CHAPTER 14
Jealous Pretty Boy
Gabriela
By the time the mixer rolled around, I was a giddy mess from the excitement surrounding our event and at the thought of finally seeing Hunter after two days.
I specifically picked a hunter green silk minidress with a built-in bra, square neckline, and rhinestone straps. I did my makeup as usual with my signature red lips, added girandole diamond earrings, styled my dark red hair in loose curls, and wore matching platform heels to complete my look.
I never dressed to impress a man, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to Hunter’s reaction. Whenever we were together, he often checked me out, appreciating my fashion choices before telling me how good I looked.
His compliments turned me to mush. I was smitten with him.
Now I was at MacGregor bar with my team, the mixer just having begun twenty minutes ago.
We weren’t packed like a can of sardines yet, but students were beginning to trickle in.
Hera and I stood by the bar, nursing virgin mojitos and talking to some freshmen.
They came over to us sheepishly after spotting the sticker name tags on our dresses stating our names and positions on the team.
Though this wasn’t a formal networking event and more of an opportunity for the student body to get acquainted with our faces and mission statement, we took the time to answer their questions about our upcoming events, our workshops, and how they could hopefully join the team.
But I was sidetracked and my eyes kept flitting over to the doors, waiting for my friends—including Hunter—to arrive.
When the freshmen left, Shaun broke away from his group of friends and prowled towards us, looking every bit like royalty in his crisp white button-down and black trousers moulded to his tall and muscular physique, his blond hair artfully styled and his blue eyes gleaming with their natural charm.
The Jacobsens were prolific and old money, well known across Montardor and hearty investors at Vesta University.
Everyone knew their name or at the very least their son, the captain of the school’s prestigious hockey team.
And he was only here for one reason tonight.
Hera.
Shaun barely had to weave through the crowd. It parted for him. I wondered what it felt like to walk around like you had the entire world in the palm of your hand, ready to bend backwards at the snap of your fingers.
“Hey, girls,” he greeted us smoothly, giving me a customary hug first. Then he enveloped Hera in a lingering one, going as far as kissing her cheek too. “Incredible job tonight, sweetheart.”
Hera’s green eyes widened, her face pinkening slightly.
“Thank you.” She squeezed his shoulders before pulling away slightly, keeping her hands on him. “We’ve sold out every ticket tonight. I’m optimistic that this buzz will help for our next event as well.”
“I’m sure it will.” Shaun tucked one of her dark strands behind her ear, eyeing her gold dress and black heels with a deft gaze. He fingered the chain of riviera diamonds around her neck. “Nice necklace.”
Hera was the definition of elegance and grace, but her usually polished composure slipped the slightest bit, alongside an almost shy chuckle, at Shaun’s flirty tone. “I wonder who gave it to me.”
Shaun smirked, a deeply satisfied noise rumbling in his throat. “Must be someone who likes you a lot.”
Just then, Cade—Josh’s brother and Shaun’s best friend—entered our fold, towing along Ella, his girlfriend, and Darla and Dacia, all besties of Hera.
The group exploded in lively greetings. They were a tight-knit crew and I knew them because we ran in the same circles since Hera and Layla were cousins.
As per usual, the girls and I gushed over each other’s outfits and took an innumerable number of selfies. I hoped Anna and Layla would reach us soon. They texted me half an hour ago that they were on their way. I didn’t want them to miss out on all the fun.
I’d just bought another virgin mojito when Ella sidled up next to me. “As your friend, I feel the need to tell you there’s a particular girl in this room who keeps giving you the stink eye.”
I stopped sipping my drink, my brows going high. “What?”
“On your left. Ten o’clock.”
Discreetly, I cast a glance in that direction.
My entire demeanour turned frosty.
Of course.
Morgan.
I’d done my best to ignore her when the team arrived earlier to set up the venue for our event. The best solution to handle her agitating self was to treat her like a fly in the room, annoying but irrelevant to my existence.
To make it worse, Tom was here tonight too. He was playing billiards with some boys and she hung onto him like arm candy.
“That’s Morgan.” I sighed. “She hates me.”
Ella recoiled back, her unique sectoral heterochromia blue-brown eyes widening. “Why?”
“Jealous that I got the position on the team she was vying for and probably for other reasons unbeknownst to me.”
Ella rolled her shoulders back and adjusted the hemline of her black leather minidress, the chunky gold bracelets stacked on her wrists jingling with the motion. “Want me to set her straight? She’ll never look at you with that crooked sneer ever again.”
I loved Ella. Truly. She was loyal to her core and a bit scary if you got on her bad side. Without hesitation, she’d teach Morgan a lesson, but I didn’t want to cause any drama. “I appreciate you, Ella, but it’s okay. She’s not worth it.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind, the offer still stands.”
The rest of the girls announced they were going to join the long queue for the bathrooms. I didn’t need to go, but Ella said to them, “I’ll be there in a minute.”
She walked over to Cade. He was sitting on a bar stool, a drink in his hand, and just admiring Ella with this intense look. Kissing him, she murmured, “Be back soon.”
“Don’t take too long, mo chuisle,” he murmured back, squeezing her hip.
Ella and Cade had been dating since they were sixteen years old. They’d briefly experienced a separation but remained strong as ever after getting back together last year. They were the kind of couple that gave off ride-or-die energy, like their entire universe started and ended with each other.
Once the girls were gone, Cade and I chatted in their wait. He was a fellow bookworm, so we started exchanging book recommendations. He urged me to add two new mystery thrillers to my to-be-read list and I was in the midst of turning him into a paranormal romance convert when a shadow fell over us.
The newcomer was none other than Morgan.
My face pinched in irritation.
She had a hand on her waist and a coquettish expression on her face. “Hi, I’m Morgan,” she introduced herself, ignoring me. “And you are?”
“Not interested,” Cade retorted in a bored tone.
I snorted and hid the sound with a fake cough.
Morgan glared at me, but Cade’s comeback wasn’t enough to deter her.
She’d always liked the kind of guys who posed a challenge—the ones who were already in a relationship.
“Cute. So that’s how you want to play it, huh?
” She chuckled and honestly, I was genuinely appalled by her audacity and inability to read the room.
“I saw you watching me and figured I’d make the first move. ”
“I wasn’t watching you.” Cade was offended that someone would even suggest he had eyes for anyone but Ella. “Like I said, I’m not interested.”
Morgan wrapped her claws around Cade’s thick forearm and batted her lashes. “At least tell me your name.”
Cade’s gaze hardened at her touch. I was about to tell Morgan to fuck off, that this one was taken, and his girlfriend wasn’t afraid to cut a bitch or two.
But I didn’t have to say a peep because said girlfriend happened to reach us at that exact moment, cold fury wrapped around her frame.
Cade barely hid his smirk, knowing what was coming.
The saccharine smile carved over Ella’s lips was an indication that she was going to make Morgan regret ever touching her man.
“Hi, Morgan,” Ella drawled in a voice filled with pretty venom. “We haven’t met yet. I’m Ella.”
Morgan threw her a dirty look, like Ella was interrupting something. Hah. I only wish I had popcorn with me to really watch her fall off her high horse. “Uh, okay?”
Dacia, Darla, and Hera sidled up behind Ella. It was worth noting that my president seemed nervous at Morgan’s unprofessional behaviour. And based on all the girls’ faces, they definitely heard Morgan hitting on Cade.
“Do you like having fingers, sweetie?” Ella asked.
Morgan didn’t catch the hint or remove her hand from Cade.
“Yeah,” Morgan threw back with an attitude. “Why?”
“Then I suggest you stop touching my boyfriend before I break your fucking hand,” Ella snarled. “And I promise you, I can make it painful.”
Morgan jerked back with mortification, releasing her hold on Cade. He picked up a bar napkin and wiped his arm like a petty king.
“Excuse me? How dare you talk to me like that?” she snapped.
“I’ll talk to you however I want.” Ella used her pointer and thumb finger to flick Morgan’s forehead. “Now shoo.”
Unshed tears welled in Morgan’s eyes and she glanced at Hera for help, all the toughness leaving her. Her mind finally computed her unprofessional act as a colossal fuck-up.
But Hera stood stony-faced, disappointment radiating from her as she regarded Morgan like an elementary teacher would a naughty child. Darla and Dacia didn’t look impressed either.
“I’ll speak to you in the office on Monday, Morgan,” Hera said with a calm tone that emphasized she felt anything but.
I bet Hera was regretting hiring her right about now.
Morgan swallowed and backed a step before Ella reeled her in at the last second with a fistful of her sleeve. “While I’ve got you here, I also want to add that if you ever stare at Gabby with another dirty look, I will follow up on my threat. Understood?”