her? Of course, the short skirt that sticks to the body, the cleavage that makes the breasts almost pop out... these men don’t care about the true character or anything like that... They’re men like *I used to be*, who only saw the outside and used appearance for a single night.
“You can stay in denial if you want... But Angelee will come running back into Eric’s arms.” Laura’s voice is shaky, but she struggles to regain her composure, puffing out her chest. “I know that because he loves Angelee, he always did.”
“Shut up,” I say between my teeth, but Laura ignores me completely.
“He really does! Do you think I want to say that? Do you think it’s fun for me to say those words, to admit it? Eric always made it clear that he wouldn’t break up with Angelee... He told me he’d never do that!”
I close my eyes tightly, running my hand over my face.
“Eric never wanted to break up with her! And when she saw us, he freaked out... *blamed me* for it, and even raised his hand at me!” Her voice is loud and desperate... for the first time, her words sound honest. “Eric would do anything to make Angelee his again, anything... And he’s going to take his chance today when she’s at her most vulnerable.”
“What are you saying?” I look at her sharply through the gaps in my fingers. “Do you think I’m going to fall for your bullshit? You wouldn’t come here to advise out of the goodness of your heart. What are you up to this time, Laura?”
She snorted, shaking her head, “Do you really have such a bad view of me? I’m not a monster, Julian... I don’t want Angelee to go back to Eric, either... I hate to admit it, but I like him-”
“As well as Tyler, Jackson... How many others share this twisted love of yours?”
She snorts, running a hand through her hair, brushing it back... “Whatever, don’t say I didn’t warn you. But if you want to know, Eric asked me to make sure you didn’t get in the way. He told me to *distract* you.”
“What?” I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that at this very moment, Eric is taking her back.” She blinks a few times, saying it with such conviction that I break out in a cold sweat. “And I know that the moment Eric gets down on one knee and speaks the words she’s been waiting for, Angelee will fall into his arms again.”
My breathing becomes quick but too short.
My heart is beating so fast in my throat that it’s tightening it.
And I swear to God, I’m sweating so cold that my whole body is shaking, like we’re in the middle of *the fucking winter.*
“And do you know why I’m so sure of that? Because you and I, Julian... We’re both just moments.”
I shake my head, leaning away from the counter because I think the drink got too much on my head... Yes, that’s the only reason... There’s no way I would let this bitch into my mind.
She’s just talking nonsense.
“You’re just a third wheel, Julian, a passing stopgap... just like me.”
I take a few steps back, with fear spreading through my chest, making my heart beat so fast and strong that it’s painful. This damn, excruciating adrenaline rush is aching my veins, forcing my legs in the direction of the restaurant.
Hah, fuck that.
I throw a few dollars out of my wallet on the counter in a hurry, catching a glimpse of the mischievous, victorious smile on Laura’s lips, hating myself for it.
Yes, I know, she got what she wanted.
She’s entered my mind, messed up my thoughts, awakened an insecurity and a fear that I didn’t even know existed until this damn moment.
But how could I stop my feet from leading me out of this bar and taking such hurried steps to the restaurant? How can I calm my desperate heart that’s throbbing in my throat? Or the pain that seems to spread throughout my body? There’s no way... reason has long left my mind.
When I push open the door of the restaurant, people are already looking back... every one of them is focused on the spectacle taking place, the drama of my life.
And with steps that are now slow and fearful, I’m being led towards the climax of the tragedy.
Haha... Laura was right, after all...
*Eric really is kneeling in front of Angelee.*
And right now, I just feel like dying.