Jane

Why the hell this wing can't just cooperate with me?!

Oh yeah, because I'm a mess right now and my eyes are swollen due to continuous crying.

Groaning, I wipe off the eyeliner with tissue and make an effort to do it over.

When I marched out of his office I didn't turn back to see them and rushed straight to my cabin. I still couldn't believe what I saw was real. It hurts to recall the scene. It hurts that I was an idiot to assume that Leo likes me. It hurts like hell. He has never liked me. It was just his way to get into my pants and when he succeeded he returned back to his normal self. A certified womaniser.

Thinking about his betrayal I'm crying ever since I stepped into my room. Oh god, I didn't even cry like that when I caught my real boyfriend fucking behind my back. Leo is nothing but my boss who made deal with me to pretend as his girlfriend for our mutual benefit. Yet, here I'm crying like a smitten. I'm probably falling head over heels for him.

I glanced at the the wall clock and realised it's 6:30, definitely late for the party. I'm glad that this time my eyeliner has finally decided to cooperate. But the bags under my eyes are still here. Puffy and swollen. To conceal them I use a concealer and put on a wine red backless skater dress pairing it with same coloured high heels. I tuck a side of my hair behind my ear with bobby pins and leave the rest fall behind my back.

I contemplate my image in the mirror for a while. The makeup may hide the sadness in my eyes but it does nothing to conceal the pain in my heart. I think I should start a blog for poetry. At least I could do well out of my bleeding heart.

I pick up my keys and clutch before leaving my apartment.

When I reach the venue I head straight to the tiny replica of bar and order myself a martini. I'm so weak and pathetic, still convincing myself to believe that he'll call me and try to apologise. But for what? It's not like he's feelings for me or I'm special to him. I look around to see if he's here but he's not. Who knows He might be fucking Erica on his desk.

As I'm about to bring the glass to my lips I feel a presence beside me.

"You look like hell." He says with concern in his voice.

I roll my eyes at him, "Yeah. I just came back from there. Satan says "Bonjour, motherfucker" to you."

Ryder chuckles, "You're still the same Jane Sanders—bold, sassy who's more than a pretty face."

"How's your nose by the way?" I taunt.

"Last time I checked it was broken but it's better now, though took time to recover and kept reminding me about my mistake." He passes me a sweet smile that I used to found attractive before Leo came in my life. "I'm sorry." That takes my attention and I put the glass on counter.

"I'm not in a mood right now, Ryder. Please leave me alone." I sigh.

He frowns and tries to read me with his calculating eyes. "I know I don't deserve a second chance and neither it's my buisness to speak between you and Leo but....." there was something in his eyes that made me gulp. "There was something between us in the past and that makes you my buisness." His face soften as he asks, "Jane, Is everything okay? Is Leonardo hurting you?"

I swallow a lump in my throat and fight the urge to cry. First time in his life, I think Ryder is being honest with me. "He is." I blurt before I can realise I still hate him for what he did with me.

"I knew the bastard would show his true colours." He scoffs and looks away. "Do you want me to talk him? I swear I'll kick his ass for hurting you." He locks his eyes with me and I realise he is desperate to do this.

He has no idea how much I want to kick his ass or knee him in the balls. But I can't. It's not like I don't want to hurt him because I love him. The love can go to hell. All I want to do is show him that I don't care and he can fuck himself. But it'll only show that I fell for him despite of being a cold hearted bitch and that will definitely escalate his Eiffel Tower like ego. I disapprove this.
I'll give him cold treatment and act professional in front of him. I can't show him that I'm hurt.

"No. I don't want this." I tell him shaking my head in disapproval. "But you can drive me home when I'm under influence of at least five glasses of martini."

"Drinking isn't good for your health but I think you need it." He smiles genuinely.

I smile and gulp the whole martini in one go.

"I think you've had enough." It's my fourth glass and I'm already feeling high.

"Mmm give me that." I make an attempt to take the glass back but it's no avail as Ryder rouses to his height and raises the glass over his head. I pout and sit back on my seat. Although, I'm not the kind of woman to give up easily but it seems like the alcohol mixed with my emotions isn't in my favour.

"Let's get you home, okay?" Ryder asks and reaches for me as I nod and get agreed with him.

He snakes his arm around my waist while I put mine around his neck for balance and then he leads me out of the crowd but halts when a familiar voice approaches us. "Jane." I squint my eyes to see Leo. He's in a navy blue suit with white shirt underneath whose upper two buttons are undone. Weather it's because of him being late or he doesn't give a shit about it. I rub my eyes to clear the vision and notice his hair are disheveled. Judging from his appearance he seems messed up. He must've come through a rough and hot sex with Erica. The idea makes me scoff and roll my eyes and I notice him glaring at me with squinted eyes.

"Are you sober?" Leo frowns.

"I'm moderately functional."

"I'll take that as a no." He tries to reach me but Ryder interrupts him.

"Don't show the fake concern, Vincenzo. You got what you wanted. Now stay out of her life."

Leo ignores him and reaches for my arm. The moment our skins make contact a spark of electricity jolted through my body. "Let's get you home." Leo says softly as he gently squeezes my cheek. I feel melting into his touch.

Ryder who's been watching the scene now finally decides to speak, "Which one? The one you live in or the other where you take the woman you're about to fuck?"

Leo loses control and pounces over Ryder as he grabs Ryder's shirt roughly. But Ryder doesn't seem to be affected from it. "I know what you're doing, You son of a bitch!" Leo groans and throws a punch at Ryder. He stumbles back, grabbing his dislocated jaw.

Ryder straighten himself and looks around to see the people are witnessing the scene. "I didn't think you were the type to lose your sanity for a girl." Ryder snickers as he wipes off the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

"I didn't either." Leo says and his eyes soften as they met mine but again turn furious as he looks at Ryder, "Stay away from her, Ryder. You don't deserve her."

"Neither do you." Ryder retorts. Out of nowhere he throws a punch at Leo. More people begin to gather. Pictures have been taken. Meanwhile I, start feeling dizzy. The alcohol kicks in and Everything around me is whirling. Somehow with my blurry vision I spot Eva and her husband coming towards us.

Ryder is about to throw another punch at leo but he dodges it and punch him back. Leo is about to pounce over him but stops when he notices me.

My legs feel numb and I'm going to fall and ready for the compact but it never comes as a pair of arms scoops me up. I'm acquainted with the cologne so I nuzzle into the familiar chest and let its warmth envelope me.