Laura
Knowing it was only a matter of minutes or hours before help arrives from the hotel, I wanted to look my best when we leave. I can't look like the hurt and pain I was going through. I wouldn't give Jake that satisfaction.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes were red and swollen from crying, and my skin was still flushed with the heat of my earlier sobs. I couldn't stay like this, not when we were finally about to be rescued. I had to pull myself together. Jake had made it clear that I was nothing more than a mistake to him, and I intended to show him that I could that in a stride.
"You're stronger than this, Laura," I muttered to myself, running my fingers through my hair. "You've been through worse." I took a deep breath, steadying myself. There was no way I was going to let him see me like this, broken and humiliated. No. I had to look my best, confident, proud, and untouchable.
I turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on my face, the shock of it pulling me back to reality. Jake might think he could use me and then toss me aside like I was nothing, but I was going to show him differently. I was going to look damn good when I walked out of this room, and he was going to regret every single word he said.
As I scrubbed my face clean, wiping away the remnants of tears and self-doubt, I couldn't help but remember a conversation I had with Arlene a few weeks before all this. We were sitting in her kitchen, drinking wine, and I had mentioned Jake, not realizing how quickly my guard had dropped just by saying his name. Arlene had given me this knowing look, her lips curving into a tight line.
"Laura, you have to be very careful with Jake," she'd warned, swirling her wine glass.
"You know I'm more experienced with men so take it from me when I say you have to guard your heart around Jake. Guys like him don't do commitment. They use women for a while, have their fun, and then they move on without a second thought. It's worse if you're a good girl, they like girls like you more because they know they don't have to try too hard. Just a few sweet words and gestures, and you're already dripping your juice all over them."
I'd laughed it off then, telling her she was wrong, that Jake wasn't like that. But she'd given me this look, a mix of pity and sternness, and said something that stayed with me.
"You're too good for someone like him, Laura. Don't let him make you believe otherwise. Men like Jake never take women seriously. They just don't. You will get your heart broken into tiny pieces that might never get healed again. Don't think you can be the exception. You can't. Whatever you have in mind, stop it immediately. Abort mission! Now!" We both burst into laughter when she said this and that was it. I didn't think it over after that time. It ended there.
But now, the words started to echo in my mind as I stood there, staring blankly into nothing. I should have listened to her. She knew men like Jake better than anyone. But I had been too caught up in my feelings, too blinded by the way he made me feel, to see the truth. He had never taken me seriously, had he? No matter what I thought we had, it was never going to be real for him.
"Stupid," I whispered to myself, biting back the sting of tears again. "How could you be so stupid?"
"He's your boss and he always made it clear that you're just a pleasure he wouldn't ever mix with pleasure."
But this was the last time I'd let him make me feel this way. I was going to show him who he was dealing with.
I stripped off my clothes, stepping into the shower. The hot water washed over me, and I scrubbed every inch of my skin, as if I could erase the memory of his touch. I wasn't going to let him linger on my body, in my mind, any longer. I was done feeling like this, done being the girl who fell too fast, too hard, for someone who wasn't worth it.
Once I felt like I'd scrubbed away every trace of Jake, I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself as I stared at my reflection again. My skin was flushed from the heat, my hair damp and sticking to my shoulders, but I felt a strange sense of renewal, of clarity. I was done letting him control my emotions.
I rifled through the small closet in the room, looking for something, anything, that would make me feel powerful. I found a short, body-con dress, tight and flattering, and held it up in front of the mirror. It was perfect. The deep shade of red made me feel bold, strong, in control. It was exactly what I needed.
I slipped into the dress, the fabric hugging my curves in all the right places. I'd never felt more empowered in my life. It was funny how clothes could change your entire mindset, how just slipping into the right dress could make you feel like you owned the world.
As I stood there, pulling my hair up into a loose, messy bun, I applied a bit of makeup, just enough to make me look alive again, but not so much that it seemed like I was trying too hard. The final touch was my lipstick, a bright, daring red that made my lips pop.
I smiled at my reflection, the weight of the last few hours slowly lifting. I was ready.
"Let's see him ignore this," I muttered to myself, giving the mirror a final once-over before stepping out of the bathroom.
The second I stepped out into the bedroom, I could hear Jake moving around in the living room. He had no idea what was coming. The thought made me smirk, my confidence growing with each step I took.
As I made my way down the hall, my heels clicking softly against the floor, I straightened my shoulders, ready for whatever reaction I'd get. Jake thought he had put me in my place, but I was about to show him that no one could break me, not even him.
When I finally stepped into the living room, Jake was sitting on the couch, staring out at the waves beyond the window. He looked lost in thought, but the moment he heard my footsteps, he turned to look at me.
His reaction was immediate and exactly what I had hoped for. His eyes widened, his mouth opening slightly in shock as he took me in. I could practically see his brain short-circuiting as he looked me up and down, his gaze lingering on every curve of my body. I had his full attention, and it felt damn good.
I gave him a small, knowing smile, walking with deliberate grace as I made my way across the room, swaying my hips just enough to keep his eyes on me. I could feel his stare burning into me, and it sent a thrill through my veins.
But I wasn't going to stop there. No, I had to make sure this moment stayed with him.
When I reached the middle of the room, I stopped, pretending to notice something about my dress. With a casual glance over my shoulder, I called out to him, my voice sweet but teasing.
"Hey, Jake? Can you help me with something?"
He blinked, still clearly stunned by the sight of me. "Uh, yeah. Sure," he stammered, his voice sounding a bit strained.
I turned around, holding the top of my dress, revealing the zipper that ran down the back. "I can't seem to get this zipped up all the way. Would you mind?"
It was a calculated move, one that I knew would drive him crazy. His eyes darted to my exposed back, and I could see the hesitation, the desire in his expression. He swallowed hard, standing up slowly as if he wasn't sure if he should move closer or keep his distance.
He was hooked, and I reveled in the effect I had on him.
"Thanks," I added with a smile, turning slightly to give him a better view of my bare skin.
Jake approached me, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the zipper. I could feel his breath on my neck, warm and unsteady, as he fumbled with the zipper. His fingers brushed my skin, and a shiver ran down my spine, but I kept my cool, pretending like his touch didn't affect me.
In reality, my heart was racing, and the electricity between us was almost unbearable. I knew I was pushing him, but after everything he'd said, I didn't care. If he wanted to play games, I was going to play them better. Two can definitely play the game…