PROLOGUE
"Hmm, what a hell of a day to see a gold-digger so early in the morning."
My heart skipped a beat, and I gasped when I heard a familiar voice that I hadn’t heard for years now. I even became afraid to turn around and confirm my hunch.
“What? You have forgotten me already?” he spoke again. My mind races as I force myself to turn around. And there, I was right!
Leon Brylle Wright, the man I loved and turned down three years ago just because he had nothing to offer me but poverty. I stared at his face, down to his gray shirt and white shorts. He is also wearing a pair of sneakers, and, for the love of God, he looks more handsome and well-built than before. Now he is looking at me like I am some dirty gold-digger slut.
I am here now because I needed to buy a proper outfit for my interview tomorrow, so I hadn't expected to see him here. I was shocked, but I had to compose myself, so I won’t look like an i***t in front of him now. It’s enough that he was thinking I was a gold-digger. I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of him even more.
"Leon,” I tried to smile, “I didn't expect to see you here, what a small world,” I said, feeling so awkward that I just wanted to run away. Of all the people that I must encounter, why him? Damn it!
He didn’t speak and just looked at me. There's a dangerous edge to his gaze, something I can't quite point my finger at.
“And what’s a gold-digger slut doing in a fine place like this? Are you here to shop using your sugar daddy’s card or something?” He continued to insult me. I gulped, but that didn’t stop me from glaring at him. I felt a pang of pain and guilt, but I quickly masked them with a bright smile.
“You can say whatever you want, but I won’t stand here listening to all your insults. Yes, I hurt you before, and I am really sorry for that! But you don’t know what I had to go through to be able to stand here!” I exclaimed defensively. But he only chuckled at me.
“It’s you who will never know what I had to go through to keep standing here in front of you!” he shot back. A low gasp escaped my mouth.
My smile falters. I remember the last time I saw him. And that was three years ago. He had professed his love for me, and I had dismissed him, believing he was nothing more than a struggling orphan. I had been so focused on finding someone who could provide the lifestyle I desired and escape the hell of being so poor.
"Leon, I–"
Leon held up his hand, cutting me off. His expression hardens, and the aura in the place became more suffocating to me.
"Save it, Felixia. We both know why you walked away."
My eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and shame. “You don't understand– "
Leon steps even closer, invading my personal space. His voice falls to a dangerous whisper. "I understand perfectly. You thought I was poor. You thought I had nothing to offer you."
I took a step back, my confidence shaking. "It wasn't just that. I... I was scared."
Leon lets out a bitter laugh. "Scared? Of what, exactly? That I wouldn't be able to give you the life you wanted? That I'd hold you back?"
I tried to open my mouth to respond, but Leon didn’t give me the chance. He smashed his lips to mine, leaving me stunned and unable to fathom what I should do next.
He walked forward until I felt my back on the cold wall. I even forgot that we were in a store, and someone might see us now. But my mind was in a blur, all I could think of was his lips to mine, making me feel something inside me.
A sensation was slowly creeping into all veins of my body, until I found myself responding to his kisses. But before I could wrap my hands around his neck, he already broke the kiss, making me feel bewildered with the haze of what he just did to me.
“I have a proposal for you,” he smirked. A smile that would make anyone chill inside. "Be my woman and warm my bed whenever I want to. In exchange, I'll make sure you're taken care of financially for the rest of your life."
My eyes grew wider in shock, never in my wildest dream that someone could offer me this. Not especially from the man I love, and it was too late before I was able to control my hand. I slapped him hard on his cheek, turning it red.
He gave me a murderous look that I almost stumbled on my feet. He grabbed my arm tightly, and I winced with pain.
“Stop acting like a shy girl when we both know your real color. What? You don’t believe me that I can provide you with all the luxuries that you want?” he growled at me.
I looked up at him, my eyes still wide with a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. "Why are you doing this?" My voice trembled a little and a lump formed in my throat.
"Let’s say I want revenge, Felixia. You broke my heart three years ago because you thought I was nothing. Now, I want to see what you're willing to do for everything you've ever wanted."
Now tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I realize the depth of his bitterness. "This is cruel, Leon."
He shrugs, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Cruelty is subjective. You taught me that. Can you still remember how cruel you were while you were insulting me and making me feel bad about myself? You’re a heartless woman! A woman with no shame and ready to climb and to lie down on any bed for money!"
“I can understand why you’re feeling that way and why you’re looking at me like that. But I am not a slut, and I don’t care if you believe it or not!” I turned away to get past him, but he caught my arm.
“Come on, Felixia, you won’t get any better offer than mine. I will be your lifetime insurance. At least, you will be f*****g only one man instead of selling yourself to different men!” he insisted on insulting me.
I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks. I tried to look at him again, searching his face for any sign of the man I once knew, the man who loved me. But nothing. Leon is a completely different person now, and I never imagined that it would hurt so much as how I am feeling right now.
"You really hate me that much?" I asked.
“Yes. I hate you so much that all I wanted to see is for you to suffer!” he replied furiously. Another set of tears flowed from my eyes.
I have already suffered for three years. Even more than he could imagine, but of course, he knew nothing of all that. And I don’t have any intention of letting him know. I will just make sure that this will be the last time that I will be seeing him again.
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Hi guys! I am still editing the chapters before I publish them. I hope you'll like this one.