Chapter 3
All at once, the room fell silent. Every pair of eyes lit up with curiosity, waiting for the drama to unfold.
Wesley had always seen me as a cheater. So now, it was clear that he was itching to take a few jabs on Ethan's behalf.
"Talk about twisted luck, Ethan. You ordered flowers and ended up face-to-face with your ex," he commented.
Then, Wesley turned to me. "What's the matter, Ms. Shaw? Finally getting what you deserved?"
I let out a quiet sigh, but I wasn't about to argue with him. So, I said, "Ladies and gentlemen, your flowers have been delivered. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading out."
"Hold on." Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the air behind me. I froze like I had been cursed.
"Aren't you supposed to read the card?" Ethan asked. "I'm sure that's part of the job."
I took a moment to collect myself before turning around. Then, I picked up the bouquet and asked, "Is there a Ms. Tiffany Reeves here?"
The beautiful woman next to Ethan lit up. "Right here."
With the flowers in hand, I walked over and stopped in front of her. Ethan and the entire room watched as I read every word on the card. "Dear Tiffany, meeting you was luck. Hitting it off was fate. I hope this Valentine's is just the first of many."
A chorus of teasing erupted instantly, loud enough to drown me out.
Once, Ethan had loved me like I was the only woman in the world. But now, he had made me read a love letter that he had wrote for someone else.
No one was interested in who I was anymore. They were too busy fawning over the happy couple.
"Congrats, Mr. Shaw! You just got back and already found yourself a keeper!" someone quipped.
Then, came a chanting. "Kiss her! Kiss her!"
In the dim lighting, I saw Tiffany's cheeks flush red as she slowly closed her eyes.
Ethan leaned in, aiming for her lips. But from the corner of my eye, I saw him shift at the last second and press a kiss to her cheek instead.
"Lame!" someone groaned.
The crowd's disappointment was obvious. Even Tiffany looked somewhat embarrassed, though she recovered quickly.
As it turned out, Ethan had recognized me all along. He just chose to pretend he hadn't.
I bolted to the restroom and splashed cold water on my face. It wasn't until I looked in the mirror that I saw how raw my eyes looked.
Thankfully, I hadn't broken down entirely. I just felt empty.
…
I had barely stepped out of the bathroom when someone grabbed me and dragged me into a quiet corner of the hallway.
I didn't even realize Ethan had followed me.
Suddenly, his hands were on me, pressing me against the wall.
"What's this? Tears?" he asked with a sneer. "You're the one who cheated, Kendall! What the hell are you crying about? Are you broke? Did the guy you left me for dump you?"
And just like that, it clicked. This was about revenge.
I let out a dry laugh and met his stare head-on. I was fully prepared to play the villain.
"Yeah, I'm broke. Do you have a job for me, Mr. Shaw?" I retorted.
Ethan froze, clearly not expecting that. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and spat, "Fine. My girlfriend's birthday is next week, and we need extra waitstaff. Since you're so good at serving people, come work for me, and I'll pay you double."
I tried to argue. "I don't—"
However, he cut me off before I could finish. "Don't say no. Just show up, and I'll let it all go. After that, we're done. I won't bother you again."
"Fine. Deal." I accepted.