We arrived at the restaurant at seven and spent the next twenty minutes waiting for whoever the fuck Jude invited. He seemed nervous and kept glancing at the door. He was even sweating all over and wouldn't stop shaking his damn knee.
"What is up with you?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
He cleared his throat, taking a sip of his fourth glass of water. "Nothing."
I narrowed my gaze. "Are you planning an intervention or some shit? In freaking public?"
The maitre-d greeted an arriving guest and Jude immediately turned to look at the person who entered. I followed his gaze, wondering who this person he couldn't wait for me to meet but instead, Rick walked in, wearing a sports jacket and struggling to knot his tie.
"You invited Rick?" I hissed at Jude.
"He took care of you when I couldn't. I felt like I owed him," he said, shrugging.
"You couldn't just give him a raise or something?"
"I didn't want to insult the guy. He's my friend, Gel."
I rolled my eyes and just shut my mouth as Rick came to the table. A waiter set up his plate beside mine and I ignored him as he sat next to me.
Jude was fidgeting in his seat, tapping his fingers on the table restlessly and checking his watch every ten fucking seconds. I lost my shit and slapped my hand over his.
"I don't want to be rude or anything but I kinda have some place to be," I said, forcing a smile. "Is this special guest of yours coming or not? I swear, if this is really an intervention, I will never speak to you again."
"Let me just make a call," he said, getting up and heading outside before I could protest.
I pursed my lips, settling back in my seat. Rick was still fumbling with his tie like an idiot and I tried to ignore him but it was starting to annoy me.
"God, just..."
I turned to face him, slapping his hands away and slipping the tie off his neck. I fixed his collar and slipped the tie back on correctly, quickly doing a Windsor knot.
"There."
He stretched his neck, tugging at his collar. "It's choking me."
"It's supposed to."
My phone pinged and I checked it, seeing a message from Bo. I was typing up a reply when Rick cleared his throat too conspicuously.
"Don't," I snapped sharply.
"Huh?"
"You're going to explain why you're here." I sent the text just as another one came in from Andrea. "Probably because Jude insisted and you couldn't say no but you could have, you just let proper etiquette pressure you into doing the polite thing because you didn't want to be rude," I said as I typed. "Being well-mannered warrants no explanation so don't, yeah?"
He sighed. "Look, I know you said to stay away but I'm not here to try anything. Jude asked me to come because-"
"I said don't." I put my phone down and turned to face him. "Jude doesn't have that many friends. He's always been unapproachable and unbearably awkward since we were kids, and only had one real friend while we were growing up. So he made me promise that the few friends he has, I'll leave alone. I'm not much of a decent person but I always try to keep my promises. Unfortunately, I'm a mess of contradictions and I don't always do the right thing. Seeking comfort from you was selfish of me and I just can't be selfish, not when it comes to Jude. He deserves a friend like you. So for his sake, and let's be honest yours too, let's never discuss what happened between us. I'm not trying to be a bitch or anything, I just don't want Jude to lose a good friend. Nod if you agree." He nodded. "Good. Ignore me now."
I sat back just as Jude walked back in with a girl wrapped around his arm. A girl. On his arm. My brother.
My eyebrows shot up to my fucking hairline. I swiveled to face Rick to make sure we were seeing the same thing.
"I was going to tell you-" he began, sounding amused. "- that Jude was planning on introducing you to her and made me come as back up just in case you didn't react well, but you didn't let me finish."
"Why didn't you cut me off?" I bit out.
"You were making some really good points." He shrugged. "Did he really only have one friend? That's sad."
I glared at him. "Don't mock me." He grinned, snickering. I punched his shoulder. "This isn't funny."
They made their way over to us and Jude gave her a quick kiss on the lips before pulling out a chair for her and taking a seat next to her. I was too taken aback to react.
"Gel, I would like you to meet Stella," Jude said, smiling at the girl as he put a hand on top of hers. "My girlfriend."
I set my gaze on the girl, trying to make sense of what was happening. At first glance, it was so easy to pick out their conflicting traits. Jude had a commanding presence that made people pay attention to him while she, on the other hand, was plain and simple. She seemed shy and docile, greatly contrasting my brother's intimidating and domineering personality. Where he was impressive, she was forgettable.
She was pretty, with baby blue eyes that gave her an aura of youth and kindness. But pretty was too much of a common thing. There were all kinds of pretty in our society and Jude never spared any of them a glance. So this couldn't possibly be just physical attraction with them, which was bad. Physical attraction was acceptable. It was normal to be attracted to someone, inevitable even.
I caught his hand tighten around hers as he smiled at her. A smile that actually seemed to reach his eyes. I immediately identified the emotion. It was genuine adoration. He was showing his emotions with no care. It wasn't like him.
I looked at the girl again and saw through the nerves and fear she was displaying. She bore the same affection in her eyes. I looked at Jude and he smiled at me, a pleading look appearing in his eyes.
He was asking for my approval and I realized he was aware that this was wrong. That feeling this for her was wrong and keeping her was irresponsible and selfish. I had done a lot of terrible things but I've never done this. It was despicable and cruel to bring an innocent person into our lives.
"Leave us," I ordered. "I need to talk to my brother alone."
"No," Jude countered. "They're staying."
"Do you really want them to hear what I have to say?"
"Yes."
I shrugged and downed my drink, carefully setting the empty glass on the table. I took a moment to collect my thoughts.
"What's her background?" I began.
"That's irrelevant," Jude answered in a curt tone.
I scoffed. "That only means she comes from a place unfit to be in ours."
"Like I said, irrelevant."
"Not to the family."
"You're the only one I consider family."
I clicked my tongue against my teeth. "Good save. Doesn't change the fact we are shackled to those wretched fools in every way."
"Since when did you become so lowly as to hold weight to those people's insignificant existence, let alone their worthless opinions?"
"Don't use my ego to manipulate me, brother. It's beneath you, just like your woman."
I smirked when he seemed to almost lose his composure, but quickly managed to catch himself. A pity, it's been a while since we'd unleashed ourselves upon each other and I was itching to beat my fists into his face right now.
"Don't provoke me just so you can have an excuse to sate your aggression, little Angel," he stated calmly with dark raging eyes.
I shrugged. "You're putting me through a situation that I was not prepared to confront. I'm entitled to be aggressive."
"We'll resolve that later, this takes precedence. So keep your shit together."
I sighed, cracking my knuckles to relieve the itch to hurt. "How long have you been seeing each other?"
Jude paused for a moment, looking shameful. "Almost six months."
I smiled through my fury. "You're making it really hard to keep my shit together with this bullshit."
"I won't tolerate incompetence even from you, Gel. Break and see where that leads you."
"We're not supposed to lie and keep secrets from each other. You made that rule," I said, forcibly keeping my voice hush.
"I know."
"So why did you?"
"I felt... guilty," he said in a quiet voice, his gaze softening. "It didn't seem right that I get to be happy."
And I'm not
"Why tell me now then? Why drag me into your little rebellion?"
He glanced at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "Because I'm in love with her and I need you to help me be with her."
I almost winced at his ridiculous words. Love? He was in love?
I would have preferred it if he'd actually organized a public intervention for me instead of this nonsense. That I could've handled.
I felt Rick knock his knee against mine and I glanced at him. He took an intentionally deep breath while holding my gaze and I followed suit. I spent several seconds just breathing, trying to quell the chaos inside me my brother was stirring with this… this insanity.
When I finally managed to gather my bearings again, I set an objective gaze on my brother and his girlfriend. His girlfriend.
I pursed my lips, tapping my finger on the table as I shifted my gaze between the both of them before fixing Jude with a firm look.
"May I speak as your right hand, not your sister?"
"If you must."
"This-" I gestured at them with a finger. "-is a horrible and thoughtless idea. The fact that you hid it from me means you're aware of how wrong it is and it is unfair to me that you're making me an accomplice to this... disastrous conspiracy. As your right hand, it is my duty to support you and serve you unconditionally but I cannot, in good conscience, approve of you committing a grave mistake that has the potential to cause catastrophic repercussions."
I paused, taking a deep breath as I closed my eyes briefly.
"You are disregarding your responsibilities and endangering the future that has been set out for us in lieu of this pitiful love you claim to have for her. If the family finds out, you will not only be risking your status as our father's heir but also her life. It is in both of your best interests to end this fantasy before it affects our reality."
He was quiet, nodding as he absorbed my words. "Now, be my sister."
"I'm your right hand before your sister. Any affection I bear for you cannot surpass my duty to you."
"Be my sister," he repeated firmly.
I pursed my lips, staring at him as he wordlessly begged for me to give him my blessing through his resolute gaze.
"Please," he murmured softly when I remained quiet.
I shook my head ruefully, refusing to let him break me. "I'll do right by my duty to you, but I cannot offer anything outside of that. Not for this."
"Please," he repeated once more, reaching across the table. "Be my sister."
His pathetic pleas only served to enrage me and I slammed a fist on the table in frustration. The girl jumped in her seat, diverting my attention onto her. Only then did I realize she was in tears. I glared at the pitiful sight and she trembled under my gaze, infuriating me further.
"I… I should go," she whispered in a trembling voice.
She tried to pull her hand free from Jude's grip but he held her firmly, his gaze steadfastly on me.
"Jude… let me go," she pleaded through her tears.
I scoffed. "This much and she's already running. What more if she were to face the rest of the family?" I raked my eyes over her in dismay before looking back to Jude. "Don't let your greed be her ruin. Let her go."
"No."
"This is wrong and you know it."
"How can wanting to keep the one thing that makes me happy be so wrong?" he demanded.
"You can have everything but this."
"I'd rather lose it all than her."
"Even me?"
"Do not threaten me with your loss. I won't forgive you."
I gritted my teeth to hold back a scream and clenched my fists to keep myself from reaching across the table to beat sense into this stupid boy.
Jude and I stared at each other, on the verge of losing both our control. I knew my brother as I knew myself. He was half of me, and vice versa.
He never submitted. Jude Lastor was never allowed to submit to anyone or anything. It was not in his design. But this time, he had to know he could not keep his stand. Not when the man who created us would certainly destroy us if he found out a weakness that was not his machination had appeared in his precious heir.
Rick suddenly cleared his throat, pushing his chair back.
"How about we get some air for a sec?" he said in a casual tone, almost sounding charming. "We'll get indigestion if we eat like this."
He held out a hand for me and when I didn't take it, he reached for my wrist. Tearing my gaze away from Jude, I let Rick pull me up to my feet and lead me out of the restaurant.
He brought me to the alley way beside the building, letting go of my wrist to shrug off his jacket and putting it over my bare shoulders. I just stood in silence, not really knowing what I was supposed to do.
I knew I was in the right this time. No matter how delusional and unreasonable Jude was being, he had to know I was right.
She was so weak and insignificant. Having her by his side would only bring those merciless vultures that we call our family to descend upon us. They'd use her against him to make him bend to their will, which meant I would also be at their mercy.
I could live with being ruled by our father. He was our father above all things. Our master. But I refuse to be made a mockery by those lowly things who thought themselves our equal just because we had the same name and blood.
"Hey," Rick called, tucking a finger under my chin and tipping head back.
A frown lined down his face. He appeared to be worried. He cared too much about too many things.
"Talk to me," he urged softly. "It's not my place to offer an opinion, but I can listen. You'll drive yourself crazy if you keep it all in."
I narrowed my gaze. "Stop offering me comfort."
He sighed, moving his finger to tuck errant tendrils of hair behind my ear. "Then don't look so miserable."
"I'm always miserable."
He smiled, looking smug. "Not if I can help it."
"Are you seriously flirting with me right now?"
"Not at all," he said, a seriousness settling on his face. "I hate seeing you miserable and hurting. I'd take it all away if I could."
I scoffed. "What is it with men turning stupid around women?"
He laughed. "It may be hard to believe, but I'm actually a pretty level headed guy. It's just you who makes me stupid." He tilted his head, smiling down at me. "In the beginning, I thought it was because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on. But these days, I have this theory you've done some kind of voodoo magic on me that makes me disregard what a crazy bitch you are."
I pursed my lips, refusing to let his charm get the better of me. "You're such an ass."
"You're insulting me again. Must mean you're back to normal." He tapped his finger against my chin. "Should we head back inside?"
The anxiety and rage he had eased were quickly overcoming me. Once again, my head was filled with chaos as I started thinking of the situation my brother was forcing upon me.
I tried to envision the new path in our lives that would manifest if I allowed him this, but no matter how much I manipulated all scenarios, it only ever led to my brother's loss after countless trials and sacrifices.
I had no doubts of my own capabilities. I knew my reach and if need be, I could go beyond what I've been so far. I'd make myself an unparalleled monstrosity, no one would dare to presume they could touch us.
There was nothing I would not do in service to my brother.
Irregardless of these facts, I could not reconcile her having a place in his life, at least not in the way he'd be satisfied. It would cost so much, to both Jude and I, to guarantee her a place and even then, there was still the unpredictable variable that was her free will.
There was simply no rational justification for her existence to us.
"I cannot approve," I said, shifting my gaze to Rick's tie as it hung loosely around his neck. I reached up, fixing it mindlessly. "My brother will be at risk if I allow this to continue."
"Why?"
"Because he's Jude Lastor," I answered simply while straightening his collar. "But right now, he's not thinking the way Jude Lastor is meant to think. He's thinking he can just be a simple man who can have simple things such as happiness with the woman he loves. That is not possible. It can never be allowed. It's the only luxury he can't have."
"If he knows, why is he asking you as if you can give it to him?"
I sighed, tugging at his shirt to flatten the crumples on the fabric. "Because I'm Angel Lastor."
"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you."
I chuckled lightly, lowering my forehead to his chest and closing my eyes. "Jude was groomed to rule. I… was groomed to destroy. For as long as I'm by his side, there will be nothing that can hinder his path to his rightful place in the world." I opened my eyes. "I am the right hand that wields his sword."
"Your metaphors are getting a bit much, gorgeous."
"Then tell me this." I reached for his hands, slipping my fingers through them. "You know her, yes? Is her love for him unconditional and limitless? Will she be able to stand behind him no matter what comes at them? Can she accept the man my brother has to be? The happiness she has given him, will it endure any and all suffering? Because Jude deserves that. He deserves to have the same kind of devotion he has to offer. Anything less is unacceptable."
Rick remained silent, his thumbs rubbing against the back of my hands. I didn't know when it came to be, that his touch became a source of comfort to me. I didn't want to think of it because if I did, I would be forced to be rid of it. I could not keep things I had no right to have, but just for now, just for a little, I wanted to hold onto this stolen moment.
"You're worried about him," Rick murmured beside my head.
"He's the most precious existence to me. I live for him. I will destroy anything that can bring harm to him."
"But he doesn't need you to destroy right now, does he?" He took a step back, tilting his head to catch my gaze. "He just wants a chance to be happy."
I tightened my grip on his hands. "I cannot approve."
He frowned. "Will you be able to forgive youself for taking this away from him?"
Frustration burned my eyes and I wanted to lash out. Break something. Hurt someone. It was all just too fucking unfair.
"You should trust him," Rick said softly. "He trusted you by bringing Stella to meet you, didn't he?"
"He'll get hurt."
"And you'll be there for him if he does, won't you?"
I sucked in a shaky breath, squeezing his hands in mine. "Of course I will be there."
He smiled. "Then why not let him be happy?"
I asked myself all the whys and why nots, and easily formed rebuttals that turned over any notion of a chance for them. Their relationship was illogical and could only end horribly but if she made him happy… if she could love him… if she could give him everything he deserved, even just for a while, I couldn't refute the fact that it would be worthwhile.
Whatever the cost, I would carry the burden. Any threat that may come, I would face it in their behalf. Even when it ends in loss, I would be there to ensure Jude didn't suffer alone.
I owed him that, as his sister.
I took a step back, releasing Rick's hands from mine. As our fingers slipped away from each other, a sense of emptiness filled me followed by an urge to return him to me. I casted it away, refusing it. I could not allow it.
I removed his jacket from my shoulders and draped it over him, before turning away. Without a backwards glance, I headed back into the restaurant with him following a pace behind me.
Jude and Stella were still seated at the table, neither speaking nor looking at each other. When I took my seat across from them, I was met with their despair and crumbling hope. Yet, they held onto each other as if they could not live to be apart. What a pitiful pair they made.
I glanced at Rick as he settled beside me, pondering briefly on the matter that was his existence in my life. In the short time that he'd come barging into my hell, he had managed to steal a step to stand on. No, I let him have it.
I resolved to rid myself of him by the end of this night. I had kept him for too long already.
"Brother," I began, tilting my head to the side as I regarded him. "Tell me, what is your name?"
He clenched his jaw, the feriousness within him coming alive and fueling mine.
"Jude Lastor," he answered, every syllable laced with menace.
"And what is mine?"
"Angel Lastor," he uttered as calm fury settled into him like second skin.
"I exist because of you and for you. Everything I have and am, I offer to you. Good and bad." I leaned forward, clasping my hands together. "I will ask you this once, is she worthy of me?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
I nodded, leaning back in my seat. "There's nothing in the world I want more than for you to be happy because I know no one else who deserves it more than you do," I said, glancing at the girl. "And if she's the only thing that can give you that then, you have my word, brother, I will not allow anyone to take her away from you." I sighed in resignation, looking back to him. "As both your right hand and sister, you have my blessing and protection."
He stiffened, not showing an ounce of emotion. That is how Jude Lastor was meant to be. Unfallible and impenetrable. He must never forget that if he wished to keep this happiness he had just tasted.
"Thank you," he said in a leveled voice. "You don't know how much this means to me."
"Congrats, bro," Rick chimed in, raising his fist towards Jude who bumped it lightly with his.
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention on the girl. "Apologies for the commotion. I'm Angel, by the way," I said, holding out my hand for her. "You have terrible taste in men."
Almost reluctantly, she accepted my hand, holding it in a gentle grip. "He's… he's told me so much... about you."
I glanced at my brother. "I'm very sorry to hear that," I said flatly, drawing my hand back. "Your voice. I recognize it. You called the apartment earlier." She pursed her lips, nodding. "You hung up on me when I asked for your name."
She blushed. "S-sorry. I... I got nervous."
"So... what is it? Your name, I mean."
She blinked for a moment, regarding me with wide tear stained eyes, eyes too large for her face. I raised my brows expectantly and she opened her mouth, clearing her throat rather awkwardly.
"Stella Roberts," she stammered.
I nodded. "Where are you from?"
"Gel..." Jude called.
"Oh, I'm not judging," I remedied with a smile. "I only wish to know you, Stella. Won't you let me?"
She swallowed, tucking her hair behind her ear, obviously uncomfortable with the attention I was giving her.
"Branford," she mumbled.
"Connecticut?"
She nodded timidly. A smirk played on my lips as I raked my eyes over her frame and she awkwardly tried to gain some nonexistent composure. I glanced at my brother, my smirk turning into a grin.
"I didn't know you preyed on small town girls, brother," I muttered wryly. "How cruel of you to bring such an innocent girl in this awful world we live in."
He glared but I merely chuckled, sliding my eyes over to Stella once more. She swallowed hard, inhaling shakily through parted lips and a faint blush rose from her exposed skin as she squirmed in apparent discomfort.
"Relax, sweetheart. I won't bite," I teased lightly. "Well... not unless you want me to," I whispered conspiratorially, sliding my tongue over my upper teeth for effect. I caught her eyes widen at my remark and I snickered. "But you're not my type. I like my women aggressive and vicious. I'm sure my brother is sufficient enough for your needs though."
"Angel," Jude bit out.
I shrugged, holding my hands up. "Just teasing. It's not often you introduce me to the women you spare time to fuck and shower with gifts. In fact, I was very much convinced you were gay."
Rick snorted at my words, coughing up the wine he'd been drinking. I glanced at him, handing him a napkin.
"How about we order?" Jude suggested, spitting the words out harshly.
I shrugged again and he raised his hand to call out a waiter. I kept my eye on the girl beside him although she refused to look at me and was purposely avoiding my gaze as she kept her head down and read the menu. They gave their orders and I asked for the same along with another glass of whiskey.
The three of them talked throughout the first course while I just kept to myself. Apparently, she worked at the same hospital as Rick and had also gone to the same medical school as Jude, though they didn't get acquainted until last year. I was sipping my drink while texting Andrea when I felt Jude kick me under the table.
He nudged his head towards my plate and I rolled my eyes and put my phone down before picking up a fork. I took three bites from my food and downed it with the drink and raised my hand.
A waiter immediately came to my side.
"I'll have another glass, please."
"Right away, Ma'am."
"Angel?" I heard someone call from behind.
I turned and saw an attractive man dressed in a form fitting suit walking towards me, eyeing me intently.
"It's really you!" he exclaimed as he stopped beside me.
"I'm afraid so," I muttered flatly, taking him in and wondering who the hell he was.
"Wow. Of all the places. How have you been?"
I frowned, wracking my brain for any sort of identification. I was never good at remembering people I didn't give a damn about.
"I'm grand," I deadpanned.
He chuckled as his eyes wandered over to the rest of my dinner companions and he grinned at Jude who was eyeing him speculatively. He held out a hand between them and Jude reluctantly took it out of courtesy, glancing at me as if asking who the hell he was but I merely shrugged.
The waiter came back with my drink and I took a light sip as the strange man carried on making the situation even more awkward.
"Samuel McAllister," he said as he shook my brother's hand. "Spencer Academy?"
"Oh, yes, of course," Jude said in recognition.
I had a pretty good bet he had no idea who the hell Samuel McAllister was.
Samuel turned to look at me once more and I humored him with a sly smirk.
"How long has it been? Three years?"
I shrugged, taking a light sip of my drink. "I haven't noticed."
He laughed at that while my brother regarded us with a shrewd look. Samuel seemed to notice it and decided to enlighten him.
"We... uhm... dated three years ago."
I choked on my drink at the claim, coughing up the whiskey. Rick handed me my napkin and I accepted while keeping my gaze away.
"It's quite ironic to find you here, Angel," Samuel was saying with a sly innuendo.
I narrowed my eyes at him as I tried to go back to three years prior. A thought came to me as I looked at him intently and I smirked, finally recognizing the schmuck.
Oh yes, he was the one who emptied out this exact restaurant for our first date. Huh. Ironic indeed.
"Samuel McAllister." I pointed a finger at him. "The guy who set the table on fire when he tried to hold my hand."
He winced at my words. "Yeah... still the most embarrassing night of my life."
I snorted. "Don't worry. It wasn't the worst date I've ever had to endure."
He shook his head while grinning as he looked down at me. "You haven't changed," he said as he appraised me. "Well, the eyebrow piercing is gone."
"I outgrew its appeal." I tilted my head to the side, taking my bottom lip between my teeth as I appraised him as well. "And you... I barely recognized you."
He was still handsome but he had dyed his hair into a darker shade and had built up his physique. He looked rather buff than the last I saw him. I remembered sitting at the center of this restaurant three years ago, having a boring dinner with a lanky young man who could not stop talking about his guitar collection while for some reason kept stuttering on his words.
He was tripping over his feet all night and was clumsy enough to have lit our table on fire by knocking off the candle, along with everything else.
His ego seemed to inflate for a fraction at my subtle compliment.
"Not the scrawny boy that I was anymore."
"That, you are not."
A man walked over to us, stopping beside Samuel and whispering something to him.
"Oh... this is my brother Greyson," he introduced. "Grey, remember Angel Lastor?"
The younger man turned to look at me, gifting me a polite smile as he nodded.
"I do," he said. "We've met before actually."
"Really? I don't recall."
The corners of his lips lifted as his eyes lit up. "You attended a few parties at our frat house. Quite hard to forget the girl who made Four-Eyed Ronnie have an epileptic attack over a hand job."
I winced, people tended to over exaggerate the situation. "It was just a lap dance."
He laughed and Samuel laughed along, sending him a subtle glare while Jude cleared his throat and arched a brow at me but I just rolled my eyes.
"Grey just graduated from Princeton today and if I remember correctly, you did too. Economics, and something about Engineering, right?"
I arched a brow. "Good memory."
He grinned, shrugging it off. "You're not that easy to forget."
"So it seems."
"How have you been? I tried to get in touch but I've been too busy. I'm handling the family business now," he gushed, the young man who I went out with for one night showing.
"I've been well," I remarked, feigning interest.
"Sam, Mom and Dad are waiting," his brother interjected, waving a hand by the entrance and I caught a middle-aged couple standing by the entrance and looking our way.
Samuel nodded, gifting me a smile. "We should catch up some time," he said as he took out his wallet and fished a business card. "Here. Call me. Maybe we can have a drink or dinner. For old time's sake."
I took the card between my fingers, offering a smile. "I'd love to."
His grin grew wider, waving at a nearby waiter. "Give them anything they want. On the house."
I could tell my brother wanted to slam his head on the table. He never fancied having other people spend even a single cent on him.
"It was such a pleasure to see you again, Angel." He took my hand, placing a light kiss on my knuckles. "Call me, okay?"
"I will."
He nodded at the rest of my companions, bidding us a lovely evening before walking away. I followed him with my gaze as he walked out of the restaurant. He glanced back and caught me looking. He passed me a bright smile that I returned and then he was gone.
I rolled my eyes and ripped his card into pieces before throwing it over my shoulder with a light scoff.
I remembered our date. He had taken me to Madison Square Garden after dinner, which he rented out just for the two of us, and had it filled with ice because my mother supposedly told him I loved skating. He was one hell of an arrogant piece of shit who thought he could shower me with his money and I'd fall at his feet.
Oh, Mother loved him.
I'd only gone out with him because Mother said so. She had greeted us by the door when I brought him back to New York after our disastrous date. She immediately dismissed me and made me fetch her a drink as an excuse to have him alone. I remembered peeking through the door while she was sucking his cock when I came back with her goddamn drink.
"You shouldn't tell someone you'll call them and then rip their card, Gel. It's very disrespectful," Jude chided.
I scoffed at that. "If you want to fuck a guy who's had his cock inside the cunt that gave birth to you, be my guest. I'm sure Mother would be delighted to share a closer bond with her baby boy."
Rick and Stella choked on their food while Jude looked like he was itching to tape my mouth shut. I simply smiled before turning my attention back to my phone.