Chapter 11
TJ
I began chatting with a girl to keep myself occupied, but kept an eye on her.
She worried me. She was pretty drunk, and she shouldn’t be alone with a strange man in that condition.
Fortunately, the man she was talking to walked away, and I saw Nate approaching her. I felt able to relax, knowing that his presence would prevent other men from approaching her, and he would look after her. But my trust was misplaced. A few minutes later, I saw him all over her, kissing her.
Kissing Cornelia.
My Cornelia.
I was furious. I knew he had a crush on her when we were in secondary school, but then again, every heterosexual male and homosexual woman in our boarding school had one, and I never considered he would do something like this.
She was my girlfriend of five years, not a one-night stand. There are some codes you don’t break.
I went and yanked him off her. I expected him to be apologetic, but instead, he had a smug look on his face that made me want to put my fist through it.
Most of the fight was a blur, except for the part when Nate told everyone the extended version of why Cornelia and I broke up and when he implied he had slept with her.
I looked at Cornelia, hoping to see a reaction that would prove Nate was lying, but instead, I saw confirmation that his words were true. At that moment, my anger escalated from wanting to kick him to wanting to kill him or, at the very least, break a few of his bones.
I struggled desperately to break free from West’s hold, but before I could, some security guards arrived and escorted me to West’s office, where they locked me in.
I tried to get out, but found my attempts were futile. So, I just lay on the sofa, staring at the walls. Like our flat, they are full of art, though they are painted red, blending with the rest of the club.
After what felt like an hour, I hear the door finally unlock, and West walks in.
“Finally, were you going to keep me trapped here all night?” I ask, sitting upright on the sofa.
“No,” West replies, closing the door again and moving to sit at his desk.
“Just until Nate is long gone and you’re calm enough not to cause another scene.
Lucian is with Nate, waiting for their car.
The press found out about the fight, and it’s a mess outside.
When Lucian messages me that they’re no longer at the club, you’ll be free to go. Until then, you’re stuck here.”
I sigh in resignation and get up, moving to sit across from him.
“Was it true what Nate said?” he questions me.
“What part?”
West exhales, exasperated. “You know what part.”
I bite my inner cheek and stay quiet for a few seconds, then finally choke out, “Yes.”
“Her mum? Really, TJ? You had to do the one thing she could never get past?” he scolds me.
I close my eyes for a second. “I fucked up, I know. I—I don’t…
need you to tell me. If I could go back, I wouldn’t—” My mind drifts back for a second to that night.
I swallow hard and take a deep breath, trying not to think about it.
I shouldn’t have taken anything she offered.
I should have gone home. “But I can’t. I know Corne…
” I pause, realising I’ve forgotten about her. “Where is Cornelia?”
Fuck. How could I forget about her?
“I think she’s with Annabelle,” West answers.
“You think or you know?”
He frowns. “I think.”
I panic, remembering how drunk she was and how she could be anywhere with anyone. The thought of someone hurting her or taking advantage of her makes me physically ill. My chest tightens. I would die if that happened. Multiple images flash through my mind, each more terrifying than the last.
I stand up, rushing to the door, trying to open it, but it’s locked once again.
“Open the door,” I demand of West sharply.
“No,” he replies firmly from his desk.
“You either open the door, or I will break it,” I threaten, my frustration boiling over.
He gets up and walks towards me, his steps measured. “I will not open the door so you can go out and start another fight.”
“I’m not going to start another fight. I’m going to look for Cornelia.”
West gives me a look that almost says, Isn’t that the same thing?
“I’m not going to fight with her,” I repeat. “I’m concerned about her. I know her. She was so close to passing out, and if you don’t know where she is, that means she could be anywhere.”
“Fuck,” West curses, quickly unlocking the door, his face now reflecting concern as well.
We search half the club, not seeing any sign of her until I spot Laurie outside the girls’ loo, stopping girls from entering. I finally feel like I can breathe again, knowing she’s probably in there, but I’m still worried about her.
I try to step past Laurie, but he blocks me, his hand pressing lightly against my chest to stop me. I glimpse Annabelle inside, and I hear Cornelia’s voice—a mix of sobs and the unmistakable sound of someone throwing up. It hurts to hear her like this, but at least she’s safe, I tell myself.
I try again to push past Laurie, my frustration mounting, but he doesn’t budge. “Let me in,” I demand, my voice full of desperation.
“Do you really think she wants to see you right now?” Laurie asks, his gaze avoiding mine. “I’m your brother, and I barely want to see you.”
I swallow hard. “How is she?”
“She’s fine.”
Just as he says it, we hear the unmistakable sound of more throwing up echoing from inside.
Laurie winces. “Well… she will be,” he corrects himself.
I look at him, pleading, but it doesn’t move him an inch.
“Just go home, TJ. You’ve already caused enough drama. Annabelle and I will take care of her. I promise.”